ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
The Egremont Annual Town Meeting was called to order on May 6, 2010 at 7:05 by Moderator Thomas Gage.
(The original date of the Town Meeting, scheduled for May 4, 2010, was cancelled because Selectman Chairman Bruce Cumsky declared a State of Emergency in Egremont due to the bad storms that were occurring. Said Chairman also cancelled the Town Meeting at this time.
Approximately 32 registered voters appeared on May 4 at the TACPAC. At this time, on the advice of Town Counsel Jeremia Pollard, Moderator Thomas Gage adjourned the meeting to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at the TACPAC at Mt Everett Regional High School.)
On May 6, Moderator Gage attested to the proper service of the Warrant and to the presence of a quorum. The Pledge was recited and a moment of silence observed. The Moderator gave the instructions for the meeting. Marlene Soudant and Rosemary Besancon were appointed counters.
Motion made and seconded to waive the formal reading of the Warrant. Motion carried by majority voice vote.
At this meeting the following actions took place:
ARTICLE 1: Under this Article Rachel Shaw gave a report from the Council on Aging requesting assistance. Interested residents were instructed to read the final page of the Town Newsletter and to respond to the Council on Aging.
ARTICLE 2: Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the following amounts (unless otherwise noted). Motion carried by majority voice vote.
1. OFFICIALS AND BOARDS $ 301,786.00
A. Accounting Officer Expense 500.00
B. Accounting Officer 13,525.00
C. Agricultural Commission 400.00
D. Assessors’ Clerical (new) 3,120.00
E. Assessor’s Consulting 25,700.00
F. Assessor’s Expense 3,850.00
G. Assessor #1 Salary 4,541.00
H. Assessor #2 Salary 4,541.00
I. Assessor #3Salary 4,541.00
J. Board of Appeals Expenses 100.00
K. Board of Health Expense 5,000.00
L. Board of Health Director 21,816.00
M. Board of Health Agent Wages 13,828.00
N. Board of Health Food Inspector 663.00
O. Building Inspector Salary 24,051.00
P. Conservation Commission Expense 475.00
Q. Constable’s Salary 523.00
R. Finance Committee Expense 400.00
S. Inspectors’ Expenses 2,400.00
T. Planning Board Expense 2,165.00
U. Planning Board Wages 270.00
V. Selectmen Office Administrator 49,738.00
W. Selectman Office Expense 12,600.00
X. Selectman #1 Salary 5,390.00
Y. Selectman # 2 Salary 4,901.00
Z. Selectman # 3 Salary 4,901.00
AA. Town Clerk Expense 2,755.00
BB. Town Clerk Salary 8,053.00
CC. Town Hall Office Clerk 20,492.00
DD. Treasurer/Collector Expense 8,750.00
EE. Treasurer/Collector Salary 47,597.00
FF. Treasurer/Collector Clerk (new) 4,200.00
2. TOWN EXPENSES $ 185,338.00
A. Animal Control Officer 2,247.00
B. Animal Control Expense 1,200.00
C. Audit 5,050.00
D. Board of Registrars Salary 50.00
E. Compactor Operation 72,845.00
F. Compactor Operator Salary 19,219.00
G. Compactor Substitute Wages 4,215.00
H. Computer Expense 29,914.00
I. Drug and Alcohol tests 360.00
J. Egremont Newsletter 3,500.00
K. Election Wages 4,500.00
L. Group Purchasing 775.00
M. High Speed Internet 3,224.00
N. Historical Commission Expense 1,400.00
O. Inspector of Animals 500.00
P. Legal Expense 500.00
Q. Legal Fees 7,000.00
R. Litigation 10,000.00
S. Moderator 215.00
T. School Committee 1,842.00
U. School Crossing Guard 4,958.00
V. So. Berkshire Chamber Commerce 250.00
W. Town Report 650.00
X. Town Telephone 3,924.00
Y. Veteran’s Expense 6,500.00
Z. Zoning Bylaws 500.00
