COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

TOWN OF NORTHBRIDGE

WARRANT FOR SPRING ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

TRANSACTION OF TOWN BUSINESS

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2009 - 7:00 P.M.

                                                                                                           

 

WORCESTER, ss:

To any Constable of the Town of Northbridge in said County,

GREETINGS:

In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify the Inhabitants of the Town of Northbridge, qualified to vote in Town elections and Town affairs, to meet in the Northbridge Middle School Auditorium on Linwood Avenue, in Whitinsville, in said Northbridge, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 7:00 o'clock P.M., then and there to act on the following articles:

 

 

ARTICLE 1:               (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to amend the votes taken under Article 6 of the 2008 Spring Session of the Annual Town Meeting (May 6, 2008), and under Article 2 of the 2008 Fall Session of the Annual Town Meeting (October 28, 2008), appropriations and transfers under the Omnibus Budget Article; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 2:               (Finance Committee)

To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the undesignated fund balance (Free Cash) a sum of money to Line 44 Stabilization Fund; or taken any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 3:               (Finance Committee)

To see if the Town will vote to amend the votes taken under Article 6 of the 2008 Spring Session of the Annual Town Meeting (May 6, 2008), appropriations and transfers under the Omnibus Budget Article, as follows:

 

By transferring from Line 15A Fire Department Personnel to a Contractual Obligations Account

the sum of       $14,000

 

By transferring from Line 16A Ambulance Personnel to a Contractual Obligations Account

the sum of       $14,000

 

TOTAL:          $28,000

 

or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 4:               (Finance Committee)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from available funds in the Treasury such sums of money not to exceed $37,150,000 to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the Town for FY 2010, beginning July 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 5:               (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from the Retained Earnings Account of the Sewer Enterprise Fund a sum of money to operate the Sewer Enterprise Operation of the Department of Public Works for FY 2010; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 6:               (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from the Retained Earnings Account of the Water Enterprise Fund a sum of money to operate the Water Enterprise Operation of the Department of Public Works for FY 2010; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7:               (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and such additional funds as may become available from the Commonwealth's Department of Highways, Chapter 90 Bond Issue proceeds, to be used by the Department of Public Works for the repair and maintenance of Town roads in conformance with MGL and further to see if the Town will vote to meet said appropriation by borrowing and to authorize the Treasurer/Collector, with approval of the Board of Selectmen, to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor in anticipation of the receipt of said State Aid;  or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 8:               (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer/Collector to enter into a compensating balance agreement or agreements for FY 2010, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 53F of the M.G.L.; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 9:               (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to transfer within the FY 2010 budget the amount of $15,248.00 from account number 32001350-596100 "Receipts Reserved -  Title V" to account number 01007100-591000 (line item 32) "Debt Principal"; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 10:             (Recycling Committee)

To see if the Town will vote to reauthorize a revolving account pursuant to MGL Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2 for the Northbridge Recycling Committee to receive funds from grants and donations, and to authorize the Northbridge Recycling Committee to spend these funds to carry out the programs of Town recycling such as battery recycling, developing and implementing programs of School and Town department recycling, a buy recycled-materials policy, to engage in educational programs on recycling, and for other related costs including part time salaries, provided, however, that the maximum amount of money that can be expended from the account in FY 2010 is $10,000; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 11:             (Playground & Recreation Commission)

To see if the Town will vote to reauthorize a revolving account pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2 for the Playground & Recreation Commission, to credit to such account any grants, donations, program user fees and fund raising proceeds received by said Commission and to authorize said Commission to expend from such account amounts required to maintain the Town's playgrounds and recreation fields, to make improvements thereto and to purchase, lease or rent equipment and support facilities for programs and activities taking place thereon provided, however, that the total amount which may be expended from the account in FY 2010 is $20,000; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 12:                         (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to transfer the funds from Fund 13116950 (Greater Media Cable Grant) to Northbridge Community Television, Inc. for operation of public access programs; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 13:                         (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 137 of the Acts of 2003, which provides that an eligible employee who has been granted a military leave of absence shall be paid his regular base salary as a public employee for each pay period of such leave of absence after September 11, 2001, reduced by any amount received from the United States as base pay for military service performed during the same pay period, base pay being described so as not to include any allowances, overtime pay, shift differential pay, hazardous duty pay or any other additional compensation received for military service; or take any other action relative thereto.  

 

ARTICLE 14:             (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to transfer the custody, care and control of the Aldrich School Building from the Northbridge School Committee to the Board of Selectmen for general municipal purposes, including leasing of all or a portion thereof; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 15:             (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from the undesignated fund balance (Free Cash) and/or borrow a sum of money for the purpose of financing the installation of an elevator lift and other repairs and improvements to the Aldrich School Building, that to meet said appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen be authorized to borrow a sum of money under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or any other enabling authority and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor; said funds to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 16              (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to authorize a five-year lease of a portion of the Aldrich School Building for use in connection with Northbridge community television operations, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take all action necessary for such purpose; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 17:             (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from available funds in the Treasury and/or borrow  a sum of money for the purpose of financing the purchase of an ambulance and related equipment for the Fire Department, that to meet said appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen be authorized to borrow a sum of money under M.G.L. Chapter 44 or any other enabling authority and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor; said funds to be expended under the direction of the Fire Chief; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 18:             (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Retained Earnings Account of the Water Enterprise Fund the sum of $65,000 for the purpose of updating the 1998 Water System Capital Improvement Plan to identify necessary system improvements; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 19:             (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Retained Earnings Account of the Water Enterprise Fund the sum of $40,000 for the purpose of designing and constructing a water line to replace the undersized water line in Railroad Street to provide an adequate fire fighting water supply; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 20:             (Board of Selectmen)

