ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 6, 2008
The Annual Town Meeting for Egremont was called to order by Moderator Thomas Gage at the TACPAC, Mt Everett School, at 7:12 p.m. Moderator attested to the presence of a quorum and to the proper service of the warrant. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of silence observed for police, fire fighters, and military personnel. Town Officials were introduced and the Moderator set the rules for the meeting.
At this meeting the following actions took place:
ARTICLE 1: No reports were given under this article.
ARTICLE 2: Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate (unless otherwise noted) the following amounts: Motion was approved by majority hand count vote.
1. OFFICIALS AND BOARDS
A. Accounting Officer Expense $ 500.00
B. Accounting Officer 13,000.00
C. Affordable housing Comm 0.00
D. Assessor’s Consulting 20,000.00
E. Assessor’s Expense 4,575.00
F. Assessor Salary #1 4,541.00
FF. Assessor Salary #2 4,541.00
FFF. Assessor Salary # 3 4,541.00
G. Board of Appeals Expense 160.00
H. Board of Health Expense 5,425.00
I. Board of Health Clerk Wages 16,163.00
J. Board of health Agent Wages 18,193.00
K. Board of Health Food Inspector 650.00
L. Building Inspector Salary 23,117.00
M. Conservation Comm Expense 500.00
N. Constable’s Salary 523.00
O. Finance Comm Expense 700.00
P. Inspectors’ Expenses 2,700.00
Q. Planning Board Expense 2,700.00
R. Planning Board Wages $ 270.00
S. Sel Office Administrator 47,807.00
T. Selectmen Office Expense 11,920.00
U. Selectman #1 Salary 5,674.00
V. Selectman #2 Salary 5,159.00
W. Selectman #3 Salary 5,159.00
X. Town Clerk Expense 3,900.00
Y. Town Clerk Salary 8,053.00
Z. Town Hall Office Clerk 27,267.00
AA.Treasurer/Collector Expense 8,910.00
BB.Treasurer/CollectorSalary 45,749.00
Total: $ 292,397.00
2. TOWN EXPENSES
A. Animal Control Officer 2,247.00
B. Animal Control Expenses 1,200.00
C. Audit 5,050.00
D. Berk County Group Purchasing 400.00
E. Board of Registrars Salary 50.00
F. Compactor Operation 69,745.00
G. Compactor Operator Salary 18,473.00
H. Compactor substitute Wages 4,051.00
I. Computer Expenses 28,110.00
J .Drug and Alcohol Tests 360.00
K. Egremont Newsletter 4,230.00
L. Election Wages 4,500.00
M. High Speed Internet 1, 528.00
N. Historical commission Expense 1,200.00
O. Inspector of Animals 500.00
P. Legal Expenses 250.00
Q. Legal Fees 7,000.00
R. Moderator 215.00
S. School Committee 1,842.00
T. School Crossing Guard 4,766.00
U. So Berk Chamber of Commerce 206.00
V. Surplus Procurement 500.00
W. Town Report 800.00
X. Town Telephone 7,200.00
Y. Zoning Bylaws 1,000.00
Total: $ 165,423.00
3. TOWN MAINTENANCE
A. Bldg maintenance General Exp 12,800.00
B. Bldg maintenance Utility Exp 39,211.00
C. Building Maintenance Wages 10,347.00
D. Maintenance Superintendent 39,398.00
E. Cemetery Maintenance 100.00
F. French Park Maintenance 3,626.00
G. French Park Overtime Wages 3,421.00
H. French park Wages 9,760.00
I. Public Lighting 4,680.00
J. Building Improvements 5,000.00
K. Tree Work 10,000.00
L. Tree Warden 5,669.00
Total: $ 144,012.00
4. HIGHWAYS
A. Const and maintenance Wages 4,409.00
B. Construction and maintenance 165,000.00
C. Personnel Member Foreman 36,763.00
D. Personnel member B 35,446.00
E. Personnel Member C 34,338.00
F. Superintendent Salary 54,459.00
G. Snow and Ice Removal 70,000.00
H. Snow and Ice Removal Wages 23,147.00
Total: $ 423,562.00
5. LIBRARY
A. Expenses 8,000.00
B. Librarian’s Salary 16,696.00
C. Library Substitute Wages 850.00
Total: $ 25,546.00
6. POLICE
A. Chief Expenses $ 2,700.00
B. Chief Salary 57,476.00
C. Collective Bargaining 182,213.00
D. Department Expenses 10,899.00
E. Police Wages-Secretary 12,688.00
F. Vehicle Expenses 21,712.00
Total $ 287,688.00
7. FIRE AND EMERGENCY
A. Dispatch Facilities 7,625.00
B. Emergency Management 3,000.00
C. Emergency Management Wages 2,500.00
D. Fire Department Expense 35,000.00
E. Draft Hydrants 5,000.00
F. Firefighters Stipend 22,000.00
G. Forest Fires 1,000.00
H. Street Number 911 200.00
I. Alert-Now Rapid Notification 1,500.00
J. So Berkshire emergency Planning 500.00
Total $ 78,325.00
8. DEBT & INTEREST
A. Interest Short Term Debt 1.00
B. Loan consolidation 43,011.00
C. Fire Truck Loan 42,175.00
Total $ 85,187.00
9. HUMAN SERVICES
A. Brien Center/Mental Health 958.00
B. Berkshire South Community Center 1,000.00
C. Community Health Programs 1,000.00
D. Berkshire Community Action Council 1,000.00
E. Construct, Inc 400.00
F. Council on Aging 1,900.00
G. Eagle Fund 1,000.00
H. Egremont Garden Club 200.00
I. Elizabeth Freeman Center 500.00
J. Fairview Hospital 1,500.00
K. Housatonic Valley Association 250.00
L. Hospice Care in the Berkshires, Inc 750.00
M. Lee VNA 4,200.00
N. Railroad Street Youth Project 1,500.00
O. So Berkshire Elderly Transport 5,025.00
P. So Berkshire Literacy Network 400.00
Total $ 21,583.00
10. INSURANCE
A. Health/Dental 145,000.00
B. Pension 95,481.00
C. Property & Casualty 88,560.00
D. Social Security/Medicare 10,150.00
E. Unemployment 4,200.00
Total $ 343,391.00
11. RESERVE FUND* $ 25,000.00
(Transfer from Overlay Surplus)
Total Raise & Appropriate
Total Transfers
ARTICLE 4: Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the following sums of money for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District Budget:
A. Minimum Net Required Operating $ 933,358.00
B. Additional Operating Spending 362,890.00
