Westport is facing one of its toughest budget cycles in recent years, and residents who take part in Tuesday's annual Town Meeting will be asked to approve more than 30 warrant articles to keep town …
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Westport is facing one of its toughest budget cycles in recent years, and residents who take part in Tuesday's annual Town Meeting will be asked to approve more than 30 warrant articles to keep town government running for another year. They'll also be asked to "pass over," or take no vote on, an article that would appropriate $6.xx million in budget overrides.
This year's town meeting will be held at the new Middle/Senior High School on Old County Road. Moderator Steven Fors said that while the new venue will take some getting used to, he is excited for the opportunity to give greater visibility to the new school. As the COVID-19 pandemic lags for now, there will be no mask requirement. However, a special section within the school auditorium will be set aside for those who choose to wear masks and stay socially distant. Town meeting begins at 7 p.m.
Following are the warrant articles that will be presented. A full list and description of warrant articles, as well as a 24-page document detailing the fiscal health of Westport and it's current and future needs, is available at www.eastbayri.com.
Article 1 asks if residents want to raise, appropriate and/or transfer $7,681.93 from available funds to pay outstanding bills from prior fiscal years.
Article 2 asks if residents want to amend a vote taken at last year's Town Meeting, to transfer between line items to supplement various department budgets. The total amount is $369,500.
Article 3 ask voters to fix the salary and compensation of all elected town officers, including the moderator, select board members, assessors board members, board of health members and town clerk, for a total of #138,940.
Article 4 ask voters to raise and appropriate, and/or transfer $47,593,769 in funds to pay town expenses for the fiscal year ending next summer.
Article 5 asks voters to appropriate $6.276 million in override funds. Unlike all other warrant articles, which are recommended for passage by the finance committee, committee members recommend that this item be passed over. While finance committee and select board members have spoken at length in recent months about the need for an override, the committee voted unanimously last month to recommend a passover as they do not have enough information on the items included in the proposed override to support them at this time. Instead, and assuming the article is passed over, town officials hope to hold a special town meeting at a later date, after vetting prospective override requests from the town and Westport Community Schools.
Article 6 asks if voters will approve $293.48 million in borrowing authorized by the Greater Fall River Vocational School District, to pay costs for designing and building a new district high school and athletic fields in Fall River.
Article 7 asks if voters want to appropriate $752,000 from free cash to 2023 capital improvement planning program, to cover the replacement of air packs and the purchase of a pickup truck for the fire department, two cruisers for the police department, copiers, printers and scanners for the town hall, and other capital expenses.
Article 8 asks if voters want to authorize the town treasurer, with select board approval, to borrow from time to time in anticipation of revenue.
Article 9 asks if voters want to raise and appropriate $60,000 to be used by the board of assessors to fund fees and expenses related to the update of the revaluation program.
Article 10 asks if voters want to appropriate $200,000 to maintain, sell or reuse the former high school.
Article 11 asks if voters want to appropriate $50,000 to improve the turnaround and parking at the south end of Main Road and Westport Town Landing. The funds would come from free cash.
Article 12 asks if voters want to appropriate $183,904 to operate the towns' Marine Services Enterprise.
Article 13 asks if voters want to appropriate $298,800 to operate the Waterline Enterprise.
Article 14 asks if voters want to appropriate $95,800 to operate the Town Beaches Enterprise Fund. The money would be raised via user charges.
Article 15 asks if voters want to appropriate $200,473 to fund the community television budget for the coming year.
Article 16 asks if voters want to create a Tax Title Collection Revolving Fund. The fund would give the tax collector better means to seek repayment of back taxes.
Article 17 asks if voters want to cap expenditures for various departments for the fiscal year.
Article 18 asks if the town will vote to hear and act on the Community Preservation Committee's budget for the fiscal year, and to appropriate funds for various preservation purposes and projects.
Article 19 asks if voters want to appropriate $19,500 to acquire roll-off containers at the transfer station, for mowing and maintenance of the landfill, and to replace the office building. The funds would come from the Receipts Reserved for Landfill Closure account.
Article 20 asks if the town will vote to acquire a municipal light plant, and to authorize that plant to construct, purchase or lease facilities necessary for the distribution or operation of a telecommunications system for municipal use, or for the use of its customers. For more information on this article, see page 5.
Article 21 amends Westport by-laws for non-criminal disposition of violations pertaining to tobacco regulations.
Article 22 asks if voters will rescind $75,000 in borrowing authorization approved at the 2015 Town Meeting for the purpose of high school — new well.
Article 23 asks if voters will rescind $901,655 in borrowing authorization approved at the 2010 Special Town meeting for the purpose of a school remodel.
Article 24 asks if voters will amend zoning by-laws pertaining to the definition for "agrivoltaic-dual use solar" and "sign."
Article 25 asks if voters will amend zoning by-laws pertaining to signs, the business and unrestricted district, the science and technology overlay district, allowable temporary signs, allowable permanent signs, special permits, general sign standards, illuminated signs, moving signs, and other sign regulations.
Article 26 also asks if voters will amend zoning by-laws pertaining to accessory apartments.
Article 27 also asks if voters will amend zoning by-laws pertaining to large scale solar energy systems.
Article 28 asks if voters will amend zoning by-laws pertaining to home occupations.
Article 29 asks if voters will amend zoning by-laws pertaining to the telecommunications facilities overlay district.
Article 30 asks if voters will amend zoning by-laws pertaining to non-conforming uses.
Article 31 asks if voters will amend the town's personnel by-laws pertaining to the police department's community service officer.
Article 32 asks if voters will amend the town's personnel by-laws pertaining to the town tax collector/treasurer.
Article 33 asks if the town will vote to transfer $50,000 from free cash to the stabilization fund.