Acushnet Town Meeting passes pot ban, rejects meals tax

By Beth David, Editor

Acushnet Town Meeting voted on $27.5 million in operating expenses, plus $1.97 million in other spending at the annual Town Meeting on 5/14, including $453,417 placed into the stabilization fund. After struggling to reach a quorum of 75 in the past couple of years, the town made special efforts to get the word out this time. The efforts seem to have paid off, with 135 people showing up at the start of the meeting. Admittedly, quite a few people left before it all ended, but the work got done, finishing in just over 2 1/2 hours. 

Several articles generated spirited discussion, including article 17, which sought to impose a .75% local meals tax on food prepared in restaurants.

Supporters of the tax said it would help the town fund its retirement liability, or OPEB costs (Other Post-Employment Benefits). They said that the tax would largely be paid by non Acushnet residents who are using the town’s restaurants and ice cream places.

Opponents argued that the town should not be creating another tax, it would never go away, and it was bound to go up. They also said that Acushnet does not have a large tourist population, so it would be Acushnet residents who would be paying the extra.

Town officials insisted that most of the burden would be carried by non residents, but town meeting voters didn’t buy it.

Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar also spoke against the measure, saying he was the only selectboard member who was against it. He said the town simply did not need a new tax.

Taking issue with being compared to Plymouth, one resident said, “We do not have a lot of tourists in Acushnet.”

Selectboard chairperson Michael Cioper and board member Roger Cabral both spoke in favor of the measure, with Town Administrator Brian Noble explaining the nuts and bolts of how the tax would work.

Mr. Cabral said it was a couple of cents more for a cup of coffee. He said most municipalities in the state, including the surrounding towns, had adopted the meals tax.

“It’s not a tax on Acushnet resi­dents,” said Mr. Cabral.

“We are not Plymouth,” said Timothy DaCosta, adding that Acush­net does not have a lot of tourists. 

“We do not need another tax,” said Mr. Gaspar, adding that the town was putting $450K into the stabilization fund, so they were in good shape financially.

Mr. Cabral seemed stunned at the assertion, stammering a bit as he tried to respond.

“I don’t know how to explain,” he said. The stabilization fund is the com­mu­nity’s savings account. “Having a bank account is not something we should apologize for.”

Former Selectboard member Garry Rawcliffe said he usually rounds up his purchases of coffee, etc., so it will not cost him more. But it will, he said, cost the server, who will lose out on tips. 

Mr. Cioper told voters that the funds would be used to “ease the burden” of the OPEB costs, which were coming up in the next article. 

David Davignon reminded resi­dents that the surcharge for the Community Preservation Act was already costing more because the state no longer reimburses at the same rate. He said the new tax will only go up, and will never go away.

“We all pay our fair share,” said Mr Davignon. “We pay too much.”

Showing a bit of ire towards first term Selectboard member Mr. Cabral, Mr. Gaspar said he worked very hard in past years to get Acushnet on a sound footing, saying he worked long hours and takes his job very seriously.

“I’m proud to say we don’t need any new taxes in Acushnet today,” said Mr. Gaspar.

Donald (Donny) Williams told Town Meeting that the $68K the town anticipated from the new tax was not worth it, noting that TM had just voted to spend more than $40K on furniture.

In the end the vote was “no” to the new tax, 76-28. 

Town Meeting also had a bit of discussion on Article 18, to move funds, about $197K, from the retire­ment account to the state run OPEB Trust Fund, and to add $100K. The money will fund health insurance into the future for retired town employees. The state has been after munici­palities to fund ahead in anticipation of rising costs, especially for healthcare.

Mr. Noble explained that the town has some money in a fund, but it is only earning about 2%. The state fund is earning better than 7%, right now, which is the average the fund has earned in past years. 

Mr. Cabral and Mr. Gaspar disagreed again, on this article. Mr. Cabral supported it, while Mr. Gaspar said the town should cut benefits to retirees, at least making them pay more towards their health insurance. Some of the problem went back to some changes that set the cost sharing at 60-40%, with the town paying more, instead of a dollar amount, which Mr. Gaspar supported.

“Health care has skyrocketed,” said Mr. Gaspar. 

It is an existing liability that the town needs to fund, said Mr. Cabral.

Mr. Gaspar read a long article supporting his argument. 

“These people were promised this,” said one resident, adding that they worked hard, and most of them live in town. “This is what we told them they would get and this is what the town should deliver.”

Mr. Rawcliffe asked who put the money in a fund that was only making two percent.

“The previous administration,” answered Mr. Noble.

“You, Garry,” said Mr. Cabral.

Mr. Rawcliffe said it was not him and walked away from the mike, and town meeting got a good laugh out of the exchange.

In the end, the measure passed and the money will be moved to the state-run fund.

Town meeting also had some discussion about a change to the composition of the soil board. Voters seemed to be suspicious of the change, which would add a town official to the board.

Mr. Cabral explained that the change would ensure that someone on the board had the expertise necessary to deal with the changes that PJ Keating is planning to their asphalt plant. It would give some flexibility on who could be a member, he said, and expressed surprise at how much discussion the article prompted.

In the end, it passed by the required 2/3 majority, with only one person opposed.

Town Meeting also approved the $35K in Community Preservation Act funds to help the Buzzards Bay Coalition buy the Tripp Mill Brook Head­waters property. The project caused some controversy when the BBC said it wanted to hold back a six-acre parcel to possibly develop it to help pay for the 23 acres. A developer made an offer on the property to build 17 homes.

“This is a gross misuse of public money,” said Mr. Davignon. He said if the town had known it had the option to develop some of the land to buy it, the town could have done so. He said the BBC was given the right to buy it to keep it open, not develop it. “We’re being used as pawns in this case.”

“It’s there to be spent,” said Con­serva­tion Commission chairperson Robert Rocha, speaking of the CPA funds. 

“This is something we can afford to do,” said Laurell Farinon, a past president of the Fairhaven-Acushnet Land Preservation Trust and a former conservation agent in Acushnet. 

Mr. Cabral noted that if 17 houses were built there and each one had two children in the school system at about $12,000 each, the costs would far outweigh the tax revenue. The property was already discounted for taxes as farm land, he said. That is why the town had first option to buy it. The town assigned that right to the BBC.

“We are gaining much more than we are losing by leaving it open space under the stewardship of the Buzzards Bay Coalition,” said Mr. Cabral. 

The measure passed with only one opposed.

Town Moderator Nicholas Gomes also announced that there are vacancies on several committees:  Finance Committee (1), Energy Com­mit­tee (1), Historical Commission (1), Cultural Council (2), Beautification Committee (Multiple), Election/Town Meeting Tellers (Multiple). Call the town clerk’s office, 508-998-0215, if you are interested.

In other business, town meeting

• Passed a ban on recreational marijuana sales in Acushnet, with no discussion. 

• Approved all CPC funding projects, including funds for the Long Plain Museum Building, Parting Ways Building Housing Authority and Pope Park utility building.

• Approved funding for equipment and vehicles for the Department of Public Works, Fire and Police Departments.

• Approved funding for improvements to the school’s athletic fields.

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Click here to download the entire 5/17/18 issue: 05-17-18 NALC