November 13, 2003
Dear Town Meeting Members:
This letter is intended to review the process and substance of the upcoming Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 17, 2003. Please note that the Town Meeting is being held at the Chenery Middle School.
Initially, the Special Town Meeting was called in response to a proposal to re-zone the Belmont Uplands land at Alewife from commercial to residential. The proposal is not ready to be considered at this time, however, and was removed from the Warrant. The Selectmen decided to continue the Special Town Meeting, given a legal deadline to adopt the state early retirement program as well as other important issues. It is our goal to conclude the Special Town Meeting in one evening, even if that will require less critical articles to be withdrawn. The order and priority of the articles will follow the order appearing in the Warrant.
In hopes that many Town Meeting Members may have scheduled two evenings for the Special Town Meeting, the Selectmen and Warrant Committee would like to host a discussion of the upcoming budget on Wednesday evening, November 19 at the Middle School. This session is intended to be an interactive one, involving policy issues anticipated in the FY 2005 budget. While this would not be a Town Meeting per se, we strongly encourage all Town Meeting Members to attend the special budget session. In the event that the Special Town Meeting does not conclude on Monday, it will be adjourned to Wednesday the 19th, and the budget session would be cancelled.
Please find below a summary of each article on the Warrant.
Article 1- Reports. The Selectmen and Warrant Committee intend to provide a brief report on early budget planning for the FY 2005 budget.
Article 2- High School Study. The School Committee has proposed an appropriation of $90,000 to be expended from the Kendall Insurance Fund, to fund a master planning study for future renovations at Belmont High School. The High School has been identified as a major capital project and will require further analysis to define the scope and cost of renovation. The appropriation is being sought at this time to coordinate with a comprehensive energy audit of Town buildings.
Article 3- Early Retirement- The Town has developed a proposal to strategically implement the state’s early retirement incentive program in departments where reorganization or other factors will result in some financial savings. Targeting 16 employees within the Public Works, Municipal Light, and Public Safety Communications departments creates a potential for $188,000 in savings. Establishing eligibility for two employees within the Human Resources and Council on Aging departments will facilitate a cost effective settlement of employment claims. Please see enclosed a more detailed analysis of this proposal.
Article 4- Sealer of Weights and Measures Fees. This article is a proposal by the Health Department to increase fees associated with the Sealer of Weights and Measures function. A new by-law is required to modify the current fees established by state law.
Article 5/6- Affordable Housing Development on Brighton Street. These two articles are companion articles to accommodate the Belmont Housing Trust’s proposal to develop a single-family house on the Town-owned lot at 315 Brighton Street for affordable housing. The first article authorizes a transfer of jurisdiction/use and the second article authorizes the Board of Selectmen to sell the property. The Housing Trust has negotiated an arrangement whereby Habitat for Humanity would construct the dwelling for re-sale to an eligible buyer.
Articles 7/8- Affordable Housing Development on B Street. These two articles are companion articles to accommodate the Belmont Housing Trust’s proposal to develop two 2-family houses on B Street for affordable housing. The first article authorizes a transfer of jurisdiction/use and the second article authorizes the Board of Selectmen to sell the property. The Housing Trust will arrange for a non-profit housing developer to create the four housing units, three of which will be sold as affordable to eligible homeowners.
Articles 9 through 14- Zoning Articles. The Planning Board has submitted a series of zoning articles. Please refer to the Report of the Planning Board that was submitted to Town Meeting Members with the Warrant.
Article 15 – Safe Placement for Newborns. This article was submitted by the Board of Selectmen on behalf of advocates on this issue. The article seeks to authorize the Selectmen to file special “home-rule” legislation to prevent from prosecution, parents who safely abandon newborn babies.
Please make an effort to review the Town’s Internet home page to receive up-to-date information on Town Meeting at: http://www.town.belmont.ma.us/Home/. Please consider signing up on the web page to receive e-mail messages alerting you for updated Town Meeting information.
We look forward to the Special Town Meeting on Monday evening.
Very truly yours,
The Board of Selectmen
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