Session 8 ends meeting with praise, discussion of bricks, sidewalk, arts funding

UPDATED, May 18: Town Meeting wasted little time as it sped through 13 articles on Wednesday, May 15, and ended the annual meeting by 9:20 p.m. The longest speech was the first one, by John Maher (14), as he defended ACMi, the town’s cable-TV outlet, funding under Article 47.

In its eighth session, the 2019 annual Town Meeting heard praise for its process, listened to criticism about Town Hall bricks and Center sidewalks, voted for parking benefits and learned some history about arts funding.

The speedy final meeting launched on a light note with an uncertain singing of “Happy Birthday” to Fincom Chair Allen Tosti and the much more certain welcome words from Bill Berkowitz (8). He expressed “how good a Town Meeting this was …. One of best.

“If we don’t finish tonight, maybe I’ll change my mind.” He thought that perhaps the successful debate was because of the earlier precinct meetings. He said he was struck by the quality of exchanges, which he found “almost always respectful.” His comment that he “felt privileged” was met with applause.

Article 48 (appropriation/PEG access budget)

For 47 and 48, companion ACMi measures, Moderator John Leone handed the gavel to his assistant, James O’Conor. Because Leone was a past member of cable-TV board, he stepped aside.

The articles address payments from the three cable firms in town used to support the studio.

Maher, chair of the Cable advisory committee, called ACMi a “tremendous community asset,” supported by funds that total about $800,000 a year.

He said the future for local-access TV could be bleak as the cable industry aims to eliminate key funding for PEG, “so they can gouge.” He viewed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai “moving in for the kill.”

Both articles were supported, 183-1-0 and 178-1-0, respectively.

 Article 49 (acceptance/local option taxes) Approved under the consent agenda.

Article 50 (local option/short-term rental impact fees) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 51 (endorsement of CDBG application)

Select Board Chair Diane Mahon called the Community Development Block Grant process “the most expeditious” she had seen. She said the expanded committee “went beyond due diligence.” There was no debate.

Support for the article was 175-0-9.

 Article 52 (revolving funds)

Sandy Pooler, deputy town manager, explained that the measure reauthorizes spending accounts for revolving funds that were established at 2017 Town Meeting.

Christian Klein (10) ask how much was approved last year, and Pooler answered $800,000.

Asked about costs exceeding that number, Pooler noted that the town paid cash for an ambulance to avoid interest payments.

Peter Fiore (2) asked a balance, and Zarina Memon (21) said spending on private-way repairs were too high.

The vote was 189-0-0.

 Article 53 (endorsement of parking benefit district expenditures)

Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine explained that the article is to approve spending to operate a parking-benefits district.

John Leonard (17) asked where a $35,388 balance left over to fix sidewalks was going. The manager said it would be carried forward and that next year’s Town Meeting would be asked to spend it.

John Worden (8) wanted to know what is wrong with the sidewalks in the Center.

Chapdelaine called the condition of some walks “deplorable, dangerous” and requiring replacement. 

Worden pointed to workable brick sidewalks in Lexington Center has and downtown Boston.

Michelle Durocher (19) asked about the scope of parking-benefit district funding pool. She wanted to know what expenses are valid.

The manager said that, in general, such funds are spent for maintenance and infrastructure improvements.

Durocher turned to snow removal, noting that snow is often piled too high near parking meters, limiting access.

Deborah Butler (19) told a story about a brick that had popped up near Town Hall, making it difficult to open a car door. She said she lifted the brick and saw it had no mortar. She suggested that future brick work be more firmly seated with mortar. A lawyer, she called it a “liability waiting to happen.”

Beth Milofchik (9) had questions about Broadway Plaza and whether the Veterans Memorial Park, with its high trees, was to remain.

The manager said a plan to move it to Cooke’s Hollow, near police headquarters, would be reviewed in the future.

The vote was 185-3.

 Article 54 (approval/parking operating costs) A voice vote supported a no-action recommendation.

 Article 55 (positions reclassification) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 56 (collective bargaining) Pooler announced a settlement in collective bargaining the previous Friday for a contract for ranking officers (police sergeants, lieutenants and captains). Under the three-year pact, they are getting bases raises of 2, 2, and 1 percent.

The only contract with a settlement is with patrol officers, and talks are starting soon, he said.

Tosti offered a substitute motion from the Finance Committee, which received that body’s unanimous support.

Jordan Weinstein (21) asked what annual wages for ranking officers are and what will they be.

The matter is not simple because of steps and bonuses, so Pooler laid out the base pay: $70,901, sergeants; $84,000, lieutenants; and $99,113, captains. These numbers are rising to $88,000, from $111,000 to $120,000, and from $125,000 to $130,000.

Chris Moore (14) asked when the new pay numbers would be in effect (July 1) and whether they are retroactive (yes).

The Fincom’s substitute motion passed on a voice vote. The main motion was supported, 189-2-0.

 Article 59 (rescind or reappropriate borrowing authorizations from prior years) Approved under the consent agenda.

Article 60 (appropriation/transportation infrastructure fund)

Chapdelaine said that, starting this year, all Uber and Lyfft carriers will be paying a percent of revenue to the town, amounting to $25,000-plus. In contrast, Boston has received $3 million from such payments.

The manager said the money can be used for transportation and that the town’s amount will go toward the Bus Rapid Transit project on Mass. Ave. in East Arlington, for painting lines.

The vote was 188-4-0.

 Article 61 (appropriation/financing of construction or reconstruction of sewers and sewerage facilities) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 62 (appropriation/financing of construction or reconstruction of water mains and water facilities) Approved under the consent agenda.

Article 64 (appropriation/committees and commissions)

Sophie Migliazzo (8) asked why there was an object to a funding request from the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture.

