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| ARTICLE 28: | APPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY PLAN |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200,000 for school department computer hardware, other data processing equipment and computer software; to be spent under the direction of the School Committee.
Article 28 Explanation: As required by the state, in support
of the 1993 Education Reform Act, Needham Public Schools submitted a five
year technology plan in the fall of 1996. It was approved by the Department
of Education with commendation on our model for integrating technology
in the classroom curriculum. There are three years left on the plan. The
first two years were partially funded by state and local grants in the
total of $115,000. The operating budget funded the plan $125,000 annually
from the school operating budget. The FY99 appropriation of $200,000 will
purchase 100 new computer workstations. Existing workstations will be rotated
with the goal to reach a ratio of 1 computer for every 5 students by the
year 2001. Town Meeting will be requested for additional funding of $300,000
for FY00, and $400,000 for FY01.
Town Meeting Actions (5/13/98 7:41 pm - 8:42 pm)
$1000 in their mind; schools should lease. Don't find a need
for ratio of 1:5. Would like to see measurable improvements. Recommends a
No vote.
| ARTICLE 29: | CONTINUE REVOLVING FUND - SCHOOL BUSING |
MOVED that the Town vote to continue a revolving fund account pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ for the revenues and expenditures from the School Department Fee-Based Busing Program and authorize the School Committee, through the Superintendent, to expend money from such fund in the amount of $160,000 in fiscal year 1999.
Article 29 Explanation and Summary of MGL Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ : The Needham Public Schools provides transportation for a fee to all students who are in grades 7 - 12, Kindergarten After School Enrichment Program, Needham Extended Day Program, and those in grades K-6 who live within the 1.5 mile eligibility guideline. The fee is based on the number of buses needed to serve this population of riders and the average cost per seat. The Revolving Fund supports the cost of buses, personnel, and limited program materials. All buses are contracted through a private bus company.
A revolving fund established under the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ must be authorized annually by vote of the Town Meeting. The fund shall be credited with only the departmental receipts received in connection with the programs supported by such revolving fund and expenditures may be made from the revolving fund without further appropriation, subject to the provisions of Section 53E ½.
The Annual Town Meeting authorization for each revolving fund shall specify:
(1) the programs and purposes for which the revolving fund may be expended;
(2) the departmental receipts which shall be credited to the revolving fund;
(3) the board, department or officer authorized to expend from such fund; and
(4) a limit on the amount which may be expended from such fund in the ensuing year.
In any fiscal year the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee
may approve an increase in the amount to be spent from the revolving fund,
but in no event shall any agency, board, department or officer be authorized
to expend in any one fiscal year more than one percent of the amount raised
by the Town by taxation in the most recent fiscal year for which a tax
rate has been certified pursuant to MGL. Chapter 59, section 23.
Town Meeting Actions (5/13/98 8:42 pm -8:48 pm)
| ARTICLE 30: | CONTINUE REVOLVING FUND - MEMORIAL PARK |
MOVED that the Town vote to continue a revolving fund account pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ for the revenues from Memorial Park food concessions, said funds to be used for improvements to the Memorial Park and to authorize the Memorial Park Trustees to expend money from said fund in fiscal year 1999 in the amount of $4,100.
Article 30 Explanation: This revolving fund has existed
since fiscal year 1995. Revenues are from the Memorial Park food concessions.
These funds are then used for the maintenance of the building and grounds
including items such as paint, signs, locks and windows. A summary of M.G.L.
Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ regarding revolving funds can be found
following Article 29.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 31: | CONTINUE REVOLVING FUND - LOCAL TRANSPORTATION |
MOVED that the Town vote to continue a revolving fund account pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ for the revenues and expenditures associated with local transportation including grant revenues from the MBTA Suburban Transportation Program and authorize the Board of Selectmen, through the Town Administrator, to expend money from such fund in fiscal year 1999 in the amount of $40,000.
Article 31 Explanation: This fund allows the Council on Aging
the ability to manage the fiscal portion of the transportation program
for the Senior Citizens of the Town. All funds received from the MBTA,
Roche Bros. / Sudbury Farms, and from various donations are deposited into
this account. Expenses such as the transportation coordinator's salary,
taxi service to and from the Senior Center six days a week, and the Shopper's
bus which transports seniors for grocery shopping on a weekly basis, are
paid for through this account. The entire transportation program costs
are approximately $35,000.00 annually. Because of the erratic schedule
of reimbursement from the funding sources and the increasing demand for
transportation services, the Council on Aging requests that the Fund be
voted at $40,000.00. A summary of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½:
regarding revolving funds can be found following
Article 29.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 32: | CONTINUE REVOLVING FUND: YARD WASTE PROCESSING PROGRAM |
MOVED that the Town vote to continue a revolving fund account pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1993 for the revenues and expenditures associated with the Yard Waste Processing Program and to authorize the Board of Selectmen, through the Director of Public Works, to expend money from said fund in fiscal year 1999 in the amount of $75,000.
Article 32 Explanation and Summary of MGL Chapter 179:
This revolving fund has existed since fiscal year 1994. In 1993, the
Town received a $180,000 wood waste grinding machine through a grant from
the DEP. This machine processes certain types of yard waste. As a condition
of receiving this grant, the Town was required to allow other municipalities
to use this equipment. Participating communities pay into this revolving
fund based on their daily use of the equipment. These funds are then used
for the maintenance and upkeep of the equipment. Chapter 179 law authorizes
the creation of an intergovernmental revolving fund by a town that is the
lead community in the operation of a multi-community yard waste processing
or recycling program. For a lead community to create the fund, its board
of selectmen must vote to authorize it, must establish a limit on the total
amount which may be spent from the fund for the first fiscal year and must
designate the department responsible for operating the yard waste processing
or recycling program. For future fiscal years Town Meeting sets the annual
spending limit and designate the responsible department. The spending limit
may be increased during the course of any fiscal year with the approval
of the board of selectmen.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 33: | CONTINUE REVOLVING FUND - HOME COMPOSTING BIN ACCOUNT |
MOVED that the Town vote to continue a revolving fund account pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ for the revenues and expenditures associated with the sale of home composting bins and authorize the Board of Selectmen, through the Director of Public Works, to expend money from such fund in fiscal year 1999 in the amount of $2,900 for the purchase of additional bins and related costs.
Article 33 Explanation: Through the efforts of the
Board of Health and the Highway Division, the Town of Needham was granted
a supply of home composting bins by the DEP. This grant serves as the "seed"
money to generate revenue to continue the program. The DEP purchases the
bins at a favorable cost and distributes the bins to the municipalities.
The municipalities sell the bins at prices substantially below market value.
The revenue from these sales are used to purchase additional bins through
the DEP supplier bids.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 34: | ESTABLISH REVOLVING FUND-HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION INVESTIGATION ACCOUNT |
MOVED that the Town vote to establish a revolving fund account pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ for the revenues and expenditures associated with the Human Rights Commission Investigation Account, and authorize the Board of Selectmen, through the Town Administrator, to expend money from such fund in fiscal year 1999 in the amount of $6,000.
Article 34 Explanation: The Human Rights Commission (HRC), through the Board of Selectmen, will be entering into an agreement with the Massachusetts Commission on Discrimination (MCAD) to arbitrate discrimination complaints filed by Needham residents against private parties. The MCAD will reimburse the HRC for expenses associated with hearing these complaints.
Town Meeting Actions (5/13/98 8:48 pm -9:10 pm)
