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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-11-06-State-Election-Warrant WARRANT FOR STATE ELECTION Town of Lexington Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex, ss. To any of the Constables of the Town of Lexington, Greeting In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Lexington qualified to vote in elections to meet in their respective voting places in said Town, PRECINCT ONE, HARRINGTON SCHOOL, PRECINCT TWO, BOWMAN SCHOOL, PRECINCT THREE, JONAS CLARKE MIDDLE SCHOOL, PRECINCT FOUR, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, PRECINCT FIVE, CARY MEMORIAL BUILDING, PRECINCT SIX, WILLIAM DIAMOND MIDDLE SCHOOL, PRECINCT SEVEN, ESTABROOK SCHOOL, PRECINCT EIGHT, FIRE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, PRECINCT NINE, MARIA HASTINGS SCHOOL, TUESDAY, THE SIXTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1990 from 7 00 a m to 8 00 p m for the following purpose To cast their votes in the State Election for the candidates of political parties for the following offices U S SENATOR For the Commonwealth GOVERNOR For the Commonwealth LT GOVERNOR For the Commonwealth ATTORNEY GENERAL For the Commonwealth SECRETARY For the Commonwealth TREASURER For the Commonwealth AUDITOR For the Commonwealth REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS Seventh Congressional District COUNCILLOR Sixth Councillor District SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT Fourth Middlesex Senatorial District REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT Fifteenth Middlesex Representative District DISTRICT ATTORNEY Northern District REGISTER OF PROBATE Middlesex County COUNTY TREASURER Middlesex County COUNTY COMMISSIONER Middlesex County And to take action on the following questions QUESTION 1 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION Do you approve of the adoption of an amendment to the constitution summarized below, which was approved by the General Court in joint sessions of the House of Representatives and the Senate on December 17 , 1987 by a vote of 180 to 6 , and on June 11 , 1990 by a vote of 186 to 6? YES_ NO_ SUMMARY The proposed constitutional amendment would repeal the constitutional provision that a state census be taken and used as the basis for determining state representative, senatorial and councillor districts The proposed constitutional amendment would provide that the federal census shall be the basis for determining such districts QUESTION 2 LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or House of Representatives before May 2, 1990? YES NO SUMMARY The proposed law would place restrictions on the State's use of consultants It would place various limits on the amount of profit, overhead charges and expenses that the State could pay consultants It would limit the duration of consultant contracts to two years and any extension to one year, and it would limit the degree to which such contracts could be changed to require payments in excess of the original contract The proposed law would limit to $100,000 the amount the State could pay on a consultant contract with an individual and would require all other consultant contracts in excess of $25 ,000 to be sought through competitive bidding It would prohibit consultants from supervising State employees, and it would limit the use of consultants as substitutes for State employee positions In addition, the proposed law would place limits on the total amount of money State agencies, departments and Authorities could spend on consultants each year Subsidiary provisions would also establish a method for these entities to gradually come into compliance with the new spending limits and would give authority to the State Secretary of Administration and Finance, on request, to permit some spending in excess of the new limits. The proposed law would also require State agencies, departments and Authorities as well as the Secretary of Administration and Finance to submit yearly reports concerning the State's consultant contracts to certain legislative committees and to the Inspector General Finally, the proposed law provides that any of its provision, if found by a court to be unconstitutional or otherwise unlawful , would be severed from the law and the remaining provisions would continue in effect QUESTION 3 LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or House of Representatives before May 2 , 1990? YES _ NO _ SUMMARY This proposed law would change the state income tax rate, affect language contained in certain tax provisions, and regulate the setting of fees by state agencies and authorities. The proposed law would set the state income tax rate on Part B taxable income ( in general , earned income) at 4 25% for 1991 and 4 625% for 1992 , except for income from unemployment compensation, alimony, Massachusetts bank interest, rental income, pension and annuity income, and IRA/Keogh deductions, which would be taxed at 5% The proposed law also provides that the fee imposed by any state agency or authority shall be no more than the fee that was in effect on or before June 30, 1988 The State Secretary of Administration would determine the amount to be charged for any service, registration, regulation, license, fee, permit or other public function, except for the rates of tuition or fees at state colleges and universities or any fees or charges relative to the administration and operation of the state courts. Any increase or decrease in a fee, or the establishment of any new fee, would require the approval of the Legislature Any increase in a fee would not apply to persons 65 years of age or older No state agency or authority could collect any fee which exceeds the administrative costs directly incurred by the state agency or authority to produce and process the application for any license or permit The Secretary of Administration must report information concerning fees to the Legislature on an annual basis The proposed