1998-03-02-TE-Warrant-and-1998-03-23-STM-and-ATM-Warrant

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ARTICLE 26 BOARD OF HEALTH—TITLE V To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of financing the following water pollution abatement facility projects: repair, replacement and/or upgrade of septic systems, pursuant to agreements with the Board of Health and residential property owners, including without limitation all costs thereof as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 29C of the General Laws; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing from the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust or otherwise; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted at the Request of the Board of Health) FUNDS REQUESTED: $200,000 DESCRIPTION: Support for this article is requested in order for the Board of Health to initiate a loan program, funded entirely by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for residents to upgrade, replace or repair septic systems. The loan program will not require the town to raise money through taxes. The loan program will provide financial help to individual property owners in order to resolve serious and frequently expensive on-site waste disposal problems. Administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), this septic loan program allows the town to borrow up to $200,000 from the State Revolving Fund at no interest to the town. These funds will then be used to make loans to approved homeowners with incomes less than $150,000 a year for carrying out septic system repairs or completing sewer connections. The town may charge individual borrowers either 2% or 5% of the total loan to cover administrative costs. The property owner must then pay the loan back to the town, according to a set schedule, as a betterment; the loan payments and fees will be added onto the individual's property taxes. The town assumes complete responsibility for payment of all loans back to the state over an agreed upon period of five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years. The town will borrow on an"as needed"basis for each individual property. Depending on demand, the total amount requested may never actually be borrowed. There are approximately 520 septic systems and cesspools in Lexington, many of which are in need of repair. The program will be of particular value to residents who cannot afford to repair or upgrade septic systems that may pose a threat to the public health and environment. ARTICLE 27 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION MATCHING GRANT To see if the Town will appropriate $7,500 to match a grant of the same amount from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for a total of$15,000 for the Lexington Historical Commission to upgrade, correct and make additions to the Town Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by David R. Kelland and nine or more registered voters) FUNDS REQUESTED: $7,500 22