Conference 7.286::maynard

398.0. "Special Town Meeting " by SENIOR::IGNACHUCK (Native Maynardian) Tue Oct 20 1992 01:39

    Here is the list of Articles for the Special Town Meeting, to
    be held in the John F. Kennedy Gym at Maynard High School on
    Monday, October 26th, at 7:30.
    
    For the sake of time and typing, I will not type in the entire
    Warrant, but rather will translate it into English.  I should 
    caution that some articles will likely be amended on the floor
    of Town Meeting, but here's the capsule summary of where they
    stand tonight:
    
    Article 1:  The Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School seeks
    approval of a grant of $26,624. from the Commonwealth for direct
    educational services.  
    
    Article 2:  The Selectmen ask for a sum of money ($50,000) to
    bring the Town Building and Library into conformity with the
    Federal Architectural Barriers Act and the Americans with 
    Disabilities Act.
    
    Article 3:  The Selectmen ask for approval of the collective
    bargaining agreement between the Town and the Fire Dept. Union.
    
    Article 4:  The Selectmen ask for approval of the collective
    bargaining agreement between the Town and the Police Dept. Union.
    
    Article 5:  The Selectmen ask for approval of the collective
    bargaining agreement between the Town and the DPW Union.
    
    Article 6:  The Full Time, non-union employees ask the Town for
    an amendment to the Salary Administration Plan.
    
    Article 7:  The Municipal Building Needs Committee asks for $15,000.
    for the preparation of architectural plans for the use and re-use
    of various town-owned buildings.
    
    Article 8:  The Conservation Commission asks for the use of funds
    on deposit in the Wetlands Protection Fund to carry out it's duties.
    This amount is $342.50.  [I should note that the Conservation 
    Commission is allowed to use filing fees to hire experts to assist
    them, but they must get approval from Town Meeting annually, and 
    did not do so at the Annual Town Meeting, so this corrects an
    oversight on their part].
    
    Article 9:  The Selectmen ask that $25,000 be transferred from
    the Capital Improvements Article of the Annual Town Meeting to
    the Maynard High School Fire Expense Account.
    
    Article 10:  The Selectmen ask that the Town accept all insurance
    settlement funds resulting from the Maynard High School Fire, for
    the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Maynard High School.
    [Note:  This article is required under Mass General Law, Chapter
    44, section 53.  It allows the town to spend the money we receive
    from our insurance company to rebuild the Cafeteria and Auditorium].
    
    
    Article 11:  The Selectmen ask for a transfer of funds from the 
    approved FY93 Computer Maintenance Fund in order to purchase $4,000.
    in computer hardware for the Treasurer/Collectors office.
    
    Article 12:  The Police Department asks for $10,395. to replace a
    failing recording system used in the 911 system.
    
    Article 13:  The Maynard Retirement Board sponsors an article to
    see if the Town will accept Mass. General Law Chapter 133, section
    48, known as the Early Retirement Incentive Program.
    
    [Note:  Articles 14, 15 and 16 are to be taken from Water and Sewer
    Revenues].
    
    Article 14:  The Selectmen (as DPW Commissioners) ask for an additional
    8,000. to be added to the approved sum for the cleaning and redevelop-
    ment of Well #1 off Old Marlboro Road.
    
    Article 15:  The Selectmen (as DPW Commissioners) ask that $82,000.
    be appropriated for the following:
    
    $18,000- for the installation of a natural gas standby power generator
    for the Old Marlboro Lift Station,
    
    $26,000- for replacement of two rotating biological contractor drive
    units at the Wastewater Treatment Plant,
    
    $17,000- for the re-roofing of the Operations building at the Waste
    Water Treatment Plant,
    
    and $21,000- for the installation of an additional communitor and to
    re-seal two existing pumps at the Powder Mill Road pump station.  
    
    Article 16:  The Selectmen (as DPW Commissioners) ask that $36,000
    be appropriated to upgrade the electrical panel and motor controls at 
    the White Pond Pumping Station ($26,000), and to replace and upgrade 
    non functioning and obsolete fire hydrants ($10,000.) 
    
    The above is for your information only, and is NOT to be taken as
    an official warrant OR the way the articles will be presented,
    amended or explained.  
    
    Keep in mind again that the Special Town Meeting will be held in
    the JFK Gym at the High School, and.  We will
    be using 1/2 of the Gym since the other half is presently being
    used as the temporary cafeteria for the MHS students.  We think
    that the 300 seat capacity in 1/2 of the Gym will be sufficient
    and quite cozy.
    
    Frank

    About 130 voters attended the Special Town Meeting tonight.  It
    was perhaps the most passive town meeting I've ever attended,
    and every article passed by a large margin.  
    
    The only real discussion was over the handicap renovations to the
    Town Building.  Our preliminary estimate was for $50,000 for the
    entire building including the Library.  However, as we got more 
    into the ADA requirements, we were faced with totally renovating
    all the rest rooms, which resulted in bids that ranged from $91,000
    up to $126,000.  We met with the architect at 7:00 and agreed to
    go with the $50,000 request in the article for this town meeting,
    get the main floor of the Town Building done now, and come back for
    the remainder next year.  This did not sit well with the Library
    Trustees, and we did not get a chance to brief them on our decision 
    before the Moderator started the Town Meeting.  
    
    The article on the Early Retirement program was withdrawn by the
    Retirement Board, in order for them to research the impact on the
    town. 
    
    Frank
    

.1>    About 130 voters attended the Special Town Meeting tonight.  It
.1>    was perhaps the most passive town meeting I've ever attended,
.1>    and every article passed by a large margin.  

    Even more surprising, the Fincom recommended very article!  I went up
    to the chairman of the Fincom, our illustrious Mr. Filz, and questioned
    his state of mind for that one.  I found it particularly
    uncharacteristic of Arthur, who has been known to vote against the most
    rational proposals, just so they won't get unanimous approval.  (He
    also plays Devil's advocate at meetings, arguing a point of view he
    does not believe, in an attempt to force people to think on occasion.) 

    Refusing to take the bait, Arthur responded seriously that everyone 
    involved had worked out their differences behind the scenes in recent 
    weeks, so there was no need for argument at Town Meeting.  I guess 
    that's what happens when you get to be Chairman; you get all stuffy and 
    serious.

    In other matters, I found Selectman Ignachuck's description of
    communitors in the sewer treatment plant most inspiring.  Perhaps we
    can hear more about it at the next Town Meeting in the Spring.

    -Steve

This didn't occur to me till well after the meeting, but (in case anybody
knows out there):

Was consideration given to providing ramp access to the Town Hall and
Library first -- then doing the plumbing work in a later "phase" (as
Mr. Gilligan would say).


1. While not handicapped myself, so I'm not sure how this really plays out in
   the real world, I would think access to the Town Hall offices and Library 
   floors to be a bit more important than whether or not I can use the rest
   rooms.

2. There was an implication that a large percentage of the cost was due to the
   plumbing and interior work that was needed to support the regulations.  If
   this is indeed true, perhaps that would allow both access ramps to be built
   for the same cost as completely outfitting one building.

I'm sure there's a good reason why this can't be done though....  No
architect am I.


- dave