Town Meeting Overview
Town Meeting Workshop: Wednesday, June 8th, 6:00pm,
Adams Visitor’s Center
Town Meeting: Monday, June 20th, 7:00pm, Plunkett
Elementary School
Town of Adams, Massachusetts
What is Town Meeting?
Town meeting is like the “Congress” of Adams
• It’s defined in our Town Charter, which is like our local
Constitution.
• Town Meeting is a legislative Body
• Town meeting approves, amends, or rejects
spending proposals
• Town meeting is not a formality, all town and
school spending is approved by town meeting
• Similar to congress, members ask questions,
debate points, raise objects, etc.
• 150 Elected members from the Town’s 5 Precincts
• Members represent their precinct, but also the
Town’s interests as a whole.
Preparing for Town Meeting
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Check your mailbox in Mid-May/early June
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Receive a postcard with the Town Meeting Date and Time
Receive the Finance Committee Report
Mark your calendar, do your homework, talk to people
Go to town meeting location at the scheduled date and
time
When you arrive, check in with the Town Clerk
In the town meeting room, sit in the center with the other
Town Meeting members.
Non members are welcome, but must sit in the side
sections. Non members can only speak if recognized by a
member with the consent of the Moderator.
Town officials will be seated at the front of the Room.
Attending the
Town’s budget
workshops is the
best way to
understand Town
expenses
Participating Appropriately
How to Participate
Town meeting is neither a fashion show nor a reality TV show
• Remember, it is a legislative body, there are rules of order.
• To speak, approach the microphone and, possibly, wait in
line.
• The Town moderator will recognized you
• Start by stating your name AND your precinct
• Address your questions to the Moderator
• The Moderator may ask other Town Officials to answer your
question(s)
• Now that you know some general facts, lets dig a little
deeper…
The moderator may
limit discussion if it
becomes repetitive
or inappropriate
Who is at Town Meeting?
The Moderator
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Chairs the meeting
Recognizes people wishing to address Town Meeting
Maintains control of discussion, motions, amendments at
Town Meeting
Appoints Town Meeting members to assist with vote counts
Appoints the Finance Committee
Ed Driscoll
Who is at Town Meeting?
The Town Clerk
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Records all Town Meeting members in attendance to
ensure a quorum
Records all motions, amendments, and Votes
Maintains control of discussion, motions, amendments at
Town Meeting
Assures that the Town Meeting has been properly posted in
public areas
Provides to Town Meeting the Return of the Constable
May award Town of Adams Scholarships
Prepares Annual Town Report
Haley Meczywor
Who is at Town Meeting?
The Board of Selectmen
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Chairman answers questions on behalf of the Board when
called upon by Moderator
Chairman can yield to another member of the Board to
answer questions
Are Ex-Officio members of Town Meeting and can vote on
all Warrant Articles
Jeff Snoonian, Skip
Harrington, Joe
Nowak, Rick
Blanchard, John Duval
Who is at Town Meeting?
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The Town Administrator
An employee of the Board of Selectmen
May answer questions from Town Meeting members about
day to day business of the Town
Asks you not to flush wipes down the toilet
Tony Mazzucco
Who is at Town Meeting?
The Town Counsel
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Answers legal questions at Town Meeting
Assures that votes that require specific majorities are done
properly
Assures that all Articles and/or amendments to Articles are
legal
Edmund St. John
III
Who is at Town Meeting?
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The Town Accountant
May be called upon to explain impact to tax rate of specific
articles/amendments
Provides to the Town Administrator, Board of Selectmen,
Finance Committee expenditure estimates, revenue
estimates and balances in all accounts in preparation of
budget
Mary Beverly (3rd
from left)
Who is at Town Meeting?
The Finance Committee
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Make recommendations on all Articles to the Town Meeting
Chairman represents the Finance Committee at Town
Meeting
Town Meeting currently votes the recommendations of the
Finance Committee
Finance Committee can make no recommendation on
Articles that do not contain an appropriation of money
Timothy Burdick,
Chair
Who is at Town Meeting?
The Town meeting Members
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150 elected body that votes all recommendations on the
Warrant at Town Meeting
30 elected members from each of Adams’ five precincts
May amend Articles from the floor
May vote up or down the recommendations of the Finance
Committee
Town Meeting members are the final vote for Articles
Ed Driscoll,
Moderator
General Town Meeting Questions
Who knows I’m here?
• The Town Clerk will be at the entrance
to the building where Town Meeting is
held
• The Town Clerk records all Town
Meeting members present
• The Town Clerk will report at the
beginning of the Town Meeting the
number of Town Meeting members
present and if there is a quorum
Don’t forget to
check in!
General Town Meeting Questions
Where do I sit?
• All Town Meeting members are asked
to sit in the middle section of the
meeting space
• There are no assigned seats or seating
by precinct
• All others attendees are asked to sit in
either of the side sections of the
auditorium
Don’t be afraid
of the seats up
front!
General Town Meeting Questions
What is the Town Meeting Warrant?
• A warrant is a document issued by the
Board of Selectmen
to call a Town Meeting.
