1 00:00:10,150 --> 00:00:38,430 On behalf of the League of Women Voters, we are going to read the Williamstown town warrant today. I'm Stephanie Boyd, Chair of the Williamstown Select Board. And I'm Fred Putter, Chair of the Williamstown Finance Committee. So, without further ado, we will dive into Article 1, Election of Town Officers. To choose one select board member for a one-year term, two select board members for three-year terms, and the election occurs on May 12th, 2006. 2 00:00:38,430 --> 00:00:43,550 After this document is gone to printer, election results are posted on the town website. 3 00:00:45,090 --> 00:00:51,390 And number two, reports of town committees to see if the town will vote to accept the reports 4 00:00:51,390 --> 00:00:58,110 of the select board, the town manager, and all other officers and committees and act thereon. 5 00:00:58,690 --> 00:01:00,970 Article three, a preparation for debt service. 6 00:01:01,390 --> 00:01:05,390 To see the town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds 7 00:01:05,390 --> 00:01:10,370 to some of $343,000 or any other sum to pay interest and 8 00:01:10,370 --> 00:01:13,590 maturing debt which take other actions related there too. 9 00:01:15,190 --> 00:01:17,410 Article 4, capital improvement program. 10 00:01:17,910 --> 00:01:20,390 To see if the time will vote to raise an appropriate or 11 00:01:20,390 --> 00:01:25,670 appropriate from available funds to some of $1,450,000 12 00:01:25,670 --> 00:01:29,530 or any other sum for the following capital expenditures and 13 00:01:29,530 --> 00:01:31,870 take any other actions related there too. 14 00:01:33,750 --> 00:01:36,490 Article 5, Williams town sewer department. 15 00:01:37,230 --> 00:01:39,170 To see if the town will vote to appropriate 16 00:01:39,170 --> 00:01:40,870 from estimated sewer receipts, 17 00:01:41,430 --> 00:01:44,470 the sum of $466,000 or any other sum, 18 00:01:45,170 --> 00:01:46,630 to pay the interest of maturing debt 19 00:01:46,630 --> 00:01:48,710 and for charges, expenses, and outlays 20 00:01:48,710 --> 00:01:49,710 of the sewer department, 21 00:01:49,950 --> 00:01:51,370 would take any other action 22 00:01:51,370 --> 00:01:52,770 in relation there, too. 23 00:01:53,910 --> 00:01:56,090 Article 6, the Music Water Quality District. 24 00:01:56,790 --> 00:01:58,870 To see if the town will vote to appropriate 25 00:01:58,870 --> 00:02:00,290 estimated sewer receipts, 26 00:02:00,290 --> 00:02:06,990 the sum of $1,087,000 or any other sum to pay the interest in maturing debt and for 27 00:02:06,990 --> 00:02:11,550 Chargers expenses and outlays to the huzark water quality district were taking the other 28 00:02:11,550 --> 00:02:18,270 action in relation there too. Article 7 is the water department. To see if a time of 29 00:02:18,270 --> 00:02:26,030 oak to appropriate missmated water receipts the sum of $715,000 or any other sum to pay interest 30 00:02:26,030 --> 00:02:33,610 ensuring debt and for charges, expenses, and other delays of the water department or take any other action in relation there too. 31 00:02:35,470 --> 00:02:37,290 Next is the water rate article 8. 32 00:02:38,430 --> 00:02:47,970 To see if the time will in accordance with section 7, chapter 606, the X and the X in resolves of 1941 33 00:02:47,970 --> 00:02:54,730 to vote to approve municipal water rate of $4.04 per 100 cubic feet of water 34 00:02:54,730 --> 00:03:01,530 as fixed by the select board at their meeting of April 13, 2016, to be effective July 1st. 35 00:03:01,830 --> 00:03:03,470 Sorry, that was 2006. 36 00:03:04,610 --> 00:03:10,530 To be effective July 1st, 2026, we'll take any other reaction in relation there, too. 37 00:03:12,970 --> 00:03:15,110 Transportation Department, Article 9. 38 00:03:15,950 --> 00:03:20,250 To see if the time will vote to appropriate from estimated transfer station receipts 39 00:03:20,250 --> 00:03:27,790 or other available funds, the sum of $249,000 or any other sum, to pay the interest 40 00:03:27,790 --> 00:03:31,890 maturing debt and for charges, expenses and outlays of the transfer station 41 00:03:31,890 --> 00:03:37,510 department, including the cost of public trash removal or take any other action 42 00:03:37,510 --> 00:03:44,530 in relation there too. Article 10 is the chapter 90 highway funds to see if the 43 00:03:44,530 --> 00:03:48,690 time will vote to raise an appropriate from chapter 90 funds that are or may 44 00:03:48,690 --> 00:03:53,130 become available to the town during the fiscal year for capital projects and to authorize 45 00:03:53,130 --> 00:03:59,150 the treasure to borrow such amounts and anticipation of reimbursement by the Commonwealth would 46 00:03:59,150 --> 00:04:01,470 take any other action in relation there too. 47 00:04:01,810 --> 00:04:08,750 I'll say that a few times today, Article 7 to fund other post-employment benefits. 