COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
May 7, 2007
FRANKLIN, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Orange, in the County of Franklin:
GREETINGS:
In the name of the COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in elections, and in Town affairs, to meet at RUTH B. SMITH AUDITORIUM, ORANGE TOWN HALL, 6 Prospect Street, Orange, Massachusetts 01364, on Monday the 7th day of May, 2007 at 7:00 pm., then and there to act on the following articles:
The amount of available funds for the Water Enterprise Fund, certified by the Director of Accounts is $000,000.00
ARTICLE 1: TOWN REPORTS AND REVOLVING FUNDS
To see if the Town will vote to accept the reports of its officers for the past year, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
2006 Orange Town Report
Hazardous Spills Revolving Fund
F.R.T.A. Transportation System Revolving Fund
O.R.A. Revolving Fund
Gas Inspector’s
Revolving Fund
Plumbing Inspector’s Revolving Fund
Airport Fuel Revolving Fund
Sealer of Weights and Measures Revolving Fund
Orange Landfill and Recycling Revolving Fund
Board of Health Revolving Fund
ARTICLE 1: (STEVE) Revolving Fund Reports maybe found at the end of the warrant.
Motion: I move that the Town vote to accept the
reports of its officers for the past year.
2006 Orange Town Report
Hazardous Spills Revolving Fund
F.R.T.A. Transportation System Revolving Fund
O.R.A. Revolving Fund
Gas Inspector’s Revolving Fund
Plumbing Inspector’s Revolving Fund
Airport Fuel Revolving Fund
Sealer of Weights and Measures Revolving Fund
Orange Landfill and Recycling Revolving Fund
Board of Health Revolving Fund
ARTICLE 2: SALE OF TAX TITLE LAND
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the transfer from the Treasurer to the Board of Selectmen the care, custody and control of those parcels of land acquired by the Town through foreclosure of tax titles in the land court or commissioner's affidavit of land of low value and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, those parcels acquired by the Town by foreclosure of tax titles in the land court or commissioner's affidavit of land of low value, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
Motion: I move that the Town vote to authorize
the transfer from the Treasurer to the Board of Selectmen the care, custody
and control of those parcels of land acquired by the Town through foreclosure
of tax titles in the land court or commissioner's affidavit of land of low
value and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell, in accordance with
Massachusetts General Laws, those parcels acquired by the Town by foreclosure
of tax titles in the land court or commissioner's affidavit of land of low
value.
ARTICLE 3: AUTHORIZE BORROWING
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow in anticipation of the revenue for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 in accordance with the M.G.L. c44, §4, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
Motion: I move that the Town vote to authorize
the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow in anticipation
of the revenue for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 in accordance with
the M.G.L. c44, §4.
ARTICLE 4: BALANCE AGREEMENTS
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer to enter into compensating balance agreements during Fiscal 2008 as permitted by M.G.L. c44, s53F, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
Motion: I move that the Town vote to authorize
the Treasurer to enter into compensating balance agreements during Fiscal
2008 as permitted by M.G.L. c44, s53F.
|
Revolving Fund |
**Authorized to Spend |
Revenue Source |
Use of Fund |
FY2008 Spending Limit |
| F.R.T.A. |
Council on Aging Director |
F.R.T.A. Transportation Revenue |
Operational Expenses |
$ 40,000 |
| Hazardous Spills |
Fire Chief |
Hazardous Material Incidents Receipts |
Operational Expenses for supplies, equipment, clothing,
vehicle response, labor & training. |
$ 20,000 |
| O.R.A. |
Orange Recreation Association |
O.R.A. Revenue |
Operational Expenses |
$ 30,000 |
| Gas Inspector |
Building Inspector |
Gas Inspector Services |
Gas Inspector's Part-Time Salary and Expenses |
$ 15,000 |
| Plumbing Inspector |
Building Inspector |
Plumbing Inspector Services |
Plumbing Inspector's Part-Time Salary and Expenses |
$ 15,000 |
| Airport Fuel |
Airport Commissioners |
Amount Equal to Half of the Fees for Aviation Fuel
Sales |
Purchase of Aviation Fuel to be Sold and Related
Expenses |
$ 65,000 |
| Sealer of Weights & Measures |
Sealer of Weights & Measures |
Sealer of Weights & Measures Services |
Sealer of Weights & Measures Part-Time Salary
and Expenses |
$ 15,000 |
| Board of Health |
Board of Health |
Fees and Permits from the Board of Health |
Operational Expenses |
$ 20,000 |
| Landfill & Recycling |
Landfill & Recycling Supervisor |
Fees Charged for Gas Cylinders & Mattresses |
Expenses Related to Disposal of Gas Cylinders &
Mattresses |
$ 15,000 |
| Dog Officer |
Police Chief |
Dog License and Enforcement Fees and Fines |
Operational Expenses |
$ 15,000 |
| |
**Single Dept. Authorization May Not Exceed 1% of
Tax Levy |
|
TOTAL OF REVOLVING FUNDS LIMIT 10% OF FY07 TAX LEVY
$6,529,533.92 1% LIMIT - AUTHORIZED TO SPEND** |
$ 250,000 $ 652,953 $ 65,295 |
(Recommended by Finance Committee)
Motion: I move that the Town authorize the revolving funds for certain town departments under M.G.L. c 44, s53E˝ for FY2008 be approved in Article 5 as printed.
