Politics & Government

Town Meeting Updates Starting at 10 a.m. Today

Check back here for breaking results from Day 1 of Westford's 2013 Annual Town Meeting.

 

Can't make it out to Town Meeting today? Missed the live showing on Westford CAT? Don't worry, here's your scorecard to what happened on Day 1 of the 2013 Annual Town Meeting.

We'll be updating this throughout the meeting, and we'll have pictures from the proceedings on Monday.

Find out what's happening in Westfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you are here or are watching on TV, let us know what you think in the comments section!

# Title Recommendation Time Debated Result

Reports

Find out what's happening in Westfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

1 Accept Town Reports Selectmen recommend 4-0
10:07 a.m.
Passed unanimously, voice vote

Financial - Fiscal Year 2013

2 Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years Selectmen recommend 4-0, Budget Committee recommends 7-0 10:08 a.m
Passed unanimously, voice vote
3 Fiscal Year 2013 Supplemental Appropriations Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 6-1
10:08 a.m.
Passed unanimously, voice vote
4 Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Transfers Dismissal 10:09 a.m.
Dismissed unanimously, voice vote
5 Transfer From the Perchlorate Stabilization Fund for Perchlorate Expenses Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 10:10 a.m.
Passed unanimously, voice vote
6 Appropriate Funds to Address Public Safety Hazards at 12 North Main Street Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0
10:10  to 10:15 a.m.
Passed, voice vote
7 Authorize Expenditure from Insurance Reciepts Reserved Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Commitee recommends 7-0
10:16 a.m.
Passed unanimously, voice vote
8 Capital Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013 Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0, and 6-1 for ambulance/water enterprise requests
10:17 to 10:19 a.m.

Minot's Corner stabilization passed unanimously, voice vote

Enterprise requests passed, voice vote

Community Preservation Funds 9 Community Preservation Committee Recommendations Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0
10:20 to 10:39 a.m.
Amendment to reduce Community Housing Fund Balance from $334,000 to $185,613 failed by voice vote. Article passed, voice vote
Financial - Fiscal Year 2014 10 Amend the Wage and Classification Plan Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 10:40 to 10:47 a.m.
Article passed, voice vote
11 Fiscal Year 2014 Operating Budget Selectmen recommend 5-0, Finance Committee recommends 6-2 10:48 a.m. to 1:33 p.m.*

 

School budget amendment - decrease of $550,000, fails 104-140 ballot vote

Original school budget passed, by voice vote

Amendment to reduce part of Water Enterprise Fund passed, by voice vote

Rest of budget, passed, by voice vote

12 Authorize Revolving Funds Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 except for Board of Health requests (5-2)
1:34 to 1:37 p.m
Passed unanimously, by voice vote
13 Appropriate Chapter 90 Local Transportation Funds for Roadway Maintenance Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 1:38 p.m
Passed unanimously, by voice vote
14 Accept MGL 59-5,56 Related to Abatements for Members of the National Guard Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 1:38 to 1:42 p.m.
Passed unanimously, by voice vote
15 Accept MGL 73-4 of 1986 as Amended by MGL 126 of 1988 Related to Property Tax Exemption Increase by 100% for the Blind, Elderly and Disabled Veterans Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 1:42 p.m.
Passed unanimously, by voice vote

Capital Appropriations

16 Capital Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 Selectmen recommend 5-0 and 3-2 on capital stabilization. Finance Committee recommends 7-0 and 7-1 on capital recommendation
1:43 to 2:08 p.m.

First motion passed, by voice vote.

Capital stabilization passed unanimously, by voice vote.

Administrative

17 Authorize Lease Agreement for Radio Telecommunications Facility to be Located at the Highway Department at 28 North Street Selectmen recommend 4-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 2:08 to 2:10 p.m.
Passed, by voice vote
18 Authorize Board of Selectmen to Accept Easements Selectmen recommend 4-0
2:11 to 2:13 p.m.
Passed, by voice vote

Zoning Bylaw Requirements

19

Amend Section 6 to Add New Section 6.6: Temporary Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers Selectmen recommends 5-0, Planning Board recommends 5-0
2:14 to 2:19 p.m.
Passed, by voice vote
20 Amend Section 5.3 to Replace the Sign Bylaw in its Entirety Planning Board recommends dismissal 5-0 2:19 to 2:23 p.m.
Passed unanimously, by voice vote
21 Amend Section 9.3 Special Permits to Allow for Applicant to Contribute Funds in Lieu of Sidewalk Construction Selectmen recommends 5-0, Planning Board recommends 5-0 2:24 to 2:27 p.m.
Passed, by voice vote
22 Amend Section 8.2 Flood Plain Overlay District to Update Reference and to Add Criteria for New Subdivisions Selectmen recommends 5-0, Planning Board recommends 5-0 2:27 to 2:31 p.m.
Passed unanimously, by voice vote
23 Amend Section 3.1.2 Appendix A of Table of Principal Use Regulations to Allow for Drive-Thru Restaurants and Add New Section 3.1.4 Which Regulates all Drive-Thru Uses and Add Definition in Section 10.2 Planning Board recommends 3-2, Selectmen oppose 3-2
2:31 to 2:58 p.m.
defeated, 71-156 stand vote
Street Acceptances 24 Accept Misty Lane and Rolling Meadows Lane as Public Ways Selectmen recommends 5-0, Finance Committee recommends 7-0 2:57 p.m.
Passed unanimously, by voice vote (during Article 23 vote count)

Care and Custody of Land

25 Acquire Acton Road Parcel Selectmen recommends 5-0
 2:59 to 3:47 p.m.

Amendment adding prohibition of parking on the parcel passed, 120 to 117 stand vote

Article passed, by voice vote

 

26 Transfer Custody of Parcels from Tax Possession Sale Committee to Conservation Commission Selectmen recommend dismissal 5-0
3:48 to 4:06 p.m.

Amendment prohibiting parking failed, by voice vote

Article passed, by voice vote

27 Authorize Transfer of a Portion of Jack Walsh Fields Parcel For Two Parcels on Farmers Way Selectmen recommend dismissal 5-0
4:06 to 4:08 p.m.
Article dismissed, by voice vote
Bylaw Amendments 28 Adopt New Chapter 170: Westford Woods Selectmen during Town Meeting recommend resolution on name change instead, with naming committee created if resolution passes
4:09 to 5:47 p.m.

Amendment to change "Westford Woods" to "Westford Preserve" passed, by voice vote

Amendment to change "Westford Preserve" to "Westford Whatever" failed, by voice vote

Amendment to add text making new signs and sign replacements to be subject to conservation restriction failed, by voice vote

Amendment to add text to sign making "Westford Preserve" into "Westford's East Boston Camps" and strike reference to Stepinski Parcel failed, by voice vote

Challenge to voice vote passes, 115 to 70 stand vote

Article failed, by 86-101 stand vote

Resolution for naming committee be made to bring name recommendation to Fall Town Meeting passed, by voice vote

*-break for Gordon Seavey award, lunch


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