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Retained Earnings Account of the Water Enterprise Fund the sum of $85,000 for the purpose of designing and constructing an extension of the existing 12-inch water main in Union Street and connecting it to the existing water main in Providence Road to improve water system reliability and fire fighting water supplies; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 21:             (Planning Board)

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Northbridge Zoning Bylaw by adopting a “new” Zoning Map dated         

May 2009, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Town Clerk, and revising §173-4 of the Bylaw,

Establishment of Zoning Map, to read as follows:

 

The location and boundaries of the zoning districts are hereby established as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map of the Town of Northbridge, Massachusetts," dated May 2009, which accompanies and is hereby declared to be part of this chapter.

 

or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 22:             (Planning Board)

To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 173-12 of the Zoning Bylaw, Table of Use Regulations, as follows, so as to  

Allow Commercial recreation, exercise and athletic facilities, as defined in Section 173-2 of the Bylaw [Terms defined], within the Business One (B-1), Business Two (B-2), and Business Three (B-3) zoning districts: 

 

§ 173-12. Table of Use Regulations

In the Table of Use Regulations, the uses permitted by right in the district shall be designated by the letter P. Those uses that may be permitted by special permit in the district, in accordance with § 173-47, shall be designated by the letter S. Uses designated "-" shall not be permitted in the district.

 

 

Note: Proposed amendment shown with an underline.

 

Table of Use Regulations

 

Use

R-1

R-2

R-3

R-4

R-5

R-6

B-1

B-2

B-3

I-1

I-2

H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial recreation,

exercise and athletic

facilities [Added 6-15-2004 ATM, Art. 25]

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

S6

 

S6

 

S6

 

S

 

S

 

-

 

NOTES:

1          [Added 9-11-1990 STM, Art. 20]

2          The area, width and yard requirements for such use shall be as required in the R-5 District.

3          Use shall only be allowed if part of a Planned Business Development. [Added 6-11-2002 ATM, Art. 23]

4          Parking shall be provided as per Article VIII; said parking shall be prohibited within the front yard, as defined             herein. [Added 6-17-2003 ATM, Art. 20]

5          No special permit shall be required for automobile service stations in the B-1 district that primarily sell gasoline,             do not provide automobile repair services and are located on a parcel of land containing at least 40,000 sq.ft. of             area.     [Added 6-15-2004 ATM, Art. 29]

6         No special permit shall be required for Commercial recreation, exercise and athletic facilities in the B-1 district             when square-footage of building designated for such use is less than or equal to 1,000 square feet.  No special             permit shall be required for Commercial recreation, exercise and athletic facilities in the B-2 district when square- footage of building designated for such use is less than or equal to 3,000 square feet.  No special permit shall be        required for Commercial recreation, exercise and athletic facilities in the B-3 district when square-footage of             building designated for such use is less than or equal to 7,000 square feet.

 

or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 23:             (School Committee)

To see if the Town will vote to transfer the unexpended balance of the amount appropriated under Article 3 of the 2008 Spring Session of the Annual Town Meeting (May 6, 2008), account 01020803-530000 FY’08 School Improvements, to be expended by the School Committee for the following project: Removal and Replacement of Vinyl Asbestos Tile at the Northbridge Elementary School; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 24:             (Building, Planning & Construction Committee)

To see if the Town will vote to transfer an amount not to exceed $69,500 from the unexpended balance of the $225,000 that was appropriated under Article 10 of the 2006 Fall Session of the Annual Town Meeting (October 24, 2006), for replacement of the Northbridge Police Station Roof, and vote to transfer $20,500 from the unexpended balance of the $200,000 that was appropriated under Article 20 of the 2005 Spring Session of the Annual Town Meeting (June 7, 2005) for architectural and engineering services for said roof replacement, for the purpose of replacing the heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment at the Northbridge Police Station, said funds to be expended under the direction of the Building, Planning and Construction Committee; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

ARTICLE 25:             (Petition)

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to reinstate the sewer bill abatement process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Whitinsville Post Office, Town Clerk's Office, and Brian's Restaurant in Linwood, all in Precinct 1;  Office of Polyfoam Corp., and Gary's Variety in Northbridge in Precinct 2;  North Main Variety, in said Whitinsville in Precinct 3;  the Northbridge Post Office and Northbridge Center Congregational Church Bulletin Board in Precinct 4;  twenty-eight (28) days at least before the time and place of meeting aforesaid.

 

WHEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of the warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of said meeting.  GIVEN under our hand this 3rd day of April in the year Two Thousand Nine.                            

 
SELECTMEN OF NORTHBRIDGE
 
                                                                                                                                                                
            Charles Ampagoomian, Jr.                                           James R. Marzec

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

            Thomas J. Melia                                                          Daniel J. Nolan

 

 

                                                                                                                       

                                    Joseph J. Montecalvo, Chairman