C. Capital Costs 153,238.00
Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 5: Motion made and seconded to postpone indefinitely action on this article. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 6: Motion made and seconded to appropriate the following amounts to be expended under the direction of the Water Commissioners in order to operate and fund the Egremont Water Department.
A. Debt Service-Princ/Int $ 75,000.00
B. Operating Expenses 18,600.00
C. Wages/Salaries 62,000.00
D. Utilities 14,000.00
E. Office Expense 1,250.00
F. Insurance 20,000.00
G. Audit 2,450.00
Total $ 193,300.00
And that necessary funds be raised from Water Department Revenues. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 7: Motion made and seconded to transfer from the Cemetery Sale of Lots Account the sum of $2,000.00 for repair and maintenance projects at town cemeteries. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 8: Motion made and seconded to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow $100,000.00 to purchase a new loader for the Highway Department. 2/3rds vote necessary for approval. Motion carried by a vote of 72 Yes to 28 No.
ARTICLE 9: Motion made and seconded to transfer from Free Cash the sum of $105,000.00 to paint the Town Hall and Library. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 10: Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,420.00 to remove trees and make repairs to the façade of the Town Hall. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 11: Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 to pay a bill from a previous year to cover legal expense to appear in the United States Court of Appeals owed to Hannon & Lerner Attorney’s at Law. 4/5ths vote necessary for approval. Motion carried by a vote of 74 Yes to 0 No.
ARTICLE 12: Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the sum of $204.02 to pay a bill from a previous year owed to the Animal Control Officer for mileage reimbursement. Motion carried by unanimous hand count vote.
ARTICLE 13: Motion made and seconded to transfer from Free Cash the sum of $12,500 to pay a consultant to conduct an engineering study for the Annex Building. Motion defeated by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 14: Motion made and seconded to transfer from Free Cash the sum of $27,000.00 to purchase a new two-wheel drive police cruiser for the Police Department. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 15: Motion made and seconded to take no action under this article. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 16: Motion made and seconded to have the Town vote to elect Southern Berkshire Regional School District Committee Members with residency requirements in district-wide elections to be held at the biennial state elections beginning at the earliest possible date by amending the SBRSD Regional Agreement by striking the entire section under, “2. THE COMMITTEE and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “The powers and duties of the District shall be exercised by and vested in a Regional District School Committee, (hereinafter referred to as the Committee). The Committee shall consist of 10 members with residency requirements as follows: one from Alford, two from Egremont, one from Monterey, two from New Marlborough and four from Sheffield.
a) Pursuant to MGL c&! s 14E, members shall be elected in biennial state elections in 2008 or no later than 2010 by way of district-wide elections with residency requirements, which will result in the required number of members who are residents of the appropriate town, to serve for a term of four years and thereafter until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified. For the purposes of arrangements on the ballot, offices having the same residency requirement shall appear on the ballot distance from offices having different residency requirements, provided always that there shall appear on the ballot appropriate instruction to the effect, “you may vote for every position on the Southern Berkshire Regional School District Committee, regardless of where you live in the district.”
b) )Transition from current appointive members to elective members shall be reached by continuing each Town’s appointive process until elected member successors have been duly elected and qualified. In order to manage this transition, all current and any future appointive members of the school committee will have terms that cannot extend beyond the time elective successors would be duly elected and qualified.
c) To fill member’s positions vacated prior to the end of member’s elected terms, each Town shall establish locally elected officials to act as appointive authority pursuant to MGL c71, s 14E(5).
d) If any vacancy occurs among appointed or elected members after acceptance of this amendment, the appointive authority for school committee members in the Town so affected and the remaining Committee member(s) of the Town affected, acting jointly, shall appoint a member to serve until the next biennial state election, at which election a successor shall be elected to serve a full four year term. If any vacancy occurs in a Town with only one member, the appointive authority from the Town involved shall appoint a member to serve until the next biennial state election, at which election a successor shall be elected to serve a full four year term.”