ARTICLE 6: SPECIAL
LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZE FIREARMS LICENSING REVOLVING FUND
To see if the Town will vote to direct the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to enact legislation precisely as set forth below, that the General court may make clerical or editorial changes of form only to this bill, unless the Board of Selectmen approves amendments to bill before enactment by the General Court, and that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to approve amendments which shall be within the scope of the general public objective of this petition:
SECTION 1: Notwithstanding section 53 of chapter 44 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Town of Orange may establish and maintain a separate account known as the Firearms Licensing Fund. The Town Treasurer shall keep the fund separate and apart from all other monies of the Town and shall deposit in the account all monies associated with firearms licensing, firearms licenses, and firearm identification card fees received by the Town. The Treasurer may invest these funds in the manner prescribed in section 54 and 55 of said chapter 44. The Chief of Police or a person authorized to act in the chief’s place may expend the principal and income from these funds for fees to the commonwealth for firearm licenses, firearm identification cards, and for all cost associated with firearms processing.
SECTION 2: This act shall take effect upon its passage.
or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
(Recommended by Finance Committee)
Motion: I move that the Town approve Article 6 as printed.
ARTICLE 7: TOWN OF ORANGE INTER MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT
To see if the Town of Orange will vote in accordance with M.G.L. c40 s 4A to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into an inter municipal agreement with one or more other governmental units to provide public work, and general government administrative services which the Town and other administrative bodies in town are authorized to perform, in accordance with an Inter Municipal Mutual Aid Agreement to be entered into between the Town and various governmental units, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
Motion: I move that the Town vote in accordance
with M.G.L. c40 s 4A to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into an
inter municipal agreement with one or more other governmental units to provide
public work, and general government administrative services which the Town
and other administrative bodies in town are authorized to perform, in accordance
with an Inter Municipal Mutual Aid Agreement to be entered into between the
Town and various governmental units.
ARTICLE 8: GRANT APPLICATIONS
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for any state and federal grant programs that become available and expend any monies received, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
Motion: I move that the Town vote to authorize
the Board of Selectmen to apply for any state and federal grant programs that
become available and expend any monies received.
ARTICLE 9: SALE OF SURPLUS PERSONAL PROPERTY
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen or their designee to sell or otherwise dispose of surplus or obsolete personal property of the Town (a) after first having advertised in a daily newspaper for sale at least seven (7) days before the date of such sale and by posting a notice thereof in the Town Hall and (b) following the procedures required by M.G.L. c.30B §15, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
Motion: I move that the Town vote to authorize
the Board of Selectmen or their designee to sell or otherwise dispose of surplus
or obsolete personal property of the Town (a) after first having advertised
in a daily newspaper for sale at least seven (7) days before the date of such
sale and by posting a notice thereof in the Town Hall and (b) following the
procedures required by M.G.L. c.30B §15.
ARTICLE 10: LANDFILL MONITORING ACCOUNT
To see if the Town will vote to transfer and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 from the Landfill Monitoring Account and to authorize the Board of Selectmen in accordance with M.G.L. c.44 §28c (f) to pay for expenditures of the cost of monitoring and maintenance of existing inactive landfill, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
(Recommended by Finance
Committee)
Motion:
I move that the Town vote to transfer and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00
from the Landfill Monitoring Account and to authorize the Board of Selectmen
in accordance with M.G.L. c.44 §28c (f) to pay for expenditures of the cost
of monitoring and maintenance of existing inactive landfill.
ARTICLE
11: SUSPEND PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS
To see if the Town will vote to accept the new section of M.G.L. c59 to suspend the payments of real property taxes due by a member of the National Guard, or Reserves, or their dependents while the member is on active duty. Once the member is placed on inactive duty status, all penalties, charges and interest shall be waived so long as the taxes due are paid within 6 months, or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.
(Recommended by Finance
Committee)
Motion:
I move that the Town vote to accept the new section of M.G.L. c59 to suspend
the payments of real property taxes due by a member of the National Guard,
or Reserves, or their dependents while the member is on active duty. Once
the member is placed on inactive duty status, all penalties, charges and interest
shall be waived so long as the taxes due are paid within 6 months.