Town Meeting Article of the Day - Articles 1 - 5

In preparation for the Annual Special Fall Town Meeting on Monday, October 23, 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 a Town Meeting Warrant Article with a brief summary explanation of each Article. 

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 

The complete Town Meeting Warrant can be found here. 
Click here for supporting documents

SUMMARY OF WARRANT ARTICLES

ARTICLE 1 ADOPTION OF G.L. c.39, §23D (MULLIN RULE)

This Article would authorize the Town to adopt G.L. c.39, §23D (known as the Mullin Rule) which would allow any member on a town board, committee, or commission to miss one public hearing and still be able to vote on that application. The member shall review all meeting materials, minutes, and or recordings of the missed meeting and certify in writing that they have reviewed all relevant information to be able to vote on the application before that board, committee, or commission.  Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.

ARTICLE 2:  CPA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUNDING

This Article would authorize the transfer of $200,000 from the Town’s CPA (Community Preservation Act) Funds from the Housing Category to the Ayer Affordable Housing Trust. $72,000 of these funds will be for the Rental Assistance Program (ARAP); $3,000 will be for administrative costs for the Trust as well as an independent audit; and $125,000 will be for building the Trust for possible future property purchases for affordable housing. For more information, please visit the Community Preservation Committee webpage on the Town’s website at www.ayer.ma.us/cpc. Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.

ARTICLE 3:  BY-LAW AMENDMENT:  CHAPTER 130 (DOGS)

This Article would amend the existing By-Law by adding a comprehensive definition section consistent with MGL Ch 140 Sec. 136A, clarifying prohibited behavior and responsibilities for dog owners, codifying the process of conducting a nuisance or dangerous dog hearings by the Hearing Authority, moving up the licensing late fee date to the last day of February, updating the schedule of fines in accordance with MGL and updating the licensing / kennel fees. For more information, please visit the Town’s website at www.ayer.ma.us/townmeeting Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.

ARTICLE 4: BY-LAW AMENDMENT:  CHAPTER 265 (TRANSIENT MERCHANTS)

This Article would amend the existing By-Law by adding an investigative fee to offset costs of investigating and issuing a transient merchant permit, creates a duration period for permits to be issued (1 Day, 1 Week, 1 Month and 1 Year) and an accompanying fee structure, clarified the application investigative period (5 Days), added language to include a “No Solicitation List” prohibiting solicitors from certain residences who sign up, modify language allowing for the Chief of Police to revoke permits for cause, and added exemption language for youth activity and sports associations. For more information, please go to the Town’s website at www.ayer.ma.us/townmeeting Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.

ARTICLE 5: STREET ACCEPTANCE:  CURLEY CIRCLE

This Article would accept Curley Circle as a public way in the Town. The metes and bounds of the street to be accepted are shown on plans on file in the Office of the Town Clerk and are available on the Town’s website at www.ayer.ma.us/townmeeting Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.