It’s 6:44 p.m. and we’re waiting for Abington’s Annual Town Meeting to start. A quorum of 150 is needed for the meeting to start.
Town Meeting observers will notice a MUCH larger Annual Town Report. Usually the report is printed in a bound 6×8 book. This year it’s in an 8.5×11 format — which makes it much more legible.
Moderator Shawn Reilly announces there are 236 people in attendance so Town Meeting is called to order at 7:04. The size of the crowd gets some impressive whoops as its (sadly) one of the larger crowds in the past couple years. Past Chairwoman of the Abington Summer Concert Committee Nancy Reid was given the honor of leading the legislative body in the Pledge of Allegiance. Select Board Chairman Kevin Donovan then announced that the Annual Town Report would be dedicated in Reid’s name. Reid put in a plug to have people volunteer for committees.
Donovan led Town Meeting in a moment of silence for former town employees who passed away in the past year. The names can be seen in the photo below.
Moderator Shawn Reilly also pointed out that this marks the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, considered the offical start of the American Revolution. He said one of King George’s greivances was the existance of Town Meetings, and mentioned that in 1790, the Abington Town Meeting adopted a set of resolves advocating for self-determination.
TOWN MANAGER PREVIEW
Town Manager Scott Lambiase gave a quick review of the town’s budget and what’s coming down the road.
He said the town will be forming a fiscal sustainability group to help look at ways to improbe the town’s longterm financial health.
“We are using free cash and one-time funds to balance the budget. This is obvously not a longterm viable or sustainable solution for us,” he said.
He said new growth has been flat, cannabis revenues have not materialized as hoped, state aid is down, and health insurance premiums are rising 10%.
“The Board of Selectmen is exploring cost savings wherever possible,” Lambiase said.
Congressman Stephen Lynch, who normally gives brief remarks, was not able to make it this year due to issues in Washington, Reilly said. State Sen. John Keenan was in attendance. Rep. Alyson Sullivan Almeida was not able to make it, Reilly said. (UPDATE: She was able to stop by later)
“CONSENT AGENDA”
The first five articles were labeled a consent agenda, or relatively non-controversial items. These included funding for out of district school transportation costs, funding for human service agencies, and $20,000 for overtime and police details for next year’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
However, Melody Olson asked that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade article be pulled out to be discussed seperately. She said while she likes the parade it should be self-sufficient, considering the town’s other budgetary needs. The article passed overwhelmingly on a voice vote.
ARTICLE 6 – TRASH ENTERPRISE FUND
The proposal to create an enterprise fund for trash removal failed by a 124-141 vote.
Lambiase said the cost of trash removal has improved 58% over the past five years. The phased in approach is in recognition of the two past override votes to fund trash service. He estimates the cost will be about $400 per household. There would be an opt out service, allowing residents to hire a private hauler of their choosing, he said. ”We feel this is a fair and balanced approach based on the information we have today,” he said.
Martha Craft asked why the age of 70 was chosen as the cut off for the senior discount. Lambiase said the working group that developed the policy chose the number based on oher senior discounts used by the water department.
Ben Olitsky said he previously lived in Brockton, which uses a pay-as-you-throw program, and asked whether the town considered that model. Lambiase said the working group considered it but the program can be complicated. Residents would have to go to a store to buy bags, the contractor has to monitor whether the bags are beig used when being dumped.
A voter reading a statement for her father said by his math the two previous overrides passed in 1993 and 2009 should provide enough to cover the cost of trash service, when compounded over the years. He said instead of charging a separate fee, town leaders should ask for another Proposition 2.1 override like it has in the past
Craft, speaking again, said a pay-as-you-throw program would be more fair to households that only throw one bag a week.
Finance Committee Chairman Matt Salah said the working group is continuing to look at the program and how it could be adjusted moving forward. “It’s definitely not something we’re finished with tonight,” he said.
A resident asked about enforcement for those who opt-out, to prevent people who put in everybody else’s trash or toss it illegally.
Salah said in order to opt out, you need to show proof of a contract with another company.
Lambiase pointed out Abington is one of only nearby towns that pay for trash removal through the operating budget instead of using pay-as-you-throw, or operating a transfer station.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel here,” he said.
Tony Dellgallo, of Chestnut Street, asked why the town won’t just take the free cash and buy trash trucks and hire town employees to collect the trash.
“I just don’t think you guys are doing a good job,” he said.
Mary Jo Franey, of Washington Street, who organized opposition, to the 2009 override, reminded voters that they’re still paying for the first override which was approved in 1993.
Bob Manning, of Orange Street, said we need to be careful how much free cash is used based on possible funding uncertainties next year.
Nick Whitney, of Loganberry Drive, asked whether residents would get a quarterly bill similar to water and sewer, and whether the town would absorb the processing fee. Salah said yes and yes.
Finance Committee member Barbara Rae said the board looked at the issue from all different angles to avoid a trash bill. “If someone has a better idea that doens’t cut your teachers, cut your fire depoartment…we’d love to hear it,” she said.
ARTICLE 7 – TOWN BUDGET
Voters asked a few questions but they were mostly about clarifying the town’s free cash number and other funding mechanisms. The proposed $71.8 million FY2026 budget passed overwhelmingly on a voice vote.
ARTICLE 8 – CAPITAL BUDGET
A resident asked about funding for engineering for closing the old town landfill, and whether it would result in closing the recycling station currently located at the Groveland Street site. .
Lambiase said the state has been after the town for years to formally cap the landfill and that it would actually result in a more formal area for recycling needs.
The budget was adopted overwhelminglt on a voice vote.
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT PROJECTS
Abington High hockey coach Bryan Woodford spoke to the $350,000 proposed to create a street hockey rink and other improvements to Arnold Park. He said there are opportunities for every other sport in town expect for hockey.
Franey asked about need for improvements to the Island Grove snack shack, is attendance at Island Grove is down. Community Preservation and Parks & Rec Committee ChairwomanRachel Collins said bids to replace the outdated structure came in way overbudget, and while swimmers at Island Grove is down, attendance at the Eager Beaver Day Camp is way up.
The article passed easily.
TRUFANT FAMILY LAND DONATION TO STRAWBERRY VALLEY
Strawberry Valley Golf Course Committee Chairman Steve Wakelin read a statement thanking the Trufant Family for donating another more than 20 acres to the golf course for a possible future expansion or course relaignment. The Trufant Family build the course in the 1960s and sold it to the town in 1987.
ARTICLE 18 – FALSE ALARM BYLAW
Voters approved a new bylaw that will subject businesses with chonically faulty alarms to penalties. It was proposed by the Police Chief.
ARTICLE 19 – REDUCING TOWN MEETING QUORUM
Paul Mollica said towns that have eliminated the quorum needed for Town Meeting actually see an increase because voters feel the need to show up. Tim Chapin questioned why this topic keeps coming up when the town keeps saying no. Town Meeting voted down a similar motion a few years ago. Martha Kraft said a quorum of 75 represents a fraction of 1%.
Select Board Chairman Kevin Donovan said the board surveyed local towns. and 13 have quorums less than 100 and seven have quorums of zero. He said several towns, such as East Bridgewater has seen attendance increased. “Of those 13 not one has gone back,” Donovan said.
Beth Owings of Pond Street said in lowering the quorum “we’re lowering the standard for ourselves,” and also criticized the board’s recent decision to hold a meeting starting at 5 p.m.
The article was loudly rejected.
The rest of the articles were relatively non-controversial, with Town Meeting adopting the recommended motion on voice votes.
The meeting adjourned around 9:26 p.m.
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