A secret ballot vote was required for this article. Motion carried by a vote of
100 Yes to 0 NO.
ARTICLE 17: Motion made and seconded to transfer from certified Free Cash the sum of $50,000.00 to the Stabilization Fund. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 18: Motion made and seconded to have the Town accept funds being provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General laws, to pay such costs as allowed by appropriate legislation in connection with maintenance, repair, and construction of Town ways. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 19: Motion made and seconded to have the Town approve, under the provisions of Massachusetts General laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41C, the local option for tax exemptions to increase the amount of income for a single person from $13,000.00 to $20,000.00 and for a married person from $15,000.00 to $30,000.00, and the assets of a single person from $28,000.00 to $ 40,000.00 and for a married person from $30,000.00 to $50,000.00. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 20: Motion made and seconded to approve the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 17E, which provides that the amount of the whole estate, real and personal, as set forth in Clause 17D, which is currently available and will remain as a property tax exemption option in the Town of Egremont, shall be increased annually by an amount equal to the cost of living (COLA) adjustment as published by the Department of Revenue. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 21: Motion made and seconded to adopt the provision added by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 1995 to Massachusetts General laws, Chapter 59, Section 5, which offers communities the option of increasing each year the amount of the exemption granted to certain senior citizens and surviving spouses under Clause 17D by an amount equal to the full cost of living adjustment (COLA) as published by by the Department of Revenue. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
***ARTICLES 19, 20, and 21 were all voted on at the same time and approved by a majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 22: Motion made and seconded to authorize the use of revolving funds for the following programs and purposes:
a. French Park $ 3,000.00
b. Home Composting Bins 1,000.00
c. Zoning Board of Appeals 1,500.00
d. Dog Fund 5,000.00
e. Inspector Wages 15,000.00
(Exceptions: Building Inspector and Health Inspector)
which revolving funds together shall not exceed the sum of $25,500.00, which shall be under the control of the Town Treasurer, which shall be accounted for separately and to which shall be credited only the departmental receipts received in connection with the programs supported by each revolving fund; further to authorize the Town Treasurer to expend from such funds in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2 as amended by Sections 72 and 73 of the Acts of 1994 of the Massachusetts General Laws, provided, however, that said expenditures for all revolving funds shall not exceed the receipts for such funds. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 23: Motion made and seconded to, pursuant to G.L. c82A, section 2, to authorize the Board of Selectmen to designate the board or officer to regulate trenches as that term is defined by said law and the provisions of 520 CMR 14.00 et seq. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 24: Motion made and seconded to have voters of the Town of Egremont vote to adopt the following resolution on the next available ballot: RESOLVED: All town of Egremont property tax payers have the same right to speak at the town’s Annual Meeting and all other town meetings as those who are registered to vote in the Town of Egremont, subject to the right of the Egremont Moderator to maintain order at Town Meetings. Motion carried by majority voice vote.
ARTICLE 25: Motion made and seconded that the matter of the discontinuance of Millard Road and its ramifications be referred to a committee to be appointed immediately following Town Election by the Selectboard. Such committee to consist of one member of the Selectboard, the Finance Committee, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Highway Superintendent, and Emergency Preparedness including Fire and Police to study and make a written report delivered no later than six weeks prior to the next Town Meeting. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 26; Motion made and seconded that there be submitted on the next written ballot for town-wide vote an article to amend Section 4 of the Bylaws so that it reads “The presence of one hundred voters at a Town Meeting for the transaction of business shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a Town Meeting. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 27: Under this article, the following action took place: There is hereby appointed a Draft Hydrant Committee, whose function is to maintain and repair existing draft hydrants and to install additional hydrants. The Draft Hydrant Committee has the authority, with the approval of the Egremont Fire Chief and within approved budget limits, to purchase needed draft hydrant pipes, fittings, and supplies, to repair defective hydrants, to paint and test hydrants, and to install new hydrants.
Members of the Draft Hydrant Committee may be removed and appointed from time to time by the Selectboard. The following persons have volunteered to serve on the Draft Hydrant Committee: James Olmsted, Chairman, Assistant Fire Chief; Jack Muskrat, member of the Egremont Conservation Commission; Don Chester, professional engineer; John Walther and William Weigle, citizens. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
Meeting dissolved at 12:05 a.m.
Margaret A Muskrat
Egremont Town Clerk