48 00:04:09,630 --> 00:04:14,410 To see if the town will vote to transfer from the General Fund unreserved fund balance to 49 00:04:14,410 --> 00:04:21,010 some of $50,000 to other post-employment benefits liability trust fund, established on the 50 00:04:21,010 --> 00:04:27,630 visions of Massachusetts Journal law chapter 32b, section 20, would take any other actions 51 00:04:27,630 --> 00:04:28,590 related there too. 52 00:04:31,770 --> 00:04:36,690 Article 12 is the Revolving Fund Spending Limits. To see if the time will 53 00:04:36,690 --> 00:04:44,570 vote to set annual spending limits for Revolving Funds for fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30 54 00:04:45,970 --> 00:04:56,650 under the provisions of Massachusetts General Chapter 44 Section 53e and a half, if that's possible. 55 00:04:58,090 --> 00:05:03,130 Next is the largest sum of money. It's Article 13 to fund general government. 56 00:05:03,950 --> 00:05:08,710 To see if the time will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds, 57 00:05:08,710 --> 00:05:15,310 the sum of $10,902,000 or any other sum to pay the interest, 58 00:05:15,610 --> 00:05:20,430 maturing debt, and for charges expenses not lays for several town departments, 59 00:05:20,610 --> 00:05:24,050 including the executive, the administration of finance, community development, 60 00:05:24,310 --> 00:05:27,050 public safety, public works, and human services. 61 00:05:28,710 --> 00:05:31,970 Article 14, the finance committee reserve fund. 62 00:05:32,350 --> 00:05:36,870 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 63 00:05:36,870 --> 00:05:42,690 For the Finance Committee Reserve Fund, we're taking any other actions related there too. 64 00:05:43,890 --> 00:05:49,810 Article 15 is for the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District, also known as 65 00:05:49,810 --> 00:05:50,590 McCann School. 66 00:05:51,630 --> 00:05:55,430 To see if the time will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from other funds, 67 00:05:55,990 --> 00:06:02,970 the sum of $344,000, or any other sum, being Williamstown's share of the Northern Berkshire 68 00:06:02,970 --> 00:06:09,290 a vocational regional school district's fiscal year 2027 budget or take any other reaction 69 00:06:09,290 --> 00:06:11,030 any action related there too. 70 00:06:13,150 --> 00:06:18,890 Article 16, Monk Raylock Regional School District, you see if the time will vote to raise and 71 00:06:18,890 --> 00:06:28,910 appropriate or appropriate from available funds, the sum of $16,843,000, or any other sum being 72 00:06:28,910 --> 00:06:34,790 Williamson's share of the Mount Graylock Regional School District's fiscal year 2027 budget 73 00:06:34,790 --> 00:06:38,150 would take any other action related there, too. 74 00:06:39,590 --> 00:06:45,230 And before I turn over to Stephanie, I'll do Article 17, Resin prior boring authorization 75 00:06:46,330 --> 00:06:51,430 to see if the town will vote to rescind the unused barring authority voted under previous 76 00:06:51,430 --> 00:06:56,970 town meetings, articles, or act any other manner related there, too, and this relates to the 77 00:06:56,970 --> 00:06:58,710 barring for the Cable Beals project. 78 00:06:59,590 --> 00:07:00,350 Stephanie? 79 00:07:00,610 --> 00:07:01,670 Thanks, Fred. 80 00:07:02,050 --> 00:07:08,230 I will start off with Article 18, which is a citizens petition to ban second-generation 81 00:07:08,230 --> 00:07:11,410 anti-coagulant rodenta sides or escars. 82 00:07:12,190 --> 00:07:17,610 Article 18 says to determine whether the town will authorize the select board to petition 83 00:07:17,610 --> 00:07:22,210 the general court for special legislation substantially in the form below. 84 00:07:22,210 --> 00:07:28,470 That notwithstanding chapter 132 B of the general laws or any other general or special 85 00:07:28,470 --> 00:07:33,890 law to the contrary, the town of Williams town may by ordinance prohibit the application 86 00:07:33,890 --> 00:07:40,010 of second-generation anti-quagalant rodenticides within the town of Williams town, including application 87 00:07:40,010 --> 00:07:49,230 of such pesticides by licensed commercial applicators as defined in 333 CMR-10, except as 88 00:07:49,230 --> 00:07:52,630 allowed by the Board of Health to remediate a public health condition. 