Salisbury Town Notebook
On Monday, Oct. 26, Town Meeting will be asked to make alterations to Salisbury's charter through actions on eight warrant questions, articles 22 though 29.
The 20-year-old charter — the basic regulations establishing town's form and way of governance — underwent a full review this year, as is required every 10 years. The Charter Review Committee was made up of Bob Carroll, Mike Gilbert, Bob Straubel, Harold Congdon, Mary Cuddire, Jim Dondero and Ed Hunt.
Perhaps the most controversial discussion on proposed changes will occur over changes proposed in Article 28, which affects the makeup of all town boards and committees.
Article 28, if approved, would require all members of town governing entities be Salisbury voters. Today, non-Salisbury voters and residents hold seats on town governing entities, such as the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Council on Aging. This happened when town residents who held seats on the agency moved out of town but were willing to remain in those positions.
In addition, Article 28 requires that town employees not be allowed to serve on town boards, committees or commissions. For example, those members of the Harbor Commission who also receive salaries for being assistant harbor masters, would have to either resign from the commission or their paid positions as harbor masters.
However, this charter amendment offers what Town Manager Neil Harrington terms practical exceptions. Members of the Board of Assessors, Beach Overlay District Design Review Committee or ad hoc committees are exempted from this rule.
Harrington said assessors need such a vast and specific knowledge that requiring all assessors, including the chief assessor who is a town employee, to be town voters would not be wise.
In addition, narrow focused ad hoc committees work on the town's behalf on a temporary basis. The same is true of the architects who staff the Beach Overlay District Design Review Committee, which comments on proposed buildings in the redevelopment of Salisbury Beach.
Article 29 would eliminate the Pike School Board of Trustees and role the responsibility of overseeing the Pike School into that of Salisbury's Historical Commission.
Other charter articles ask permission to make grammar, spelling, typographical and other less substantive changes to the charter, as well as bring the document into the computer/Internet age by adding the word "electronic" to appropriate sections concerning postings.
In that regard, both the entire warrant and the charter with its proposed changes are posted on the town's Web site, www.salisburyma.gov.
Town Meeting takes place in the auditorium of Salisbury Elementary School at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26. Those who take part must be registered voters.
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Those attending Town Meeting can help there fellow residents undergoing financial distress by bringing nonperishable food items, personal care or household cleaning products with them. The Salisbury's Democratic Town Committee will hold a food drive at Town Meeting to help keep the shelves at the Pettengill House Food Pantry stocked during this difficult economy.
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Town officials announced that Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. is the official Halloween trick-or-treat hours this year.
Parents are reminded that young children should always be accompanied by a responsible adult. Flashlights are necessities when walking along the town's busy roadways, to ensure the safety of children.
Drivers should be attentive driving in town during those hours.
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Angeljean Chiaramida is the Salisbury reporter and can be reached at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com or at 978-432-6666, ext. 3271.
