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| ARTICLE 48: | APPROPRIATE FOR HIGH ROCK SCHOOL RENOVATION AND EQUIPMENT |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $420,000 for equipment and classroom furniture for the the High Rock school, to be spent under the jurisdiction of the School Committee, and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen is authorized to borrow up to $420,000 for a period of up to five years, under M.G.L., Chapter 44, Section 7.
Article 48 Explanation: The current lease of the High Rock
School to the Rashi School program will end on July 1, 1998. The Needham
School Committee has indicated that it will likely re-open the High Rock
as an elementary school in September 1999 to accommodate a growing elementary
school population. A September 1999 opening will require the purchase and
installation of furniture and equipment during Fiscal Year 1999 including:
$228,000 to re-equip the kitchen and $11,000 for cafeteria tables, $28,200
for Voice, Video and Data Network, $16,560 audio visual equipment, $34,200
for 18 computer workstations, $70,000 for 10 classrooms of furniture and
$32,000 for office equipment and furniture. It is anticipated that debt
will not be issued for this project until Spring 1999 so that debt service
will not affect the Town's operating budget until FY2000.
Town Meeting Actions (5/13/98 10:19 pm - 10:21 pm and 5/18/98 7:39 pm)
| ARTICLE 49: | APPROPRIATE FOR POLLARD SCHOOL FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $48,000 for furniture and equipment at the Pollard School, to be spent under the jurisdiction of the School Committee, and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen is authorized to borrow up to $48,000 for a period of five years, under M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7.
Article 49 Explanation: This request is for the replacement
of furniture and equipment including science laboratory tables, cafeteria
tables and chairs, cork bulletin boards, media and art storage cabinets,
and display cases.
Town Meeting Actions (5/13/98 10:22 pm -10:34 pm)
| ARTICLE 50: | APPROPRIATE FOR HANDICAPPED RAMP CONSTRUCTION |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 for the construction of handicapped ramps at various sidewalk locations, to be spent under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen, and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with approval of the Board of Selectmen is authorized to borrow up to $50,000 for a period of up to five years, under M.G.L., Chapter 44, Section 7.
Article 50 Explanation: On January 21, 1997, the State Architectural
Access Board (AAB) issued the Town a Notice of Non-Compliance citing violations
at 61 street/sidewalk locations that allegedly failed to meet handicapped
access standards. The DPW challenged the specifics of this Notice at hearings
held by the AAB in June and August, 1997. The culmination of the hearings
was a reduction of the number of locations deemed to be in violation of
AAB standards, and an order to the Town to construct 66 ramps at 46 locations.
It is estimated that each ramp will cost $2,500 for a total of $165,000.
Of this amount, $75,000 can be financed with existing bond authorizations
for sidewalk repair, with the difference proposed to be financed over a
two year period from debt authorized pursuant to this request, and an additional
$40,000 request to be submitted next year.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 51: | APPROPRIATE FOR DPW VEHICLE REPLACEMENT |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $585,850 for DPW equipment, to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow up to $585,850 for a period of up to five years, under M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7.
Article 51 Explanation: The total amount of vehicle replacement
to be funded from all sources (i.e., general fund and enterprise fund revenues)
equals $585,850. $324,600 represents that portion of recommended vehicle
replacement to be financed with general obligation debt. The vehicles recommended
here are part of the on-going replacement program in the DPW and includes
a street sweeper; a sidewalk tractor; a four wheel drive pick-up, a one
ton dump truck; 2 station wagons; 2 sedans; a one ton utility truck; an
athletic field conditioner; and, a ten ton trailer. An additional $261,250
is for the replacement of water/sewer department vehicles including: a
catch-basin cleaner; one-ton four-wheel drive truck; a utility truck; and
a one-ton utility body truck.
Town Meeting Actions (5/13/98 10:35 pm -10:58 pm)
| ARTICLE 52: | APPROPRIATE FOR A MULTI-PURPOSE TRACKLESS SIDEWALK TRACTOR |
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $65,000 for a replacement sidewalk tractor; to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow up to $65,000 for a period of up to five years under M.G.L., Chapter 44, Section 7; or take any other action relative thereto.
INSERTED BY: Board of Selectmen
FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT: Article Not be Adopted
Article 52 Explanation: The Town's sidewalk plowing equipment
does not allow the DPW to meet either the School Department's or parents'
expectations in regards to clearing snow from the Town's 52 miles of designated
school walking routes. This request is for a Multi-Purpose Trackless Sidewalk
Tractor that will serve as lawn cutting equipment and snow removal equipment.
A component of the $585,850 DPW equipment replacement
(Article 51) request
includes an additional $65,000 for a track-type sidewalk snow plow (Bombardier)
dedicated only for sidewalk snow removal, and is intended to supplement
the existing fleet of sidewalk tractors which currently includes two track-type
sidewalk plows, one purchased in FY97 and one FY98.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 53: | APPROPRIATE FOR A MATERIAL SCREENER |
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $128,000 to purchase a Material Screener, to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow up to $128,000 for a period of up to five years under M.G.L. Chapter 44 Section 7; or take any other action relative thereto.
INSERTED BY Board of Selectmen
FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT: Article Not be Adopted
Article 53 Explanation: The total cost of this equipment is
$128,000. Based on estimated use of the screener, it is proposed that 50%
of the estimated $128,000 cost be financed with levy supported debt. The
remaining 50% of the cost is proposed to be financed with RTS revenue.
A part of the Town's solid waste operation involves sifting materials to
separate them into re-usable products (e.g., fill for Town highway reconstruction
projects and compost for Town and residential use). Currently, the Town
rents a "material screener" at a cost of $20,000 per year to process the
compost. Given the estimated cost and useful life (10 years) of a screener,
it is recommended that the Town purchase rather than lease this equipment.
In addition, it should be noted that with the closure of the landfill,
the Town will no longer have a site to dispose of its own waste material
generated primarily by the DPW (e.g., roadway excavation, pavements, street
sweeping materials, etc.). The screener will assist in separating out usable
products from this waste, precluding the need for the Town to have this
material transferred off site, or spending additional amounts to rent a
screener on a more regular basis.
Town Meeting Actions
| ARTICLE 54: | APPROPRIATE FOR SIDEWALK REPAIR/RESURFACING |
MOVED that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $65,000 for sidewalk repair and resurfacing, to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, and to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow up to $65,000 for a period of up to five years under M.G.L., Chapter 44, Section 7.
Article 54 Explanation: The School Department's busing policy has resulted in more school age children walking to school. This has placed a greater emphasis on the condition of sidewalks along designated walking routes. As a result of level funding of the operating budget for street and sidewalk maintenance during the last several years, however, little work on sidewalks can be undertaken. The DPW has reviewed recommendations from the School Safety Study Committee to undertake repairs along specific walking routes. It is proposed that this year's funding be applied to the highest priority street on the list: Warren Street, from School Street to Gayland Road.
Town Meeting Actions (5/18/98 7:39 pm - 7:51 pm)
