Capsule reports on what residents will be asked to decide in town meetings from Tuesday, May 10, through Saturday, May 14.
Alford
Town meeting: Tuesday, May 10, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Alford Center Road.
TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: In addition to setting a new budget, residents will be asked to consider:
– Amending an existing town bylaw so that anyone planning to hunt on either town owned or private property cannot do so without written permission of the owner obtained in advance.
– To raise, appropriate or transfer $25,000 for the purpose of researching, accumulating, preserving and digitizing the records of the town of Alford.
– Transferring $29,000 from the retained earnings of the Alford Link Enterprise Fund to pay the cost of debt service on Alford Link Broadband borrowing.
– To raise, appropriate or transfer of $9,500 for a new 52-inch commercial, walk-behind lawn mower.
Becket
Town meeting: Saturday, May 14, 7 p.m., Becket Washington School, 12 Maple St.
TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING:
– Approving a general government budget of $964,308, up $26,372, or 2.7 percent.
– Approving an education budget of $2,785,651, up $127,809, or 4.6 percent.
– Considering a plan to have the Select Board file a home rule petition with the state Legislature that would enable the town to shift away from use of a town caucus to identify candidates for office. Instead, Becket would require candidates to file nomination papers, a widely used practice.
– Shifting from an elected to an appointed town clerk.
– Transferring $60,000 from free cash for a police cruiser.
– Borrowing $295,000 for a Highway Department truck.
Hinsdale
Town meeting: Wednesday, May 11, 7 p.m., Kittredge School auditorium, 80 Maple St.
TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: In addition to setting a new budget, voters will be asked to consider:
— Funding projects such as $11,300 to restore the Maple Street Cemetery Mausoleum, $4,600 for new town website, $15,000 for dead tree removal.
— Buying a new tanker truck for the fire department.
— Continuing Police Chief Susan Rathbun’s employment past the mandatory retirement age of 65.
— A citizens' petition seeking to fund “long-overdue road improvements” to major streets.
Lee
Town meeting: Thursday May 12, 7 p.m. Lee Middle and High School.
TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING:
– Approving a $10.1 million school budget, a 3.9 percent increase.
– Borrowing $12.5 million toward building a community center; requires two-third approval.
– $835,000 in capital improvements totaling 15 items or projects.
– Revision of the town’s political sign bylaw.
– Citizens; petition establishing a bylaw to recall an elected municipal official.
Sandisfield
Town meeting: Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. to noon, DPW Garage, 5 Silverbrook Road.
TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING:
– Residents will be asked to OK a $3,663,879 general government budget, up $71,881, or 2 percent.
– Consideration of a proposed zoning bylaw change would allow accessory dwelling units in an effort to build the town’s housing stock and provide an income source for homeowners, among other perceived benefits.
– Approving a new overlay district would specify where types of cannabis businesses can operate.
– To ease the bite of property taxes, the town seeks to transfer $198,114 from free cash.
– To propel road work, residents will be asked to use $397,000 from free cash for a grader and $84,756 from free cash to provide engineering services for road repairs.
– A warrant article would tap an executive recruitment firm, at a cost of around $9,500, to help the Town Manager Search Committee.
Voters approved all spending measures at the Tyringham annual town meeting on Tuesday.
Tyringham
Town meeting: Tuesday, May 10, 7 p.m. in Town Hall, 116 Main Road.
TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: In addition to setting a new budget, residents will be asked to consider:
– Making the town clerk, town treasurer and town tax collector positions appointed rather than elected.
– Using $210,000 from free cash to lower the impact of spending on tax rates for the coming fiscal year.
– Spending $50,000 on road improvements and allocating $55,000 for a new Highway Department pickup truck.
– Closing portions of Webster, Fenn, Brace and Breakneck roads at certain times, with the precise locations identified on the meeting warrant. For example, Fenn Road would be closed “after Yo-Yo Ma’s garage driveway,” the document says, referring to the famed cellist.
Washington
Town meeting: Wednesday, May 11, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 8 Summit Hill Road.
TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: In addition to setting a new budget, voters (masks required) will be asked to consider:
— Funding projects such as $19,500 for St. Andrews Chapel masonry repairs; $40,000 for Town Hall roof work; $14,160 to remove dead ash trees; $8,000 for tires for the grader.
— A part-time town administrator position at $20,000 annually.
— Creating revolving funds for tax title and Becket Beach fees.