89 00:07:53,290 --> 00:07:56,830 And then there is much longer text there which you can read at home. 90 00:07:59,030 --> 00:08:05,650 Our next article is also a citizen's petition, article 19, to prohibit the land application 91 00:08:05,650 --> 00:08:08,030 of sewage sludge-derived materials. 92 00:08:08,670 --> 00:08:14,270 To see if the town of Williamstown will vote to amend chapter 27 environmental hazards 93 00:08:14,270 --> 00:08:20,450 of the Code of the Town of Williams Town by inserting a new Article III entitled Prohibition 94 00:08:20,450 --> 00:08:26,490 of the Land Application of Sewage and Sewage Sludge Derived Materials, as set forth below 95 00:08:26,490 --> 00:08:30,210 or take any other action relative there too. 96 00:08:32,610 --> 00:08:42,190 And the next article is a third-citizens petition reduction of single-use bags. 97 00:08:42,790 --> 00:08:48,210 article 20 to see if the town of Williams town will amend the general by laws 98 00:08:48,210 --> 00:08:56,330 by revising chapter 27 article two as follows. This is going to be the most 99 00:08:56,330 --> 00:09:00,950 confusing article because it's got a lot of crossouts and yes it's difficult to 100 00:09:00,950 --> 00:09:05,230 actually just everyone really take a read of this one yeah just a lot of cross 101 00:09:05,230 --> 00:09:17,730 out and adding in some. Okay and then we will move ahead to article 21. Print 102 00:09:17,730 --> 00:09:22,490 fee digital notices for the town of Williams Town. To see if the town will 103 00:09:22,490 --> 00:09:26,610 vote to authorize and we press the select board to petition the Massachusetts 104 00:09:26,610 --> 00:09:31,410 General Court for special legislation to allow the town to satisfy requirements 105 00:09:31,410 --> 00:09:38,230 for legal notices set forth in the general laws by allowing the publication of notices in local 106 00:09:38,230 --> 00:09:48,550 digital newspapers, print media, or both as a town shall determine. And Article 22, property tax 107 00:09:48,550 --> 00:09:55,210 exemption. To see if the town will vote to adjust the relevant income and asset limit exemptions, 108 00:09:55,210 --> 00:10:00,490 pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59 Section 5, 109 00:10:00,750 --> 00:10:05,270 Clause 41C, for both single and married tax filers, 110 00:10:05,450 --> 00:10:10,270 increasing the income limit to $44,000 for a single individual, 111 00:10:10,770 --> 00:10:15,170 and 66,000 for a married couple, and increasing the asset limit 112 00:10:15,170 --> 00:10:19,710 to $100,000 for both single individuals and married couples, 113 00:10:20,270 --> 00:10:22,630 pursuant to the authority granted to the town 114 00:10:22,630 --> 00:10:28,570 under chapter 29 of the Acts of 2026 or take any other action there too. 115 00:10:30,070 --> 00:10:35,810 Article 23, seasonal community designation to see if the town will vote to 116 00:10:35,810 --> 00:10:40,390 accept the seasonal community designation as provided for in general laws 117 00:10:40,390 --> 00:10:46,730 chapter 23b, section 32b, or take any other action relative there too. 118 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:52,400 Article 24 119 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,200 or detached accessory dwelling units. 120 00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:59,780 To see if the town will vote to amend chapter 70, 3.3, 121 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,440 use regulation schedule, and chapter 77.1D, 122 00:11:04,820 --> 00:11:08,000 second dwelling units by changing the following. 123 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:10,800 Changing the use regulation schedule 124 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,220 by changing detached accessory dwellings 125 00:11:13,220 --> 00:11:16,900 in the RR1 zoning district from no to yes. 126 00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:30,920 and deleting the section below a detached accessory dwelling unit may be constructed on a parcel containing a two-family dwelling only if the two-family dwelling has been in existence for at least five years. 