TOWN MAINTENANCE $ 152,065.00
A. Building Maintenance Expense 13,010.00
B. Building Maintenance Utility Expense 39,211.00
C. Building Maintenance Wages 10,765.00
D. Maintenance Superintendent 40,990.00
E. Cemetery Maintenance 100.00
F. French Park Maintenance 6,726.00
G. French Park Overtime Wages 3,765.00
H. French Park Wages 10,154.00
I. Public Lighting 3,900.00
J. Building Improvements 7,775.00
K. Tree Work 10,000.00
L. Tree Warden 5,669.00
4. HIGHWAYS $ 441,144.00
A. Const. & Maintenance Wages 4,587.00
B. Construction & Maintenance 178,200.00
C. Personnel Member Foreman 37,228.00
D. Personnel Member B 35,725.00
E. Personnel Member C 34,625.00
F. Superintendent Salary 56,697.00
G. Snow & Ice Removal 70,000.00
H. Snow & Ice Removal Wages 24,082.00
5. LIBRARY $ 26,238.00
A. Expenses 8,000.00
B. Librarian’s Salary 17,371.00
C. Library Substitute Wages 867.00
6. POLICE $ 290,611.00
A. Chief Expense 2,700.00
B. Chief Salary 59,799.00
C. Collective Bargaining 182,301.00
D. Department Expenses 10,899.00
E. Police Wages – Secretary 13,200.00
F. Vehicle Expenses 21,712.00
7. FIRE & EMERGENCY $ 123,420.00
A. Dispatch Facilities 8,089.00
B. Emergency Management 1,500.00
C. Emergency Management Wages 2,500.00
D. Fire Department Expense 37,500.00
E. Draft Hydrants 5,000.00
F. Firefighters Stipend 23,000.00
G. Forest Fires 1,000.00
H. Street Number 911 200.00
I. Alert-Now Rapid Notification System 1,500.00
J. So Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning $ 500.00
K. Fire Accident Wages 35,360.00
L. Fire Accident Benefits 7,271.00
8. DEBT AND INTEREST $ 78,009.00
A. Interest Short Term Debt 1.00
B. Fire Truck Loan 42,175.00
C. Loader Loan 35,833.00
9. HUMAN SERVICES $ 21,633.00
A. Brien Center/Mental health 958.00
B. Berkshire South Community Center 1,000.00
C. Community Health Programs 1,000.00
D. Berkshire Community Action Council 1,000.00
E. Construct, Inc. 400.00
F. Council on Aging 1,950.00
G. Eagle Fund 1,000.00
H. Egremont Garden Club 200.00
I. Elizabeth Freeman Center 500.00
J. Fairview Hospital 1,500.00
K. Housatonic Valley Association 250.00
L. Hospice of South Berkshire 750.00
M. Lee VNA 4,200.00
N. Railroad Street Youth Project 1,500.00
O. Southern Berkshire Elderly Transport 5,025.00
P. Southern Berkshire Literacy Network 400.00
10. INSURANCE $ 360,071.00
A. Health/Dental 152,150.00
B. Pension 108,171.00
C. Property & Casualty 78,000.00
D. Social Security /Medicare 11,250.00
E. Unemployment 10,500.00
11. RESERVE FUND $ 25,000.00
12. SCHOOLS $ 1,374,016.00
A. Operating & Transport 1,289,536.00
B. Capital Costs 84,480.00
TOTAL LINE ITEM BUDGET $ 3,379,331.00
TOTAL ARTICLES R & A 00
TOTAL TRANSFERS $ 125,455.00
TOTAL BUDGET $ 3,504,786.00
ARTICLE 3: Motion made and seconded to raise $145,000.00 from Water Department Revenues and to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $75,455.00 to total $220,455.00 to operate the Egremont Water
Department, said sums to be expended under the direction of the Water Commissioners. The following sums to be appropriated to the Water Enterprise Fund:
A. Debt Service $ 71,000.00
B. Water Operating Expense 20,000.00
C. Salaries/Wages 64,505.00
D. Utilities 14,500.00
E. Office Expense 1,000.00
F. Water System Maintenance,
Repair, Replacement, Upgrade 26,000.00
G. Audit 2,450.00
H. Insurance 21,000.00
TOTAL $ 220,455.00
Motion carried by a hand count vote of 57 Yes to 43 No.
ARTICLE 4: Motion made and seconded to pass over this Article. Motion carried by majority hand vote.
