Full statements deliver pro, con on issue
UPDATED, May 10: The 2017 Town Meeting ended Monday, May 8, with a bang, not a whimper, as members strongly supported a nonbinding “sanctuary” resolution, which has riled the town since late January, after President Trump’s first travel ban. The vote was 173-19-10.
Per instructions of Moderator John Leone, Article 59 had no debate. Instead, two members presented opposing cases, each for 10 minutes — Joseph Curro Jr., arguing in favor, and Joseph Monju (17), who was opposed.
In short, Curro said the measure asks the meeting for its opinion to support town police, who do not carry out federal immigration efforts, yet who do not support those who break the law. “We need to amplify that message,” he told Town Meeting.
Read the full text of Curro’s remarks >>
Monju cited a series of news stories involving illegal immigrantion, which he said encourages human trafficking, including a 2014 case here. He called such crime “as prevalent as ever” and the illegal status of immigrants remains “concealed.” His comments drew some gasps when an accompanying slide showed those afflicted with various diseases, including bobonic plague.
Read the full text of Monju’s remarks >>
Alleges cyberbullying
Before introducing the two speakers, Leone noted the degree of debate over the months and said there had been “a fair amount of cyberbullying on the Arlington List the last couple of days.” He said that included threats that who don’t vote for the resolution will be voted out of office. “We don’t like that,” he said, referring to Town Meeting members. “Don’t be at all swayed.”
It was unclear which town list Leone meant. The Arlington Email List has had no recent discussion of note about the issue. The Arlington List Facebook group avoids discussion of politics.
Before the break, the meeting moved methodically but persistently through a variety of spending measures, including education. The latter drew pointed comments from Len Kardon (20), a School Committee member who spoke for himself in defense of such spending, and Brendan O’Day (14), who offered a positive view of how the town might move toward the next override.
Kardon believes the town’s school spending is insufficient and that increases are not keeping up with enrollment growth. He was responding to comments made May 3 by Finance Committee Chair Al Tosti, who said that in three years, fiscal 2021, residents will face an override of about $17 million.
Kardon acknowledged the school got “some help” last year, while spending over the last several years as a fraction of the state budget is flat. He said class sizes have risen from 19.6 to 21.4 students per class and that auto-excise revenues have fallen.
Kardon suggested pursuing an earlier override that would be a lower amount. He did not suggest what number that might be.
Read the full text of his comments and see the explanatory charts >>
Aside about meeting comments, override view
A motion to terminate debate on education failed, 122-72-4, and the future-override discussion took a timeout. Joe Tully (14) referred to “a School Committee member” who he said attempted to limit meeting debate late at the May 3 session. That member, Paul Schlichtman (9), tried to raise a point of privilege twice, but Leone rebuffed him. Later, Schlichtman clarified that he had been seeking more budget feedback, not less.
Brendan O’Day (14) returned the meeting to past budget forecasts, saying the town’s fiscal health has topped official predictions. “We’re in much better shape than we imagine,” he said, citing the last page of the Fincom’s Town Meeting report. From its last page, showing a chart of the override stabilization fund, he showed a series of slides in succeeding years, each showing a happy face.
His presentation mixed serious numbers with soft humor — happy faces — to show that he takes the looming fiscal cliff “with a grain of salt.” His last side features a larger happy face in fiscal 2023, when he says we can expect an override.
Why slope so severe?
“Why is the downslope so severe?” O’Day asked of the chart Tosti had presented May 3.
The funds involved are cash, not revenue, Tosti responded, saying the town need an override in June 2020. Why? Because, he said, the state has had no recession since 2008. “Look at state [revenue],” he said, referring recent news stories reporting lower tax collections.
See what Selectman Dan Dunn thinks about this in his blog. In part, he wrote: “The point that Al Tosti makes is that if we enter a recession, our budgets will start to miss ‘to the bad’ and our conservative budgeting will ensure that is only painful, but not catastrophic.”
Before the budgets were approved, 211-0-1, two speakers went beyond the scope of the issue under discussion — libraries — but Leone allowed it. Their comments perhaps reflected the wisdom of age.
Ted Peluso (6) shared a “secret” — the way to have an impact on a budget lies in what occurs before Town Meeting. He said agreed with Schlichtman.
John Worden (8), the former moderator, disagreed, allowing that, as the appropriating body, Town Meeting can change budgets.
Summary of last articles
Those views expressed, the members at the 2017 annual meeting raised question but changed no budgets. Here is a quick rundown of remaining articles:
Article 27 (Special Education Reserve Fund): Part of the Municipal Moderation Act, this measure alters how the fund works. School Committee member Kirsi Allison-Ampe (15) said it helps the schools deal with the volatility of SPED expenses. Approved, 208-0-1.
