The Fall Annual Town
Meeting was called to order at
The following tellers were appointed by the Moderator and duly sworn in
by the Town Clerk: Sharon Susienka,
Richard Sasseville, Roger Mathieu, Pamela LaTour, Donald Lange, and Paula McCowan. Upon motion made and seconded and voted
unanimously, the reading of the warrant and the return of service thereof were
dispensed with.
ARTICLE 1: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to
transfer from available funds in the Treasury (free cash) the sum of $366,000 for
the High School Fields and
ARTICLE 2: Voted APPROVED Majority
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to accept
the provisions of Section 5K of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws in
order to allow the Selectmen to establish a program whereby property owners
over the age of 60 on July 1st of any given year may provide
volunteer service to the Town, at the State minimum wage, in exchange for a
reduction in their real estate tax bills of up to $750 per Fiscal Year, in
addition to any other exemptions or abatements for which they may be eligible.
Voted DEFEATED Majority
Moved and seconded that this matter be
postponed indefinitely.
ARTICLE 3: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to amend
the vote taken under Article 3 of the 2007 Spring Session of the Annual Town
Meeting (June 12, 2007), appropriations and transfers under the Omnibus Budget
Article, as follows:
NON-DEPARTMENTAL:
By transferring from Line 40 (Employee
Insurance Benefits)
to new Line 40A (Life Insurance) the sum of $15,000.
ARTICLE
4: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to pass
over this article.
To see if the
Town will vote to amend the vote taken under Article 3 of the 2007 Spring
Session of the Annual Town Meeting (June 12, 2007), appropriations and
transfers under the Omnibus Budget Article, as follows:
NON-DEPARTMENTAL:
Line 40: Employee Insurance Benefits
By decreasing the amount previously raised
and appropriated by a certain sum of money;
or take any
other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 5: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to amend
the vote taken under Article 3 of the 2007 Spring Session of the Annual Town
Meeting (June 12, 2007), appropriations and transfers under the Omnibus Budget
Article, as follows:
NON-DEPARTMENTAL:
Line 43 (Stabilization Fund)
By raising and appropriating the sum of $150,000.
Attendance:
137 (
ARTICLE 6:
Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for the purpose
of purchasing mechanic’s tools for use by the Department of Public Works for
maintenance and repair of departmental vehicles.
ARTICLE 7: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to fund Town
Hall security and
ARTICLE 8: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to pass over this article.
To see if the Town will vote to accept the second paragraph of MGL
C.129 §15 regarding the annual nomination of inspectors of animals; or take any
other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 9: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to pass over this article.
To see if the Town will vote to amend § 4-403 (B) of the Code of the
Town of Northbridge by deleting the words "Town Manager" in the first
sentence and replacing them with the words "Board of Health" so that
the section reads as follows:
B. Mode of appointment; term of office. The Board of Health shall
annually, in March, nominate one or more Inspectors of Animals, and before
April first, shall send to the Director of Animal Health of the commonwealth
the name, address and occupation of each nominee. Such nominee shall not be appointed until
approved by the Director of Animal Health of the commonwealth (MGL C.129, §15).
or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 10: Voted APPROVED 2/3 vote attained
Moderator declared 2/3 vote by
Virtue of Town ByLaw C3-106
Moved and seconded
that the town vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning Bylaw Chapter 173 as
follows:
(1.) Revising Article VII, Section 173-23 [Signs
permitted in any business district] by deleting the comma after the words
"automotive service establishment" in paragraph A and adding after said
words and before the word "provided" the following: "within
a Business Two (B-2) and/or a Business Three (B-3) district shall be
permitted", so that paragraph A reads as follows: A. One
pole sign for each street frontage of an automotive service establishment
within a Business Two (B-2) and/or a Business Three (B-3) district shall be
permitted, provided that it shall not exceed 60 square feet in surface area, no
portion of it shall set back less than five feet from any street lot line, it
shall not be erected so that any portion of it is over 30 feet above the ground
or sidewalk and, if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally with white or
blue lights only.
(2.) By adding the following new paragraph D to
said Section 173-23: "D. Freestanding signs within the Business One (B-1)
and Heritage (H) zoning district shall be limited to monument-style.
Freestanding pylon type or pole signs shall not be permitted within the
Business One (B-1) and Heritage (H) zoning districts".
(3.) Revising Article II, Section 173-2B [Terms
defined] by ADDING the following definition for "monument sign" after
the definition for "Sign, identification" and before the definition for "Sign, surface area
of" to read as follows: "Sign,
monument-style – A monument-style sign is a ground sign with low overall
height. This type of sign does not have a visible pole and generally has
a decorative base and if lighted shall be externally lit. Said signage
including its base shall not exceed six (6) feet in height and twenty (20)
square feet in area in the Business One (B-1) and Heritage (H) zoning
districts".
Attendance: 143 (
ARTICLE 11: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to pass over this article.