ARTICLE 5: Motion made and seconded to change the following Zoning Bylaw section to read:
Section 5.3.10.9 Towers shall be located at least one and one half times their maximum structural height away from the outer boundary of any parcel of land where the tower is situated, and all related structures shall comply with all setbacks for accessory buildings in Section 4.1.2.1.b of this Bylaw.
A 2/3 vote was necessary for approval. Motion carried by a hand count vote of 79 Yes to 29 No.
ARTICLE 6: Motion made and seconded to change the following Zoning Bylaw section to read:
Section 5.3.10.19 No tower shall be located closer than 500 feet from any dwelling unit outside the parcel of land where the tower is located, provided the dwelling unit was in existence at the time of the initial complete application for special permit under Section 5.3.8 of this Bylaw.
A 2/3 vote was necessary for approval. Motion carried by a hand count vote of 89 Yes to 20 No.
ARTICLE 7: Motion made and seconded to postpone action on this Article indefinitely. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 8: Motion made and seconded to amend the Egremont Zoning Bylaws as written in the Warrant. Motion defeated by a hand count vote
12 Yes to 58 No.
ARTICLE 9: Motion made and seconded to transfer from Certified Free Cash the following amounts for capital purchases for Fiscal year 2011:
Fire Proof File Cabinets $ 3,000.00
GASB 45 software lease 1,500.00
(Mandatory one year commitment)
Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 10: Motion made and seconded to appropriate from the Cemetery Sale of Lots Account the sum of $1,500.00 for repair and maintenance projects at Town Cemeteries. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 11: Motion made and seconded to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $25,000.00 to the Stabilization Fund. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 12: Motion made and seconded to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $5,000.00 to pay to the Friends of Prospect Lake to help with the costs of weed control at Prospect Lake. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 13: Motion made and seconded to have the Town accept funds being provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General laws, to pay for such costs as allowed by appropriate legislation in connection with the maintenance, repair, and construction of Town ways and bridges. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 14: Motion made and seconded to amend General Bylaw to read as follows:
Section 1: Attested copies of all Town Meeting Warrants shall be posted by the Town Constable or other persons so designated by the Board of Selectmen, in four (4) public places or more, within the Town, for at least fourteen (14) days before the holding of said meeting.
ARTICLE 15: Motion made and seconded to postpone indefinitely action on this Article. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 16: Motion made and seconded to have the Town accept easements to maintain fire hydrants granted by various Egremont property owners, as described in “Fire Hydrant Easement Agreements” to be executed, which easement Agreements will be available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office. Motion carried by majority had count vote.
ARTCLE 17: Motion made and seconded to have the Town use revolving funds for the following programs and purchases:
a. French Park $ 2,000.00
b. Home Composting Bins 500.00
c. Zoning Board of Appeals 1,000.00
d. Dog Fund 1,000.00
e. Inspector Wages 15,000.00
(exceptions: Building Inspector and Health Inspector)
which revolving funds together shall not exceed the sum of $ 19,500.00, which shall be under the control of the Town Treasurer, which shall be accounted for separately and to which shall be credited only the departmental receipts received in connection with the programs supported by each revolving fund; further to authorize the Town Treasurer to expend from such funds in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2 as amended by Section 72 and 73 of the Acts of 1994 of the Massachusetts General Laws, provided however that said expenditures for all revolving funds shall not exceed the receipts for such funds. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 18: Motion made and seconded to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $14,000.00 for the purchase and installation of new playground equipment at French Park. Such amount, when added to the $5,000.00 already set aside for this purpose from the net proceeds of Egremont on Parade, thereby totaling $19,000.00, shall be spent only to the extent matched by an equal amount provided by the French Park Fund and/or by other non-Town sources, so that the Town will effectively pay only one-half of the cost of purchasing and installing such equipment. Motion carried by majority hand count vote.
ARTICLE 19: Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,000.00 to install emergency warning sirens in Egremont. Motion defeated by a hand count vote of 27 Yes to 35 No.
ARTICLE 20: No action was taken under this Article.
Meeting dissolved at 10:25 p.m.
Margaret A. Muskrat
Egremont Town Clerk