Town of Becket - Special Town Meeting Minutes 5/10/08

Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, a Special Town Meeting was called on May 10, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at Becket Town Hall, 557 Main Street, Becket. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by the Moderator.

Town Officials Present: Bruce Garlow, Moderator; William Cavanaugh, John Murray and Doug Walter, Selectmen; Jeremy Dunn, Michael Falk, and Ann Spadafora, Finance Committee Members; Jeanne Pryor, Town Clerk; Richard Furlong, Town Administrator; Sally Bell, Town Counsel.

The Moderator opened the meeting stating the rules to be followed. He asked for a show of hands of non-voters noting that they were welcome to address the meeting but that they may not vote. Town Clerk, Jeanne Pryor, read the call of the meeting and officer’s return of service and the Moderator noted the warrant as having been duly posted. The following articles were voted on:

Article 1: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 to fund the following accounts at the listed amounts for the balance of the fiscal year:

Article 1 was moved and seconded on the floor. In response to a question from John Hall, Mr. Furlong explained the municipal building expenses for repairs needed at Town Hall and noted that the appropriation to fund the stipend will be transferred at a later date. Article 1 passed.

Article 2: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $46,000.00 for the Ambulance Department Salary Account and to fund the appropriation by transferring $46,000.00 from the Ambulance Department Receipts Reserved Account.

Article 2 was moved and seconded on the floor. There was a brief discussion about the need for this transfer. Article 2 passed unanimously.

Article 3: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 to the Fuel Account and to fund this appropriation by transferring $5,000.00 from Legal Expense, $5,000.00 from Accounting Services, $4,800.00 from Oil Separation System, $1,600.00 from Interest Account, $1,600.00 from Preserving Records and $2,000.00 from Board of Health Salaries.

Article 4: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $33,538.00 for Winter Roads and to fund this appropriation by transferring $31,938.00 from Free Cash and $1,600.00 from Finance Committee.

Article 4 was moved and seconded on the floor. There was a brief discussion about why all of the appropriation in the Finance Committee account was not used. Article 4 passed unanimously.

Article 5: To see if the Town will vote to accept as gifts the following parcels of land, declare them as surplus and authorize the Selectmen to sell these parcels at sealed bid sales at their discretion:

A. Map 204, Lot 135 (6.97 acres), located on Otis Road from the owner Linda Mac Monigle. Recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 3292, Page 179.

B. Map 216, Lot 175 (0.55 acre), located on Black Arrow Way from the owner Constance Audette. Recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 1009, Page 371.

C. Map 216, Lot 268 (0.27 acre), located on King Richard Drive from the owners James & Claudette Porter. Recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 937, Page 198.

D. Map 218, Lot 26 (0.58 acre), located on Porcupine Court from the owner Mary Buchas. Recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 929, Page 669.

E. Map 219, Lot 7 (0.30 acre), located on Sir Walter Road from the owner Chanda Beaty. Recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 1642, Page 170.

F. Map 219, Lot 34 (0.28 acre), located on Sir Walter Court from the owner Gladys Alberti. Recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 955, Page 272.

G. Map 219, Lot 119 (0.34 acre), located on Lady of the Lake Court from the owners Andrew and Charlene Samudosky. Recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 960, Page 743.

Without objection, the Moderator waived the reading of items A-G. Article 5 was moved and seconded on the floor. The Moderator gave those present a few minutes to read the article. There was no discussion. Article 5 passed unanimously.

A motion to adjourn was moved and seconded on the floor. The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 7:11 p.m. The checkers were Election Officers Dorothy Bellavance and Blanche Lennington.