WARRANT ARTICLES
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
APRIL 8, 2003
Article 1 Omnibus Budget – Fiscal 2003
Article 2 Budget Adjustment For State Aid Cut
Article 3 Omnibus Budget – Fiscal 2004
Article 4 Morse Institute Library
Article 5 Bacon Free Library
Article 6 Elected Officials Salary
Article 7 Capital Equipment
Article 8 Capital Improvement
Article 9 Lease/Repair
Article 10 Commission on Disability: Handicap Improvements/Education Material
Article 11 Unpaid Bills
Article 12 Council on Aging Revolving Fund
Article 13 Wetlands Protection Revolving Fund
Article 14 Skating Rink Revolving Fund
Article 15 Board of Assessors: Increase Personal Exemption Amounts
Article 16 Amend By-Laws: Open Space Advisory Committee
Article 17 Amend 41C , Section 5, Chapter 59 MGL: Decrease eligibility Age,
Amemd eligibility amounts
Article 18 Accept MGL Chapter 59, Section 5K as amended by Section 52, S52,
Increasing Senior Work-Off Property Tax Reduction to $750.00
Article 19 Charter & By-Law Review Committee: Amend By-Laws Article 90
Article 20 Amend By-Laws: Eligibility for Membership on Finance Committee
Article 21 Amend By-Laws:Change Requirement for Full Text of Warrant in Newspaper
Article 22 Amend By-Laws: Allow Debate on Motion to Dissolve
Article 23 Street Acceptance: Stillman Circle
Article 24 Authorization To Sell and/or Dispose of Eliot School
Article 25 Committee Article
ARTICLE 1
(Town Administrator)
To determine what sum or sums of money the Town will appropriate and raise, or transfer from available funds, for the operation of the government of the Town of Natick, including debt and interest, and to provide for a reserve fund for Fiscal Year 2003 (July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003), and to see what budgets for Fiscal 2003 will be reduced to offset said additional appropriations, or take any action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 2
(Town Administrator)
To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, to supplement previous appropriations for the operation of the government of the Town of Natick for fiscal year 2003 (July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003); or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 3
(Town Administrator)
To determine what sum or sums of money the Town will appropriate and raise, or transfer from available funds, for the operation of the government of the Town of Natick, including debt and interest, and to provide for a reserve fund for Fiscal Year 2004 (July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004), or take any action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 4
(Morse Institute Library)
To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or otherwise provide, for the maintenance and operation of the Morse Institute Library, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004.
ARTICLE 5
(Bacon Free Library)
To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise, borrow or transfer and appropriate for the maintenance of the Bacon Free Library, or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 6
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elective officers of the Town of Natick for the fiscal year which begins on July 1, 2003 as provided by Section 108 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, as amended.
ARTICLE 7
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise, or otherwise provide, a sum or sums of money as may be required for capital equipment for the various departments of the Town of Natick, or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 8
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise, or otherwise provide, a sum or sums of money to implement a Capital Improvement Program, to protect the physical infrastructure of the Town of Natick, or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 9
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise, or otherwise provide, a sum or sums of money as may be required for the lease and/or repair of equipment for various departments of the Town of Natick, or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 10
(Commission on Disability)
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise, or otherwise provide a sum of money for the purchase and installation of audio tactile push button walk signals at various intersections in Natick, curb cut and access route installation and repairs and to provide for disability awareness/educational materials to be used with the public and private sector or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 11
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or otherwise provide such sums of money as may be required for the payment of unpaid bills of previous years, incurred by the departments, boards and officers of the Town of Natick, or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 12
(Council on Aging)
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 53E l/2 of the Massachusetts General Laws which allows towns to authorize separate revolving funds to which shall be credited receipts received in connection with the programs supported by such revolving fund. The Council on Aging would establish a revolving fund for a subsidized transportation program with receipts credited to this revolving fund, expended by the Council on Aging Director with the oversight by the Council on Aging and not to exceed $15,000 expenditures in fiscal 2004.
ARTICLE 13
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 53E l/2 of the Massachusetts General Laws, to establish a revolving fund in order to utilize fees paid to the Conservation Commission by applicants pursuant to the Natick Wetlands Protection By law for the purpose of hiring consultants; to authorize the Conservation Commission to expend money from said revolving fund; to establish a limit of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) on the total amount which may be expended from such fund in the fiscal year 2004; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 14
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 53E-l/2 of the Massachusetts General Laws, to establish a revolving fund to utilize money received from use of facilities at the West Suburban Arena, including without limitation rental charges, gate receipts and concession receipts, for the purpose of operation, maintenance and repair of the West Suburban Arena; to authorize the Board of Selectmen to expend money from such revolving fund; to determine a limit on the total amount which may be expended from such revolving fund in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003; or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 15
(Board of Assessors)
To see if the Town will vote to increase the Personal Exemption Amounts by 17.5% under the provisions of Chapter 126 of the Acts of 1988 which provides for “Optional Additional Property Tax Exemptions” allowing an annually determined, uniform increase in the amount of exemption in General Laws, Chapter 59 Section 5 Clauses 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37A, and 41C (elderly person, disabled veteran, or blind person).
