Town Meeting Articles of the Day - Town Meeting is June 15, 2020

Town Seal

In preparation for the Annual Town Meeting on June 15, 2020 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 2 or 3 Town Meeting Warrant Articles with a brief summary of each Article.  The complete Town Meeting Warrant can be found here.  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.

Article 1:  Town Elections:
The Town Elections are the first Article of business and were held on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. 

Article 2:  Salaries of Elected Officials: 
This Article is required by State Law as the Town Meeting sets the salaries of the elected officials.  The elected officials that receive a salary are the Town Moderator, Selectmen, and Assessors.  The Article provides a 2% cost of living adjustment for FY 2021 as recommended by the Town Manager and approved by the Board of Selectmen on March 4, 2020.  The total cost impact of Article 2 on the General Fund is $15,564.

Article 3:  Contract Funding:  Ayer Town Hall/Clerical Union, AFSCME 93:
This Article funds the first year costs of the Ayer Town Hall/Clerical Union Contract in the amount of $23,196.  The contract was negotiated by the Town Manager and ratified by the Board of Selectmen.  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 4:  Omnibus Budget: 
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2021 Budget totaling $15,626,301.  The  FY 2021 Budget is a printed insert in the Town Meeting Warrant.  The FY 2021 Budget includes a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment for Non-Union Personnel.  For more information on the FY 2021 Budget please click here.  A presentation on the FY 2021 Budget will be made at Town Meeting.

Article 5:  FY 2021 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 2021 in the amount of $11,525,813.  The Article additionally funds the Town’s portion of the high school building project debt service in the amount of $933,512.

Article 6:  FY 2021 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 2021 in the amount of $870,317.

Article 7:  Solid Waste Enterprise Fund:
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2021 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund  to operate the Town’s Transfer Station and solid waste operations.  The total financial impact for FY 2021 is $579,652 of which $93,412 is from the tax levy.  A handout with more information will be provided at Town Meeting.

Article 8:  Ambulance Enterprise Fund:
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2021 Ambulance Enterprise Fund to operate the Town’s ambulance services.  The total financial impact for FY 2021 is $592,213 of which $86,021 is from the tax levy.  A handout with more information will be provided at Town Meeting.

Article 9:  Sewer Enterprise Fund:
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2021 Sewer Enterprise Fund to operate the Town’s sewer system.  The total financial impact for FY 2021 is $3,371,236 of which $18,720 is from the tax levy.  A handout with more information will be provided at Town Meeting.

Article 10:  Water Enterprise Fund:
This Article funds the Town’s FY 2021 Water Enterprise Fund to operate the Town’s water system.  The total financial impact for FY 2021 is $3,003,166 of which there is no impact to the tax levy.  A handout with more information will be provided at Town Meeting. 

Article 11:  Capital Budget Requests (Borrow Article): 
This Article authorizes the Town to borrow $5,495,000 for the various capital requests listed in Article 11.  Per the Town’s Capital Planning Policy, any capital request more than $30,000 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 2021 Capital Budget Requests and Capital Planning please click here.   Departments with capital requests in this Article are prepared to present and/or answer any questions at Town Meeting.

Article 12:  Capital Budget Requests (Transfer Article):
This Article authorizes the transfer of $171,000 from the Town’s Capital Stabilization Fund to purchased the capital requests listed in Article 12.  Per the Town’s Capital Planning Policy, any capital request up to $30,000 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 2021 Capital Budget Requests and Capital Planning please click here.   Departments with capital requests in this Article are prepared to present and/or answer any questions at Town Meeting.

Article 13:  Transfer Article for Police Department High Risk Prevention Equipment:
This Article transfers the unexpended borrowing authorization in the amount of $10,644 as voted under Article 13 of the May 14, 2018 Town Meeting originally for the upgrade of the Police Evidence/Property Storage Project (project was completed under budget) and funds the purchase of the Police Department’s High-Risk Event Protection Equipment in the amount of $10,644

Article 14:  UDAG Replenishments:
This Article would transfer $230,000 from Free Cash to replenish the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) account in the amount of $230,000 for the Worthen Dale Depot Square Eminent Domain Settlement.  As  a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Board of Selectmen voted on May 19, 2020 on recommendation of the Town’s Internal Finance Departments to recommend to Town Meeting that Article 14 be deferred to the Special Fall Town Meeting in October 2020 for the purposes of reserving these funds to address any potential financial impact of COVID-19 to the Town.  Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.

