Mattapoisett Annual Town Meeting
May 8, 2017

For a complete text of the Articles click here for the PDF of the Meetng Warrant

ARTICLE 1: ELECTED OFFICERS' COMPENSATION
To see if the Town will vote to fix the salaries of elected officers of the Town for Fiscal Year 2018 as follows:
CURRENT PROPOSED
Moderator $ 240.00 $ 250.00
Board of Selectmen, Chairman $ 4,712.00 $ 4,912.00
Board of Selectmen, Members - each $ 4,224.00 $ 4,424.00
Assessor - each $ 4,224.00 $ 4,424.00
Town Clerk $ 57,282.00 $ 59,000.00
Board of Health - each $ 517.00 $ 550.00
Highway Surveyor $ 77,777.00 $ 81,500.00
Mattapoisett School Committee - each $ 517.00 $ 550.00
Water/Sewer Commissioner - each $ 517.00 $ 550.00
Tree Warden $ 8,234.00 $ 8,300.00
Herring Inspector $ 837.00 $ 850.00
or take any action relative thereto. BY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PASSED

ARTICLE 2: GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sums of money to defray general operating expense of the Town for Fiscal Year 2018 including debt and interest, the money to be raised by taxation, borrowing or transfer from available funds, or take any action relative thereto.
Amounts to be voted are shown in Attachment "A". BY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PASSED

ARTICLE 3: SEWER RESERVE ACCOUNT
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $10,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings for the purpose of establishing a Reserve for unforeseen expenses of the Department in FY2018, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 4: WATER RESERVE ACCOUNT
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $10,000 from Water Retained Earnings for the purpose of establishing a Reserve for unforeseen expenses of the Department in FY2018, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 5: APPROPRIATE FOR OPEB LIABILITIES
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the total sum of $454,821 to meet the Town's obligations under the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement 45 to fund the Town's future obligations for the cost of other post employment benefits(OPEB) identified by the GASB 45 Report; and as funding therefore, to raise $400,000 from the Tax Levy, $400,000 towards the Town of Mattapoisett OPEB Liability, and $35,000 from Certified Free Cash towards the Mattapoisett share of the ORR School Liability, and transfer $3,910 from Sewer Retained Earnings and $15,911 from Water Retained Earnings, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 6: DEPARTMENTAL REVOLVING FUND AUTHORIZATION
To see if the Town will vote to authorize Revolving Funds for certain departments and reauthorize existing Town revolving funds that require annual reauthorization, under and pursuant to MGL c. 44 S 53 E½ for the Fiscal 2018 year, or take any action relative thereto. Amounts to be voted are shown in Attachment "C".
PASSED

ARTICLE 7: APPROPRIATION TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS STABLIZATION FUND
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $264,000 from Free Cash to the Town of Mattapoisett Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund or take any action relative thereto.
PASSEDPASSED

ARTICLE 8: APPROPRIATION TO SPED COST STABLIZATION FUND
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $70,000 from Free Cash to the SPED Cost Stabilization Fund or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 9: APPROPRIATION TO REGIONAL SCHOOL ASSESSMENT STABILIZATION FUND
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $17,000 from Free Cash to the Regional School Assessment Stabilization Fund, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 10: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN REPORT: (No Funding Required)
To see if the Town will vote to receive the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan Report to be presented by the Capital Planning Committee, or take any other action relative thereto.
The recommended Five Year Capital Improvement Plan is shown in Attachment "B".
PASSED

ARTICLE 11: CAPITAL PLAN FUNDING
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $474,100 from the Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund for the purpose of acquiring equipment as described below:
Center School/Council on Aging Center Security $40,000
Phase Three Fire Department Hose Replacements $13,000
Small Town Department Capital Items Bundle $40,600
Old Hammondtown School Roof over Kitchen Replacement $60,000
Fire Department Specific Software $10,000
Elementary School Tile Floor Replacement Phase 2 $25,000
Rescue Ambulance Infusion Pumps (2) $14,400
Replacement of two Police Cruisers $91,000
Phase Three Highway Barn Improvements $40,000
Police Station Window Replacement $19,000
Highway Department #5 Truck Replacement $70,000
Highway Department 6 yard Sander/Spreader $14,100
Council on Aging Auto $24,000
Fire Station Roof Replacement $13,000
Or take any action relative thereto
PASSED