ARTICLE 16
(Board of Selectmen)
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Natick By-Laws by adding a new Article 32, which reads:
Open Space Advisory Committee
Section 1 Composition, Term of Office
There shall be an Open Space Advisory Committee consisting of seven members appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Open Space Advisory Committee shall include one member of the Conservation Commission, one member of the Planning Board, one member of the Recreation and Parks Commission, and four at large members. Each person appointed to the Open Space Advisory Committee shall be a resident of the Town of Natick.
At the initial formation of the Open Space Advisory Committee the Board of Selectmen shall appoint three members to a three year term each, beginning July 1, 2003, two members to a two year term each, beginning July 1, 2003, and two members to a one year term each, beginning July 1, 2003. Thereafter each successor shall be appointed for a three year term.
Section 2 Powers and Duties
The Open Space Advisory Committee shall be an advisory body and a resource to the Board of Selectmen in carrying out the major goals outlined in the Natick Open Space and Recreation Plan and in revising the Natick Open Space and Recreation Plan as needed to comply with federal and Commonwealth of Massachusetts requirements and guidelines.
At lease once during each calendar year the Open Space Advisory Committee shall report to the Board of Selectmen regarding its activities.
Or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 17
(Council on Aging)
To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to the provisions of Section 51 of Chapter 184 of the Acts and Resolves of 2002, to change the following factors in the provisions of Clause Forty-first C of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws by:
reducing the age of eligibility from 70 years to 65 years;
changing the real estate to which the exemption applies from four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) of taxable value or the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) whichever would amount in an exemption of the greater amount of taxes due, to eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00) of taxable value or the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), whichever would amount in an exemption of the greater amount of taxes due;
increasing the eligibility amount for preceding year gross receipts from all sources from less than thirteen thousand dollars ($13,000.00) to not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for an unmarried person and from combined gross receipts with spouse of not less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) to not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) for married persons;
increasing the eligibility requirement for whole estate, real and personal, from not in excess of twenty-eight thousand dollars ($28,000.00) to not in excess of forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) for single persons and from not in excess of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) to not in excess of fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000.00) for married persons; and
increasing the whole estate exclusion for the value of real property occupied as the occupant’s domicile from up to two (2) dwelling units in addition to the dwelling unit occupied by the applicant to up to three (3) dwelling units in addition to the dwelling unit occupied by the applicant;
or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 18
(Council on Aging)
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 59, Section 5K of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended by Section 52 of Chapter 184 of the Acts and Resolves of 2002, thereby increasing from five hundred dollars ($500.00) to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) the maximum amount of reduction of a real property tax bill in a given tax year which may be granted to a person over the age of sixty (60) who provides volunteer services to the Town of Natick under the program established pursuant to Chapter 59, Section 5K of the Massachusetts General Laws; said increase to take effect in the fiscal year which begins July 1, 2003;
Or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 19
(Charter & By-Law Review Committee)
To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 90 of the Town of Natick By-Laws so that the language will apply to any amendment of the By-Laws and not just to the substitution of a complete new set as was done in 1967.
Rewrite Article 90 in its entirety so that it now reads as follows:
ARTICLE 90
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Section 1 Previous Actions Not Affected
The adoption or repeal of any by-law or portion of a by-law shall not affect any act done, any right accrued, any penalty or liability incurred, or any suit, prosecution, or proceeding pending at the time of taking effect.
Section 2 Time of Taking Effect
The adoption or repeal of any by-law or portion of a by-law shall take effect when it is approved and published as required by statute.
ARTICLE 20
(Town Moderator)
To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 23 of the Town of Natick By-Laws in order to clarify or change eligibility for membership on the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE 21
(Town Moderator)
To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 1 of the Town of Natick By-Laws in order to change the requirement to publish the full text of the warrant in a newspaper and substitute instead a list of the topics on the warrant or a concise summary of the warrant or a notice where the full text of the warrant may be obtained; or, alternatively, to eliminate the requirement to publish anything in a newspaper.
ARTICLE 22
(Town Moderator)
To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 3 of the Town of Natick By-Laws in order to allow debate on the motion to dissolve when there is unfinished business at Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 23
(Town Administrator)
To see if the Town will vote to accept Stillman Circle and appurtenant easements as laid out and filed with the Town Clerk, and as shown on the street acceptance plan on file with the Town Clerk.
ARTICLE 24
(Board of Selectmen)
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey all or a portion of the Eliot School property, which property is shown on the Natick Assessors’ Maps as Map 63, Lot 1; to determine the minimum consideration which shall be paid for such conveyance; to determine what conditions and restrictions shall apply to said conveyance; or otherwise act thereon.
ARTICLE 25
(Board of Selectmen)
To hear and act upon the reports of the several Town officers and reports of committees authorized by vote of any further Town Meeting and to authorize a sum of money for the purpose thereof.
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