2016 Town Meeting - Night Seven

We're Done!  After finishing the financial articles and resolutions, we dissolved the 2016 annual meeting.  I was sure we were going to go into Wednesday, but the mood of the room was to plow ahead and finish.

The night opened with the continuing debate on town budgets.  Inspections, education, libraries, retirement and the reserve fund were all on the list.  The finance committee recommended that we increase the school's budget due to increased Chapter 70 funding from the state.  This was approved, and the budgets passed.

We then started on the capital budget.  The discussion was dragging on, there were no school groups selling coffee, and Starbucks closes at 9:30.  I ran out a few minutes early for break to get a cup.  While I was gone, there were votes on the capital budget and borrowing authorizations from prior years.  I forgot to see what the votes were, so you'll need to check Dan's blog.

After break, we went on a tear, eager to finish up.  We passed a number of funding articles with almost no opposition.  Allocations for reviewing the Mugar 40B proposal, construction of sewers, constructions of water mains, water bodies fund, post-employment benefits, long term stabilization, special education stabilization, free cash, and fiscal stability all were approved.

The next article was the appropriation of CPA funds.  I had a personal stake in this vote, as one of the recommendations was to fund the long-awaited Phase II of the Robbins Farm Park renovation.  Phase I happened in 2003 when the playground was rebuilt and the overlook installed.  The next phase was supposed to be the following year, but 13 years slipped by before the funds were finally going to be available.  This was only one of six very worthwhile proposals.  I had anticipated a lot of discussion, but after a few speakers in foavor (myself included) we voted to terminate debate and approved the funding.

The first resolution was from the Disability Commission, and it was to encourage the town to provide 5% - 10% of the on-street parking spaces as accessible spaces.  The state recommends 5% as the minimum, but Arlington only has 2.3%.  After a very good presentation, there was no debate, and it was strongly adopted.

The final resolution and article of the town meeting regarded the polling place for Precinct 17.  They used to vote at the Highland fire station, but they were moved to the Stratton School when the repairs to the fire station were started.  Now that the station is finished, some would like to move back, but the town has resisted.  Now that the Stratton School is undergoing renovations, 17 is being moved to Pierce School.  The irony is that the other precincts who voted at Stratton are moving to the rink, which is in 17, but 17 has to go to 21.  The Selectmen had recommended a vote of no action, but a substitute was proposed asking for the Highland Station or somewhere within the precinct.  This was amended to remove the reference to the station after a presentation from the fire chief asking that the station remain off the table.  The amendment passed, the amended substitute motion was adopted, and the resolution was approved.  The most telling statistic for me was how low the voter turnout is from 17.  I hope that changes can be made to improve their voter turnout.

All that was left was to dissolve the meeting and go home.

I hope this account has proven itself to be a helpful representation of my experience this year.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  Also, don't forget to vote on June 14.  There are three debt exclusions on the ballot:  funding renovations to Thompson and Gibbs, funding design work at the high school, and funding renovations at Minuteman.  All are very important, worthwhile expenditures.  It is extremely unfortunate that they all are happening simultaneously, but it is happening, and we need to step up as a community to address the school building issues in town.  Please strongly consider approving these three requests.

Sincerely,

Christian Klein
TMM 10