2006 Annual Town Meeting

April 24, 25, 26, May 1 and 2

NOTE: The 2006 Annual Town Meeting minutes printed below are excerpted from the official minutes of this Meeting. For the complete text of all votes taken at this Meeting, contact the Town Clerk's Office.

Pursuant to the Warrant signed by the Selectmen on February 6, 2006, Town Moderator Edward N. Perry called the 2006 Annual Town Meeting to order at 7:05 pm on April 24, 2006 at the Concord-Carlisle High School Auditorium, Cafeteria and, if necessary, the Upper Gymnasium. The Moderator declared that the meeting was properly called and that a sufficient number of voters were present to permit the meeting to be opened.

On a Motion made by Anne Shapiro and duly seconded, the following was Voted:

That this meeting be held in the Concord-Carlisle Regional High School Auditorium, Cafeteria and, if necessary, the Upper Gym, and that the halls be connected by means of a public address system and loudspeakers so that the proceedings in the auditorium can be heard by all voters present in any hall.

Mr. Perry noted that he had appointed Carolyn Flood, George Dallas, Elizabeth Holmes and John Clymer to serve as Assistant Moderators at this Town Meeting, and that they had been duly sworn to the faithful and impartial discharge of their duties. On a Motion made by Anne Shapiro and duly seconded, it was voted: To elect John Clymer as the Temporary Moderator to preside over this meeting if the Moderator elected by the Town is unable to serve in that position.

Mr. Perry urged everyone to read the Finance Committee Report, the "Moderator's Notes for the 2006 Annual Town Meeting," and "Concord's Town Meeting Traditions and Procedures." Mr. Perry noted that Dr. Susan Curtin would be serving as Town Meeting Resource Person in the Auditorium.

Fire Chief Ken Willette reviewed evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency.

Mr. Perry noted that George Sprott had been appointed Chief Teller, to be assisted by Todd Crocker and Abraham Fisher. David Allen was appointed Ballot Supervisor, to be assisted by Cline Frasier, in the event of a ballot vote. Mr. Perry administered the oath of office to the Tellers and Ballot Counters.

Concord Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts brought the flags forward. Mr. Perry asked attendees to stand and observe a moment of silence and reflect on how, through this Town Meeting, our neighbors and we provide for our common good. He asked that we be reminded that the passions of the moment are not necessarily the best guide for our conduct in the future, and that if sacrifice by a few is required, the sacrifice should be only where the common goal is worthy of the sacrifice. He asked that we approach each issue, no matter how divisive, with an open heart, an open mind, and a sense of humor.

Mr. Perry thanked Town and School staff for their assistance and cooperation in preparing for Town Meeting. He welcomed visitors Charles Salisbury and Joyce Bradshaw, Town Moderator and Town Clerk from North Andover.

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

Voted: That the reading of the Warrant and the Return of Service thereon be omitted.

Mr. Perry announced the reappointment of Susan Bates, Thomas Anzer and Walter Birge to the Finance Committee; the appointment of Carol Wilson and Michael Lawson; and the retirement from the Committee of Carole Wayland and Ruth Armknecht. He announced the availability of Green Cards.

Mr. Perry noted that at this time, he did not anticipate any motions under Articles 13, 16, 17, 44, 46, 47, 55, 57 and 61. He reviewed the likely schedule and the pre-scheduling of Article 42.

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 pm tomorrow evening, April 25th.

ARTICLE 1. Choose Town Officers

Under Article 1, Mr. Perry reported the results of the Town Election held on March 28, 2006.

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

Voted: That Article 1 remain open for such other action there under as may be necessary and that the meeting take up Article 2.

ARTICLE 2. hear Reports

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

Voted: To accept the reports of the various Town Officers and Committees.

Following a brief explanation by Mr. Perry of the procedures for the proposed Consent Calendar, Mark Russell Prior made the following Motion that was duly seconded:

That the 2006 Annual Town Meeting advance for consideration Articles 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 52, 53, 58, 62, 63 and 64, and take action on such Articles without debate on any of such Articles, provided that, upon the request of five voters at this meeting, made before the vote is taken on this motion, an Article shall be dropped from the Consent Calendar and shall be acted upon in the ordinary course of business at this Town Meeting.