Article 15:  GASB-45/OPEB (Post-Employment Benefits) Fund:
This Article funds the Town’s OPEB (Post-Employment Benefits) Fund in the total sum of $300,000 of which $170,300 comes from Free Cash and $129,700 from the Town’s local meals tax.  The funding of this Article is per the Town’s Financial Policies and on recommendation of the Town’s OPEB Board of Trustees.  For more information on the Town’s OPEB Fund and OPEB Board of Trustees please click here

Article 16:  First Year’s Interest – General Fund Borrowing (Raise & Appropriate):
This Article would raise and appropriate $60,775 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 11 as authorized by this Town Meeting.

Article 17:  Funding for Aquatic Weed Control for Town Ponds (Raise & Appropriate):
This Article would raise and appropriate $30,000 for the purpose of funding the aquatic weed control program for the Town’s ponds as recommended/requested by the Town’s Conservation Commission. 

Article 18:  Funding for Conservation Fund (Raise & Appropriate):
This Article would raise and appropriate $5,000 for the purposes of funding the Town’s Conservation Fund previously established by Town Meeting for the purposes of acquiring conservation land in Town.

Article 19:  Matching Funding For Firefighter’s Grant (Raise & Appropriate):
This Article would raise and appropriate $2,500 as matching funds (5% matching funds) for a Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant.  These funds will only be required if the grant submission is successful.

Article 20:  Funding For Fire Department Tactical Ballistic Gear (Raise & appropriate):
This Article would raise and appropriate $10,000 for the purchase of six (6) sets of tactical ballistic gear for the Ayer Fire Department. 

Article 21:  Funding For The Town’s 150th Celebration (Raise & Appropriate):
This Article would raise and appropriate $10,000 for the purposes of the Town of Ayer’s 150th Anniversary Celebration to take place in the year 2021.

Article 22:  Funding For MUNIS Financial Software System Upgrades (Raise & Appropriate):
This Article would raise and appropriate $6,400 for the purposes of upgrading the Town’s MUNIS financial software system including the purchase of software and any needed hardware as well as installation and technical support. 

Article 23:  Adoption of the Provisions of MGL Chapter 40, Section 13D (Creation of a Reserve Fund for Future Payments of Accrued Liabilities for Compensated Absences):
This Article would accept the provisions of MGL Chapter 40, Section 13D to create a reserve fund for the future payments of accrued liabilities for compensated absences due to employees or officials of the Town upon separation of service of their employment with the town.  Appropriations into this reserve fund will enable the Town to properly address and fund retirements and/or separations of service. 

Article 24:  Funding of the Reserve Fund for Future Payments of Accrued Liabilities for Compensate Absences (Transfer Article):
This Article would transfer $50,000 from Free Cash into the Town’s reserve fund for future payments of accrued liabilities for compensated absences as created and authorized by Article 23 in accordance with MGL Chapter 40, Section 13D.

Article 25:  Forward Funding of the Town’s Pension Assessment:
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.  As  a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Board of Selectmen voted on May 19, 2020 on recommendation of the Town’s Internal Finance Departments to recommend to Town Meeting that Article 25 be deferred to the Special Fall Town Meeting in October 2020 for the purposes of reserving these funds to address any potential financial impact of COVID-19 to the Town.  Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.

Article 26:  Stabilization Fund:
This Article transfers $9,139 from Free Cash into the Town’s Stabilization Fund and transfers $940,000 into the Town’s Capital Stabilization Fund for a total transfer of $949,139.  As  a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Board of Selectmen voted on May 19, 2020 on recommendation of the Town’s Internal Finance Departments to recommend to Town Meeting that Article 26 be deferred to the Special Fall Town Meeting in October 2020 for the purposes of reserving these funds to address any potential financial impact of COVID-19 to the Town.  Presentation to be made at Town Meeting.