• Written notice must be given at least
seven (7) days before
an Annual Town Meeting and
fourteen (14) days before a
Special Town Meeting which shall
state the time and place of meeting
and subjects to be acted upon.
General Town Meeting Questions
What is the Town Meeting Warrant
Warrants list an agenda of items to be voted on by those
present. At representative town meeting, anyone may
attend, but only town meeting members (elected
representatives) are allowed to vote.
Don’t be afraid
of the seats up
front!
General Town Meeting Questions
What is on the Town Meeting Warrant?
• Items on the agenda generally vary,
from the annual operating budget
of the town to adjustment of bylaws, and anything else that may
legally come before the meeting.
Some examples are:
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Administration
Animals
Building Construction
Personnel
Streets and Sidewalks
Zoning
General Town Meeting Questions
What is on the Town Meeting Warrant?
Subjects Included on the June 20,
2016 Warrant are:
ANNUAL ARTICLES
OPERATING ARTICLES
CAPITAL ARTICLES
REGIONAL SCHOOL ASSESSMENT
ARTICLES (ACRSD & NBVRSD)
TRANSFERS TO SPECIAL FUNDS
ANNUAL AUTHORIZATION ARTICLES
BY-LAW AMENDMENTS
SPECIAL ARTICLES
CITIZEN PETITIONS
General Town Meeting Questions
How do I hold a Warrant Article(s)
for discussion?
• The Moderator will call the Articles for the
Warrant
• Stand from your seat ask to hold the Article,
state your name and precinct
• After the entire Warrant has been called the
Moderator will take held Articles in order for
discussion
• The Moderator will read the held Article
• The Finance Committee Chairman will read the
recommendation of the Finance Committee
• The Moderator will call for a second to the
recommendation
• The Moderator will then call upon the Town
Meeting member who held the Article to ask his
or her question
Politely yell
“hold!”
General Town Meeting Questions
How do I offer an amendment to
an article?
• Town Meeting Members can amend Articles as
recommended by the Finance Committee
• In order to amend an Article it must be held
• If you have not held the Article you can still offer
an amendment
• Ask to be recognized by the Moderator, state your
name and precinct and offer your amendment
• The Moderator will typically call for a second on
the amendment before discussion If the
amendment is legal and able to be voted upon, the
Moderator will call for a vote on the amendment
• The article may be voted as amended
• If the amendment fails the vote, the article will be
voted as recommended unless amended by
another vote
Politely say “I
move to amend”
General Town Meeting Questions
Can I participate in discussion if I
did not hold the article?
• Yes! Stand, go to the microphone and ask to be
recognized by the Moderator
• State your name and precinct and ask your
question or offer your opinion
• All Town Meeting members may participate in
discussion
• The Moderator reserves the right to move the
article if discussion is no longer productive and
becomes repetitive
How many articles can I hold?
• You can hold as many articles that you want
answered
Show your
passion, but
respect your
community
General Town Meeting Questions
Must I ask questions in front of
Town Meeting?
• Yes
• It is important that everyone hears the
questions
• Speak directly into the microphone
• Don’t be intimidated it’s YOUR meeting
Democracy
requires
participation.
General Town Meeting Questions
Why are there both standing and
voice votes?
• Certain articles that pertain to the transfer
or purchase of property, easements, etc.
require a 2/3 vote or sometimes a 4/5
vote of the Town Meeting
• This vote can only be accurately recorded
by a standing vote
• The Moderator will appoint counters to
count the number of YES and NO votes
• The Counters report their numbers to the
Moderator and Town Clerk. The results of
the vote are reported to Town Meeting.
Confused? Ask
the moderator
for clarification!
General Town Meeting Questions
Any questions up to this
point?
Questions?
The June 20, 2016 Warrant Articles
If you have any questions that
come up after tonight, please
feel free to contact any of the
following:
Tony Mazzucco
Town Administrator
743-8300 x102
[email protected]
Haley Meczywor
Town Clerk
743-8300 x176
[email protected]
Jeff Snoonian
BOS Chair
743-8300 x100
[email protected]
Mary Beverly
Town Accountant
743-8300 x121
[email protected]
Timothy Burdick
Finance Committee Chair
743-8300 x100
[email protected]
Ed Driscoll
Moderator
743-8300 x100
[email protected]
Copies of the Town
budget, and warrant
are available on the
website
The June 20, 2016 Warrant Articles
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Annual Articles
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Article 4
Copies of the Town
budget, and warrant
are available on the
website
The June 20, 2016 Warrant Articles
Annual Articles
• Article 1 is to elect positions such as Fence
Viewers and Weighers of Wood and Bark.
• Article 2 is available for the Selectmen or
other Town officials to give a report to
Town Meeting if they so desire.
• Article 3 is available for any town board or
committees to give a report to Town
Meeting if they so desire.
• Article 4 Town meeting sets the salary of
all Elected Officers of the Town per
Massachusetts State Law.
Copies of the Town
budget, and warrant
are available on the
website
Operating Omnibus Article
Article 5
OMNIBUS
• A Latin word, meaning "for all"
• A single legislative document
that sets the budget of many
government departments
• This Article covers the Personal
Services and Operating
Expenses of all Town
Departments (Municipal
Departments)
This article approves
the municipal budget,
excluding capital.