After reading the motion and giving a brief explanation of each article, the Moderator inquired as to whether there was a request to drop any of the Articles from the Consent Calendar motion. One request each was made for Articles 53 and 63, which did not meet the minimum of five required. Upon a show of hands, with one opposed, the Consent Calendar was accordingly Voted by a Two-Thirds Majority, as declared by the Moderator, as follows:

Consent Calendar

(Articles 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 52, 53, 58, 62, 63 and 64)

ARTICLE 14. Property Tax Exemption

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: To accept the provisions of §4 of Ch. 73 of the Acts of 1986 as amended by Ch. 126 of the Acts of 1988, and to increase by 100% the amount of property tax exemption granted to persons who qualify for said exemption under clauses 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37A and 41C of §5 of Ch. 59 of the MGL.

ARTICLE 19. Light Plant Payment in Lieu of Taxes

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: That the Town vote to authorize a transfer of $340,000 from the Operating Fund of the Light Plant to be used by the Board of Assessors to reduce the tax levy for FY 2007.

ARTICLE 20. Light Plant Expenditures

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: That the income from sales of electricity, and from servicing and jobbing during the ensuing fiscal year, together with the balance of operating cash in the Light Plant, be expended without further appropriation under the direction and control of the Town Manager for the expenses of the Light Plant.

ARTICLE 21. Road Repair Revolving Fund Expenditures

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: That the income and fees paid by applicants to the Commissioners of Public Works for permits to dig up, alter or disturb a public way, in an amount not to exceed $100,000, be expended without further appropriation for the purpose of repairing, restoring, maintaining and inspecting public ways.

ARTICLE 22. Solid Waste Disposal Fund Expenditures

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: That the income from user fees for solid waste disposal services by Concord Public Works be expended without further appropriation under the direction and control of the Town Manager.

ARTICLE 23. Sewer System Expenditures

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: That the income from user fees, special service fees and jobbing services by the Water and Sewer Division of Concord Public Works during the ensuing fiscal year, together with the balance of operating cash in the Sewer Fund, be expended without further appropriation under the direction and control of the Town Manager.

ARTICLE 24. Sewer Improvement Fund
Expenditures

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: That the income from sewer improvement fees during the ensuing fiscal year, together with the balance of operating cash in the Sewer Improvement Fund, be expended without further appropriation under the direction and control of the Town Manager.

ARTICLE 25. Water System Expenditures

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: That the income from user fees, special service fees, and jobbing services by the Water and Sewer Division of Concord Public Works during the ensuing fiscal year, together with the balance of operating cash in the Water Fund, be expended without further appropriation under the direction and control of the Town Manager.

ARTICLE 52. Fire Engine Replacement

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: To appropriate the sum of $420,000, to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager, for the purchase of Fire Dept. equipment - replacement of Engine 8 and other related costs, and to authorize the Selectmen to borrow this amount.

ARTICLE 53. Hunt Gymnasium Roof
Replacement

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: To appropriate the sum of $75,000, to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager, for remodeling, reconstructing or making extraordinary repairs to the Hunt Gymnasium roof and other related costs, and to authorize the Selectmen to borrow this amount.

ARTICLE 58. Debt Rescission

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: To rescind the unused balance of a $55,000 borrowing authorized under Article 58 of the 2003 Town Meeting for Ripley Building roof replacement.

ARTICLE 62. Rescission of Bicycle and Town Audit Bylaws

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: To rescind the Bicycle Bylaw adopted in 1956 and amended in 1975, and the Town Audit Bylaw adopted in 1939.

ARTICLE 63. Amendments to the Trash Pick Up Bylaw & Regulations of Vehicles Bylaws

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: To amend Section 2 of the Regulation of Vehicles Bylaw adopted in 1924, and to delete the entire text of the Trash Pickup Bylaw adopted in 1984, and replace it with a new text.

ARTICLE 64. Amendment to Make Town Bylaws Conform to the Non-Criminal Disposition of Violations Bylaw

Upon a Motion duly made and seconded, it was

Voted: To amend a number of bylaws to conform with the Bylaw for Non-Criminal Disposition of Violations of Town Bylaws so that the fines for violations are in accordance with Appendix A of the Regulations for Enforcement of Town Bylaws.

End of Consent Calendar