2014 Town Meeting - Night Six

After foundering on Monday, Town Meeting righted itself tonight and steamed to a close.  I must admit; I was fairly confident we would be back on Monday.  We made it through 29 articles in the first five nights, which left us with 25 to go.  However, appropriations are usually less contentious, and many items are recommended for no action.  There was also a mood in the room that Monday was not handled well and that changes would need to be made.  We settled in and got right to it.

We started with the capital budget.  Clarifications were requested to several items, and there was a motion from the floor to not fund a proposed columbarium at the cemetery on principle.  (It is part of a larger disagreement over cemetery funding.)  The proposed amendment was voted down, and the recommended capital plan was approved.

We then got into a groove, quickly approving financing for water facilities, funding for committees, money for celebrations, miscellaneous appropriations, and no action on reducing extracurricular fees.  We moved so fast, the Moderator missed the substitute motion on the extracurricular fees.  The substitute was a request for $205K to help offset school fees for instrumental music and sports.  After voting to reconsider, the proponent showed statistics where Arlington's sports fees are significantly higher that the league average.  With a $1200 cap, this can be a lot of money for many families.  However, this is really a matter for the school committee to resolve.  They could make this a priority.  The substitute motion was not adopted, and the original vote for no action was reinstated.

We then approved the water bodies and Harry Barber community service funds with no discussion.  The next three articles were brought forward by the Uncle Sam Committee.  The first was a substitute motion to have a sign redone because "Uncle Sam" was not sufficiently prominent.  This squabble between town committees really shouldn't have been brought before Town Meeting.  The motion was rejected, and no action was voted on the article.  There was then no action on a proposal to add Uncle Sam to the town's stationary, followed by no action on a request to hang holiday lights in Uncle Sam plaza.  (This last one was made unnecessary by the DPW earlier in town meeting.)  It was starting to look like we wouldn't finish tonight.

We then found our second wind, voting no action on historic signage and old burying ground repairs, approving appropriations for the scenic byway, pension adjustments, benefits trust fund, increased minimum allowances, the stabilization fund, and the overlay reserve.  There was a discussion of funding for the cemetery.  The main argument was whether the town can consider capital gains on cemetery funds income.  The town can use the income generated on funds in the perpetual care fund for cemetery purposes, but the principal must be left alone.  The proponent was making a case for considering the capital gains as a part of the principal, a common financial rule.  However, the town was advised at the local and state levels that this was an acceptable practice.  We voted for the appropriation, including possible capital gains.

Skipping break, we approved the use of free cash, approved of our experience with the electronic voting devices, approved money to do it again next year, and approved putting all the remaining funds into the override stabilization fund.  Then we were suddenly done, and it was only 10:00.  It felt rushed, but I don't think we gave anything short shrift.  It was a good year, and I think we did some good things.

I appreciate those of you who have followed my town meeting blog over the last three years.  I hope it gives my constituents a sense of where I've stood on the issues.  I am up for reelection next spring, and I'd really appreciate your vote.