Salisbury Town Meeting Notebook
Angeljean Chiaramida
May 18, 2009 03:49 am Next year's budgets, fire equipment, marijuana restrictions and who holds authority over local liquor licensing and regulations are all topics to be discussed at Annual and Special Town Meetings tonight. Registered voters will meet in the auditorium at Salisbury Elementary School. First up at 7 p.m. is the 11-question Special Town Meeting Warrant, which deals primarily with financial transfers from one town account to another to cover outstanding expenses and the revenue shortfall in this year's budget. But Question 10 on the Special Town Meeting warrant requests $50,000 from the town's overlay surplus account to buy a used ladder truck from Reading's Fire Department. Given the usual $1 million cost of a new ladder truck, the cost for the used vehicle, which is certified and expected to last for the next five years, is too good to pass up, according to town officials. Salisbury had to junk its former ladder, and according to fire Chief Rick Souliotis, because of the height of the buildings in the beach area, a ladder truck is required to ensure safety if fire erupts in the thickly and closely settled beach district. Following the conclusion of the Special Town Meeting, or at 7:30 p.m., Annual Town Meeting is slated to begin. The 24-question annual warrant includes Question 4, the passage of next year's budget, which will require town employee layoffs and other cutbacks. Another controversial issue is Question 22, which, if passed, would ask the state Legislature through a Home Rule Petition to repeal the 1958 legislation (Chapter 31) that removed from selectmen their traditional authority to regulate and issues licenses to sell alcohol in town. The 1958 law created the current Salisbury Liquor Licensing Commission. If Town Meeting approves Question 22, state Rep. Michael Costello feels confident he can carry the Home Rule Petition successfully through the Legislature by the end of July. Then Salisbury's Board of Selectmen will assume those duties again, as is the case in all other towns in the state. Question 18 would prohibit the use of marijuana in public and make the fine for violating the town ordinance $300. Article 17 would increase the fine for drinking in public to $300. Copies of both warrants are a posted at town buildings and available at the Town Clerk's office. They are also posted on the town Web site at www.salisburyma.gov. Brief outlines of the warrants are listed below. Special Town Meeting Warrant All questions have been recommended by the Warrant Advisory Committee 1 - $25,000 from the free cash account to pay for tax title related legal costs. 2 - $50,000 from free cash to pay for legal account overages. 3 - $10,000 from free cash to spay for workers compensation expenses 4 - $20,000 from free case to pay for health insurance costs 5, 6, and 7, - $56,000, $18,000, and $21,000 transfer from the stabilization account to pay for deficits in the snow removal accounts. 8 - $100,000 transfer from the stabilization fund to offset this year's budget deficit. 9 - $90,000 transfer from the Harbor Commission Revolving Fund to offset this year's deficit. 10 - $50,000 from the surplus overlay fund to purchase a used fire ladder truck. 11 - $18,000 from a police department account to pay for the first year of a 3-year lease on two cruisers. Annual Town Meeting Warrant All but zoning questions have been recommended by the Warrant Advisory Committee. 1 - Election of town officials, which took place at the May 12 election 2 - Reports from town boards, committees and commissions. 3 - Request for approval of $17,850,182 budget, including $8,461,333 to support the Triton School District. 4 through 10 - Annual requests to re-approve revolving funds for town organizations. 11 - Zoning bylaw to approve new FEMA National Flood Insurance maps. 12 - Zoning bylaw to add lots to Commercial Zone C. 13 - Zoning bylaw concerning parking issues. 14 - Acceptance of Catherine Way as a public way. 15 - Acceptance of foreclosure deed for land at 99 Rabbit Road. 16 - Approving $1,371,00 in borrowing to replace Salisbury Beach Water Tank. 17 - Increasing fines for violating the town's Chapter 170 bylaws dealing with Peace and Good Order. 18 - Prohibiting the use of marijuana in pubic areas. 19 - To allow selectmen to sell certain parcels of salt marsh to the state. 20 - Citizens petition that would change town zoning allowing certain mixed use building. 21 - Citizens petition that would change town zoning concerning multi-family dwellings. 22 - Requesting a state Legislature to repeal 1958 law that created the Salisbury Liquor Licensing Commission. 23 - To amend the town's bylaws in Chapter 102 concerning the Harbor Regulations. 24 - To take any and other actions that may be lawfully taken at this meeting. ¢¢¢ Angeljean Chiaramida covers Salisbury for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3271 or by e-mail at achiaramida@newburyportnews. com.
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