2002-12-16-STM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING December 16, 2002 (See Warrant File for Warrant) Moderator Margery M. Battin called the Special Town Meeting of December 16, 2002 to order at 8:05 p.m. at the Clarke Middle School, 17 Stedman Road. A quorum of 163 Town Meeting Members was present. The Moderator requested members to sign in and be seated and offered opening comments. The Moderator appointed precinct clerks to serve as tellers and Paul Hamburger for members at- large. The Moderator reviewed procedures and rules of conduct. 8:13 p.m. Town Clerk, Donna M. Hooper, read the Warrant for the meeting until further reading was waived. The Town Clerk read the Constable's Return of the Warrant. ARTICLE 1: REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 8:15 p.m. Town Manager Richard White reviewed proposed FY04 Budget Brief and sought comments from the members. 8:17 p.m. Deborah Brown moved the Report of the Appropriation Committee be Accepted and Placed on File. Following a voice vote, the Moderator declared the Motion Adopted. ARTICLE 2: PAYT REIMBURSEMENT 8:17 p.m. Presented by Selectman Leo McSweeney. MOTION: That an amount not to exceed $327,000 of the amount appropriated under Line Item 3000 of Article 4 of the Warrant for the 2002 Annual Town Meeting may be used to reimburse residents in connection with the FY2002 pay -as- you -throw program, as determined by the Board of Selectmen, and such refund program to include the following restrictions: (1) per - household refund not to exceed $32.50; (2) refund period to last two months, ending no later than March 1, 2003; (3) bag tags issued free -of- charge will not be eligible for refund. Selectman McSweeney summarized the pay -as- you -throw program history and explained the proposed refund. Selectman McSweeney reported the Selectmen voted 4 in favor and 1 opposed to reimburse the citizens up to a maximum of $32.50 for tags and labels purchased, and summarized the impact of the pay -as- you -throw program on lowering the tax levy. Selectman Peter Enrich explained his intent to vote in support of the motion and urged support of the meeting to put the issue to rest. Selectman Dawn McKenna presented a minority report, addressed her difficulties with the proposed refund plan, and urged passage of the proposal as put forth. 8:31 p.m. Chairman Deborah Brown presented the Report of the Appropriation Committee, with a vote of 4 supporting and 5 opposing any refund, and outlined the Committee's rationale. 8:38 p.m. Appropriation Committee member Eric Michelson presented a Minority Report of the Appropriation Committee, stating 4 members did support some sort of refund to residents. 8:40 p.m. Ephraim Weiss, pr. 5, moved the following: AMENDMENT: Remove section (1) in its entirety. Mr. Weiss spoke against restrictions of the main motion and of the need to compensate for all purchases to be equitable.