[Rich, 02:26]
Session 9 notes -- the ides of June?

• Annual meeting called to order at 20:04.
• The Moderator said that 86% (303 of 351) MA municipalities are towns (42 using representative town meeting, making cities the "aberration". He said around 1/3 of towns have less than 5,000 inhabitants, 1/3 have 5,000 to 12,500, and 1/3 have 12,500+.
• Voted that when we adjourn, we adjourn to 25 May at 20:00.
• Mr. Tosti moved to take Article 2 from the table. Approved.
• Article 2 - Reports
  • Mr. Shea gave the report of the AHRC. He said among other things it supported the Goodridge decision, has hosted some diversity activities, and investigated and resolved a complain by a disabled person against a restaurant. He said it is everyone's collective job to work for tolerance.
  • Mr. Tosti moved to table. Approved.
• Article 43 - Appropriation/Minuteman
  • FinComm recommended an appropriation of $2,573,384 to cover the Town's Minuteman assessment.
  • Ms. Morrissette, the new Arlington representative on the Minuteman SchoolComm said she has been impressed with Minuteman's programs and sensitivity to member towns. She said it has been trying to increase in-district enrollment and that Arlington is lucky to be able to send students to it.
  • Mr. Callahan, the Minuteman Superintendant, said he had spent three years as the dean and then 25 years as the principal before becoming the superintendant. He said he appreciated Arlington's support and that Minuteman increases the overall value of Arlington's educational offerings. He said that 13 towns had approved the budget and hoped all 16 would. He noted that because Minuteman has many specialized equipment needs, is regional, and has no municipal support for things like snow plowing, the school has additional and higher expenses than regular schools do. He said the overall budget is up 2.3% and that state aid cuts have hurt. He introduced the assistant superintendant.
  • Mr. Markham said that while the overall budget is up 2.3%, Arlington's assessment is up by 14.3%. He noted this is the first time in three years Minuteman has proposed a budget containing an overall spending increase. He said there have been cuts in Chapter 70 aid, cuts in state transportation reimbursement, and state-mandated increases in what local communities contribute.
  • Mr. Carreiro asked if the FinComm recommendation represented an approval of the budget, if the computation used the state education formula method, and if Arlington was already bound to the assessement. Mr. DeCoursey answered affirmatively to all three questions.
  • Mr. Leone moved the previous question. Debate terminated.
  • FinComm recommendation approved
• 23 May Special Town Meeting called to order at 20:43.
• Article 1 - Reports
  • BoS report received.
  • ARB report received.
  • Mr. Tosti moved that the recommended votes in the reports be before the meeting without further motion. Approved
  • Mr. Tosti moved to table. Tabled.
• Article 2 - Zoning/Menotomy Manor
  • ARB recommended the "wood-side" portion of Menotomy Manor be rezoned from R2 to R5.
  • Mr. Tsoi asked for and received a total of 15 minutes for the ARB/AHA presentation. He said we should support this because it would allow $7,000,000 of state money to be used to renovate MM, make some accessible units, and create three new units.
  • Mr. Mitropoulos thanked the ARB for its support and introduced the architectural consultant, Mr. Pollack.
  • Mr. Pollack said the plan was to change three of 25 houses from two-family to three-family as part of an overall renovation of MM where all houses would get new kitchens, bathrooms, and wiring. He said DHCD was paying for it and had approved the plans but that 5% of the units in the development must be accessible for the Town to get the money. He said the plan was to make four of the "brick-side" units accessible and to make six of the "wood-side" units accessible. The latter would be done by converting three two-story, two-family townhouses into three structures with two first-floor accessible units and one second floor unit. But without the zoning change, the three second-floor units would have to be left empty. He said state law prevents the AHA from doing any further redevelopment even given a R5 zoning.
  • Mr. Bernardin asked why not R3. The Moderator said that would be a spot zone. Mr. Bernardin asked why not go for a variance. The Moderator said use variances are not allowed.
  • Mr. Cleinman, noting he was an abutter, said it was a wonderful idea. He asked if failing to approve this would jeopardize getting federal funds. No one had an answer for while, but eventually Mr. Maher said it would not have an effect.
  • Ms. King said she lived in MM and that the tenants are thrilled to be upgraded. She said if upgrades are not done, the buildings would eventually become unlivable. She said that MM is a veterans' preference development and that more accessible units may help server war returnee needs.
  • Mr. Daly moved the previous question. Debate terminated.
  • ARB recommendation approved unanimously.
• Article 3 - Home Rule Legislation
  • BoS recommended a vote to send in a home rule petition requesting an Other Post-Retirement Benefits Trust Fund (OPEB).
