Special Town Meeting
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School
166 Mt. Prospect Street, Bridgewater, Ma 02324
Monday, May 5, 2003

The Moderator called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and immediately recessed to allow the voters to get seated, once all were seated the meeting commenced. All postings of warrants was duly noted as required by town by-laws as voted. The Town Clerk swore in the following counters: Diane Britton, Daniel J. Buron, Daniel F. Clifford, Richard H. Enos, Andrew Faber, Dorothy K. McLucas, Kenneth A. Perry, Rosemarie Schmitchel, and Robert B. Wood.
Total in attendance: 918

Article 1.

It was unanimously voted that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $40,000.00 from Account #28-254-3590-6, Water Receipts Reserve Account, to Account #28-450-172-58004. Capital Outlay-Filter Media Carver’s Pond Wellfield, for purchasing Greensand Filter Media for the Water Treatment Plant Pressure Filters at the Carver’s Pond Wellfield.

Unanimous

Article 2.

It was unanimously voted that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $20,000.00 from Account #28-254-3590-6, Water Receipts Reserve Account, to Account #28-450-172-58005, Capital Outlay-Purchase of Equipment, for the purpose of purchasing an air compressor.

Unanimous

Article 3.

To see whether or not the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of $15,000.00 from Account #28-254-3590-6, Water Receipts Reserve Account, to Account #28-450-173-58006,Capital Outlay-Buildings and Grounds, for the purposes of paying up front for fencing around the wellhouses which the Water Department was awarded a grant by DEP. The Water Department will be reimbursed by the State through its awarding of the Wellhead Protection Grant, or to take any other action relative thereto.

Article submitted by the Water Department.

Motion to taken no action on this article.                                 Motion Carries

Article 4.

To see whether or not the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer the sum of $7,500.00 from Account #28-254-3590-6, the Water Receipts Reserve Account, to Account #28-450-174-5700, Other Charges and Expenses/Expenses Account, to pay for GIS work for the Water Department for the purpose of paying up front work to be done for the Department, with reimbursement from a grant awarded by the DEP for the Wellhead Source Protection Program, or to take any other action relative thereto.

Article submitted by the Water Department.

Motion to take no action on this article.                                   Motion Carries

Article 5.

It was voted that the Town transfer the sum of $52,000.00 from Account #17-122-704-5961, the Court and Registry Fine Account, to Account #1-210-172-5872, Purchase of Vehicles Account, for the purchase of two (2) new cruisers with all the necessary equipment to replace cruisers #245 and #258, both vehicles having in excess of 100,000 miles.

Passed

Article 6.

It was unanimously voted that the Town transfer the sum of $6,000.00 from Account #1-970-101-5110, Wage Adjustment Account, to Account #1-211-101-5157, Court Time Account, to cover the shortfall in the Court Time Account.

Unanimous

Article 7.

It was voted that the Town petition the General Court to enact special legislation and, or, to affirm the action taken under Article 29, at the Annual Town Meeting, held on Tuesday, June 28, 1990, that authorized the Police Chief of the Town of Bridgewater to maintain a Motor Vehicle Revolving Account for the Bridgewater Police Department for the purpose of purchasing, equipping and maintaining the Police Department motor vehicles. This fund is to be comprised of all monies received by the Town pursuant to Section 2 of Chapter 280, of the General Laws for fines imposed under Chapter 89 and 90 of the General Laws, but excluding fines assessed by a hearing officer of the Town as defined in Section 20A and 20A1/2 of Chapter 90 of Mass. General Laws.

Passed

Article 8.

It was unanimously voted that the Town transfer the sum of $189.00 from Account #1-693-102-5794, the Historic District General Expenses Account, to Account #1-693-101-5116, the Part-time Clerical Salary Account.

Unanimous

Article 9.

