On the second night of the annual town meeting, Town Meeting members voted to allocate funding for municipal projects, including water and sewer maintenance, a new ambulance, sidewalks and road maintenance, and repairing the roof of Chenery Upper Elementary School.
The meeting will continue on Monday night with the remaining articles, including seven recommended projects for Community Preservation Act funding.
Reports
The night began with a report by Town Planner Christopher Ryan on the development of the Belmont Center zoning overlay district.
The town is in the process of developing the new zoning, according to Ryan; the zoning overlay district itself will be supplemented “with a set of design guidelines that would intend to further shape the design of buildings to meet local expectations,” his presentation stated.
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Ryan said the Planning Board and project staff are evaluating potential codes and policies to mitigate concerns about construction impact, parking, and the increased height of buildings.
With guidance from the Planning Board, the consultant will continue to develop the first draft of the plan, according to Ryan.
The town will also continue to seek feedback from project stakeholders and the general public. “We look forward to your input,” he said.
Kathleen Keohone, co-chair of the library building project and Precinct 2 Town Meeting member, also gave a report on the progress of the new library, which is about 53% complete, she said.
“It’s reimagined both inside and outside,” she said, adding that the project is “on track with the budget we’ve been allocated.”
She said the grand opening is planned for January of next year.
“It’s been a long time coming,” she said.
Articles
Meeting members approved all of the articles on Wednesday night.
Article 3, to amend floodplain zoning to comply with national requirements, passed 233-0 with one abstention.
Article 12, to allow the Department of Public Works Water Division to participate in the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Local Water System Assistance program, passed 242-0 with no abstentions.
Department of Public Works Director Jay Marcotte said the funds would allow the town to complete its 30-year undertaking to update Belmont’s water mains, with 3.5 miles of repair work remaining in the project.
According to the Town Meeting warrant, the town plans to borrow $3,133,000 over a 10-year term at a 0% interest rate from the MWRA and would raise funds to repay the loan through water user fees.
Article 13A, a standard article appropriating $7,997,841 from a water enterprise fund to support water management, passed 240-0 with zero abstentions. According to the warrant, the enterprise funds are self-sustained by user fees.
Article 13B, a standard article appropriating $10,476,666 from a sewer and stormwater enterprise fund to support sewer and stormwater management, passed 237-0 with one abstention.
Article 17A appropriates sums for “public safety equipment, site improvements, public works equipment, equipment for town facilities, and consulting services,” according to the warrant.
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$135,000 to the Department of Public Works for street tree planting and highway equipment, which passed 239-0 with one abstention.
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$208,000 to the fire department to replace an ambulance and for a breathing apparatus fill station, which passed 237-0 with one abstention.
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$250,000 to the town’s Information Technology (IT) Department for fiber/cabling and AV upgrades and IT infrastructure updates, which passed 213-0 with no abstentions.
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$75,000 to the Council on Aging for an accessible transport van, which passed 216-0 with no abstentions.
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$151,897 from the Capital Endowment fund and to raise $516,103, for appropriations mentioned above, which passed 222-0, with no abstentions.
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$2,000,617 for road and pavement repair projects, and $512,266 for sidewalks, which passed 218-1 with one abstention.
Article 18, to appropriate $3.7 million to replace the rooftop air handling units at the Chenery Upper Elementary School, also passed 207-0 with one abstention.