Article 27:  Community Preservation Act:
This Article appropriates the following amounts for the FY 2021 Community Preservation Act Budget as recommended by the Town’s Community Preservation Committee:  $5,000 for administrative expenses; $67,984 for acquisition, creation, preservation of open space; $67,984 for acquisition, preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic resources; $67,984 for the acquisition, creation, preservation, restoration, rehabilitation and support of community housing; and the remainder sum of $458,885 for the Community Preservation FY 2021 Budgeted Reserve. 

Article 28:  Community Preservation Fund FY 2021 Transfer of Funds:
This Article transfers the amount of $12,000 from the FY 2021 Community Preservation Fund annual revenues for due diligence of future appropriations by the Community Preservation Committee for general open space purposes.

Article 29:  Historical Resources Inventory Project:
This Article transfers $20,000 from the FY 2021 Community Preservation Fund to support the Ayer Historical Commission’s historical resources inventory project. 

Article 30:  Bylaw Amendment:  Change the Name of Board of Selectmen to Select Board:
This Article would amend the Town’s General Bylaws for the sole purpose of changing the name of Board of Selectmen to that of Select Board for the purposes of modernization and inclusion of the name of the Town’s Chief Executive Body.

Article 31:  Zoning Bylaw Amendment:  Reduction of Off-Street Parking for the Downtown Transit-Orientated Lifestyle District:
This Article would amend the Town’s Zoning Bylaw for the purpose of reducing the parking requirements of new residential units in the most densely developed part of the Downtown/Park Street Form-Based Code District from 1.5 spaces for studio and one-bedroom apartments or 2 spaces for two-bedroom apartments to 1 space per unit so as to encourage new residential development in the downtown core.  Since this is only for the transit-orientated lifestyle district, parking demand is anticipated to be less than for more outlying districts.  Brief presentation at Town Meeting. 

Article 32:  Readopt the Town of Ayer General Bylaws in Their Entirety:
This Article would readopt all of the Town’s General Bylaws in accordance with the numbering, codification, arrangement, sequence and captions and the comprehensive revisions as set forth  in the “Final Draft of the Bylaws and Regulations of the Town of Ayer, Massachusetts” available on the Town’s website at www.ayer.ma.us and on file with the Town Clerk’s Office.  Note, this Article does not make any substantive changes to the Town’s General Bylaws.  Remote public participation forum on June 9, 2020 at 2pm and on June 11, 2020 at 6pm via Zoom (for Zoom meeting info please contact the Town Manager’s Office at atm@ayer.ma.us).  Brief presentation at Town Meeting.

Article 33:  Readopt the Town of Ayer Zoning Bylaw in its Entirety:
This Article would readopt the Town’s Zoning Bylaw in accordance with the numbering, codification, arrangement, sequence and captions and the comprehensive revisions as set forth  in the “Final Draft of the Bylaws and Regulations of the Town of Ayer, Massachusetts” available on the Town’s website at www.ayer.ma.us and on file with the Town Clerk’s Office.  Note, this Article does not make any substantive changes to the Town’s General Bylaws.  Remote public participation forum on June 9, 2020 at 2pm and on June 11, 2020 at 6pm via Zoom (for Zoom meeting info please contact the Town Manager’s Office at atm@ayer.ma.us).  Brief presentation at Town Meeting. 

Article 34:  Street Acceptance:  Haymeadow Lane; Holly Ridge Road; and Appleblossom Drive:
This Article would authorize the acceptance of the portions of Haymeadow Lane, Holly Ridge Road, and Appleblossom Drive as contained in the Article as public ways in the Town of Ayer. 

Article 35:  Grant of Easements to National Grid – Groton Street:
This Article would authorize the Board of Selectmen to grant an easement to National Grid on Groton Street for the purposes of installing an “overhead system” consisting of a utility pole with wires and cables for the purposes of providing utility services to the Ayer Rail Trail Parking Facility located at 3 Groton Street.