ARTICLE 12: ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FUNDING
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $ 30,000 from Free Cash for the purpose of funding design, engineering, permitting and road work related to town roads in Mattapoisett including work associated with Phase VII of the Mattapoisett Road Improvement Plan or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 13: PHASE VII TOWN ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN FUNDING
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $500,000 to carry out road improvement work identified as Phase VII within the Town's Road Infrastructure Improvement Plan, including all work associated and incidental thereto; and as funding therefore, to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow said sum pursuant to G.L. c.44, S7(6) or any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds and notes therefore; provided, however, that the appropriation authorized hereunder shall be expressly contingent upon approval by the voters of the Town of a so-called Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion question to be placed on the ballot of the next Annual Town Election, further any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote , less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with MGL. Ch. 44 sec. 20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 14: CYCLICAL ANNUAL PROPERTY REVALUATION AND TOWN MAPPING
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 from the Town's Tax Levy for the purpose of funding the Department of Revenue mandated cyclical evaluation of property in Mattapoisett and mapping updates, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 15: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND MS4 PERMITTING
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $20,000 from Certified Free Cash for the purpose of continuing the work on implementing the use of a Geographic Information System data base for Mattapoisett, to be used for equipment, software, programs and labor associated with this system development, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 16: ADOPTION OF PERSONNEL SCHEDULES
To see if the Town will vote to approve amendments to various Personnel Schedules and Classifications within the Mattapoisett Personnel Bylaws, attached as Schedule D, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 17: AMENDMENT TO TOWN GENERAL BYLAWS
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Mattapoisett General Bylaws in Section 19.2 of Article 19 entitled Licenses and Permits by the following:
Delete "For not less than a twelve month period"
Or take any action relative thereto
PASSED

ARTICLE 18: BOND PROCEEDS RETURN TO PROJECT COSTS
To see if the Town will vote to supplement each of the prior Town Meeting votes that have authorized the borrowing of funds, to pay the costs of capital projects and to provide that, in accordance with MGL. Ch. 44, sec. 20, the premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes thereunder, less any such premium applied to the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to pay project costs and the amount authorized to be borrowed for each such project shall be reduced by the amount of any such premium so applied, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 19: SOLAR PILOT AGREEMENT - Crystal Spring Road and Tinkham Hill Road Solar Array Projects
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town of Mattapoisett Board of Assessors and Selectmen to enter into negotiations for PILOT Agreements with BWC Origination 18, LLC, for a payment in lieu of taxes for the personal property, used to build a 6.5 MWDC Solar Array to be located on Crystal Spring Road more specifically as shown on Assessor's Map 18, Lots 1 and 35, and for a PILOT Agreement with BWC Pine Island Brook, LLC for a payment in lieu of taxes for the personal property, used to build a 2.6MWDC Solar Array to be located on the south side of Tinkham Hill Road , more specifically as shown on the Assessor's Map 20, Lot 18, and to take any other action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 20: PURCHASE BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $80,000, $60,000 to come from Water Retained Earnings and $20,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings, for the purpose of purchasing a new Backhoe/Excavator/Trailer to be used for the work and operation of the Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Department, and to take any other action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 21: EXISTING SEWER GRINDER PUMP REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $30,000 from the Sewer Retained Earnings for the purpose of annual repairs, refurbishing and maintenance of the Departments sewer grinder pumps, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 22: WATER/SEWER/TOWN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM EQUIPMENT
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $10,000, $5,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings and $5,000 from Water Retained Earnings for the purpose of funding the cost of equipment and software for GIS implementation or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 23: TOWN DRINKING WATER WELL UPDATES
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $30,000 from Water Retained Earnings for the purpose of funding various improvements, upgrades, and repairs to the Town's various groundwater wells and their infrastructure, and or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 24: ALLOCATION OF MATTAPOISETT SHARE OF FAIRHAVEN SEWER AND PLANT IMPROVEMENTS
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $2,100,000 by borrowing for the purpose of funding Mattapoisett's Share of the cost to reline, repair and improve the sewer main line traveling from Mattapoisett to the Fairhaven Treatment Plant, and further to pay Mattapoisett's Allotted portion of the costs of improvements needed within the Fairhaven Wastewater Treatment Plant, and further to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow in accordance with the provisions of MGL . Ch. 44 sec. 7(1) or any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds and notes therefore, further any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with MGL. Ch. 44 sec. 20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 25: WATER TANK REHABILITATION AND REPAIRS
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,200,000 by borrowing for the purpose of repairing, reconditioning, improving and upgrading the town drinking water supply tank located off of Jane Lane, and further to authorize the Water and Sewer Commission with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow in accordance with the provisions of MGL. Ch. 44 sec. 7(1) or any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds and notes therefore, further any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs approved by this vote in accordance with MGL. Ch. 44 sec. 20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount, or take any action relative there to.
PASSED