To see if the Town will vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning
By-Law Chapter 173, Article II, Section 173-2B [Terms defined], "lot
width" definition, by deleting the text indicated below by strikethrough
and adding the text indicated below by underline:
which may or may not coincide
with the actual front setback line. The
lot width between the front lot line and the required front setback shall be
measured with a circle having the diameter of the required lot width. The diameter of the circle shall pass from
the front lot line through the required front setback. The circle shall be contained entirely within
the lot lines.
So that the definition reads as follows:
or take any other action
relative thereto.
ARTICLE 12: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law Chapter 173
Section 173-12 [Table of Use Regulations], by adding permitted use provisions
in the Industrial – One (I-1) and Industrial – Two (I-2) Zoning District
columns for the following Agricultural and Retail and Services use categories
so that the entries in those columns for those categories read as follows:
|
Use |
Industrial –One (I-1) |
Industrial –Two (I-2) |
|
Agricultural: |
|
|
|
Year round
greenhouse or stand for wholesale and retail sale of agricultural or farm
products |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Temporary (not to
exceed erection or use for a period exceeding 3 months in any 1 year)
greenhouse or stand for retail sale of agricultural or farm products raised
primarily on the same premises |
S |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
Retail and services: |
|
|
|
Stores usually
selling a combination of 2 or more of the following: dry goods, apparel and
accessories, furniture and home furnishings, small wares, hardware and food |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Establishment primary
selling food and drink for home preparation and consumption or on its
premises |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Establishments
selling new automobiles or new and used automobiles and trucks, new
automobile tires and other accessories, aircraft, boats, motorcycles and household
trailers |
S |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
Hotels and motels |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Personal service
establishments |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous
business offices and services |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Motion-picture
establishment |
S3 |
S3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Planned business
development |
S |
S |
|
|
|
|
[Text to be added is
indicated by underline.]
[NOTE: In the Table of Use Regulations, the uses permitted by right in the
district are designated by the letter P.
Those uses that may be permitted by special permit in the district, in
accordance with §173-47, are designated by the letter S. Uses designated "-" are not
permitted in the district. Footnote 3
states- "Use shall only be allowed if part of a Planned Business
Development."]
ARTICLE 13: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law Chapter 173,
Section 173-16 [Permitted uses in Limited Industrial District (I-2)], to
provide for permitted uses in the Industrial-One (I-1) Zoning District by inserting
in the Section heading, and in the first sentence, before the words
"Limited Industrial District (I-2)" the words "Industrial-One
(I-1) District and".
ARTICLE 14: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to AMEND the Town of Northbridge Zoning By-Law Chapter 173,
Subsection 173-47B (2) [Planned Business Development], by ADDING provision(s)
for the Industrial-One (I-1) Zoning District in clauses a, e, h and k so that
subsection B(2) reads as follows (with deletions shown by strikethrough
and additions shown by underline):
(2) Planned Business
Development. [Amended
Purpose. A Planned Business Development (PBD) allows for the
comprehensive and integrated development of a plot of land by permitting a
mixture of open space, commercial and light industrial uses, which can be
combined in a compatible relationship with each other. Multiple buildings may
be allowed on an individual lot and multiple uses may be allowed in each
building. The PBD provides greater flexibility in the design and layout of
buildings, parking areas, and open space.
Applicability. The Planning Board may issue a special permit for a
Planned Business Development, if the development application is determined to
be sufficiently advantageous to render it appropriate to depart from the normal
requirements of the district to the extent authorized by the Zoning Bylaw and
the development meets the following requirements:
(a) Said
development shall be located in a Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3) and/or the
an Industrial District (I-1, I-2) Industrial-Two District (1-2);
(b) Said
lot shall be at least three acres in size;
(c) A
development plan shall be presented for the entire area described in the
application and applicants must file a site plan under § 173-49;
(d) Uses
allowed in a Planned Business Development located in any B District shall be
any use permitted by right or by special permit in any B District;
(e) Uses
allowed in a Planned Business Development located in an I-2 District any
I District shall only be any use permitted by right or by special permit in
the I-2 District any I District;
(f) Multiple
buildings may be allowed on individual lots and multiple uses may be allowed in
each building;
(g) The
development area shall be served by common parking areas and have common exits
and entrances;
(h) Developments
are subject to a maximum building coverage of 80% of the lot in any Business
District and 60% of the lot in the Industrial-2 District any
Industrial District.
(i) Parking:
The number of parking and loading spaces required shall be determined by using
the standards for each use as provided elsewhere in this Zoning Bylaw. The
Planning Board may allow a reduction of the required number of spaces by up to
25% if it can be demonstrated that two or more uses within a single development
can share parking areas due to different hours of normal activity. A change in
use of one of the businesses shall require the construction of the full amount
of parking otherwise required unless the Planning Board grants a special permit
to allow the parking reductions to remain in effect.
(j)
Said
development shall be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this
provision of the Zoning Bylaw.
(k)
For
Planned Business Developments in the I-2 District any Industrial
District, developments shall comply
with § 173-101, Design standards, of Article XVI, the Route 146 Overlay
District Bylaw.
ARTICLE 15: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to pass over this article.