127 00:11:31,660 --> 00:11:44,020 And the principal dwelling on a parcel containing a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not be eligible for conversion from a single to a two-family dwelling for at least five years following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. 128 00:11:44,900 --> 00:11:50,920 and deleting the attached accessory dwelling unit shall require one parking space and 129 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:58,260 deleting conditions and requirements, review process, non-conforming lot requires a special 130 00:11:58,260 --> 00:12:03,980 permit by the ZBA and existing non-conforming structure requires a special permit by the 131 00:12:03,980 --> 00:12:05,500 Z-Zoning Board of Appeals. 132 00:12:07,100 --> 00:12:16,260 Article 25 Property Acquisition to see if the town will authorize a select board to acquire 133 00:12:16,260 --> 00:12:22,780 by purchase gift or other means a portion of the property located on 374 new Ashford 134 00:12:22,780 --> 00:12:27,580 Road and described in a deed recorded with the Berkshire Northern Registry of Deeds in 135 00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:36,360 book 1832 page 71 which portion contains 8.25 acres more or less and any access and utility 136 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:44,440 the easements apparent to their two for general municipal purposes on such terms and conditions 137 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,860 as the select board deems appropriate or take any other action in relation there 138 00:12:48,860 --> 00:12:49,280 to. 139 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:50,460 Ready to get through this. 140 00:12:50,820 --> 00:12:51,700 That was good. 141 00:12:52,100 --> 00:12:52,280 All right. 142 00:12:52,340 --> 00:12:56,520 The last articles are the community preservation articles. 143 00:12:57,300 --> 00:13:03,060 First one is Article 26 for Community Expenses to see if the time will vote to hear and act 144 00:13:03,060 --> 00:13:08,340 on the report of the Community Preservation Committee for Fiscal Year 27, Community Preservation 145 00:13:08,340 --> 00:13:15,260 Act budget, and to appropriate from the Community Preservation Fund FY 2027 estimated annual 146 00:13:15,260 --> 00:13:21,460 revenues to some of $5,000 to meet the administrative expenses of the Community Preservation Committee 147 00:13:21,460 --> 00:13:25,920 for FY 27 and take any other action in relation there too. 148 00:13:26,420 --> 00:13:32,620 In Article 27, Community Preservation Recreation to see if the town will vote to appropriate 149 00:13:32,620 --> 00:13:38,980 from the Community Preservation Fund FY 2027 estimated annual revenues for recreation purposes 150 00:13:38,980 --> 00:13:44,380 under the Community Preservation Act to fund a grant to San Springs Pool and Recreation Center 151 00:13:44,380 --> 00:13:51,100 in the amount of $20,000, which funds shall revert to the CPA fund if not expanded by June 30, 152 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:57,440 2027, to renovate and expand its recreation facilities in accordance with the application submitted 153 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:03,640 to two and recommend it by the CPC and to authorize the town manager to enter into a grant 154 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:08,780 agreement with the organization upon such terms and conditions as may be appropriate and 155 00:14:08,780 --> 00:14:13,200 to authorize the select board to accept property interests as may be appropriate or take 156 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,480 any other action in relation there too. 157 00:14:15,860 --> 00:14:22,560 Article 28 is treaty housing to see if the town will vote to fund a grant to the Williams 158 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:27,900 of affordable housing trust in the amount of $145,000 in unrestricted funds for 159 00:14:27,900 --> 00:14:32,540 initiatives and programs related to furthering affordable housing in Williams Town, including 160 00:14:32,540 --> 00:14:36,980 the acquisition of land and accordance with the application submitted to and recommended 161 00:14:36,980 --> 00:14:42,320 by the community preservation committee to authorize a town manager to enter into a grant agreement 162 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:48,020 with the organization upon such terms and conditions as may