TEWKSBURY — On Tuesday evening, the town of Tewksbury convened its October 2017 Special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Moderator Jayne Miller opened the meeting with a moment of silence, recognizing the victims of the Las Vegas massacre, including Tewksbury resident Rhonda LeRocque.
13 articles were presented in the warrant, items covering the transfer of free cash, appropriation of funds to the FY2018 town budgets, and use of Community Preservation Funds for new fencing at the soccer fields and next steps in the proposed bike path. An amended tax title by-law was considered and an article limiting the hours of construction noise was withdrawn.
Funding to cover the various transfers and projects comes from Free Cash, which is defined in the Special Town Meeting Supplemental Handout as “Remaining, unrestricted funds from operations of the previous fiscal year including unexpended Free Cash from the previous year, actual receipts in excess of revenue estimates shown on the tax recapitulation sheet, and unspent amounts in budget line-items.”
The Town of Tewksbury has an A++ rating from Standard and Poors, an assessment of its fiscal position and strong budgetary performance and strong liquidity. According to the report, which is available on the town’s website, 74.1 percent of the town’s debt is due to be retired over the next 10 years.
Article 1 asked to raise and appropriate $2,024,585 for town and school department budgets for FY2018. The school funds consist of $386,306 towards school salaries, $60,000 towards school operations, $64,500 towards school capital overlay, $75,290 towards school health insurance, and $11,311 towards school Medicare.
Additional funds are available, according to the warrant, since state and local revenue will be higher than projected. Funding will go toward school salaries, maintenance contracts, health insurance, a mobile lift for the high school, servers and to fix broken equipment.
On the town side, new electronic voting tabulators will be purchased, new dog license software, facilities maintenance and mowing, and items such as a power stretcher for the fire department, line painting for the police department, and a new chiller at the public library.
The town funds consist of $4,174 towards Town Clerk salaries, $37,881 towards Town Clerk capital overlay, $20,000 towards facilities and grounds utilities, $28,400 towards facilities and grounds leases and contracts, $6,500 towards facilities and grounds repairs and maintenance, $52,851 towards facilities and grounds capital overlay, $75,965 towards police capital overlay, $32,000 towards fire capital overlay, $1,500 towards computer salaries, $74,000 towards library capital overlay, $30,000 towards DPW fleet capital overlay, and $35,000 towards DPW engineering capital overlay.
The motion carried.
Article 2 was a standard approval for payment of late bills. Town Meeting requires this step. The motion carried.
Article 3 asked for $650,000 to fund a new fire engine to replace the department’s 1994 Emergency-One Protector fire engine. The TFD has been using a decommissioned engine from Wilmington. Additional funds will go toward roadway improvements on Carter Street, and paving of Andover Street from Fiske Street to River Road.
A much anticipated $250,000 will be used for the repair and installation of sidewalks as part of a larger Sidewalk Master Plan being undertaken by the town. Several residents asked for clarification about the paving, including details about the use of Chapter 90 money to supplement the Free Cash portion of the cost, and design questions regarding the road. Town Manager Richard Montuori said that residents of Carter Street will be included in the design discussion. The motion carried.
Article 4 Transfers $361,005 from the certified General Fund Free Cash to offset the future cost of the town’s share of the Sutton Brook Landfill Operations and Maintenance. The town’s share of the cost is 24.78 percent and will be required for the next 30 years. The motion carried.
Article 5 Transfer the sum of $1,225,for maintenance work for Tewksbury Public School buildings such as water heaters, painting, new fire alarm systems, heating controls, and an extensive door replacement project, improving energy efficiency and safety. A resident asked for clarification of capital expenditure vs. maintenance and improvements. School superintendent Christopher Malone took to the podium to address the question. The motion carried.
Articles 6 and 7 asked to Raise and Appropriate $183,947 from Water Rates and $48,785 from Sewer Rates for retiree health care and occupational health insurance liabilities. The motions carried, though some dissent was heard in the back of the room.
Article 8 Transfer $100,000 from the certified Cable Enterprise Fund Enterprise Retained Earnings for the purpose of bringing fiber optic cable to town and school buildings. This Second Phase will make fiber optic available to the Recreation Facility on Livingston Street, Water Treatment Plant, Dewing School, Heath Brook School and North Fire Station. The motion carried.
Article 9 Transfers $1,669,722 from certified General Fund Free Cash to the Town Stabilization Fund: This is for future one-time capital expenditures or emergencies that the town may encounter. The motion carried.
Article 10 Appropriated $50,000 from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Reserve for new fencing at the Sal Frasca soccer complex off of North Street. The motion carried.
Article 11 Appropriated $50,000 from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Reserve for designing the next phase of the proposed bike path. A resident asked for a history of earlier expenditures, and Miller, also the chairperson of Tewksbury Rail Trails, stepped from the podium and answered the question. The motion carried.
Article 12 transfers care of the Ella Fleming School from the School Department to the Town of Tewksbury. A resident asked what the town had planned for the building and Selectmen Mark Kratman said an evaluation of condition would be undertaken in order to determine the best use. The motion carried.
Article 13, a noise bylaw amendment, was withdrawn.
Article 14 addresses modification of tax title procedures to restrict bidding on parcels under 5,000 square feet to abutters only, and anything larger to go to an open bid process. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