Article 29 (Endorsement of CDBG): Given a possible cut by the federal government, Curro said this may be the last time Town Meeting votes for a program used her for 43 years. Approved, 205-1-1.
Articles 30, 31 (Revolving Fund Bylaw, Revolving Fund): These measures codifies various revolving funds and puts them all in one place. Each drew support, 204-4-1 and 196-1
Article 32 (Positions reclassification): John Leonard (17) offered an amendment to rename the the Board of Selectmen to the Board of Administration. Leone ruled the motion out of scope. “I think it’s time we did so,” Leone said, but it would have to occur via bylaw and Town Manager Act change. Approved, 208-1.
Article 38 (Zoning bylaw recodification): Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine said a group is already working to recodify zoning, last done in 1975, to make bylaws consistent with state law. The $55,000 to retain a consultant and pay for advertising of the changes.
Peter Fuller (20) asked whether the $40,000 for the consultant was enough, and Chapdelaine said he believed do. “This isn’t something to cheap out on,” Fuller said. Approved, 206-7-1.
Article 39 (Parking operating costs): Fuller asked that the numbers be explained, and Chapdelaine said they represent 50 percent of the personnel costs. Costs to operate parking meters include credit card and software fees, coin collection, leasing spots from First Parish, maintenance and lease payments on the meters themselves. Approved, 203-5-3.
Article 40 (Gibbs): A recommendation of no action was approved, because the issue was resolved during the Special Town Meeting.
Precinct 41 (Real property): Funding the revaluation at $300,000 was supported, 155-2-4.
Article 45 (Committees and Commissions): Of the $52,800, $25,000 was allotted for public art. Questioned by Annie LaCourt (15), Tosti said the Fincom handed the issue to the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture. “It’s not our thing to decide,” he said, referring to the Fincom.
Ian Goodsell (11) is opposed to spending so much on arts compared to the other budgets.
Barbara Costa (10), of the arts group, said the unusually high amount of money is needed to implementing arts aims in the master plan calls. “Much going on,” she said. Approved, 198-5-1.
Article 48 (Water bodies): David White (17) says that most of the $55,000 is to work to get rid of invasive plants. Approved, 196-0-1
Article 49 (Community Preservation Act): The use of $2.2 million in taxpayer and state matching funds drew a query from Ed Trembly (19): How much was to be spent on planning, and how on “doing”? Clarissa Rowe (4), committee chair, estimated $2 million in construction and $401,000.
Allan Reedy (13) asked whether $600,000 is too much to spend on the Town Hall Garden Reflecting Pool. Rowe said the engineering work to return water to the basin, dry for some years, reflects a permanent repair.
Greg Christiana (15) asked whether such funds could be used for the high school rebuild. Rowe said that process has only begun. Approved, 198-5.
Article 52 (Other Post Employment Benefits): A sum of $500,000 to help toward Health-care costs for retirees. Approved, 200-0.
Article 56 (Free cash): Money returned to the town from budgets totaling $4.8 million. Approved, 185-1.
Article 58 (Stabilization fund): The appropriation of $211,000 was approved, 188-0.
Read a summary of session 5 by Selectman Dan Dunn >>
Paul Schlichtman’s scorecard | Christian Klein’s blog
Session 4, May 3, 2017: Hardy, Gibbs projects draw staunch support
Session 3, May 1, 2017: Appointed treasurer, parking district approved
Session No. 2: April 26, 2017: Recreational marijuana moratorium, plastic-bag limits OK’d
Session No. 1, April 24, 2017: Zoning articles pass
Town Meeting is broadcast live on local broadcast and live-streamed on acmi.tv >>
2017 warrant | Substitute motions | Reports to 2017 Town Meeting:
Board of Selectmen | Finance Committee | Redevelopment Board | Capital Planning | Treasurer |
Permanent Town Building Committee | Community Preservation Committee |
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Master Plan Implementation Committee | Vision 2020
2016 Annual Report
April 26, 2017: Report offers way to cover higher cost for former Gibbs renovation
March 28, 2017: AG’s threat on immigration would not affect Arlington
Jan. 29, 2017: Citizen articles: plastic bags, marijuana, surveillance
Election candidates, openings
Statements from candidates posted to the School Enrollment Parent Group (Facebook)
Opinion, March 29, 2017: Rise of local social media driving politics
This news summary was published Monday, May 8, 2017, and updated May 9, to add a full summary. Further updates May 10 included a link to Kardon’s comments as well as to Curro’s and Monju’s statements.
