Annual Town Meeting and Town Election

Be sure to mark your calendars:

As Board of Selectmen Chair Curtis Hartman wrote, “Annual Town Meeting is the single most important event in the civic life of our community. Town Meeting is Truro’s legislature. It controls the purse strings, sets the policies, and determines the course the Town will follow in the year ahead.”

Discussion of the annual budget, Article 4 in this year’s warrant, is the centerpiece of the community’s deliberations. This year the Selectmen are proposing an Omnibus Budget for Fiscal 2012 of $15,915,854. This represents a modest increase of just 2.6% over the FY2012 budget and marks the fourth year in a row the Town has been able to avoid an override without cuts in personnel or services. Another indicator of good financial health and management is the Town's ability to transfer $1 million from Free Cash to help reduce and stabilize the FY2013 tax rate.

There are three articles on the warrant to authorize short-term and long-term borrowing. Article 8 seeks approval for a capital exclusion to purchase a rubber tire loader for the DPW. Articles 9 and 10 both propose longer-term borrowing to fund closure of the landfill and for restoration work at Eagle Creek, respectively. All three of these articles also will require approval by the voters at the Annual Town Election on May 8, 2012.

Article 19 proposes a major change in how the management of the Fire Department is designated and supervised. Currently, the Board of Fire Engineers is appointed by the Selectmen; and the Engineers, in turn, appoint the Fire Chief. This model has proven problematic in terms of day-to-day supervision in the department and overall accountability of the department officers. This article would make the Board of Selectmen the appointing authority for the Fire Chief, similar to their appointment of the Police Chief. If passed, this change will take one year to implement because the proposed Charter revisions need approval from the voters at the Annual Town Election in May 2013.

The Planning Board has submitted two proposals to amend the Zoning By-law. Article 21 would amend the sign code to allow “Open” and “Welcome” flags to be attached to existing permitted ground signs, with the proviso that the flags be taken down when the business is closed. Article 22 would amend and clarify the definition of Building Height in the Zoning By-law. One additional Zoning By-law amendment was submitted by Citizen Petition. Article 23 would change the boundaries of the Beach Point Limited Business District.

Articles 24 and 25 are intended to promote the development of affordable rental properties in Truro by allowing a property tax exemption on the portion of a property that is rented affordably. Article 24 would authorize filing special legislation to exempt all properties rented affordably in Truro from property tax. Article 25 would allow a similar exemption, but also includes a provision to allow accessory dwelling units to be rented to income eligible tenants. This Article was passed once before at Town Meeting, but has not yet been approved by the Legislature. A refresher vote is required so that the bill can be filed again on Beacon Hill. Both of these home-rule petitions would require approval at the next Town Election, also.

Article 26 is another piece of special legislation that was filed on Beacon Hill but has not yet been approved. Representative Sarah Peake has asked the Town to “refresh” its earlier vote so that the bill can be filed again. It concerns a land swap between the Truro Central School and the John Henry Walsh Real Estate Trust.

Lastly, Article 27 is another article submitted by Citizen Petition regarding the license renewal for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant.

It is important to note that any citizen may submit an article for consideration by Town Meeting by gathering ten signatures of registered voters for Annual Town Meeting or 100 registered voter signatures for Special Town Meeting.

Finally, Chairman Hartman summed it up best when he said, “Town meeting remains the most direct form of democracy in this country. Its success depends on your active and informed participation. We hope you will let your voice be heard -- join us as we work together to set the course of the community we share.”

The Warrant is available on line at:  http://www.truro-ma.gov/php/news_details.php?news_id=335

Paper copies will be available on or about April 6, and can be picked up at the Library, Community Center, Town Hall, and Public Safety Building. Also, copies will be available at Town Meeting.

Update on the Green Communities Grant and Various Energy Projects

Please click here to read about the progress being made on our Green Communities Grant and Energy Reduction.

Sincerely,

Rex Peterson
Town Administrator
townadm@truro-ma.gov
(508) 349-7004, ext 10