  • Mr. Bilafer said that in FY08 the GASB requires putting unfunded retiree pension and medical benefits on the books as a liability, which for Arlington would be $70,000,000 to $80,000,000. The petition would create a separate fund into which monies could be appropriate to fund that liability.
  • Mr. Tosti said FinComm unanimously supported the recommendation as it formalizes and makes available better investment choices to a process that is already being done.
  • Mr. Abbott moved that the actuary's report be sent to Town Meeting and asked why it would not start in FY07 instead of FY08. Mr. Bilafer said the actuary indicated that was unwise.
  • Mr. Roselli said he supported the recommendation and said that previous, similar action by Mr. Bilfer had helped save retirement benefits for many.
  • Mr. Deyst moved the previous question. Debate terminated.
  • Abbott amendment approved unanimously.
  • BoS recommendation as amended approved unanimously, but a standing vote of 180-0 was taken as the Legislature wants to see numbers.
• Mr. Tosti moved to take Article 1 from the table. Approved.
• Mr. Tosti moved to dissolve the STM. Approved unanimously.
• Back in the Annual Town Meeting.
• Article 55 - Appropriation/TAC: FinComm recommendation of a $17,000 appropriation approved unanimously.
• Article 56 - Appropriation/Technical Assessment/Treasurer's Systems: FinComm recommendation of no action approved unanimously.
• Article 57 - Appropriation/Spy Pond Weeds
  • FinComm changed its recommendation to no action.
  • Mr. Tosti said that due to weather and other factors, the treatment needed to be done now, so it has been paid for in the current FY via a $20,000 reserve transfer, thereby making moot next year's appropriation. He said the $20,000 would be kept within the DPW budget.
  • FinComm recommendation of no action approved unanimously.
• Article 58 - Appropriation/ZBRC
  • FinComm recommended a vote of no action.
  • Mr. Loreti, ZBRC chair, presented a substitute motion to appropriate $16,000 for the ZBRC to carry out a study with the help of an outside consultant. He said residents are concerned with developments, that Town Meeting action happens too late, and that the ZBRC could help by providing a report that could best be provided by an outside consultant. He said the scope of the study would be determined by a public process. He said the ARB was receptive to such a study, though it would like it more focused on what state law does not allow in zoning. He recounted how an ARB member incorrectly said that floor-area plan ratio limits could not be imposed in R1 and R2 districts and discussed how a study on the effects of regulating them could be something the ZBRC could do.
  • Mr. Abbott said he had been on the ZBRC for a number of years and that the chance of achieving consensus on density between all interested parties in Town was essentially zero. He said that if $20,000 can be spent on weed remediation, $16,000 could be spent on studying density and that such a study is not within the expertise of any group in Town.
  • Mr. Dunn said he voted against the motion in FinComm and would do so again at Town Meeting. He said he did not believe the motion was ready because he was not convinced it could not be done by the planning department and because the scope of the study was not specific enough.
  • Mr. Holman said he supported the substitute motion and said that while he believed the ARB and Planning Department were capable of doing the work, he was unsure if they were willing or able to do it. He asked why they should be moved beyond. Mr. Loreti said he was sure they could do it but felt they did not have enough resources. Mr. Tsoi said it was a good idea but was wrong to have a special committee do it as it is a Planning Department function and that the assistant director of planning should be filled.
  • Ms. Fiore said she supported the substitute motion as she believed the ZBRC has been "stymied" whenever it has a good idea. She said it was "a dream" that an assistant director would be hired and that $16,000 for a study would be good value.
  • Mr. Tosti said FinComm voted no action after much discussion, feeling the money would be better spent by putting it toward funding the assistant director's position. He said FinComm thought the study was a good idea but should be done by the Planning Department supervised by the ARB. He said if the override passed the assistant director position would be filled and if it did not pass, it would be filled part-time but supplemented to full-time with CDBG funds. He urged a no-action vote, saying he expense was a "luxury".
  • Mr. Burke said much of what the article mentions should have been done, but by Town boards and not by hiring more outside consultants, especially since he believed the Town is top-heavy and has received "nothing" from past consultants we have hired. He said he would oppose the substitute motion.
  • Mr. Jones said he agreed with some of the previous speakers' points and asked if the ZBRC had looked into recruiting local, qualified volunteers. Mr. Loreti said the ZBRC had not looked into volunteers and noted that TAC had received $17,000 for outside help. Mr. Jones questioned that $16,000 would actually provide anything of value and asked if other towns has spent around that amount. Mr. Loreti said they had and have apparently been satisfied with the results. He said the $16,000 was four weeks at $100/hour.
  • Mr. Bernardin, a ZBRC member, said it was not a frivolous expense and that he has talked to many concerned residents. He said the ZBRC wants to get the town ahead of the curve and does not want more delays in doing a study.
