By Beth David, Editor
Acushnet voters will face 15 articles at a Special Town Meeting (STM) on Monday, 11/3/25; 11 are spending articles.
Acushnet has an open Town Meeting, which means anyone registered to vote in Acushnet can attend and vote on warrant articles. The meeting is also open to the public.
The largest single item is $3.25 Million to build a Golf Course Clubhouse, with $1.25 million coming from Golf Retained Earnings (fees from golf course users) and $2.25 million in short term borrowing. There is currently $2,250,685 in the Golf Enterprise Fund.
Voters will also be asked to approve $625,000 from free cash to fund health insurance past claims and litigation that result from the unexpected costs of catastrophic cases and associated litigation.
Town Meeting will be asked to rescind a vote from last year’s STM to authorize $600K in borrowing for a new ambulance. The loan was never taken. Instead of that borrowing, article 6 will asks for a total of $475K for a new ambulance, with $275K coming from free cash, and $200K coming from the ambulance account. There is currently $1,090,900 in the EMS Revenue Account.
Article 12 will transfer a total of $295K to pay off the borrowing for the school roof project, with $242,352 from free cash, and $52,648 from the Solar Tax Revenue fund. The Solar Tax Fund is earmarked for capital projects.
Article 3 requests a total of $190K from free cash to fund projects that were approved at this year’s annual TM in June and two new items. Costs of the projects previously approved have increased, resulting in the request. The two new items are an upgrade and repair to the Parting Ways Building ($7,000); and two new police cruisers (not to exceed $170,000.
Article 13 asks for $150K for the Elementary School roof and gymnasium. The building has had leaks and moisture issues. This is part of a multi-year effort to fix “a myriad of previously neglected maintenance issues,” according to the explanation in the warrant.
Article 14 will amend the Community Preservation Committee article from this year’s annual TM in June, distributing an additional $64,000 to the various designated categories. As property values increased, the Community Preservation Act money also increased. The town must appropriate amounts to reflect actual collections.
Article 15 asks for $49,000 from Cable TV funds to buy and equip a utility van with mounted aerial lift capability. The van will help with maintenance and repairs to the town’s fiber system, and will be used for recording remote events.
Article 7 asks for $35K from free cash to replace the Emergency Management Radio Repeater. The repeater is in need of an upgrade due to age and poor performance. The upgrade will cap off a complete upgrade of all the emergency services radio systems in the town.
STM will be asked to transfer $20,199 that remains from last year’s article funding the repairs to Fire Station #3. If transferred, the funds will be used to continue to equip and outfit the new Engine 2.
STM will be asked to approve $22,315 in spending for bills of prior years, which are usually bills that just did not get through the process before the end of the fiscal year.
Voters will also be asked to amend the current year’s budget by adding $9,464, with $3,520 added for salaries in the health department, to reflect actual salaries. The article also adds $5,944 to the police department budget for a training and assessment center.
Non spending articles include a change in the bylaw, passed in 1962, which created the Conservation Commission with seven members. The change would make the ConCom a five-member board. Currently there are two vacancies, making it difficult to meet the quorum.
Article 8 does not require spending this year, but approves the new contract for clerical workers. The contract calls for 2% increases for three years starting with FY2026.
The warrant is available on the Town Meeting page of the town website at: https://www.acushnet.ma.us/home/pages/town-meeting-0
The STM will be held on Monday, 11/3/25, at 7 p.m. at Ford Middle School, 708 Middle Road, Acushnet. If you are not sure about your voter registration status, contact the Town Clerk’s office at 508-998-0200, Ext. 2
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