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31-Article Warrant at Oct. 24 Special Town Meeting

By Kevin Rudden Staff Reporter/Columnist · October 20, 2011

Milford Town Meeting Members will consider 31 articles at the October 24 Special Town Meeting that is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in Upper Town Hall. Two new town by-laws to regulate nuisance and vacant properties (Article 4) and noise (Article 16) will be considered and spending requests total more than $1.3 million:

• Article 1: $18,000 to purchase fireworks for the July 4, 2012 celebration;

• Article 2: $77,500 to fund a collective bargaining agreement with the Milford Police Association;

• Article 3: $75,000 to replace part of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the Milford Town Library;

• Article 5: $28,000 to purchase a mini-loader/sidewalk plow for the Highway Department;

• Article 7: $100,000 to plan and construct a concession stand and related facilities at the Community Field Facility at Milford High School;

• Article 8: $8,000 for the Finance Committee to conduct an audit of the finances and operations at the Milford Youth Center;

• Article 10: $60,000 to fund operational expenses and utility costs at the Milford Youth Center;

• Article 11: $22,500 to finish the second floor at the Milford Senior Center;

• Article 12: $40,000 to install new fuel pumps, a monitoring system and a fuel management system at the Birch Street Fire Station;

• Article 14: $53,000 to replace the Godfrey Brook culvert on Church Street;

• Article 15: $26,000 for architectural services and construction of a handicap accessible ramp at Draper Park;

• Article 17: $374,372 to purchase and install modular classrooms at Woodland Elementary School;

• Article 18: $70,000 for engineering, consulting and legal expenses towards the cleanup of environmental hazards on town property off of the Charles River Trail behind property of the Benjamin Moore Company and Sumner Realty Trust;

• Article 19: $30,000 to demolish a condemned house at 8 Blanchard Road;

• Article 20: $40,000 for a new Fire Department staff car/SUV;

• Article 22: $38,000 for architectural and engineering services related to repainting the exterior of Town Hall and rebuilding both entrance steps to Town Hall;

• Article 23: $110,000 to repaint the exterior of Town Hall;

• Article 24: $120,000 for repairs and improvements at the Town Pool, including restroom renovations, sandblasting, and construction of a handicap access ramp and rails;

• Article 25: $18,000 to repair damage to the Highway Department roof caused by last winter's snow accumulations; and,

• Article 26: $24,950 to acquire, install, and configure an automated permit tracking software and database management system, including training, for the Department of Inspections.

Of the financial articles, the concession stand and Church Street culvert – totaling $153,000 – would be paid for out of the town's "free cash" account, with all other expenses raised and appropriated through property taxes.

In addition, to these articles, the Fire Chief wants to establish a revolving fund for receipts from the Emergency Dispatch fee paid by the town's emergency ambulance service provider to be used for the operation, training and equipping of the public safety dispatch center and public safety emergency medical response up to a maximum of $60,000 (Article 6). Another article seeks to reduce the amount that can be spent from the Milford Youth Commission's revolving account from $170,000 to $120,000. (Article 9); another article seeks to transfer $34,850 from the General Government budget to the School Department budget (Article 21).

The Milford Geriatric Authority is seeking approval to borrow $6.2 million to renovate, reconstruct and/or expand its Countryside Drive facility (Article 27). Also, Finance Committee member David Morganelli filed a petition for an article seeking to raise the local excise tax imposed on hotel-motel room occupancy from 4.0 percent to 6.0 percent (Article 13).