Tosti explained the 8-7 vote with some history. The use of public money for arts had risen from $5,000 to $15,000 to $40,000. He said that because “public arts is not a core mission for Arlington,” the committee had differences of opinion about spending.

He called the $40,000 “seed money” and said the arts group needs to find ways to raise some of its own funds.

Annie LaCourt (15) noted that a appointed Fincom liaison to the arts group had been appointed.

The vote was 187-2-1.

 Article 65 (appropriation/town celebrations and events)

Migliazzo asked about funding Town Night, noting residents raised $9,000 from private donations in August, so there could be fireworks before Town Day, in September.

Chapdelaine explained that Town Day and Town Night were for years supported by private funds. Last year, the Town Day Committee decided that, because of police overtime, it could not pay public funds for Town Night.

“Going forward, there could still be fund-raising,” he said.

The vote was 187-4-0.

 Article 66 (appropriation/miscellaneous) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 67 (appropriation/water bodies fund) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 68 (appropriation/Community Preservation Fund) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 69 (appropriation/Harry Barber Community Service Program) Approved under the consent agenda.

Article 70 (appropriation/pension adjustment for former 25-year/accidental disability employees) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 71 (appropriation/Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund) Approved under the consent agenda.

Article 72 (appropriation/overlay reserve)

Gordon Jamieson (12) said estimates of new growth from tax assessments going to overlay surplus were from $600,000 to $800,000. He asked what the residual budget is in this account.

Pooler said the balance is $4,7631,171.

If the amount in the overlay reserve is determined more than is needed there, then some could move to the override stabilization account.

Vote: 193-0-0.

Article 73 (transfer of funds/cemetery) Approved under the consent agenda.

Article 74 (use of free cash) Approved under the consent agenda.

Article 75 (appropriation/Cannabis Mitigation Stabilization Fund)

Tosti said the article establishes a fund to receive money and needs just $1 to do that.

Vote: 185-2-0.

Article 76 (appropriation/Long-Term Stabilization Fund)

To see if the town will make an appropriation to the Long Term Stabilization Fund in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 5B, as amended, or other appropriate provisions of law, determine how the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action related thereto. (Inserted at the request of the Finance Committee)

 Article 77 (appropriation/Fiscal Stability Stabilization Fund)

Vote: 190-1-0.

 Article 78 (resolution/Indigenous Peoples’ Day) Approved under the consent agenda.

 Article 79 (resolution/overnight parking exemption program for medical and financial hardships) Approved under the consent agenda.

Tosti’s motion to dissolve the meeting at 9:20 was met with cheers and even some whoops.

Dan Dunn summaries: Session No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6 | No.  7 | No. 8

Votes: Session 1 (none) | Session 2 | Session 3 | Session 4 |  Session 5 | Session 6 | Session 7 | Session 8

Background

The annual Town Meeting warrant is here >>

A Special Town Meeting was held Monday, April 29. The warrant is available here >>

Find additional information at arlingtonma.gov/townmeeting.

Reports to Town Meeting

Select Board 
Redevelopment Board
Community Development Block Grant
Master Plan Implementation Committee
Community Preservation Committee
Town Meeting Procedures
Finance Committee
Envision Arlington
Water Bodies Assessment and Recommendation Report (from Conservation Commission and Water Bodies Working Group)
Arlington Public Schools’ report, FY2020 Budget Summary
Permanent Town Building Committee
Capital Planning Committee (updated)
High School Building Committee (update fixes broken links in the report)
Library
Minuteman Presentation
Zero Waste Arlington Committee

– Article 16 substitute motion by Jon Gersh (18)

– Amendments by Christian Klein (10):

Article 16
Article 24
Article 34

– Motion to mend Article 11 by John Worden (8)

– Article 36 amendment (short-term rental regulations by Christina Kelleher) 

– Appropriation/Community Preservation Fund, Beth Melofchik  (9)

– Amendment, Vote/Election Modernization, Christopher B. Moore (14)

Article 36 

– Article 63 Appropriation/Minuteman, presentation

– Amendment, Mustafa Varoglu (10), Article 58 /Capital Budget

– Article 56 / Collective Bargaining (new proposed vote)

– Article 52 Revolving Funds (reference materials, corrections from Select Board)

Articles 39, 40, 55

Documents from Town Moderator John Leone:

2019 Town Meeting Procedures
Memo about Electronic Distribution of Town Meeting Materials
Consent Agenda

Reference materials

The proposed zoning bylaw amendments, along with two zoning guides, and responses to frequently asked questions may be viewed at arlingtonma.gov/arb.

Article 16 Applicable Zoning Districts Map
Conservation Commission Memo on Articles 18 and 19.
Article 29 – Polystyrene Ban Recycling Committee FAQ 

News stories, 2019 Town Meeting: Session 7: Chief position out of Civil Service, library meters eyed, aid to seniors

Session 6: Top capital projects, CPA efforts advance

Session 5: Some budgets pass, as rise in capital debt, taxes are explained 

Session 4 OKs polystyrene ban, tree measures, ‘dark skies’ update 

Session 3: AHS rebuild draws decided support

Session 2: Support for ‘density’ articles withdrawn; meeting votes to wait a year

Session 1: Opposition to zoning proposals outweighs support

April 13, 2019: Zoning density proposals revised, but critics see loopholes

Part 1: April 3, 2019: Proposed zoning changes spark debate over livability, affordability

Feb. 2, 2019: Plans OK’d to publicize articles targeting increased housing density 

Opinion: Jan.-March 2019: Zoning plans spur varied views

Jan. 12, 2019: Zoning for sustainability, resilience in Arlington

This news listing was published Wednesday, May 15, 2019, and updated that night. It was converted to a news summary May 18.