TOWN OF DOVER

________________

 

WARRANT

 

for the

 

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

 

Monday, May 2, 2005

 

7:30 PM

 

Dover-Sherborn Regional School

Lindquist Commons

 

 

and

 

TOWN ELECTIONS

 

 

Monday, May 16, 2005

7:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Dover Town House

 

 

 

 

WARRANT COMMITTEE OPEN HEARING

Monday, March 28, 2005 at 7:30 PM

Dover Town House


 

Norfolk, ss.

 

To any of the Constables of the Town of Dover in said County, Greetings;

 

            In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Dover, qualified as the Constitution requires to vote in elections and in Town affairs, to meet in the Lindquist Commons Building at the Dover-Sherborn Regional High School in said Town on Monday, the 2nd  day of May, 2005, at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening then and there to act on the following articles, to wit:

 

Article 1.   (Selectmen) To hear and act on the various reports of the various committees:

            (a)  As contained in the printed 2004 Annual Report;

            (b)  Any other reports submitted to the voters by the Town Committees.

 

Article 2.   (Assessors)  To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Chapter 73, Section 4, of the Acts of 1986 as amended by Chapter 126 of the Acts of 1988, in order to allow an additional real estate tax exemption of up to 100 percent in Fiscal Year 2006 for those who qualify for an exemption under Chapter 59, Section 5, Clauses 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37A, or 41C of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 3.   (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will set the salaries for its elected officials for the ensuing fiscal year; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 4.   (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for salaries and expenditures by departments, officers, boards, and committees of the Town for the ensuing fiscal year; to determine whether the money shall be included in the tax levy, transferred from available funds, or provided by any combination of these methods; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 5.   (Selectmen)  To see what sums the Town will raise and appropriate for the various capital purposes listed below; to determine whether the money shall be included in the tax levy, transferred from available funds, borrowed, or provided by any combination of these methods; or take any other action relative thereto:

1.            Highway Department

Utility truck (M-1)
Ten foot – seven yard sander (H-14)

 

2.            Historical Society

Caryl House re-roofing and repairs to caretaker’s apartment

 

3.            Park and Recreation Department

Tractor

Caryl Park playing field design study

 

4.            Police Department

Patrol vehicles (2)

 

5.            Selectmen

Caryl School building maintenance

 

6.            School Committee

Replacement computers

 

Article 6.   (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or any combination of these methods, for the purpose of funding an unemployment compensation fund as authorized by Chapter 40, Section 5E, of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 7.   (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or any combination of these methods, to provide for the payment of accumulated sick leave to retired police officers as authorized by Chapter 375 of the Acts of 1984; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 8.   (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, borrow, or any combination of these methods, for highway construction, reconstruction and other improvements under the authority of the Massachusetts General Laws as funded by various state budgets; and to authorize the Selectmen to enter into contracts, apply for, and accept, expend, and borrow in anticipation of state aid for such projects; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 9.   (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 53E ˝, of the Massachusetts General Laws to authorize the use of revolving fund accounts for the following boards or departments, and that unless otherwise amended by Town Meeting, such accounts shall not exceed the following amounts for Fiscal Year 2006:

Building Department

a.             Gas Inspector            $4,000

b.             Plumbing Inspector            $14,800

c.             Wiring Inspector            $20,000

 

Board of Health

a.            Perk and deep hole inspection and permitting             $40,000

b.            Septic inspection and permitting            $40,000

c.            Well inspection and permitting            $15,000

d.            Swimming pool inspection and permitting              $10,000

 

 

Dover School Committee

a.             School instrumental music            $30,000

 