  • Mr. McGann, another ZBRC member, said what mattered is who would do the study and noticed that neither the ARB nor Planning Department had volunteered. He said that if the ZBRC does not do the study, Town Meeting needs to make sure that someone does.
  • Mr. Deyst said letters every week in the Advocate urge us to spend money responsibly and that the real need is to staff up the Planning Department so it can continue its excellent work. He asked what the plan was for the assistant director's position. Mr. Sullivan replied that he had held off filling the position until he saw how the budget was going but now intended to fill the position regardless over the override outcome, as Mr. Tosti had previously explained.
  • Mr. Rehrig said he supported the substitute motion as the Planning Department was stretched so thin. He said that even with the assistant director slot being filled, the department would still only have 2/3rds the staff it should. He said the ZBRC had made a strong argument to be empowered to do the study.
  • Ms. Mann, as a TMM, said that equally-valid needs must be weighed. She said the $16,000 could pay for a part-time youth social worker, more textbooks for the schools, increased library hours, a parking officer who would bring in more revenue than he would cost, and so forth. She said defining "what we want" is very difficult and commended the ZRBC for being willing to try. But she said it was the wrong time, context, and amount of money and urged a no action vote.
  • Ms. Harrington said she supported the substitute motion, pointing out how the ZBRC had found flaws in the zoning bylaw in the past.
  • Mr. Carreiro moved the previous question. Debate terminated.
  • Loreti motion defeated 46-93.
  • FinComm recommendation of no action approved.
• Article 59 - Permissive Legislation: BoS recommended a vote of no action which was approved unanimously.
• Article 60 - Local Option Taxes: BoS recommended a vote of no action which was approved unanimously.
• Article 61 - Appropriation/Retiree Trust Fund
  • FinComm recommended appropriating $211,572 into the fund.
  • Ms. Fiore said she wanted "to hear something about it."
  • Mr. Tosti referred to the comments in the FinComm report and pointed out we have been doing this for years. He said the appropriations come from decreases in the non-contributory retirement pensions as the recipients die off and that it must be funded whether or not the override passes.
  • Mr. Abbott asked why both this and the OPEB are needed. Mr. Tosti said various changes have left the existing fund inadequate, especially around investment options. He said that in FY08 the existing fund would be closed into OPEB.
  • Mr. Leone asked what the current balance was and where it could be found. Mr. Tosti said it was around $800,000 and was in the Town's Annual Report.
  • FinComm recommendation approved.
• Article 62 - Appropriation/Tip Fee Fund
  • Mr. Abbott corrected a typo in the vote.
  • Ms. Harrington said she wanted this considered after the override for the sake of flexibility and moved to postpone to 13 June.
  • Mr. Tosti said he had no objections.
  • Motion to postpone approved.
• Article 63 - Transfer/Cemetery: FinComm recommendation of a $181,000 transfer to the cemeteries approved unanimously.
• Article 64 - Appropriation/Overlay Reserve: FinComm recommendation of a $400,000 transfer approved unanimously.
• Article 65 - Appropriation/Stabilization Fund: Unanimously postponed to 13 June.
• Article 66 - Free Cash: Unanimously postponed to 13 June.
• Article 67 - Health Information Resolution
  • BoS recommended a vote as set forth in its report.
  • Mr. Fischer presented a substitute motion that differed in some minor ways from the BoS resolution. He said he wants to encourage the spread of Arlington-specific information to help promote wellness initiatives. He noted that medical costs are a "budget-buster" in all levels of government and for private industry. He said studies show 50% of medical costs are due to "lifestyle diseases" and that wellness programs return $3 for every $1 spent on them. He said he hoped passage of the resolution would send a message that the public wants more Arlington-specific information to help decide what to do in the Town. He read through his resolution and asked it be supported.
  • Mr. Berkowitz hoped the substitute motion would be passed and discussed how there are other kinds of "health", such as how people with strong support networks have fewer colds and live longer. He said we should work to increase social connectivity in Town.
  • Mr. Jamieson moved the previous question. Debate terminated.
  • Fischer substitute motion approved.
  • BoS motion as substituted approved.
• Article 68 - Stablization Fund Transfer: FinComm recommendation of a $1,500,000 transfer approved.
• Article 69 - Override Resolution
  • BoS recommended no action.
  • Mr. Loreti moved to table.
  • Loreti motion to table defeated.
  • BoS recommendation of no action approved.
• Article 70 - Iraq Resolution: Mr. Hurd moved to postpone to 13 June which was approved.
• Mr. Hurd moved to reconsider the motion on when to adjourn to. Approved.
• Mr. Hurd moved that when we adjourn, we adjourn to 13 June at 20:00. Approved.
• Motion to adjourn approved.
• Adjourned at 23:04 to 13 June at 20:00.