Town Meeting Articles of the Day
In preparation for the Special and Annual Town Meeting on April 24, 2023 at 7pm in the Ayer Shirley Regional High School Auditorium, the Town will be publishing the “Articles of the Day” to provide further information on each of the Town Meeting Warrant Articles. Each day, the Town will feature two to four Town Meeting Warrant Articles with a brief summary explanation of each Article.
- The complete Town Meeting Warrant can be found here.
- Click here for supporting documents.
For any questions about the Town Meeting or the Town Meeting Warrant, please do not hesitate to contact the Town Manager at 978-772-8220 or at tm@ayer.ma.us Thank you.
Special Town Meeting Articles:
Article 1: Water Enterprise Fund: There will be a Special Town Meeting on April 24, 2023 at 7pm immediately before the Annual Town Meeting starts. There are three Articles for this Special Town Meeting which seek supplemental appropriations for the Town’s Water, Sewer, and Ambulance Enterprise Fund. Article 1 is a supplemental appropriation for the balance of FY 2023 in the amount of $146,000 from retained earnings for the Water Enterprise Fund. The factors driving this supplemental appropriation have been recent increases in water treatment chemicals costs; unexpected well maintenance; and an update of the water use rate model.
Article 2: Sewer Enterprise Fund: This Article is a supplemental appropriation for the balance of FY 2023 in the amount of $159,000 from retained earnings for the Sewer Enterprise Fund. The factors driving this supplemental appropriation have been recent increases in sludge hauling costs; boiler system maintenance; unexpected failure of pump and UV systems; and an update of the sewer use rate model.
Article 3: Ambulance Enterprise Fund: This Article is a supplemental appropriation for the balance of FY 2023 in the amount of $20,000 from retained earnings for the Ambulance Enterprise Fund. The factors driving this supplemental appropriation have been unforeseen cost increases and unforeseen call volume.
Annual Town Meeting Articles:
Article 1: Salaries of Elected Officials: This Article is required by State Law as Town Meeting sets the salaries of the elected officials. The elected officials that receive a salary are the Town Moderator, Select Board Members, and Assessors. The Article provides a 2% cost of living adjustment for FY 2024 as recommended by the Town Manager and approved by the Select Board on February 21, 2023. The total cost impact of Article 1 on the General Fund is $16,155.
Article 2: Contract Funding: Ayer Town Hall/Clerical Union: This Article funds the first year costs of the Ayer Town Hall/Clerical Union Contract in the amount of $47,218.68. The contract was negotiated by the Town Manager and ratified by the Select Board. A copy of the contract’s Memorandum of Agreement may be found here. A brief presentation on this Article will be made at Town Meeting.
Article 3: FY 2024 Omnibus Budget: This Article funds the Town’s FY 2024 Budget totaling $17,915,384 The FY 2024 Budget is a printed insert in the Town Meeting Warrant. The FY 2024 Budget includes a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment for Non-Union Personnel. For more information on the FY 2022 Budget please click here. A brief presentation on the FY 2024 Budget will be made at Town Meeting
Article 4: FY 2024 Ayer Shirley Regional School District Assessment: This Article funds the Town’s portion of the assessment to the Ayer Shirley Regional School District for FY 2024 in the amount of $12,567,854. The Article additionally funds the Town’s portion of the high school building project debt service in the amount of $987,214. For more information please click here.
Article 5: FY 2024 Nashoba Valley Technical Vocational School Assessment: This Article funds the Town’s portion of the assessment to the Nashoba Valley Technical Vocational School District for FY 2024 in the amount of $1,136,670. For more information please click here.
Article 6: Solid Waste Enterprise Fund:
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2024 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund to operate the Town’s Transfer Station and solid waste operations. The total financial impact for FY 2024 is $594,970 of which $72,140 is from the tax levy. The Budget Book with more information will be provided at Town Meeting.
Article 7: Ambulance Enterprise Fund
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2024 Ambulance Enterprise Fund to operate the Town’s ambulance services. The total financial impact for FY 2024 is $574,691 of which $44,691 is from the tax levy. The Budget Book with more information will be provided at Town Meeting.
Article 8: Sewer Enterprise Fund
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2024 Sewer Enterprise Fund to operate the Town’s sewer system. The total financial impact for FY 2024 is $3,568,072 of which there is no impact to the tax levy. The Budget Book with more information will be provided at Town Meeting.
Article 9: Water Enterprise Fund
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2024 Water Enterprise Fund to operate the Town’s water system. The total financial impact for FY 2024 is $2,593,267 of which there is no impact to the tax levy. The Budget Book with more information will be provided at Town Meeting.
Article 10: Capital Budget Requests (Borrow Article): This Article authorizes the Town to borrow up to $2,965,979 for the various capital requests listed in Article 10. Per the Town’s Capital Planning Policy, any capital request more than $50,000 is recommended to be borrowed for. These capital requests were reviewed and approved by the Town’s Capital Planning Committee. For more information on the FY 2023 Capital Budget Requests, please click here.
