2006 Annual Town Meeting

Adjourned Session-April 26, 2006

Mr. Perry called the third session of the 2006 Annual Town Meeting to order at 7:01 pm.

Upon a Motion made by Anne Shapiro and duly seconded, it was

Voted: That the Meeting take up no new business after 10:00 pm, and when we adjourn, we vote to reconvene in these same premises at 7:00 on Monday, May 1st.

Mr. Perry expressed gratitude to the Regional School Committee, Principal Arthur Dulong, faculty, students and staff of Concord-Carlisle Regional High School for accommodating Town Meeting in this building. School Committee Chairs Patrick Sinnott and Jerry Wedge recognized those cps and ccrsd employees with 25+ years of service, along with those who are retiring this year. Betsy Bilodeau recognized Patrick Sinnott, who is retiring from the School Committee after this Town Meeting, thanking him for his years of service to the community.

In recognition of the 20th year of Concord's Sister City relationship with the city of San Marcos, Nicaragua, Steven Bloomfield, Chair of the Concord-San Marcos Sister City Committee introduced Sra. Maria Dolores Vado, Concord's essential partner in San Marcos. Ms. Vado expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to see Concord government at work, and was honored and pleased to be present to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the relationship.

Mr. Perry noted that Article 42 was pre-scheduled and would be taken up next.

ARTICLE 42. Design Funds for a New Willard School

On a Motion made by Jan McGinn and duly seconded, the following was Voted by a Two Thirds Majority, and so declared by the Moderator:

To appropriate the sum of $1,840,000 to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager for architectural and engineering services for plans and specifications for the construction of a new Willard School; and that the Selectmen be authorized to borrow the funds to meet this expenditure; provided that no debt be issued unless the amounts required to pay for the principal and interest on the bonds are voted to be exempt from the limitations of Proposition 2½. (Note from Town Clerk: Debt Exclusion vote was approved by the voters at the March 28, 2006 Town Election ballot.)

ARTICLE 29. Warner's Pond Dam Rehabilitation

On a Motion made by Jeff Wieand and duly seconded, the following was Voted by a Two Thirds Majority and so declared by the Moderator:

To appropriate the sum of $250,000 to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager for the reconstruction of the Warner's Pond Dam, and that to meet this appropriation the Selectmen be authorized to borrow $250,000.

ARTICLE 30. Town House Sprinkler System

On a Motion made by Christopher Whelan and duly seconded, the following was Voted by a Two Thirds Majority, and so declared by the Moderator:

To appropriate the sum of $116,000 to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager for the installation of a fire protection sprinkler system in the Town House, and that to meet this appropriation the Selectmen be authorized to borrow $116,000.

ARTICLE 31. Sleepy Hollow Lot Sales to Former Residents

On a Motion made by Richard Monaghan and duly seconded, the following was

Unanimously Voted: To rescind the vote of the 1883 Town Meeting restricting the sale of cemetery lots to Town residents, so as to permit the Cemetery Committee to establish a regulation permitting the sale of cemetery lots to former Town residents that have resided in Concord for a minimum of one year, and according to rules established by the Cemetery Committee.

ARTICLE 32. Burke Land Financing Plan/Sale of Strawberry Hill Road

The following Motion was made by Virginia McIntyre and duly seconded:

To authorize the transfer of the control of the parcel of land at 14A Strawberry Hill Road, which has been declared surplus by the Concord School Committee, to the Selectmen to sell under terms and conditions agreeable to the Board, including the preservation in its natural state of the ridge along the southern boundary, protection of the wetlands and limitation of the prospective use of the property to no more than 20 units of housing, and to authorize the Town Treasurer to apply the net proceeds of such sale to retire any outstanding bonds issued by the Town for the purchase of the land at 11A Old Bedford Road, up to a maximum of $2,500,000 plus the short-term borrowing costs, and to transfer any funds above that amount to a School Capital Needs Stabilization Fund, and to transfer the 14.5 acres of land at 11A Old Bedford Road to the care and custody of the School Committee.

The following Motion to Amend was made by Terry Rothermel and duly seconded:

To add the following Amendment to the end of the Main Motion:

The Vision for Development of the site will be that of a community of mixed market and affordable housing. The development of the site shall seek to provide housing for a wide range of income levels, including housing for seniors. The maximum number of all housing units will be 20, with a minimum of 25% provided that are affordable units that will count towards the State's 10% goal for Concord and remain affordable in perpetuity. Alternative bids to purchase the site for conservation land will be required to provide easily accessible building lots for at least six affordable housing units.

A Motion was made to Call the Question on Mr. Rothermel's amendment, which passed by a two-thirds majority and was so declared by the Moderator. A vote was then taken on Mr. Rothermel's amendment, which Passed, with 253 voting in favor and 168 opposed.

Ann Colony offered a Motion to Amend that was duly seconded, that reduced Mr. Rothermel's number of housing units from 20 to 8, and eliminated the provision for affordable housing units. A Motion was made and seconded to Call the Question on Ms. Colony's amendment, which passed by a two-thirds majority and was so declared by the Moderator. A Vote was then taken on Ms. Colony's motion to amend, which Failed on a show of hands.

Tim Novick offered a Motion to Amend that was duly seconded, that directed the Selectmen not to sell the Strawberry Hill land, and to appoint a committee to further study the future use of the land, reporting back to Town Meeting for discussion no later than 2008, and that action be taken on any recommendations no later than Town Meeting 2009.

A Motion was made and seconded to Call the Question on Mr. Novick's amendment, which passed by a two-thirds majority and was so declared by the Moderator. A Vote was then taken on Mr. Novick's motion to amend, which Failed on a show of hands.

After further discussion, a Vote was then taken on Ms. McIntyre's original motion, as amended by Mr. Rothermel. After a standing count, the Motion as Amended Passed with a Two Thirds Majority, with 252 voting in favor and 97 opposed, and was so declared by the Moderator.

At 11:40 pm, a Motion to Adjourn was duly made, seconded, and Voted.