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Annual Town Meeting May 1, 2017 7pm Paxton Center School

Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate through Water Department receipts, water fees, or water charges, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to operate the Water Enterprise, as follows:   Compensation $174,666 Expenses $81,857 Debt $112,208 Total $1,105,445 and that $1,105,445 is raised as follows: Department receipts $1,065,445 Retained Earnings $40,000 Or act in any way thereon. Article sponsored by the Water Commissioners.

Article 1. Motion

Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $0.00 or any other sum to fund the OPEB Account (Other Post-Employment Benefits); or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.

Article 2. Motion I move that the Town take no action on this article.

Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds a sum of money to the Stabilization Fund; or act in any way thereon. Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.  

Article 3. Motion  

Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to accept any funds to be allocated by the Commonwealth under authorization of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, (pertaining to Highway Funds); to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into contracts for the construction, reconstruction, and improvement of Town roads; and to authorize the Town Treasurer to borrow in anticipation of receipt of said funds; said funds to be expended under the direction of the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works; or act in any way thereon. Article sponsored by Board of Selectmen and D.P.W. Superintendent.

Article 4. Motion I move that the Town vote to accept any funds to be allocated by the Commonwealth under authorization of Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws, (pertaining to Highway Funds); to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into contracts for the construction, reconstruction, and improvement of Town roads; and to authorize the Town Treasurer to borrow in anticipation of receipt of said funds; said funds to be expended under the direction of the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to authorize or re-authorize for the fiscal year beginning On July 1, 2017 all revolving accounts previously established under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, with all expenditures under said revolving accounts not exceed one percent (1%) of the amount raised by taxation in prior fiscal year, as follows   Revolving Fund Purpose Funds to be Deposited from Maximum Expenditure Council on Van Replacement Donations and fees from riders $25,000.00 Aging Recreation Support of all Program fees, donations $91,000.00 Revolving Recreation Programs gifts, private sponsorship, facilities fees Library Purchase New Books Fines for overdue books & videos $20,000.00 Videos, and Library Materials Paxton Days Support Paxton Days Paxton Days Committee $5,000.00 Events Or act in any way thereon. Article sponsored by the Selectboard

Article 5. Motion I move that the Town vote to authorize for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 all revolving accounts previously established under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, namely, Council on Aging, Recreation Revolving Account, Library Revolving Account and Paxton Days, to be used for the purposes and subject to the limitations stated in Article 5.

Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to adopt a new Department Revolving Funds Bylaw, to comply with recent amendments to Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, of the General Laws, as shown on the document entitled “Departmental Revolving Funds Bylaw” on file in the Town Clerk’s Office and available for inspection during the Town Clerk’s regular business hours; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.

Article 6. Motion

Article 7.   To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $102,500 to the Road Improvement Capital Stabilization Fund; or act in any way thereon. Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.

Article 7. Motion

Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $102,500 from the Road Improvement Capital Stabilization Fund for the purpose of resurfacing roads; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.

Article 8. Motion

Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws to enter into a seven year “lease to own” agreement for the purpose of acquiring a new 2017 Ford F350 Pickup Truck with plow for the Department of Public Works in the amount of $57,000, to replace the existing 2006 Ford F350 Pickup Truck, with a first-year lease payment of $9,440, and with the remaining six yearly payments to be raised and appropriated as part of the Highway Department budget; or act any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee

Article 9. Motion

Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow or otherwise provide the sum of $150,000, or any other sum, to conduct a Site Plan and Initial Design (Phase One) of a new Department of Public Works Facility; provided, however, that this appropriation and debt authorization shall be contingent upon passage of a Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion referendum under Chapter 59, Section 21C (k), of the General Laws; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee

Impact of $150,000 Debt Exclusion Calculation of Impact of Additional Levy on Taxes for Five Year Borrowing Estimated Cost to Paxton Taxpayers FY18   Based on FY17 Assessed Proposed $150,000.00 Total Property Values Assessed Value Additional Taxes per year $487,113,252.00 $200,000.00 $43.62 Average Assessed Home $286,114 $20.03 $250,000 $17.50 $350,000 $24.50 $400,000 $31.50 Each $1,000.00 $.07 Calculation of Impact of Additional Levy on Taxes for Five Year Borrowing Estimated Cost to Paxton Taxpayers FY17   Based on FY17 Assessed Proposed $150,000.00 Total Property Values Assessed Value Additional Taxes per year $487,113,252.00 $200,000.00 $43.62 Average Assessed Home $286,114 $20.03 $250,000 $17.50 $350,000 $24.50 $400,000 $31.50 Each $1,000.00 $.07

