Town Meeting has reached a quorum and is underway as of 7:08 p.m. 208 voters turned out.
Retiring Superintendent Peter Schafer led Town Meeting in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
RECOGNITION OF TOWN EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PASSED
Selectmen Chairman Kevin Donovan led a moment of silence in memory of town employees who had died over the past year. He also included former Congressman William Delahunt, who passed away over the weekend.
Congressman Stephen Lynch addressed the crowd briefly, talking about his recent trip to Ukraine, the need for movement on border protection legislation, and his thoughts on how Town Meeting informs Washington D.C. He also broke the news that the town has won a $1 million grant to help replace the Memorial Bridge at Island Grove.
QUICK START
The first 4 articles passed unanimously without debate.
On to the budget…
TOWN BUDGET
Town Meeting approved the $67.5 million town budget unanimously after minimal discussion.
Orange Street resident Robert Manning asked where revenue received from cannabis sales tax collections is allocated and whether it could be broken down by dispensary. Salah said cannabis money goes into the town’s general fund.
CAPITAL BUDGET
Elaine O’Neill, of Colonel Hunt Drive, asked about a pair of line items totaling $189,000 for Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center, which manages 911 dispatch services for the town’s fire and police departments.
Salah said grants are expiring and this will become annual cost. He said it should be operating cost, but this year it was included under capital budget. Town Meeting then approved the capital spending budget unanimously.
NEW FIRE ENGINE
The first no votes came on whether to approve $900,000 for a new fire engine.
A resident asked whether this was the engine that was refurbished in 2020. Chief Jack Glynn said yes, but that there is a multi-year lead time between ordering and receiving a new fire engine.
Town Meeting approved the motion, but with a smattering of no votes.
CPA PROJECTS/MEMORIAL FIELD IMPROVEMENTS
Town Meeting approved all proposed CPA projects including the $2million upgrade to Memorial Field. There was no debate.
MBTA MULTIFAMILY ZONING DISTRICT
Town Meeting approved the proposed new multi-family zoning district near the MBTA station. Planner Liz Shea gave an explanation of the proposed district and there were no questions from the floor. There was one loud no vote.
TOWN MEETING REJECTS NIP BAN
By a voice vote of 78-130, Town Meeting rejected a proposed ban on small bottles of liquor, known as nips.
More debate coverage to come later.
CHARTER CHANGES ADOPTED
Voters approved 15 changes to the Town Charter as recommended by the Charter Review Committee. There were two changes on the floor, one specifying that current police officers can remain in the Civil Service system, the other stating that the police chief can only be removed with cause during the length of his or her five-year contract. THe amendments were apprived by a voice vote with a scattering of no votes.
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