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4-307, Conservation
Commission, of Chapter 4 and Section 7-700, Wetlands Protection Bylaw, of
Chapter 7 of the Code of the Town of Northbridge as proposed by the
Conservation Commission, a copy of said proposed amendments being on file with
the Town Clerk; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 16: Voted DEFEATED Majority
Moved and seconded that
the Town vote to transfer from available funds in the Treasury (Free Cash), the
sum of $237,036.00 to replace School Choice funds inadvertently expended by the
Town that must be repaid to the
ARTICLE 17: Voted DEFEATED Majority
Moved and seconded that
the Town vote to transfer from available funds in the Treasury (Free Cash), the
sum of $53,200.00 to reimburse the
ARTICLE 18: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to accept as a
public way, Forsythe Farm Road (Quaker Ridge Development), as heretofore laid
out by the Board of Selectmen, a copy of which layout is on file with the Town
Clerk, and further authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the name and behalf of
the Town, to acquire by gift, easements in said way for the purpose for which
public ways are used in Town.
ARTICLE 19: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to accept as a
public way, the alteration and extension of Ash Street as heretofore laid out
by the Board of Selectmen, a copy of which layout is on file with the Town
Clerk, and further authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the name and behalf of
the Town, to acquire by gift, easements in said way for the purpose for which
public ways are used in Town.
ARTICLE 20: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to accept as a
public way, a portion of Brookway Drive (Graystone at Northbridge Subdivision),
from Allyn Road to the end of the cul-de-sac, as heretofore laid out by the
Board of Selectmen, a copy of which layout is on file with the Town Clerk, and
which is shown as "Brookway Drive, 50' Wide Area = 36,481 SF" on a
Plan of Land entitled "Graystone at
Northbridge Acceptance Plan of a Portion of Brookway Drive in Northbridge,
MA, Owner: Howe Development Corporation & Colman Construction Co., Inc.,
Scale: 1" = 40', Date: January 28,
2005, prepared by Guerard Survey Co. & Assoc. Inc.," and to vote to
accept the easement shown as "Existing Drain and Detention Area Easement
Area = 17,778 SF" and the two easements shown as "Existing Temporary
Roadway Easement Area = 3,468 SF"; and further authorize the Board of
Selectmen, in the name and behalf of the Town, to acquire by gift, easements in
said way for the purpose for which public ways are used in the Town of
Northbridge.
ARTICLE 21: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to accept the
Open Space, with the improvements thereon, located in the Graystone at
Northbridge Subdivision, shown as "Open
Space 14.03 Acres" on a Plan of Land entitled, "Plan of Land in
Northbridge, MA, Owner: Howe Development Corp., Prepared For: Colman
construction Co., Scale:1" = 80', Date: September 7, 2001, Prepared by:
Guerard Survey Co. & Assoc. Inc., 11 Summer Street, Westborough, MA 01581," which Plan is recorded with the
Worcester South District Registry of Deeds as Plan 117 in Plan Book 772,
together with the permanent right and easement to use the "Proposed 25 Ft
Wide Right of Way to Open Space" as shown on said Plan for the purpose of
access to and egress from said Open Space, for use as a playground and Open
Space for the Town of Northbridge, and further to authorize the Board of
Selectmen, in the name and behalf of the Town, to acquire by gift, the fee
interest in the Open Space and easement rights over the Right of Way for
playground and Open Space purposes.
ARTICLE 22: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded that the Town vote to pass over
this article.
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
acquire, on behalf of the Town, by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise,
sewer pump stations, any and all infrastructure related thereto, and easements
appurtenant to and serving said sewer pump stations and related infrastructure,
on land located off Marston Road, shown on Assessors' Map 15, Parcel 137, and
land located off Hillview Lane, shown on Assessors' Map 15, Parcel 116; and to
appropriate a sum of money therefore; or take any other action relative
thereto.
ARTICLE 23: Voted APPROVED Unanimous
Moved and seconded
that the Town vote to pass over this article.
To see if the Town will vote to amend the zoning map incorporated into
its Zoning By-law rezoning from Residential 2 and R-3 to Business One (B-1) the
following parcel of land:
Assessors Map 25
Beginning at the corner formed by the intersection of the northeasterly
line of said
Thence West Three hundred and thirty feet and 79/100 (330.70) feet to a
highway bound.
Thence North eleven and 57/100 (11.57) feet
Thence North three hundred and nine 02/100 (309.62) feet
Thence East two hundred (200) feet
Thence East ninety-three and 48/100 feet
Thence three hundred feet
Thence Southwesterly on a curved line having a radius of one thousand
one hundred and twenty-seven and 13/100 (1127.13) feet, one hundred seventy-six
and 93/100 feet.
Thence two hundred forty-five and 18/100 (245.81) feet to the beginning
the last two lines by said
or take any other action relating thereto.
Action
having been completed on all of the Articles on the Warrant for the
Voted
unanimously at
A
TRUE COPY ATTEST:__________________________
Doreen A. Cedrone, Town Clerk