Article 10. Motion

Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide the sum of $41,910, or any other sum, to purchase one 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility for the Police Department to replace the 2008 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser (Car #3), with all proceeds generated from the disposal of said vehicle to be deposited into the Capital Depreciation Fund, provided, however, that this appropriation shall be contingent upon passage of Proposition 2 ½ capital expenditure exclusion referendum to assess additional real estate and personal property taxes for a single year under Chapter 59, Section 21C (i ½ ), of the General Laws; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee

Impact of $42,000 for Capital Exclusion Calculation of Impact of Additional Levy on Taxes for One Year Only Estimated Cost to Paxton Taxpayers FY18   Based on FY17 Assessed Proposed $42,000.00 Total Property Values Assessed Value Additional Taxes per year $487,113,252.00 Each $1,000.00 $0.09 Average Assessed Home $286,114 $25.75 $250,000 $22.50 $350,000 $31.50 $400,000 $36.00

Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide the sum of $70,000, or any other sum for painting, lead abatement and minor repairs to the exterior of the Town Hall; provided, however, that this appropriation shall be contingent upon passage of Proposition 2 ½ capital expenditure exclusion referendum to assess additional real estate and personal property taxes for a single year under Chapter 59, Section 21C (i ½ ), of the General Laws; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee

Impact of $70,000 for a One Year Capital Exclusion Calculation of Impact of Additional Levy on Taxes for One Year Only Estimated Cost to Paxton Taxpayers FY18   Based on FY17 Assessed Proposed $70,000.00 Total Property Values Assessed Value Additional Taxes per year $487,113,252.00 Each $1,000.00 $0.14 Average Assessed Home $286,114 $40.06 $250,000 $35.00 $350,000 $49.00 $400,000 $56.00

Article 12. Motion  

Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide the sum of $120,000, or any other sum for window replacement and minor repairs for the John Bauer Senior Center; provided, however, that this appropriation shall be contingent upon passage of Proposition 2 ½ capital expenditure exclusion referendum to assess additional real estate and personal property taxes for a single year under Chapter 59, Section 21C (i ½ ), of the General Laws; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee

Impact of $120,000 for a One Year Capital Exclusion Calculation of Impact of Additional Levy on Taxes for One Year Only Estimated Cost to Paxton Taxpayers FY18   Based on FY17 Assessed Proposed $120,000.00 Total Property Values Assessed Value Additional Taxes per year $487,113,252.00 Each $1,000.00 $0.25 Average Assessed Home $286,114 $71.53 $250,000 $62.50 $350,000 $87.50 $400,000 $100.00

Article 13. Motion

Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $40,000 or any other sum from the unexpended balance from the appropriation for the Paxton Center School Green Improvement Project, approved at the May 2, 2011 Annual Town Meetings under Article 3, to pay for the installation of a wireless local area network in the Paxton Center School, or act in any way thereon. Article sponsored by the Capital Improvements Planning Committee

Article 14. Motion  

Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 to contribute towards the environmental educational programs, teaching gardens programs and organized Mass Central Rail Trail walks provided by the Wachusett Greenways for the residents of Paxton; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.

Article 15. Motion

Article 16 To see if the Town will vote to adopt a new Zoning Bylaw for a Temporary Moratorium for Recreational Marijuana Establishments as Section 3.2.4.27 in the Use Schedule and 3.3.15 in Special Conditions in the current Paxton Zoning Bylaws, as show on the document entitled “Marijuana Moratorium Bylaw” on file in the Town Clerk’s office and available for inspection during regular business hours; or act in any way thereon.  Article sponsored by the Planning Board.

Article 16. Motion

Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Paxton Zoning Bylaw to allow by Special Permit drive through windows at fast food restaurants, restaurants or similar place for serving of food and beverage, but only if the restaurant building is not more than two thousand (2,000) square feet in area as section 3.2.4.3B, as shown on the document entitled “Drive Through Bylaw” on file in the Town Clerk’s office and available for inspection during regular business hours; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Planning Board.