Article 11: Debt Exclusion Article for Fire Ladder Truck: This Article is the first step in a two-part process to authorize a debt exclusion for the purchase of a Fire Ladder Truck replacement in the amount of $1,692,888. This capital request was reviewed and approved by the Town’s Capital Planning Committee. Per the Town’s Capital Planning Policy, any capital request over $350,000 requires a debt exclusion which is a two-part approval process: 1.) Approval by Town Meeting (this Article) and 2.) Approval by the ballot at the Annual Town Election on May 9, 2023. For more information please click here. Brief presentation to be made at Town Meeting.
Article 12: Debt Exclusion Article for West Main Street Bridge Replacement: This Article is the first step in a two-part process to authorize a debt exclusion for the replacement of the West Main Street Bridge in the amount of $3,000,000. This capital request was reviewed and approved by the Town’s Capital Planning Committee. Per the Town’s Capital Planning Policy, any capital request over $350,000 requires a debt exclusion which is a two-part approval process: 1.) Approval by Town Meeting (this Article) and 2.) Approval by the ballot at the Annual Town Election on May 9, 2023. For more information please click here. Brief presentation to be made at Town Meeting.
Article 13: Capital Budget Requests (Transfer Article): This Article authorized the transfer of $364,200 from the Town’s Capital Stabilization Fund to purchase the capital requests listed in Article 13. Per the Town’s Capital Planning Policy, any capital request up to $50,000 is recommended to be paid for from available funds and/or the Capital Stabilization Fund. These capital requests were reviewed and approved by the Town’s Capital Planning Committee. For more information on the FY 2024 Capital Budget Requests, please click here.
Article 14: GASB-45/OPEB (Post-Employment Benefits Fund): This Article funds the Town’s OPEB (Post-Employment Benefits) Fund in the total amount of $300,000 of which $154,364 comes from the Town’s local meals tax and $145,636 comes from Free Cash. The funding of this Article is per the Town’s Financial Policies. For more information on the Town’s OPEB Fund please click here.
Article 15: First Year Interest – General Fund Borrowing (Raise & Appropriate): This Article would raise and appropriate $81,600 required to fund the first year’s interest charges and associated administrative expenses on all General Fund borrowing/bonding for the items set forth in Article 10 as authorized by this Town Meeting.
Article 16: Funding for Aquatic Weed Control for Town Ponds (Raise & Appropriate): This Article would raise and appropriate $30,000 for the purposes of funding the aquatic weed control program for the Town’s ponds as recommended/requested by the Town’s Conservation Commission.
Article 17: Funding of the Reserve Fund for Future Payments of Accrued Liabilities for Compensated Absences (Transfer Article): This Article would transfer $10,000 from Free Cash into the Town’s reserve fund for future payments of accrued liabilities for compensated absences as created and authorized previously by Town Meeting in accordance with MGL Chapter 40, Section 13D.
Article 18: Forward Funding of the Town’s Pension Assessment (Transfer Article): This Article would forward fund the Town’s pension assessment from the Middlesex County Retirement System in the amount of $300,000 for the purposes of realizing estimated future savings.
Article 19: UDAG Replenishments: This Article would transfer $60,185 from Free Cash to replenish the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) in the amount of $60,185 for the projects listed in Article 19.
Article 20: Pay Down of Maturing Bond Anticipation Note (BAN): This Article would transfer $322,565 from Free Cash to pay down the balance of a maturing Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) renewing in the Fall of 2023 from $4,292,565 to $3,970,000. By doing this the Town would realize estimated total future saving of $89,128 by the year 2036.
Article 21: Stabilization Fund (Transfer Article): This Article transfers $348,073 from Free Cash into the Town’s Stabilization Fund and transfers $750,000 into the Town’s Capital Stabilization Fund for a total transfer of $1,098,073.
Article 22: Transfer of Unexpended Bond Proceeds for DPW Gate Replacement Project: This Article would authorize the transfer of the unexpended bond proceeds in the amount of $10,348.72 from the completed project of the DPW Operations Center to pay the additional costs of the replacement gate for the DPW yard at the end of Brook Street.
Article 27: Community Preservation Act: This Article appropriates the following amounts for the FY 2024 Community Preservation Act Budget as recommended by the Town’s Community Preservation Committee: $55,150 for administrative expenses; $110,300 for acquisition, creation, preservation of open space; $110,300 for acquisition , preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of historic resources; $110,300 for acquisition, creation, and preservation and support of community housing; and the remainder sum of $716,950 for the Undesignated Fund Balance/General Fund.
Article 28: Community Preservation Fund – Pirone Park Playground Project: This Article would fund $750,000 from the FY 2024 Community Preservation Fund Balance Reserve from the Open Space Category for the Pirone Park Playground Project which includes the construction of the new “Kiddie Junction Playground” area.
Article 29: Authorization to Initiate a Municipal Aggregation Program: This Article would authorize the Town to initiate a municipal aggregation program for Ayer residents and businesses. This is an opt-out (at any time) program to purchase electricity from an aggregation program at an anticipated savings. Approval of this Article by Town Meeting is the first step in the process, more public information to be forthcoming as the process commences.