Town of Hanson, MA - Annual Town Meeting

Moderator Charles Mann called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. in the auditorium of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School with Joseph O'Sullivan, Robert Overholtzer and Karen Kennedy appointed and sworn in as tellers.

Philip Lindquist, the Chairman of the Planning Board, presented Robert Overholtzer, a retiring Planning Board member, a plaque in recognition of his 14 years of dedicated service to the Town of Hanson.

ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town will vote to approve the Capital Improvement Program as presented to the Board of Selectmen by the Capital Improvement Committee or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer/Collector to enter into compensating balance agreements during Fiscal 1997 as permitted by Mass. General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53F or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 5: To determine what sums of money the Town will appropriate and raise by taxation, transfer from Free Cash, transfer from Town Ambulance Funds, Water Department Revenue, Conservation Notice of Intent Fund, Overlay Surplus, and Stabilization Fund to defray charges and expenses of the Town, including Debt and Interest and to provide for a reserve fund for the 1997 fiscal Year or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 7: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise by taxation a sum of money for outfitting the Hanson Auxiliary Police Dept. or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 8: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise the sum of $19,000 and transfer a sum of money from sale of Town property account and transfer a sum of money from Article 1 of the November 13, 1995 Special Town Meeting to the Capital Improvement Fund or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Capital Improvement Fund the sum of $11,000 to complete purchase of radio equipment for the Police Department or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Capital Improvement Fund the sum of $8,000 to complete purchase of SCBA bottles for the Fire Department or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 11: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Capital Improvement Fund $30,000 to comply with AAB requirements at the Maquan School or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 12: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Capital Improvement Fund $13,500 to remove and secure asbestos in the Indian Head School or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 13: To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from the Capital Improvement Fund and/or borrow a sum of money for the purpose of completing a feasibility study and architectural plans and specifications for renovating and adding an addition to the Town Hall or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 14: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from Ambulance Fee Collection Funds the sum of $800.00 to Article 5, line , Postage of the May 1996 Annual Town Meeting or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 15: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the continuation of the revolving fund established under the provisions of General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2 for the use of the Police Department. Such funds to be used for the purpose of Police Department operations including the purchase, repair and maintenance of Police Department property and equipment which is covered by contract and cruiser purchase which is covered by capital outlay.

The Chief of Police is authorized to expend from the fund for its stated purpose without further appropriation subject to the restrictions contained in General law Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2 an amount not to exceed $40,000. Expenditures shall not be made or liabilities incurred in excess of the balance in the fund at any given time, or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the continuation of a revolving fund under the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2 for the use by the Hanson Board of Assessors, such funds to be used for the purchase of maps. The receipts generated through over the counter sale of these maps shall be credited to the revolving account. The Board of Assessors is authorized to expend from the fund for the stated purpose without further appropriation subject to the restrictions contained in G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2 an amount not to exceed $500.00 or take any other action in relation thereto.

VOTED Aye, unanimous to authorize the continuation of the revolving fund established under the provisions of General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2 for the use of the Board of Assessors, such funds to be used for the purchase and maintenance of maps. The receipts generated through over-the- counter sales of these maps shall be credited to the revolving account. The Board of Assessors is authorized to expend from the Fund for the stated purpose without further appropriation subject to the restrictions contained in General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2, an amount not to exceed $500.00.

ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the continuation of a revolving fund under the provisions of G.L. C. 44, s53E 1/2 for the purpose of Hanson Senior Center/Library operations including purchase, repair and maintenance of equipment, additional utility expense and janitorial reimbursement. The following receipts generated shall be credited to the fund:

Receipts from deposit and hourly use charges imposed upon any group or individual that has with prior approval agreed to the use and fee regulations as set forth by the Council for Elder Affairs and the Board of Library Trustees.

The Council for Elder Affairs or the Board of Library Trustees is authorized to expend from the account for its stated purpose without further appropriation subject to the restrictions contained in G.L. c. 44 s53E 1/2 an amount of money not to exceed $3,000.00. Expenditures shall not be made, or liabilities incurred in excess of the balance of the fund at any given time.