ARTICLE 26: ALLOCATION OF REVENUES COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT (From Community Preservation Funds)
To see if the Town will vote to hear and act on the report of the Community Preservation Committee on the Fiscal Year 2018 Community Preservation Budget, and to appropriate or reserve from the Community Preservation Act Fiscal Year 2018 estimated annual revenues a sum of money to meet the administrative expenses and all other necessary and proper expenses of the Committee for Fiscal Year 2018 and reserve for future appropriation from said annual revenues a sum of money for open space, historic resources and community housing purposes, as well as a sum of money to be placed in the FY2018 Budgeted Reserve all as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee as follows;
Appropriate FY 2018 Estimated Annual Revenues
Administrative Expenses $ 1,000
Debt Service Expense $ 60,171
Transfer from FY 2018 Estimated Annual Revenues for the Following Reserve Accounts.
Housing $ 19,677
Historical Preservation $ 19,677
Open Space $ 19,677
Budgeted Reserve $ 76,569
Or take any action relative thereto. BY COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
PASSED

ARTICLE 27: FUNDING HISTORICAL RECORD CATALOGING AND PRESERVATION
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $43,112 from CPA Historic Preservation Reserve and/or CPA Undesignated Fund Balance for the purpose of completing the inventorying and cataloging of historical records, artifacts and objects of the Mattapoisett Historical Society, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 28: CPA - FUNDING - BRANCH BROOK DRINKING WATER PROTECTION
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $20,000 from CPA Open Space Reserve and/or the CPA Undesignated Fund Balance for the purpose of funding a portion of the acquisition cost, including, but not limited to, related project costs, closing costs, legal fees and transfer expenses, by the Town of Marion Department of Public Works of the fee simple interest in the land associated with the Branch Brook Drinking Water Land Protection Project consisting of 164 acres, more or less, and being described and shown on the Mattapoisett Assessors Maps, as Lot 4 of Map 25 and described and shown on Rochester Assessor maps, as Lots 7 and 8 of Map 1 and Lots 3 and 5A of Map 3, all acquired for the purposes of public drinking water supply protection, open space conversation and passive recreation, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 29: CPA - FUNDING - MATTAPOISETT NECK QUARRY LAND PROTECTION
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $37,500 from CPA Open Space Reserve and/or the CPA Undesignated Fund Business for the purpose of funding a portion of the acquisition cost, including, but not limited to, related project costs, closing costs, legal fees and transfer expenses, by Mattapoisett Land Trust, Inc. and/or an appropriate nonprofit land conservation organization or governmental entity of the fee simple interest in the land associated with the Mattapoisett Neck (Old Hammond) Quarry Site Preservation Project consisting of 53 acres, more or less, and being described and shown on Mattapoisett Assessor maps, as Lot 49 of Map 11, all acquired for the purposes of historical and cultural values protection, open space conversation and passive recreation, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 30: MATTAPOISETT SHARED USE PATH PHASE 1B
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take all necessary actions to acquire public way easements through all legal means including by eminent domain pursuant to General Laws Chapter 79 and 82, by purchase. Or by donation, for the construction, maintenance, and operation of a shared use path for pedestrian and bicycles, and for all municipal and other purposes reasonably related thereto, within, over, and through certain lands in the Town of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts between Mattapoisett Neck Road and Depot Street, said parcels being more specifically shown on a certain plan of land entitled Mattapoisett Shared Use