1987-03-02- To 1987-05-13-ATM-min

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OiNNUAL TOWN MEETING - March 30, 1987, cont.) Albert Zabin, Precinct 1, stated that there is no more important issue than public education. He said that Town Meeting does not have to chose between the School Budget and the Town Budget, as the School Budget is part of the Town Budget. Whatever is cut is going to cut something important. 10:45 p.m. Paul Marshall, Member at Large, stated that it is a policy decision. There can be a quality program with whatever they have. The decision is what should the overall size of School Budget be, an increase of what amount. He explained how all of the Budget is tied together. Presented by Paul Marshall: MOTION: Under line item 200-102 Public School-Education the amount (did not of $22,311,077 be changed to $22,008,012; and the amount of $21,986,649 pass- be changed to $21,683,584. 10:55 p.m. see Page 101) Paul Newman, School Committee, urged Town Meeting to continue to look critically at school programs, and to continue to offer a superlative education. This is not a padded budget. He was concerned that recent gains not be jeopardized. 10:59 p.m. Michael O'Sullivan spoke of the share-line splitting between the School Budget and the rest of the Budget. 11:00 p.m. Iris Wheaton, Precinct 7, said that rarely has there been so much interest in one line item. The School Committee wants more money to make a good system better and Mrs. Wheaton agreed but did not wish to lose some of the other items needed by the Town. She asked for documentation from the Selectmen and the School Board as to what each would cut. 11:02 p.m. Paul Hamberger, Precinct 5, spoke in favor of the School Committee proposal and asked for a modest improvement each year. 11:05 p.m. Frederick Hagedorn, Precinct 1, rose to a Point of Information: Do we have to defeat the motion to get answers to Iris Wheaton's question? The Moderator ruled that debate was over, stating that if anyone wished to answer the question, the answer could be taken. Paul Marshall asked for a Suspension of the Rules in order to extend the debate for an additional ten minutes. The Moderator stated that there is no prevision to suspend the rules and suggested that perhaps the By-laws might be revised at some future time. The Moderator received no answer to Mrs. Wheaton's question. 11:07 p.m. Edith Sandy, Precinct 6, asked for a Rollcall Vote. The Moderator asked for 49 additional members to stand to ask for a Rollcall Vote. Eugene Lee, Precinct 5, asked for the vote to be tabled until 8 p.m., next meeting, and was ruled out of order because he made a statement prior to making the motion. The tellers reported the vote with the sum of 38; the request for a Rollcall Vote failed. 11:09 p.m. Ephraim Weiss, Precinct 5, moved to table this motion until 8 o'clock this coming Wednesday. The motion to table failed. 11:10 p.m. The voice vote on Mr. Marshall's amendment was in doubt and the Moderator called for a Standing Vote. The clerks reported the vote as follows: Precinct Yes No 1 8 13 2 6 11 3 7 13 4 8 11 5 8 8 6 9 10 7 7 9 8 9 5 9 14 4 At large 14 7 Totals 90 91