2009-03-23 to 2009-05-06 ATM-min

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2009 Annual Town Meeting March 23, 2009 (See Warrant File for Warrant) The first session of the 2009 Annual Town Meeting was called to order by Moderator Deborah J. Brown at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2009, Cary Memorial Hall; a quorum of 179 present. The Lexington Minutemen, accompanied by the William Diamond Fife and Drum Corps, posted the colors. The Moderator honored town meeting members Susan Beck, Martin Gillman & Eric Mollo- Christianson who passed away during the past year. The Master Singers of Lexington, directed by Adam Grossman, provided a musical invocation. Town Clerk Donna M. Hooper read the Warrant for the Meeting until waived. The Town Clerk read the Constable's Return of the Warrant. The Moderator, in her first role of newly elected Moderator, outlined procedural matters and plans for upcoming sessions. The Moderator declared the meeting open under Article 2, and would be for the duration of the meeting. 8:06 p.m. ARTICLE 2: REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS, COMMITTEES John Rosenberg moved the Report of the Cary Lectures Committee be accepted and placed on file. Unanimously Adopted. Mr. Rosenberg presented the Committee's report. 8:10 P.M. Presented by Selectman Norman Cohen. ARTICLE 3: APPOINTMENTS TO CARY LECTURE SERIES MOTION: That a committee of three be appointed by the Moderator to have the charge of the lectures under the wills of Eliza Cary Farnham and Suzanna E. Cary for the current year. Unanimously Adopted. 8:10 p.m. Selectman Norman Cohen moved articles be Article 32 -41 be taken up out of order. Unanimously Adopted. 8:13 p.m. Presented by Selectman Jeanne Krieger. ARTICLE 32: AMEND GENERAL BY -LAW — NOISE Anthony Galaitsis, Chairman, Noise Advisory Committee, provided a brief review. MOTION: That this article be indefinitely postponed. 8:14 p.m. Motion Adopted 8:15 p.m. Presented by Selectman George Burnell. ARTICLE 33: AMEND GENERAL BYLAW — CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE MOTION: That Chapter 29 of the Code of the Town of Lexington be amended as set forth in the Article, and further that nonsubstantive changes to the numbering of this bylaw be permitted in order that it be in compliance with the numbering format of the Code of Lexington. ARTICLE WARRANT TEXT: To see if the Town will vote to amend §29 -13B of the Code of the Town of Lexington by adding the words "or otherwise distributing" after the words "and by mailing "; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. Mr. Burnell reported unanimous support of the Board of Selectmen. 8:16 p.m. Unanimously Adopted. 8:17 p.m. Presented by Selectman Norman Cohen. ARTICLE 34: ESTABLISH QUALIFICATIONS FOR TAX DEFERRALS MOTION: That the maximum qualifying gross receipts amount for property tax deferrals under Clause 41A of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws be raised to $50,000. 8:17 p.m. Victoria Blier, Co- Chair, Tax Deferral and Exemption Committee, reported. 8:22 p.m. Norman Cohen reported unanimous support of the Board of Selectmen. John Bartenstein reported unanimous support of the Appropriation Committee. 8:22 p.m. Selectman Cohen and Co -Chair Blier responded to questions regarding age and income eligibility. 8:25 p.m. Unanimously Adopted.