Building Maintenance                  $5,000

 

and further, that the fees received in connection with these programs be credited to the respective accounts and that the respective board or department be authorized to make expenditures from these accounts in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 53E ˝, of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 10.    (Citizens’ Petition, Marc D. Koenig, et al.)  To see if the Town will make a supplemental appropriation to be used in conjunction with money appropriated under Article 4 # 201 police salaries of the Warrant for the 2004 Annual Town Meeting, to be expended during the current fiscal year to appropriate sufficient funds to cover a 5.0% increase to all Dover police association members (a 2.75% general increase and a 2.25% for a cost-of-living adjustment, the same as other Town of Dover employees), or make any other adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2005 budget that may be necessary, and determine whether the money shall be provided by transfer from available funds; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 11.     (Citizens’ Petition, Marc D. Koenig, et al.) To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for salaries of all Dover police association members (a 2.75% general increase and 2.50% for a cost-of living adjustment, the same as other Town of Dover employees) for the ensuing fiscal year; to determine whether the money shall be included in the tax levy, transferred from available funds, or provided by any combination of these methods; or take any other action relative thereto.  This amount may be reduced by any amount already appropriated under Article 4, # 201 police salaries, as long as the combined amount is sufficient to provide for a salary increase of 5.25% to all Dover police association members in fiscal year 2006.

Article 12.     (Citizens’ Petition, Deborah A. Brown, et al.)  To see if the Town will vote to adopt a bylaw in the form below; or take any other action relative thereto:

No person shall fire or discharge or shoot any firearm, rifle or shotgun as defined in Massachusetts, General Laws Chapter 140, Section 121 as may be amended from time to time or any bow drawn, held or released by mechanical means in the Town of Dover; but to the extent not otherwise prohibited by law, the provisions of this section shall not apply to the discharge of firearms, rifles or shotguns:

 

1.            in the lawful defense of the person, or

2.            for the humane dispatch of injured animals, or

3.            by any person lawfully on a target, trap or skeet range established for such purposes, or

4.            by any duly authorized peace officer acting in the proper performance of duty, or

5.            by any duly authorized military personnel participating in scheduled military exercises, or

6.            by any person using blank cartridges in theatrical performances or sporting events, or including pre-competition training or as authorized by Dover’s Police Chief during the Celebration of Federal or State Holidays.

7.            by an owner or tenant of land (or if authorized by either, any member of the immediate family or person permanently employed by such owner or tenant) but only upon such land greater than 15 acres and for the limited purposes of

a.            shooting a bird or other animal found to be damaging or posing the imminent threat of damage to the property of such person or persons, and

b.            shooting domestic animals raised as livestock.

Article 13.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will (1) raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, borrow, or any combination of these methods, a sum of money to fund the planning, design, and renovation of the Caryl School Building or the demolition of the Caryl School Building and the construction of a new building on the same site; or (2) vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a contract for the long-term lease of the Caryl School Building for private development or the sale or other disposition of the Caryl School Building to a private entity for development; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 14.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 116 of the General Bylaws by deleting Section 116-6(B) and replacing Section 116-3(D) with the following language; or take any other action relative thereto:

To the extent a lot contains more than 10 percent impervious surfaces, all precipitation runoff from such surfaces in excess of 10 percent of the lot area shall be recharged on site unless the applicant demonstrates to the Town Engineer that such recharge is not possible.

Article 15.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to authorize the construction of a sidewalk on the west side of Walpole Street from the post office to Powder House Road, a distance of approximately 1,100 feet; or take any other action relative thereto. 

Article 16.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will (1) accept the provisions of Chapter 41, Section 108P, of the Massachusetts General Laws to permit additional compensation for the Treasurer/Tax Collector in the event the Treasurer/Tax Collector completes the necessary coursework and training to become properly certified under such provision and (2) raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or any combination of these methods, funds to pay such compensation; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 17.    (Town Clerk)  To see if the Town will (1) accept the provisions of Chapter 41, Section 19K, of the Massachusetts General Laws to permit additional compensation for the Town Clerk in the event the Town Clerk completes the necessary coursework and training to become properly certified under such provision and (2) raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or any combination of these methods, funds to pay such compensation; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 18.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a contract for the disposal of solid waste pursuant to Chapter 30B, Section 12(f), of the Massachusetts General Laws for a term not to exceed 20 years; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 19.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will accept Tisdale Drive as an accepted public way as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, all as shown on plans on file in the Office of the Town Clerk; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 20.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to (1) authorize the Board of Selectmen to settle outstanding claims and/or litigation concerning the Chickering School building project and (2) raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, borrow, or any combination of these methods, a sum of money for this purpose; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 21.    (Conservation Commission)   To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or any combination of these methods, the sum of $25,000 to the Conservation Trust Fund for the purpose of land maintenance and improvements pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 8C, of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 22.    (Planning Board)  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or any combination of these methods, a sum of money to retain an outside consultant to assist the Planning Board in evaluating and/or preparing an affordable housing plan and zoning amendments consistent with that plan; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 23.    (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 199 of the General Bylaws by replacing the definition of Right of Way (ROW) in Section 199-1 with the language below; or take any other action relative thereto:

ROW – The area between recorded frontage lines of properties on both sides of the street if a formal, recorded layout has not been established.

Article 24.    (Assessors)  To see if the Town will vote to increase the current exemption for small personal property accounts from $1,000 to $5,000 pursuant to Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 54, of the Massachusetts General Laws as accepted under Article 26 of the May 7, 2001 Annual Town Meeting; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 25.    (Warrant Committee)  To see if the Town will appropriate pursuant to Chapter 40, Section 6, of the Massachusetts General Laws a sum not to exceed 5% of the tax levy of Fiscal Year 2005 to be a Reserve Fund, from which transfers are voted by the Warrant

Committee from time to time and transferred as provided by statute, and determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds including the Reserve Fund Overlay Surplus, or by any combination of these methods; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 26.    (Warrant Committee)  To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or any combination of these methods, to pay any unpaid bills rendered to the Town for prior years; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 27.    (Warrant Committee)  To see if the Town will make supplemental appropriations to be used in conjunction with money appropriated under Article 4 of the Warrant for the 2004 Annual Town Meeting, to be expended during the current fiscal year, or make any other adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2005 budget that may be necessary, and determine whether the money shall be provided by transfer from available funds; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 28.    (Warrant Committee)  To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Free Cash in the Treasury an amount to meet the appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year and will authorize the Board of Assessors to use the same to reduce the tax rate; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article 29.    (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from available funds for the purpose of supplementing the Town of Dover Stabilization Fund in accordance with Chapter 40, Section 5B, of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

And in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby further required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Dover, qualified as aforesaid,

to assemble at the Town House in said Monday, the 16th of May, 2005 at seven o’clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following article, to wit:

Article 30.    To choose by ballot the following Town Offices:

            Moderator      one year

            Town Clerk    three years

            One member of the Board of Selectman            three years

            One member of the Board of Assessors            three years

            Two members of the Dover School Committee            three years

            One member of the Dover/Sherborn Regional School Committee            three years

            One member of the Dover/Sherborn Regional School Committee
            (to fill an unexpired term)    one year

            Two members of the Board of Library Trustees            three years

            One member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners            three years

            One member of the Planning Board            five years

            One member of the Planning Board (to fill an unexpired term)            two years

            One member of the Board of Health  three years

           

            One member of the Park & Recreation Commission            three years

            One member of the Trustees Larrabee & Whiting (to fill an
            unexpired term)            four years

 

For these purposes the polls will be open at seven o'clock in the forenoon and will close at eight o'clock in the evening.

 

            And you are directed to serve this warrant by (1) posting attested copies thereof on each of the bulletin boards erected in the Town House, at the Post Office, and in no less than three other Public places where bills and notices are usually posted; and (2) mailing a copy thereof to or leaving same at the residence of every registered voter fourteen days at least before the time of holding said Meeting.

 

 

            Hereof fail not and make due return of the Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time of the Meeting.

 

            Given under our hands this 17th day of February 2005.

 

 

___________________________________

Kathleen W. Weld, Chairman

 

 

____________________________________

Charles H. Helliwell, Jr., Clerk

 

 

____________________________________

David W. Heinlein, Member

 

 

 

_______________________

Carl E. Sheridan, Constable                                

A true copy attest: