NEEDHAM 2000 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Welcome to the Town Meeting pages of NeedhamOnLine.Com. New England Town Meetings, the legislative bodies of towns, have often been called "the purest form of democracy". In Needham we have a Representative Town Meeting in which all residents are welcome to speak but only the 200+ elected representatives and a few ex officio members may vote.
Town meetings are governed by Warrants, consisting of Articles. The Warrant is prepared in advance, distributed to all households (in the case of an annual meeting), and posted in conspicuous places. In order to dispose of an Article, a Main Motion must be voted. The Main Motion is often worded identically to the description of the Article in the Warrant, but the only requirement on the Main Motion and its discussion is that their subject matter must fall within the four corners of the Article.
Needham's Town Meeting is run according to the rules of Town Meeting Time (reference Town Meeting Time : A Handbook of Parliamentary Law by Ralph C. Copeland; 2nd Edition; Krieger Pub Co: 1984; ISBN: 0898747546). These rules are more flexible than Roberts' Rules of Order, having fewer procedural details and giving the Moderator greater discretion.
In the warrant that follows, the text is that of the Warrant Article before discussion begins. When an article is discussed or approved, the text on the page will be changed to the text of the Main Affirmative Motion, which is usually similar. Amendments will be generally indicated below but will not necessarily be stated exactly and will not be integrated into the body of the motion.
Disclaimer: The information on these pages is not official; it is simply the reporting efforts of one Town Meeting Member.
Monday, May 1
Colors brought in by two Needham Veterans from American Legion Post 2498.
Star Spangled Banner played on trumpet by Coleman Flannagan, High School Senior
Meditation and Prayer by Rev. Gordon Swann
Wednesday, May 3
Rabbi Rifat Sonsino read a Talmudic story of Honi.
Monday, May 8
7:31 pm 5/8/00 Invocation by Rev. Eric Norgard.
Mr. Philip Robey of the Richard Patton Melick Foundation.
Caroline Murray. Community Council. School Committee. Church work. Town Meeting. LWV. Other activities.
William Finan. Visitor to homes and hospitals. Teacher. Taught inmates. Hospital volunteer. PT boat commander. Community Council. VFW.
Presentation to John Milligan, President.
The Special Town Meeting for this evening was opened and adjourned until Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 10
Invocation by Rev. Taylor Roth.
At the conclusion of the Special Town Meeting, it was dissolved in memory of Richard Malconian, Gary Uhl, and John Gill.
Monday, May 15
Invocation by Rev. Mark Fowler, quoting from the Mayflower Compact and Declaration of Independence.
The Annual Town Meeting was dissolved in memory of Eugene S. McMorrow.
Click here for a record of the February,
1997 Special Town Meeting.
Click here for a record of the 1997
Annual Town Meeting.
Click here for a record of the November, 1997 Special Town Meeting.
Click here for a record of the 1998 Annual Town Meeting.
Click here for a record of the November, 1998 Special Town Meeting.
Click here for a record of the 1999
Annual Town Meeting.
Click here for a record of the November, 1999,
Special Town Meeting.
Below is a guide to the 2000 Annual Town Meeting and the May, 2000, Special Town Meeting.
Details can be found as follows. This information requires the free Acrobat Reader™. Click the yellow button to download the latest version.
| Finance Committee Report |
| Revenue and Budget Information |
| Articles 1-6 |
| Articles 7-30 |
| Articles 31-58 |
| Articles 59-81 |
| More Financial Information |
| Special Town Meeting, Articles 1-12 |
 |
WARRANT ARTICLE INDEX
| Article | Descriptive Title | Inserted By | Disposition¹ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annual Town Election | Town Clerk | |
| 2 | Ballot Question: Debt Exclusion - Elementary Schools | Board of Selectmen | |
| 3 | Ballot Question: Debt Exclusion - High School | Board of Selectmen | |
| 4 | Committee and Officer Reports | Board of Selectmen | |
| ZONING / LAND USE ARTICLES | |||
| 5 | Amend Zoning By-Law (Wireless Communications Facilities) | Planning Board | Amend |
| 6 | Amend Zoning By-Law (Map Change to Wireless Communication Facilities Towers Overlay District) | Planning Board | Aye |
| PERSONNEL RELATED ARTICLES | |||
| 7 | Amend Consolidated Personnel By-law | Personnel Board | Aye |
| 8 | Amend Classification and Standard Rates of Compensation | Personnel Board | Aye |
| 9 | Establish Elected Official's Salaries | Personnel Board | Amend |
| 10 | Fund Collective Bargaining Agreement - Police: Units A and B | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 11 | Fund Collective Bargaining Agreement - Police: Superior Officers | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 12 | Fund Collective Bargaining Agreement - Fire: Units A, B and C | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 13 | Fund Collective Bargaining Agreement - AFSCME | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 14 | Fund Collective Bargaining Agreement - DPW NAGE | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 15 | Fund Collective Bargaining Agreement - ITWA | Board of Selectman | Aye |
| FINANCE / BUDGET ARTICLES | |||
| 16 | Accept Chapter 73, Section 4 of the Acts of 1986 (Continuation of Increase in Property Tax Exemption Limits) | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 17 | Appropriate for Tax Work-Off Program | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 18 | Appropriate for Korean War Memorial Committee | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 19 | Appropriate for Memorial Park Garden | Memorial Park Trustees | Aye, 131-64 |
| 20 | Appropriate for Compensated Absence Fund | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 21 | Appropriate for Strategic Planning Process | Board of Selectmen | Refer |
| 22 | Accept MGL Chapter 194 of the Acts of 1998 (Retirement Benefits for Certain Retirees) | Retirement Board | U |
| 23 | Accept MGL Chapter 127 Section 51 of the Acts of 1999 (3 Percent COLA Adjustment for Retirees) | Retirement Board | U |
| 24 | Appropriate the FY2001 Operating Budget | Finance Committee | Amend |
| 25 | Appropriate the FY2001 Water Enterprise Fund Budget | Board of Selectmen / Finance Committee | Amend |
| 26 | Appropriate the FY2001 Wastewater Enterprise Fund Budget | Board of Selectmen / Finance Committee | Amend |
| 27 | Appropriate the FY2001 Solid Waste / Recycling Enterprise Fund Budget | Board of Selectmen / Finance Committee | Amend |
| 28 | Continue Departmental Revolving Funds | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 29 | Authorization to Expend State Funds for Ways | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 30 | Transfer of Undesignated Fund Balance | Finance Committee | Amend |
| CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET ARTICLES | |||
