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| ARTICLE 18: | APPROPRIATE FOR TAX WORK-OFF PROGRAM |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate $7,500 for the purpose of conducting a tax work-off program, said sum to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen and raised from the tax levy.
Article 18 Explanation: In fiscal year 1996, the Town initiated
a program whereby qualified elderly property owners and disabled individuals
could work up to 100 hours for the Town. In turn, the individual was paid
approximately $500 which was applied to their property tax bill. The Selectmen
would like to expand this program and, therefore, have requested to increase
the appropriation from $5,000 in FY98 to $7,500 in FY99.
Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 10:48 pm - 10:39 pm )
| ARTICLE 19: | APPROPRIATE FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 for the purpose of conducting a hazardous waste collection day, said sum to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen and raised from the tax levy.
Article 19 Explanation: As a result of an Administrative Consent
Order with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) related to
the operation and closure of the sanitary landfill, the Town has agreed
to request funding to conduct a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 10:39 pm - 10:43 pm)
| ARTICLE 20: | APPROPRIATE FOR PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALK LIGHTS |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for the purchase and installation of 6 sidewalk lights to be installed in the following locations.
a) Four lights to be installed along the concrete sidewalk connecting Great Plain Avenue with the parking lot behind the First Church of Christ Scientist, Needham. The Town constructed the walk to the parking lot after having been given an easement by the Church.
b) Two lights to be installed along the property line between the parking lot and the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Needham.
In exchange for the purchase and installation of said lights, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Needham, agrees to be responsible for relamping and for the payment of the electricity required to operate the lights.
Article 20 Explanation: This article addresses the need for
safety lighting to be installed along the pedestrian right of access which
leads from Great Plain Avenue to the parking lot at the rear of First Church
of Christ, Scientist, 870 Great Plain Avenue. Vehicle access to the lot
is from Dedham Avenue. The Town has the use of the parking lot for public
off-street parking on secular days and hours under a license agreement
with the Church dated November 10, 1981 and renewed on April 14, 1992.
The license agreement will expire on November 1, 2001. Responsibility for
lighting the pedestrian walkway is unclear under the terms of the license
agreement. The proposal specifies 4 new light poles and underground wiring
along the walkway and 2 light poles and underground wiring at the rear
of the church building next to the parking lot.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 21: | ACCEPT MGL CHAPTER 32, SECTION 103 (COST OF LIVING PAYMENTS FOR RETIREES) |
MOVED that the Town vote to accept the provisions of Section 103 of Chapter 32 of the General Laws, as added by Section 8 of Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1997, an act relative to the annual cost-of-living adjustments to retirees.
Article 21 Explanation: Chapter 32 Section 103 is a local option legislation. This statute reforms the method for granting Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA's) to municipal retirees. The legislation provides that the decision to grant a COLA will be made by the Local Retirement Board. On an annual basis, if the retirement board votes to adopt the COLA, eligible retirees and beneficiaries of the system will receive a COLA commencing in July of that year. The percentage of increase granted must be either the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Commissioner of Social Security, or three percent, which ever is less, and is calculated on a maximum retirement benefit of $12,000.
There are no alternate provisions for providing a Cost of Living Adjustment to our Retirees.
Article 22,
which follows, has been submitted via Citizen's Petition
and also asks the acceptance of the same legislation.
Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 10:44 pm -10:37 pm)
$19 million unfunded liability. The costs of the COLA will
result in additional liability. But they recommend. Article 23 hopes to
give us authority.
| ARTICLE 22: | ACCEPT MGL CHAPTER 32, SECTION 103 (COST OF LIVING PAYMENTS FOR RETIREES) |
MOVED that the Town vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1997, Section 103 an act relative to the annual cost of living adjustment for retired members of the Needham Contributory Retirement System.
Article 22 Explanation: Under a 1997 state law (Chapter 17), Needham and other towns are provided the opportunity to accept a process whereby a cost of living adjustment (COLA) can be added to the pensions of former town employees on an annual basis. In accordance with the law, the Needham Retirement Board has taken the initial step, accepting the process. With the Board's action, the final decision rests with the Town Meeting on whether the process for paying a COLA, outlined in the law, will become effective in Needham.
It the law is accepted by Town Meeting, the process calls upon the Retirement Board to determine annually whether a COLA will be paid. In order to pay a COLA in a particular year, the Board must determine that it will not impair Needham from satisfying its obligation to fund its retirement system.
If the Board decides that a COLA can be paid in a particular year,
the retirees will receives the same percentage increase as social security
recipients. For example, this year social security benefits increased by
2.1%; therefore, if accepted town retires would receive the same percentage
on the first $12,000 of their pension. The percentage can not exceed 3%.
Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 11:37 pm)
| ARTICLE 23: | PETITION THE GENERAL COURT FOR SPECIAL LEGISLATION REGARDING COST OF LIVING PAYMENTS FOR RETIREES |
MOVED that the Town authorize and empower the Board of Selectmen to file a Home Rule Petition, in substantially the following form, with the General Court:
AN ACT AUTHORIZING NEEDHAM TOWN MEETING TO APPROVE COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR MEMBERS OF THE NEEDHAM CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the General Court assembled, and by authority of same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Any other provision of law not withstanding, the Town of Needham having accepted the provisions of Section 103 of Chapter 32 of the General Laws as added by Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1997, that any future cost of living adjustment elected or adopted by the Town of Needham Contributory Retirement Board shall not be effective and shall not be paid to any member, spouse or other beneficiary and shall not affect the amount of the fixed retirement allowance, pension or annuity for any present or future purposes until said adjustment is approved for that year by the Town, acting by its Town Meeting.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its acceptance by vote of the Town, acting by its Town Meeting.
Article 23 Explanation: Massachusetts General Law Chapter
17 (the subject matter of Articles 21
and 22) transfers the responsibility
of funding cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirees to the Town's
local retirement system. Since Proposition 2 ½ was enacted, cost
of living adjustments for retirees have been paid by the State. Section
103 permits the Town to make an irrevocable election to grant annual COLA's
based on the federal consumer price index. Once this election has been
made, any subsequent year the system will have been deemed to grant a COLA
unless the Needham Retirement Board, not the Town Meeting, decides that
the cost is too much of a burden on the funding schedule. Article 23 would
permit the Board of Selectmen to file for Special Legislation that would,
if approved, permit Town Meeting to make the determination to fund future
COLA's.
Town Meeting Actions (5/6/98 11:37 pm)
| ARTICLE 24: | APPROPRIATE THE FY99 OPERATING BUDGET |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate sums of money for the necessary Town expenses and charges.
The amounts appropriated be as recommended in the FY99 Operating Budget Recommendations.
Town Meeting Actions (5/11/98 7:54 pm - 9:50 pm with 15-minute break)
$60 million total; 3/4 from local taxes. $56.2 million
available for appropriation.
