LIVE BLOG: Town Meeting 2011

There are 40 articles on the warrant. Check back here for updates throughout the evening.

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7:05 p.m. Town Meeting is started. Father Waters read a prayer, the moderator is introducing the selectmen, School Committe and Finance Committee.

" We are late by four weeks," he said. "But baseball season has gotten better."

7:45 p.m. Residents zipped through the first 12 articles, approving every one. Local officials' salaries will remain the same. The senior work program is safe. And the town will pay its past bills.

Next up is the cell phone article which is expected to take a while.

7:50 p.m. It seems Bob Ercolini may be trying to amend Article 18 (budget article, they haven't gotten to that one yet) to eliminate funding for the education contract. There are just under 400 people here.

8:45 p.m. Cell phone tower article has failed. More people voted for it than against, but it didn't get the 2/3 needed. There was a lot of intense debate, including one resident who cited the recent WHO report linking cell phones to brain cancer. He even brought up Ted Kennedy (there has been no suggestion that Sen. Kennedy's brain tumor had anything to do with cell phones). Another resident asked if she could have a pig farm on her street if bylaws are going to be dismissed like this article sought.

9:45 p.m. The meals tax has failed 164-171. There was a lot of empassioned debate on this one too. Salisbury tried with card count but it was too close to call so he moved to a hard count.

Selectman Chair Daniel Lanen drew the first laughter of the evening and wide spread clapping when he argued against the proposed meals tax saying, "You'll hear the argument that we pay this tax when we eat out in other towns. Well, you shouldn't be eating outside North Andover so that's a bad argument."

10:10 p.m. Bob Ercolini's Article 17 has failed. Ercolini said its intention is to petition the Legislature to set aside funds through an operational override to pay for retiree benefits.

"Next year we will come back another motion," he said "It just raises the issue with the State House."

Town Manager Mark Rees said, "Mr. Ercolini is entirely correct. I do not believe his method is the correct one. We need to work with the Legislature. I agree this is a major problem but it is a state-wide problem.

11:00 p.m. Budget approved by voters. Bob Ercolini's motion (to remove funding for school contract) failed.

11:30 p.m. Article 27 passed unanimously, putting $125,000 back into the Police Department's budget.

12:00 a.m. Town Meeting is done, completed in one night.

 

 

 

Article Yes/No Yes Votes No Votes 1. Reports of Special Committees Yes

2. Reports of Receipts and Expenditures Yes

3. Authorization of Town Manager or Superintendent Regarding Contracts in Excess of Three Years Yes

4. Authorization to Accept Grants of Easements Yes

5. Authorization to Grant Easements Yes

6. Compensation of Elected Officials Yes

7. Prior Years Unpaid Bills Yes

8. Establishment of Revolving Funds Yes

9. Senior Work Program – $18,000 Authorization Yes

10. Amend General Fund Appropriation For FY 2011 Yes

11. Amend Stevens Estate Appropriation for FY 2011 Yes

12. Amend Capital Improvement Plan Appropriations from Prior Years Yes

13. Amend Zoning Bylaw, Section 8.9 Wireless Service Facilities No 234 132 14. Amend Zoning Bylaw Section 3 Zoning Districts Withdrawn

15. Tax Increment Financing Plan


16. Adopt Local Meals Excise Tax No

17. Appropriate Additional $12 million, Subject to Proposition 2 1⁄2 Override vote, for Special Reserve Funds.
No

18. General Fund Appropriation Fiscal Year 2012 Yes


19. Special Stabilization Fund – Reserve for Future Payroll No Action


20. Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund No Action

21. Appropriation into the Stabilization Fund No Action

22. $40,000 to Maintain Elder Services Program Manager Position. No Action

23. Transfer from Food Consultants Revolving Fund to the Health Department No Action

24. Water Enterprise Fund Appropriation FY 2012 Yes
Unanimous

25. Sewer Enterprise Fund Appropriation FY 2012. Yes
Voice Vote

26. Stevens Estate Enterprise Fund Appropriation FY 2012 Yes
Voice Vote

27. Capital Improvement Plan Appropriation FY 2012 Yes


28. Amend Zoning Bylaw - Resident 4 District-Permitted Uses Withdrawn


29. Community Preservation Committee Report and Community Preservation Fund Appropriation
Yes


30. Municipal Group Insurance Committee Legislation Yes
82
13
31. Petition to Exempt Town from Portions of Prevailing Wage Act


32. Petition - Collective Bargaining Town Meeting Approval Yes
88
19
33. Petition to Change Town Charter Chapter 4-7-1, Responsibilities for Disbursements Yes
Unanimous

34. Petition for Age Exemption – Sean C. Lewis, Firefighter Yes
Unanimous

35. Amend By-Law Chapter 146, Recreational Uses on Lake Cochichewick and its Tributaries Yes


36. Amend By-Law, Require Vaccination for Dogs No Action


37. Amend Fire Alarms-Section 69-2 - Alarm Installation and Permit Requirements, Changing Effective Date from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2014 Yes
Unanimous

38. Road Way Acceptance - Carter Field Road Yes


39. Authority to Dispose of Interest in Land Behind Chickering Plaza No


40. Transfer Town Owned Land to Conservation Commission Yes
Unanimous