| 31 | Appropriate for Broadmeadow School Renovations and Addition | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 32 | Appropriate for New Eliot School | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 33 | Appropriate for High Rock School Improvements | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 34 | Appropriate for Newman School Improvements | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 35 | Appropriate for High School Repairs | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 36 | Appropriate for Mitchell School Repairs | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 37 | Appropriate for Police and Fire Station Building Repairs - Design | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 38 | Appropriate for Memorial Park Field House ADA Improvements | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 39 | Appropriate for School Floor Replacement | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 40 | Appropriate for Interior Painting | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 41 | Appropriate for School Clock / Bell System | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 42 | Appropriate for School Technology Plan | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 43 | Appropriate for School Data Base Records System | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 44 | Appropriate for Local Area / Wide Area Network | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 45 | Appropriate for Geographic Information System | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 46 | Appropriate for Storm Drain Improvements | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 47 | Appropriate for Brook and Culvert Repairs | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 48 | Appropriate for Handicapped Ramps | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 49 | Appropriate for Vehicles and Equipment | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 50 | Appropriate for Material Screener | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 51 | Appropriate for Local Road / Intersection Reconstruction | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 52 | Appropriate for Traffic Signal Replacement | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 53 | Appropriate for Sidewalk Reconstruction | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 54 | Appropriate for Traffic Signal Bulb Replacement | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 55 | Appropriate for Memorial Park Parking Lot | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 56 | Appropriate for Water System Improvements - Fire Flow | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 57 | Appropriate for Water System Improvements, Design - Looping / Small Diameter Mains | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 58 | Appropriate for Water System Rehabilitation Program (Broad Meadow Main Design) | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 59 | Appropriate for Wastewater Pump Station Pump Replacements | Board of Selectmen | U |
| 60 | Appropriate for RTS Transfer Trailers | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 61 | Appropriate for RTS Retaining Wall Reconstruction | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 62 | Appropriate for Landfill Re-Use Engineering | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 63 | Appropriate for Rosemary Pool Renovation - Design | Board of Selectmen | Aye, 141-44 |
| 64 | Appropriate for Repairs to Fields, Fences and Buildings | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 65 | Appropriate for Fire Department Brush Truck | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 66 | Appropriate for Fire Department Ladder Truck | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 67 | Appropriate for Fire Department Command Vehicle | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 68 | Appropriate for Police Department Radio Equipment | Board of Selectmen | W |
| 69 | Rescind Bond Authorizations | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 70 | Appropriate for New Debt Service | Finance Committee | Amend |
| GENERAL BY-LAW ARTICLES / STATE LAW ACCEPTANCES | |||
| 71 | Amend General By-Law - Technology Advisory Committee | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 72 | Amend General By-Law Section 1.3 - Town Meeting Notification | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 73 | Amend General By-Law - Regulation of Noise During Construction and Landscaping | Citizen's Petition | Refer |
| 74 | Petition General Court - Retirement Legislation | Retirement Board | Aye |
| 75 | Petition General Court - Establish a Special Fund for Payment of Costs Relative to School Renovation Projects | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| TOWN MEETING COMMITTEES | |||
| 76 | Continue Community Center Study Committee | Community Center Study Committee | U |
| 77 | Continue School Safety Study Committee | School Safety Study Committee | U |
| 78 | Continue Solid Waste Disposal / Recycling Advisory Committee | Solid Waste Disposal/ Recycling Advisory Committee | Aye |
| 79 | Continue the Needham Governmental Review Study Committee | Government Review Study Committee | Aye |
| 80 | Establish a Committee to Review, Investigate and Report on the Collection of Solid Waste, Operation of the Recycling Transfer Station (RTS) and Funding of Same. | Citizen's Petition | W |
| 81 | Omnibus Article | Board of Selectmen | |
| SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, MAY 8, 2000 | |||
| 1 | Appropriate For High School Repairs | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 2 | Appropriate For Memorial Park Field House ADA Improvements | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 3 | Appropriate For School Floor Replacement | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 4 | Appropriate For Interior Painting | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 5 | Appropriate For Brook / Culvert Repairs | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 6 | Appropriate For Sidewalk Reconstruction | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 7 | Appropriate For Fire Department Brush Truck | Board of Selectmen | Amend |
| 8 | Appropriate For Police Department Radio Equipment | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 9 | Appropriate For Road Maintenance | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 10 | Appropriate For Webster Street Utility Improvements | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| 11 | Amend The Fiscal Year 2000 Budget | Finance Committee | Amend |
| 12 | Amend Fiscal Year 2000 Solid Waste / Recycling Enterprise Fund Budget | Board of Selectmen | Aye |
| ¹ Dispositions | |
|---|---|
| Aye | Approved (with vote when counted) |
| Amend | Approved as amended (with vote when counted) |
| Nay | Disapproved (with vote when counted) |
| Refer | Referred back to committee |
| U | Unanimously approved at start of meeting |
| W | Withdrawn by proponents |
| ... | Currently before the meeting |
