TOWN OF
Franklin, SS.
To the Constables of
the Town of
GREETINGS:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Heath Elementary School in said Town of Heath on the 22nd day of October 2008, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles:
Article 1: To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote taken under Article 4 of the Special Town Meeting held on August 25, 2008, authorizing the raising and appropriating, transferring from available funds, or borrowing the sum of up to $65,000 for the purpose of purchasing a new Highway Department grader; and to authorize the borrowing of the sum of $48,000 for the purpose of acquiring a Highway Department grader; and further to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to issue bonds and notes therefore, pursuant to G.L. c44 §7 or any other enabling authority; or take any action related thereto. Quorum of two thirds vote
Explanation: At the special town meeting on August 25,
the residents voted the sum of up to $65,000 for the purpose of acquiring a
Highway Grader. Although the intent was to borrow the money, the motion
actually made was “to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or borrow.” The article needs to be
rescinded and the Select Board needs to be authorized to just borrow the money. Since August 25, the
Highway Superintendent found a grader at a cost less than originally thought.
The $65,000 has been changed to $48,000.
Article 2: To
see if the Town will vote to rescind the borrowing authority in the amount of
$3,035.00 under Article 7 of the May 10, 2002, Annual Town Meeting, which
authorized the borrowing of $90,000.00 for a Highway Department truck with dump
body/sander; or take any action related thereto.
Submitted by the
Board of Selectmen
Recommended by the Finance
Committee
Explanation: The town voted to borrow $90,000.00 for
the truck. The truck eventually cost $86,965.00. This article removes the unused
debt of $3,035.00 that remains on the books. The town needs to do this to clean
up the bookkeeping records.
Article 3: To
see if the Town will vote to rescind the borrowing authority in the amount of
$28,916 under Article 10 of the May 7, 2004, Annual Town Meeting, which
authorized the borrowing of $95,000.00 for a new Highway Department truck; or
take any action related thereto.
Submitted by the
Board of Selectmen
Recommended by the Finance
Committee
Explanation: The town voted to
borrow $95,000.00 for the truck. The truck eventually cost $$66,084.00. This
article removes the unused debt of $$28,916..00 that
remains on the books. The town needs to do this to clean up the bookkeeping
records.
Article 4: To
see if the Town will vote to rescind the borrowing authority under Article 17
of the May 6, 2005 Annual Town Meeting, which authorized the borrowing of
$351,900.00 as the Town of Heath’s share of the closing costs of the Three Town
Landfill located on Burrington Road, or take any action related thereto.
Submitted by the
Board of Selectmen
Recommended by the Finance
Committee
Explanation: The town voted to borrow $351,00.00 for the landfill. The money was borrowed as a short
term loan in anticipation of revenue. The town received money from the state to
pay this off. The town needs to do this
to clean up the bookkeeping records. Leaving this authorized, but unissued debt
on the books could hurt the town’s credit rating.
Article 5: To see if the Town will vote to rescind the borrowing authority under Article 18 as voted on June 23, 2007, at the continuation of the 2007 Annual Town Meeting authorizing the borrowing of up to $490,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2007 for debris removal and road repairs due to the storm on April 15 and 16, 2007, or take any action related thereto.
Submitted by the
Board of Selectmen
Recommended by the Finance
Committee
Explanation: The town voted to borrow $490,00.00 for road repairs due to flooding. The money was
borrowed as a short term loan in anticipation of revenue. The town received
money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay this off. The town needs to do this to clean up the
bookkeeping records. Leaving this authorized, but unissued debt on the books
could hurt the town’s credit rating.
Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to transfer in Fiscal Year 2009 the sum of $1,000.00 from the Assessors Mapping Account to the Assessors Expenses Account, or take any action related thereto.
Submitted by the
Board of Selectmen
Recommended by the Finance
Committee
Explanation: This amount is needed to for training
and support of a new assessing software system. See below.
Article 7: To see if the Town will vote to transfer in Fiscal Year 2009 the sum of $5,800.00 from the Stabilization Account to the Assessors Software Account, or take any action thereto.
Quorum of nine tenths
vote
Submitted by the
Board of Selectmen
Recommended by the Finance
Committee
Explanation: The Assessors need better assessing
software in order to more accurately determine property values. By purchasing
the software this fiscal year, the town will save approx. $1,600-$2,600. This
also will allow the Assessors to start transferring the data to the new
software early next year.