It was unanimously voted that the Town amend its Vote taken under Article 22 and Article 23 of the May 6, 2002 Annual Town Meeting and as further amended under Article 17 of the Recessed November 14, 2002 Special Town Meeting, to authorize the appropriation and transfer the sum of $210,000.00 from Account #17-122-703-5961, Ambulance Receipts Account in the current fiscal year, to Account #1-220-101-5114-27, Fire Department General Salaries-Firefighters/EMTs.

Unanimous

Article 10.

It was unanimously voted that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $6,813.00 from Account #1-960-101-5110, Wage Adjustment Account, to the following accounts in the Assessors Department for shortfalls incurred from early retirement sick time buy back:

$1,022.00 to Account #1-141-101-5115, Clerical Salaries, and
$5,791.00 to Account #1-141-101-5113, Appointed Officials.

Passed

Article 11.

It was voted that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $15,000.00 from Account # 26-455-103-5349, Food and Beverages Service Expenses, to Account #26-455-101-5197, Food and Beverages Staff Wages.

Passed

Article 12.

It was unanimously voted that the Town rescind the following amounts of un-issued debt authorized under the following warrant articles:

Amount Rescinded Warrant Article and Town Meeting:
$700,000 Article 20 – 2000 Annual Town Meeting
$195,000 Article 1 – October 5, 1999 Special Town Meeting

Unanimous

Article 13.

It was voted that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $1,605.49 from Account #1-960-101-5110, Wage Adjustment Account, to Account #1-141-101-5113, Appointed Officials Account, due to step increases granted by the Wage and Personnel Board.

Passed

Article 14.

It was voted that the Town transfer the sum of $54,000.00 from Account # 1-220-101-5114-27, Fire Department-General Salaries-Firefighter & EMTs, to Account #1-220-172-5192, Sick Time/Vacation Time Buy-Back, for the purpose of reimbursement for unused Sick Leave credits.

Passed

Article 15.

It was voted that the Town transfer the sum of $3,500.00 from Account #84-122-3754-5722, Toole Memorial Park Trust, to Account #1-171-172-5347, Surveying Fees (Toole Memorial Trust), to fund the hiring of a registered land surveyor to locate wetlands delineation done for improvements to the Toole Property on Pleasant Street.

Passed

Article 16.

It was voted that the Town approve the amount of up to $6,000,000.00 in debt authorized by the Bridgewater-Raynham School Committee for the purpose of financing the repairs to the existing Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, including costs incidental and relating thereto provided that no debt shall be issued thereunder unless and until the Town of Bridgewater shall have voted to exempt the debt service on its apportioned share of any bonds or notes issued herebunder from the limitations of Proposition 2½, so called, and provided further that no debt shall be incurred for this project thereunder unless and until the project shall have been approved by the School Building Assistance Program administered by the State Dept. of Education.

Passed

Motion made and duly seconded to reconsider this article in hopes it would fail.

Motion Carries

Article 17.

It was voted that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $450,000.00 from Account #16-122-822-6, Prison Mitigation, to Account #1-194-172-58007, Capital Planning/Police Station, for the purposes of design, engineering, construction, re-construction and signalization of the intersections of Pleasant Street and Crescent Street, and Pleasant Street and Center Street, and land adjacent thereto required for the public safety in relation to the operation of the new Police Station.

This article requires 4/5 Vote        Yes: 655      No: 160                       Passed

Article 18.

It was voted that the Town of Bridgewater accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 59; Section 5, Fifth B, or take any other action relative thereto:

The provision reads as follows:

Fifth B, The real and personal estate belonging to or held in trust for the benefit of incorporated organizations of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, to the extent of seven hundred thousand dollars, if used and occupied by such association, and if the net income from said property is used for charitable purposes; provided, however, that such estate shall not be exempt for any year in which such association or the trustees holding for the benefit of such association willfully omit to file with the assessors the list and statement required by section twenty-nine. This clause shall take effect upon its acceptance by any city or town. In a city or town which accepts the provisions this clause, the provisions of clause Fifth and Fifth A shall not be applicable.

Passed

 

Motion made and duly seconded to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned 9:20 p.m.

A true copy, Attest:

Ronald R. Adams
Town Clerk