be appropriate and to authorize 163 00:14:48,020 --> 00:14:52,460 a select board to accept property interest as maybe appropriate. What take any other 164 00:14:52,460 --> 00:14:58,500 action, any other action in relation there too? Article 29 Community Preservation Recreation 165 00:14:58,500 --> 00:14:59,980 to see if the town was 166 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:24,960 Vote to appropriate from the CPC Fund FY 2027, estimated annual revenues for recreation purposes under the Community Preservation Act to fund a grant to Purple Valley Trails, town of Williams Town, in the amount of 350,000, which funds shall revert to the CPA Fund, if not expanded by June 30, 2027. And this has the same conditions as the previous articles. 167 00:15:26,220 --> 00:15:32,620 Archaeal 30, a Community Preservation Recreation to see if the town will vote to fund a grant 168 00:15:32,620 --> 00:15:38,740 to the Williamstown Royal Lands Foundation in the amount of $7,700, which fund the 169 00:15:38,740 --> 00:15:43,060 Assembly Board to the CPA, if not expended by June 30th, for the pre-construction phase 170 00:15:43,660 --> 00:15:48,940 of the Margaret-Lindley Park Accessful Trail in Bridge Project in accordance with the application 171 00:15:48,940 --> 00:15:52,060 and all the other requirements that was mentioned before. 172 00:15:52,820 --> 00:15:56,740 I'm going to have to go back to Article 29 because I probably should have mentioned 173 00:15:56,740 --> 00:16:03,080 that this $350,000 will be for the replacement of the current skate park with a modern 174 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,180 cast-in-place concrete facility. 175 00:16:05,740 --> 00:16:06,160 There you go. 176 00:16:07,420 --> 00:16:10,320 Article 31, Community Preservation Open Space. 177 00:16:10,660 --> 00:16:16,260 To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the Community Preservation Fund 2027 estimated 178 00:16:16,260 --> 00:16:21,980 annual revenues for open space purposes under the CPA to fund a grant to the 179 00:16:21,980 --> 00:16:27,320 Williamstown Agricultural Commission in the amount of $25,000 to create an 180 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,880 agricultural preservation fund to provide for future agricultural lands 181 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:36,240 preservation projects in accordance with the application submitted to and 182 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:42,300 recommended by the CPC. Article 32, Community Preservation Historic Preservation. 183 00:16:42,300 --> 00:16:44,020 This is a trifecta. 184 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:49,120 So the Sea of the Town will vote to divide grants to a 185 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:54,020 naught of $62,408 in three parts. 186 00:16:54,360 --> 00:17:00,600 The first part would be $20,323 to images cinema to 187 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,540 renovate and preserve the future structure known as images 188 00:17:03,540 --> 00:17:04,840 theater in Williams Town. 189 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:10,620 Two to vote for $25,000 to be granted to the Williams town 190 00:17:10,620 --> 00:17:18,000 rural lands foundation to renovate and preserve for the future its historic 191 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:23,400 barns and three four thousand dollars to be granted to the Williamstown Historical 192 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:30,800 Museum to renovate and preserve for the future and historic doctors buggy all of 193 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:36,620 which are subject to the same restrictions we mentioned before and finally I just 194 00:17:36,620 --> 00:17:43,820 just like to remind everybody that on Tuesday, May 12th, at 7 o'clock, we begin opening 195 00:17:43,820 --> 00:17:49,640 the polls for our election. The polls are open from 7 to 8 p.m. at the elementary school 196 00:17:50,260 --> 00:17:58,220 and on Tuesday, the 19th of May, at 7 o'clock, we will have our annual town meeting again 197 00:17:58,220 --> 00:18:02,580 at the Williamstown Elementary School located at 115 Church Street. 198 00:18:02,580 --> 00:18:08,640 with daycare provider. I believe they'll be child care at the youth center. 199 00:18:09,060 --> 00:18:13,860 Yes. So thank you for joining us today and we'll see you at town meeting.