ARTICLE 18: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the continuation of a revolving fund established under the provisions of Massachusetts General law, Chapter 44, section 53E 1/2 for the use of the Trustees of Memorial Field. Such funds to be used for the purpose of maintaining and making improvements to Memorial Field. The receipts generated through use of field fees and gifts shall be credited to the Revolving Fund. The Trustees of memorial Field are authorized to expend from the Fund for the stated purpose without further appropriation subject to the restrictions contained in M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2, an amount not to exceed $15,000, or take any other action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 19: To see if the Town of Hanson will vote to raise or appropriate or transfer from available funds, the sum of $3000 to contract with South Shore Women's Center for domestic violence intervention and prevention services to its residents.

VOTED Aye, unanimous to raise and approrpriate the sum of $3,000.00 to contract with South Shore Women's Center for domestic violence intervention and prevention service to its residents, under the direction ofthe Board of Selectmen.

ARTICLE 20: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise by taxation, transfer from free cash, or transfer from the stabilization fund a sum of money to survey and to set the metes and bounds on Indian Trail and Indian Path or take any other action in relation thereto.

VOTED Aye, voice to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 for the purpose of funding a committee of 7 members to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen with the intent of making a recommendation at October Town Meeting as it refers to unaccepted streets.

ARTICLE 21: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise by taxation or transfer from available funds the sum of $1,000 to support Legal Services for Cape Cod & Islands, Inc.'s continued free legal services in civil matters to low-income families and their children, or take any action thereon.

ARTICLE 22: To see if the Town will vote to raise by taxation, transfer from free cash, transfer from overlay reserve, or transfer from available funds, the sum of $900.00 for the purpose of purchasing and installing three new exterior doors for Old School House number 4 (a Town owned building), or take nay other action in relation thereto.

Explanation: Old School House #4 is leased to the Hanson Historical Society by the Town of Hanson with the lease calling for the Town to Maintain the exterior of the Building. The three exterior doors are badly in need of replacement and this article asks the Town for the minimum amount of monies needed to perform this task.

VOTED Aye, unanimous to raise by taxation the sum of $900.00 for the purpose of purchasing and installing three new exterior doors for Old School House number 4, a Town owned building.

ARTICLE 23: To see if the Town will vote to raise by borrowing $46,000 for the triennial recertification of the Town's real estate and personal property valuations, as required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 797, Acts of 1979, or take any other action in relation thereto.

VOTED Aye, unanimous to raise by borrowing $46,000.00 for the Treinnial Recertification of the Town's Real Estate and Personal Property valuations, as required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 797, Acts of 1979.

ARTICLE 24: To see if the Town of Hanson will raise and appropriate a sum of money to make repairs to the Maquan Elementary School playground or take any action in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 25: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise a sum of money to carry out the intentions of the Self-Help Program, to be administered by the Council for Elder Affairs, or take any other action thereto.

ARTICLE 26: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the Massachusetts State Legislature for permission to sell 100 acres known as the "Smith-Nawazelski Property" also known as the "Stillman Property" and also thereafter to enter into a negotiated agreement to sell this property for not less than $1.5 million dollars or to take any other action in relation thereto. The intent is to use the proceeds of this sale to retire outstanding bonds of the Town of Hanson.

ARTICLE 27: To bring in their votes for the following offices: A Moderator for one year, two Selectmen for three years, an Assessor for three years, a Board of Health member for three years, a Cemetery Commissioner for three years, a member of the Planning Board for five years, two Trustees of Memorial Field for three years, two Trustees of Public Library for three years, a member of the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District Committee PreK-12 for three years, a Water Commissioner for three years and 2 questions:

Shall the Town of Hanson be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to reconstruct, remodel and make extraordinary repairs to the Indian Head School?

Shall the Town of Hanson be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to construct and equip a new middle school to be located on land presently owned by the Town of Hanson between Liberty Street and East Washington Street?

VOTED Aye, voice at 10:05 p.m. to adjourn until Saturday, May 18, 1996 at 10:00 a.m. in the Maquan School Cafeteria to take up Article 27 and to dissolve the meeting upon the closing of the polls.