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September 21,2016 Special Town Meeting#5(2016-#5)
<br /> Moderator Deborah Brown called the 2016 Special Town Meeting#5 to order at 7:30 p.m.,
<br /> Wednesday, September 21,2016 in Margery Milne Battin Hall in the Cary Memorial Building, 1605
<br /> Massachusetts Avenue.A quorum in excess of 100 members was present.
<br /> Town Clerk,Nathalie L.Rice,read the Warrant for Special Town Meeting#5 until waived.The
<br /> Town Clerk read the Constable's Return of Service.
<br /> The Moderator made announcements,welcomed new Town Meeting Members,discussed
<br /> parliamentary procedures and called for the testing of the electronic voting units.
<br /> 7:39 p.m. The Moderator called for a brief recess to recognize Superintendent of the Minuteman
<br /> National Historical Park,Nancy Nelson,who thanked the Town,Town Meeting Members and the
<br /> Community Preservation Committee for support of the Parker's Revenge Project,a 2015 CPA-
<br /> funded initiative.
<br /> 7:42 p.m. The Moderator called Special Town Meeting back to order and open under Article 1.
<br /> ARTICLE 1:REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS,OFFICERS,COMMITTEES
<br /> 7:43 p.m. Glenn Parker,Chair,Appropriation Committee,moved the Report of the Committee
<br /> be received and placed on file.Unanimously Adopted.
<br /> 7:43 p.m. Jill Hai,Chair,Capital Expenditures Committee moved the Report of the Committee
<br /> be received and placed on file.Unanimously Adopted.
<br /> 7:43 p.m. Marilyn Fenollosa,Chair,Community Preservation Committee,moved the Report of
<br /> the Committee be received and placed on file.Unanimously Adopted.
<br /> 7:44 p.m. Suzanne Barry,Chair of the Board of Selectmen,moved the report of the Assistant
<br /> Town Manager for Finance be received and placed on file.Unanimously Adopted.Ms.Barry asked
<br /> to have Robert Addelson,Assistant Town Manager for Finance recognized.Mr.Addelson presented
<br /> his Report.
<br /> 7:47 p.m. Presented by Selectman Suzanne Barry.
<br /> ARTICLE 2: LAND PURCHASE—171-173 BEDFORD STREET
<br /> MOTION: That(a)the Selectmen be authorized to purchase,take by eminent domain or
<br /> otherwise acquire for municipal or school purposes,any fee,easement,or other
<br /> interest in all or any part of land known as 171-173 Bedford Street and shown as Lot
<br /> 76 on Assessors'Property Map 64,now or formerly owned by the Liberty Mutual
<br /> Insurance Company,on such terms and conditions as the Selectmen may determine,
<br /> and to conduct all necessary site surveys,environmental assessments and to incur
<br /> legal and closing costs in connection therewith;that$4,443,000 be appropriated for
<br /> such land acquisition and related costs,including,but not limited to,an architectural
<br /> and engineering study of the site for use by the Fire Department,and that to raise such
<br /> amount,the Treasurer,with the approval of the Board of Selectmen,is authorized to
<br /> borrow$4,443,000 under M.G.L. Chapter 44,Section 7,as amended,or pursuant to
<br /> any other enabling authority;and(b)that the Selectmen be authorized to lease a
<br /> portion of said land to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company or an affiliated entity
<br /> thereof,subject to terms acceptable to the Selectmen. Any premium received by the
<br /> Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote,less the cost of
<br /> preparing,issuing and marketing them,and any accrued interest received upon the
<br /> delivery of such bonds or notes,may be applied to the payment of project costs
<br /> approved by this vote,thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay
<br /> such costs by like amount.
<br /> 7:51 p.m. Selectman Barry presented the requested action,and reported the unanimous support
<br /> of the Board. She explained that the Selectmen were supporting the purchase of the Bedford Street
<br /> property for swing space during reconstruction of the main Fire Station,noting that the approval of
<br /> Article 2,assumed support for the reconstruction. She stated that 25,000 square feet would be needed
<br /> to meet Fire Department needs.
<br /> 7:54 p.m. Town Manager,Carl Valente discussed the plan for the use of the Bedford Street
<br /> building,giving an overview of costs,the reconstruction timeline and the financing plan.
<br /> 8:06 p.m. Robert Addelson,Assistant Town Manager for Finance,presented the financing plan
<br /> for the purchase of the property,discussing debt service costs and the impact on the tax rate.
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