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<br />Article 21: Appropriate to Stabilization Fund. Funds requested for this fund are $0. The <br />Committee agreed that although the likely motion on this article would be for indefinite <br />postponement it should nevertheless weigh in on and explainthe reasons for the <br />decision. A motion was made to recommend the support of indefinitely postponing <br />Article 21. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. <br />Article 26: Establish Qualifications for Tax Deferrals. The motion under thisarticle will <br />propose an increase in the income threshold for deferral of property taxes by seniors <br />under G.L. c. 59, § 5, clause 41A from the existing $51,000 to $60,000. The $51,000 <br />figureis now the maximum income limit allowed under the General Laws (based on the <br />income limit under the state income tax “circuit breaker”program for single filers who <br />are not heads of household) but Lexington, like a few other communities, has special <br />home rule legislation allowing it to set its own age and income limits.Mr. Bartenstein <br />summarized his anticipated write-up and noted that theTax Exemption and Deferral <br />Study Committee had madea survey of “peer towns” (the same group used by the <br />School Department). According to the survey, two towns, Sudburyand Weston, have <br />adopted substantially higher limitsof $77,000 and $70,000 respectively but most are in <br />the same ballpark as Lexington’scurrent thresholdof $51,000 or lower. A motion was <br />made to recommend approval of Article 26. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. <br />Article 27: Amend General Bylaws -Private Ways. Mr. Neumeier summarized his <br />anticipated write-up and noted in particular that adoption of this article would help to <br />protect the Town from liability when it is required to access private ways to make <br />necessarytemporary repairs. A motion was made to recommend approval of Article 27. <br />Vote: Approved 8-0-0. <br />Article 30: Amend By-Law -Town Meeting Procedure.The Committee briefly discussed <br />this article, and a report was made on positions taken by the BOS, but it was agreed to <br />postpone a full discussion and vote until Mr.Pato, who isdoing the write-up, can be <br />present. <br />Article 32: Accept MGL Chapter 138, Section 33B. This article would allow the sale of <br />alcoholic beverages on Sundays and certain holidays between the hours of 10 a.m. and <br />12 noon. After discussion, the Committee decided not to report on this article because <br />there areno immediate financial implications. <br />Article 33: Accept State Land Grant -Cotton Farm Purchase. This article would <br />authorize the acceptance of a $500,000 grant that has been awarded by the state under <br />the LAND Grant Programto defray part of the cost of last year’s acquisition of the <br />Cotton Farm. After a discussion of the appraisal requirements for the grant application <br />and the reimbursement formula under the grant program, a motion was made to <br />recommend approval of Article 33. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. <br />Article 35: Support and Petition for Municipal Utility Act. This articleseeksa resolution <br />to support the filing of a new bill to enable the creation of a municipal utility and to <br />authorize the Selectmen to refile a similarhome rule petition. After discussion, the <br />Committee decided to not report on this articlethis year because there is nothing to add <br />to previous reports and, unless and until legislation is enacted, there are no immediate <br />financial implications to the Town. <br />2 <br /> <br />