October 23rd Semi-Annual Town Meeting
Good Morning All,
Hoping you are enjoying the amazing fall weather we are experiencing and the gorgeous fall foliage around our lovely town.
Sending you a reminder that the second Semi-Annual Town Meeting of 2021, is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 10:00 AM, outside on the baseball field at the Middle/High School, 125 Crescent Street. At this time, it looks like the weather will be cool and cloudy with sun breaking out in the afternoon.
On October 16th, the Town Meeting was postponed, due to lack of a quorum. In accordance with our General Bylaws, the town has a quorum requirement of one hundred (100) legal voters in order for the Moderator to convene town meeting. Last week we waited for one hour in hopes of meeting the quorum but were short our quorum by 5 voters.
The warrant includes 16 articles for your consideration. Copies of the warrant are available from the Town’s Website, www.westboylston-ma.gov/town-meetings, at the Town Offices, Beaman Library, and Municipal Lighting Plant.
There are a number of important articles on the warrant, including the appropriation of Capital Investment Funds to pave the parking lot at our Middle/High School, to pave the south entrance road into the Mount Vernon Cemetery and the road running behind the GAR monument, and the purchase of a Chevy 250 Truck for the DPW.
In addition, the below article will achieve one of the Selectboard’s goals to continue to work on implementing policies to control spending and reduce taxes. The below article is an example of their efforts to achieve that goal. If approved by the voters, we will be taking the 3% local excise tax generated by sales of marijuana products to reduce the FY22 tax rate.
ARTICLE 11- AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO REDUCE THE FY22 TAX RATE
To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money, not to exceed the fund balance of the Tax Levy Stabilization Fund, to reduce or stabilize the Fiscal Year 2022 Tax Rate, or take any other action relative thereto.
*MOTION: I move the Town vote to transfer the sum of $153,171 from the Tax Levy Stabilization Fund to reduce or stabilize the Fiscal Year 22 Tax Rate.
Without a Town Meeting, none of these important matters can be acted on, so I am hoping everyone comes out to support the articles being proposed for the benefit of the taxpayers of the Town of West Boylston.
If we attain a quorum of legal voters, we expect that our town meeting will adjourn far in advance of the Fall Festival which is taking place on the Town Common from noon until 6:00. Over 40 vendors will participate in the Festival along with 5 food trucks, 2 bands and a magician. There will be trick or treating for children and pumpkin lighting after dusk.
Look forward to seeing you at town meeting,
Best regards,
Nancy Lucier, Town Administrator