Article 17. Motion

Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 59, Section 57C, of the Massachusetts General Laws for the purpose of adopting or establishing a quarterly tax payment system, to be effective as of July 1, 2017 for Fiscal Year 2018, or take any other action relative thereto.   Article sponsored by the Tax Collector

Article 18. Motion

Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to adopt a Wetlands Bylaw to allow for the protection of wetlands resources areas in the Town of Paxton by controlling activities deemed by the Conservation Commission likely to have a significant or cumulative effect on resource area values, including public or private water supply, groundwater supply, flood control, erosion and sedimentation control, storm damage prevention, water quality, prevention and control of pollution, fisheries, wildlife habitat, rare species habitat including rare plant and animal species, agriculture, aquaculture, and recreation values, deemed important to the community, by   creating a wetland setback area: 15-foot setback of no disturbance and 30-foot setback for all permanent structures, increasing the required replication ration from 1.5:1 to 2:1, implementing fines for enforcement and increase fees for after-the-fact filings, as shown on the document entitled “Wetlands Bylaw” on file in the Town Clerk’s Office and available for inspection during regular Town Hall business hours; or act in any way thereon. Article sponsored by the Conservation Commission.

Article 19. Motion

Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 64L, Section 2(a) of the Massachusetts General Laws, and impose a local meals excise; or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.

Article 20. Motion

Article. 21 To see if the Town will vote to allow the Wachusett Regional School District Committee to name the courtyard in the area of the Art Department at the Wachusett Regional High School in honor of Mr. Ralph Caouette; or take any action in relation thereto.   Article sponsored by the Wachusett Regional School District Committee.

Article 21. Motion

Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,890,895 or any other sum, and to further appropriate, from the EMS Receipts Account, the sum of $328,500 or any other sum, and to further appropriate, from the Title V Special Assessment Account, the sum of $7,698 or any other sum, and to further appropriate, from the Overlay Surplus Account, the sum of $0.00 or any other sum, and to further appropriate from Free Cash the sum of $398,384 or any other sum, for a total appropriation of $6,622,477 or any other sum, to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the Town for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2017, and especially for any and all of the items shown on the attached Budget; or act in any way thereon.   Article Sponsored by the Finance Committee.

Town Budget I move that the Town appropriate the sum of $6,622,477 to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the Town for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, excluding school, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.  

General Government I move that the Town appropriate the sum of $1,849,395 for the General Government Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.

Public Safety I move that the Town appropriate the sum $2,065,037 for the Public Safety Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.

Public Service I move that the Town appropriate the sum $796,876 for the Public Service Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.

Sanitation and Environment I move that the Town appropriate the sum of $274,617 for the Sanitation and Environment Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.

Human Services I move that the Town appropriate the sum of $67,845 for the Human Services Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.

Culture and Recreation I move that the Town appropriate the sum of $204,903 for the Culture and Recreation Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.

Central Purchasing I move that the Town appropriate the sum of $194,480 for the Central Purchasing Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.  

Debt Service I move that the Town appropriate the sum of $1169,324 for the Debt Service Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, to be allocated as recommended and itemized in the budget summary attached to the Warrant.  

Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,875,015 to pay its assessed share of the Wachusett Regional School District Budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2017, and to raise and appropriate an additional $190,092 required to fully fund the $6,065,107 assessment from the District and thereby approve the District’s budget for said fiscal year, provided that this additional appropriation shall be contingent on the approval of a Proposition 2 ½ levy limit override under Chapter 59, Section 21C(g), of the General Laws; or act in any way thereon.   Article Sponsored by the Finance Committee.

Tax Impact of an Override of $190,092 Calculation of Impact of Additional Levy on Taxes Estimated Cost to Paxton Taxpayers FY18   Based on FY17 Assessed Proposed $190,000.00 Total Property Values Assessed Value Additional Taxes per year $487,113,252.00 Each $1,000.00 $0.39 Average Assessed Home $286,114 $111.58 $250,000 $97.50 $350,000 $136.50 $400,000 $156.00

Article 23. Motion

Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $228,261 to pay its assessed share of the Bay Path Regional Technical School Budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2017; or act in any way thereon.   Article Sponsored by the Finance Committee.

Article 24. Motion I move that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $228,261 to pay for its assessed share of the Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School Budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2017.

Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,149 to pay the Norfolk County Regional Agricultural High School Non-resident Vocation Tuition Assessment and further raise and appropriate the sum of $27,000 for the Norfolk County Regional Agricultural High School Non-resident Transportation: or act in any way thereon.   Article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen.

Article 25. Motion

Thank you Goodnight