Path Plan Phase 1B, Easement Locations in the Town of Mattapoisett and prepared for the Town of Mattapoisett by GPI, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. and as amended from time to time, the costs of said acquisition to be paid from funds obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Town of Mattapoisett, further that the Town appropriate a sum of money from available revenues for the purpose of paying any associated expenses for right of way expenses, including but not limited to the costs required for appraisals, engineering and legal costs, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 31: DESIGNATION OF PHASE 1B BIKE PATH AS DEDICATED BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PATH
To see if the Town will vote to dedicate the area of land as shown on the Plan and Profile entitled "MATTAPOISETT SHARED USE PATH PHASE 1B" in the Town of Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, dated February 2017, Project File # 605677, Prepared by CLE Engineering for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 100% Highway Submittal, said Shared-Use Path Phase 1B, to be for the use of transportation and recreation, for the construction and operation of a bike path, constituting the Mattapoisett Shared-Use Path, said path will be located on former Rights of Ways used by the Boston and Maine Railroad, property owned by the Town of Mattapoisett and property on which easements will be acquired, said path is 6,430 feet in length, a copy of the above described set of plans is on file with the Mattapoisett Town Clerk's Office 16 Main Street, Mattapoisett, subject to easements of record and the right of the Town of Mattapoisett to maintain and replace municipal utilities, including but not limited to sanitary sewer, storm water, and municipal water services, electric, telephone, natural gas, cable and fiber optic services under and over said dedicated areas, further to authorize the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen to sign appropriate documents and take all actions necessary to accomplish the foregoing, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 32: RECEIPT OF REPORT ON TOWN AND SCHOOL FACILITY ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE FINDINGS
To see if the Town will vote to accept a report of the Facility Assessment Committee as to the their findings on the repairs, conditions and structure needs of the Town, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 33: APPRORIATION FOR DESIGN AND COSTING ANALYSIS
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of $45,000 from Certified Free Cash for the purpose of performing a design analysis including a construction cost breakdown for consideration of a new fire station and town hall, and to further develop cost of repairs to existing town and school buildings or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED

ARTICLE 34: PETITION FOR SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
To see if the Town will vote to support H.1926/S.379 an Act for a US Constitutional Amendment and Amendments Convention, submitted to the Massachusetts General Court, calling on Congress to propose a Constitutional Amendment stating that (a) US Constitutional Rights are the rights of natural persons only , and (b) Congress and the States shall place limits on political contributions and expenditures to ensure that all citizens have access to the political process, and recognize that spending of money to influence elections is not a protected free speech under the First Amendment, The Act provides further that if Congress does not propose this Constitutional Amendment within six months of the passage of this bill, then the bill constitutes a Petition by the Commonwealth to the US Congress to call a Convention for the purpose of proposing an Amendment to the US Constitution as soon as two-thirds of the States have applied for a Convention ,this article asks that our Board of Selectmen transmit copies of this Warrant Article and its vote to our State and Federal Elected Officials, or take any action relative thereto.
PASSED