L-R: Douglas Thomas and Cheryl Brine follow along in the warrant during Acushnet Special Town Meeting on 9/30/24. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
With very little discussion on most articles, Acushnet Town Meeting approved all articles voted on at the Special Town Meeting on 9/30/24.
TM did not vote on the four articles requesting funding for renovations to the schools. Instead, TM voted to send the matter to the Finance Committee to get more information.
School Committee member Ron Houde told Town Meeting that the school buildings have had air quality issues for the last couple of years. The $4.2 million requested in these articles would address those issues by retrofitting the HVAC system and renovating any other related areas.
After the meeting Town Administrator James Kelley said the School Department needed more information from the state before the articles can be voted on. He said there were four articles to be able to prepare for a debt exclusion and the contingency if the debt exclusion did not pass.
The matter will go to the annual Town Meeting in the spring.
Article #1, bills of prior years, got some discussion.
James Souza, a member of the Conservation Commission, questioned a $6,090.00 payment to Coneco Engineers for peer review fees. He said the ConCom never voted on it, the conservation agent just got it done.
Mr Kelley explained that the work was done and needed to be paid. He said, although the department is listed as ConCom, the money will not come from the ConCom budget.
“We have a duty to pay our bills,” said Mr. Kelley.
The article passed with the required 90%.
With very little discussion, TM voted to abolish the regulation in the Town Charter that prohibits elected and appointed town officials from taking a paid position with the town for two years after their term expires.
Garry Rawcliffe speaks during Acushnet Special Town Meeting on 9/30/24. Photo by Beth David.
Select Board member David Wojnar said the town has had a difficult time filling some positions, such as town planner. He said the bylaw was passed a few years ago and “weaponized.”
“It was done as more of a political ploy,” said Mr. Wojnar.
He said the town is looking at regionalizing some positions. He said there is nothing better than someone who lives in town, is a taxpayer in town and has served the town, to be able to work for the town.
The regulation, “Just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
It passed with some opposition.
The article that got the most discussion was #7, to amend the Soil Conservation Bylaw, eliminating the 80,000 pound limit on vehicles for companies with soil removal permits. The weight limit was different than the regulations of the Mass. Department of Transportation.
Town Counsel recommended the change.
Mr. Souza asked if Lake Street still had a weight restriction.
SB chairperson Bob Hinckley said any weight limits on specific roads and bridges would still be in place.
Cheryl Brine said she was concerned that the heavier trucks would further damage South Main Street, which, she said is a “mess.”
“It’s crazy,” said Ms. Brine, adding that there is a big truck on that road every minute and a half.
She said the state does not take care of South Main, which is a state road.
SB member Kevin Gaspar said the restriction was “discrimination on one company and not anyone else.”
He said there are lots of trucks on the road and the town cannot regulate them. But they can regulate PJ Keating. He said other trucks can be up to 99,000 pounds, but PJK is limited to 80,000 because of the soil permit.
Ms Brine argued that PJK is part of the town. The other trucks are not going back and forth over the road all day she said. The heavier trucks will do more damage, shaking houses even more.
Mr. Gaspar said Town Counsel recommended the change.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Ms. Brine. “And now you want to increase the weight. The road can’t take it.”
She said there are already cracks in the road and the state does not care.
Mr. Gaspar reiterated that the town cannot regulate one company and let everyone else get away with it.
“Ma’am, I believe you’ve made your point,” said Town Moderator Les Dakin.
The measure passed by the required 2/3 vote.
Town Meeting also approved $550,000 from the Solar Tax Revenue fund to repair the school roof.
James Souza speaks during Acushnet Special Town Meeting on 9/30/24. Photo by Beth David.
Mr. Wojnar said that the fund was created to pay for specific capital projects. He said they boxed off the tax revenue from the general fund because it is a “depreciating asset.”
The measure passed by the required 2/3 vote.
TM also approved $49,999 to make repairs to Fire Station #3, on Middle Road, with money from the ambulance fund.
Mr. Rawcliffe asked by the amount stopped one dollar short of $50K. Is 50K some kind of threshold?
“Is it a bidding process? I just want to know,” said Mr. Rawcliffe.
“That is correct,” said Mr. Gaspar.
TM voted to approve $600,000 for a new ambulance from the ambulance fund. Mr. Gaspar said they needed to order it early because there is a two-year backlog. He said the town will try to come up with other funding sources.
Fire/EMS is about 55% self-sufficient, through the ambulance fund, said Mr. Gaspar: “Kudos to our guys.”
Town Meeting also voted unanimously to transfer $47,818 from the Stormwater Management (MS4) Stabilization Fund for compliance.
Mr. Souza asked where the public could access the report.
“I actually just signed the report today,” said Mr. Kelley, adding that the schedule is on the federal fiscal year so it had to be filed that day.
He said Mr. Souza could go to the TA off to get a copy of it.
TM also voted to accept and expend “Fair Share Amendment” funds, aka the Millionaires’ Tax, to be spent on road projects. In future years the item will be included in the Annual TM consent agenda.
In other business, Town Meeting:
• Approved a transfer of $9,500 from the Assessors Department to the Town Buildings Department;
• Approved funding for DPW union contract;
• Approved $5,500 for a Fire Department study to improve operations and create a Capital Improvement and Staffing Program
• Authorized the SB to negotiate a transportation contract
• Approved transferring funds from the School Special Education Reserve Fund to cover a deficit.
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