Capital Omnibus Article
Article 6
OMNIBUS
• Capital expenditures are for
terms like equipment, plant,
debt service, etc.
This article approves
capital spending for the
ensuing year from the
General Fund &
Technology fund
($644,768)
Capital from Free Cash
Article 7
Free Cash:
EXECUTIVE
Selectmen
This Request is for funds for remediation of Slum & Blight
PUBLIC SAFETY – TOTAL
Police Department
This request is for replacement of one Police Cruiser
.
Emergency Management
This request is for one Emergency Management Shelter
PUBLIC WORKS – TOTAL
Adams Memorial Building
This request is to repair the defects in the fire alarm system and add
emergency circuits to the generator for emergency shelter usage.
60,000
60,000
40,000
37,000
3,000
81,500
7,000
Building/Equipment Maintenance
This request is for replacement of one One Ton Pick-up
50,000
This request is for one sander body
16,500
Cemetery, Parks & Grounds
This request is for replacement of Mobile Equipment: Mowers,
This article approves
capital spending for
the ensuing year from
Free Cash ($181,500)
8,000
Articles 8 and 9
REGIONAL SCHOOL
ASSESSMENT ARTICLES
• Article 8 is the assessment
from the Adams Cheshire
Regional School District.
• Article 9 is the assessment
from the Northern Berkshire
Vocational Regional School
District
ACRSD: $5,673,865
($18,995,762)
McCann: $808,841
($9,089,681)
Articles 10-13
TRANSFER TO SPECIAL FUNDS
• Article 10 Transfer from Free cash to
lower the tax rate.
• Article 11 Transfer the balance from
the Reserve fund to the Stabilization
Fund.
• Article 12 Monies raised for the
Reserve Fund.
• Article 13 Monies raised to pay any
unpaid bills.
These are standard
annual articles. Free cash
use is lowest in years,
first time stabilization
fund has grown in years.
Articles 14-18
ANNUAL AUTHORIZATION ARTICLES
• Article 14 & 15 Authorize the Board
of Selectmen to apply for grants.
• Article 16 Allows the Town to
accept perpetual care funds.
• Article 17 Allows the Board of
Selectmen to authorize the Town
Treasurer borrow in the event there
is a revenue shortfall.
• Article 18 These revolving funds
are fees collected by the different
departments and require the Town
Administrator approval to be spent.
These are standard
annual articles
Article 19
Salary Schedule for non
represented (non union) Town
employees
Article 19 adopts the annual pay scale for Town
employees. This includes a 2% COLA (Cost of Living
Adjustment) for Town employees, which is the same that
is contractually obligated for union personnel in FY17.
The next contract
the Town will
negotiate is with the
Police Union for
FY18-20.
Special Articles (20-25)
Article 20: $130,000 for repairs to the roof at
Plunkett Elementary
This article will allow the Town
to spend up to $130,000 to
replace the boiler roof at
Plunkett Elementary as well as
other needed capital
expenditures
The Town owns
Plunkett
Elementary.
Special Articles (20-25)
Article 21: $38,000 to pay the remaining principal
payment on the five (5) year note borrowing for Tropical
Storm Irene or take any action in relation thereto.
This article uses free cash to
pay down mandatory debt
service a little faster than
scheduled, saving the Town
interest payment and providing
more flexibility for future fiscal
years.
The Finance
Committee
Reccomends YES on
this article
Special Articles (20-25)
Article 22: $40,000 from the Economic
Development Fund (meals tax) for economic
development expenses.
This article allows the Town to
expend meals tax collected on
economic development efforts.
This year’s focus is primarily the
Greylock Glen.
$40,000 total (next
year approx.
$80,000 should be
available)
Special Articles (20-25)
Article 23: 10am Liquor sales on Sunday mornings.
This article adopts a state law
that allows businesses to sell
alcohol at 10am on Sundays.
(Currently only Sunday has a
time restriction, you can sell
alcohol at 9am the other 6 days
of the week in Adams).
Several businesses would
like to be able to sell
alcohol on Sunday
brunches/holidays, etc.
Special Articles (20-25)
Article 24: Allows the Board of Selectmen to set
building fees.
This article allows the Board of
Selectmen to set fees for
building permits, rather than
require an ordinance change
every time a building fee is
changed.
Building fees have not
been updated since 2008
and should keep pace
with inflation.
Special Articles (20-25)
Article 25: Bans plastic bags being used by retail
and food service businesses in town.
This article would ban the use
of plastic bags in order to
promote environmental
sustainability.
Many other towns in
Berkshire County and
throughout the
Commonwealth have
implemented the “bag
ban”.
Special Articles (20-25)
Article 26: Allocate $5,000 to the Agricultural Fair
Committee for expenses related to Bowe Field.
This article is a citizen’s
petition.
The Aggie Fair has a lease
on the Bowe Field
property, which is owned
by the Town.
Article 27
Anything else? If not, this article closes town
meeting!