law provides that for tax periods commencing on or after January 1 , 1991 , language in certain provisions of the Massachusetts general laws relating to taxes shall be the same as it was on August 2, 1989 , or the effective date of the proposed law, whichever language yields less tax revenue The tax provisions affected include sections relating to the surtax on business income, corporate excise taxes, S corporation taxes, taxes on security corporations, taxes on Part A income ( in general , unearned income) , bank taxes, excise taxes on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, excise taxes on deeds, estate taxes, payments to the Commonwealth relating to horse and dog racing, payments to the Commonwealth relating to boxing and sparring matches, taxes on utility companies, gasoline taxes, taxes on insurance companies, excise taxes on motor vehicles, taxes on urban redevelopment corporations, sales tax, use tax, room occupancy excise tax , property taxes, and taxes on proceeds from raffles and bazaars The proposed law also contains a provision that if any sections of the law are held to be invalid, all other sections of the law are to remain in effect QUESTION 4 LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or House of Representatives before May 2, 1990? YES _ NO _ SUMMARY This proposed law would change the state election laws governing the establishment of political parties and the nomination of candidates The proposed law would allow voters to register under a political designation other than "Independent" and in addition to the two political parties previously recognized by law (Republican or Democrat) , if at least fifty voters request to be permitted to do so It would allow any group to qualify as a political party under Massachusetts law if at least one percent of the total number of registered voters register to vote using that group's political designation, or if at least three percent of the votes cast at the preceding election for any statewide office were cast for a candidate running under that group's political designation The proposed law would set the minimum number of signatures needed on independent or minor party nomination papers for state office at one-half of one percent ( 1/2%) of the entire vote cast in the previous state election for governor (as compared to 2% as of 1989 ) , and would also establish this number of signatures as the upper limit needed for major party candidates The proposed law would also permit voters to sign the nomination papers of any number of candidates for the same office, would require that all blank forms to be used for nomination papers and initiative and referendum petitions be no more than 8 1/2" by 14" in size, and would allow signatures to be collected on exact copies of those forms QUESTION 5 LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or House of Representatives before May 2, 1990? YES NO SUMMARY This proposed law would regulate the distribution to cities and towns of the Local Aid Fund, which consists of at least 40% of the revenue generated by the state income, sales, and corporate taxes, as well as the balance of the State Lottery Fund. Subject to appropriation by the legislature, the State Treasurer would distribute the Local Aid Fund to cities and towns on a quarterly basis, and each city or town would receive at least the same amount of local aid it received in the previous fiscal year unless the total Local Aid Fund decreases. In fiscal year 1992 , if there has been any increase over the fiscal year 1989 fund, half of the increase would be distributed in accordance with the distribution formula used for fiscal year 1989, and half would be distributed to each city and town in proportion to its population In each year after 1992 , if the fund increases, the excess would be distributed through a formula devised by the State Secretary of Administration and Finance, with the advice and consent of the Local Government Advisory Committee If the fund decreases after 1992, each town or city will have the amount it receives decreased by the same percentage This proposed law also requires that the Treasurer publish an annual report about the Local Aid Fund, that the State Auditor publish an annual audit of the Account, and that the Secretary of Administration and Finance issue to each city and town an estimate of funds it will receive from the Local Aid Fund. Each city or town would be allowed to bring a lawsuit to force distribution of the account, and would be entitled to a late payment fee if distribution is not timely QUESTION 6 LEGISLATIVE ADVISORY QUESTION Shall radio and television broadcast outlets be required to give free and equal time to all certified candidates for public office in the Commonwealth? YES _ NO _ SUMMARY The legislature has placed this question on the ballot in order to determine whether the people favor or oppose requiring radio and television broadcast outlets to give free and equal time to all certified candidates for public office in the Commonwealth The vote on this question is advisory and does not establish law nor bind the legislature QUESTION 7 QUESTION CONCERNING TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF COUNTY PROPERTY Shall Middlesex County elect to transfer to the Commonwealth all right, title and interest held by said county in A. The Superior Court House building and land in Lowell , Massachusetts B The Superior Court House building and land in Cambridge, Massachusetts C The Probate Court/Registry of Deeds building and land in Cambridge, Massachusetts occupied by the judicial branch and owned by the County? YES NO QUESTION 8 LEGISLATIVE ADVISORY QUESTION Shall the Senator from this district be instructed to vote in favor of requiring the election of committee chairpersons by the full membership of the Senate and allowing the State Auditor and Inspector General to have access to the records of the Legislature? YES NO The polls will be open at 7 00 a.m. and will remain open until 8 00 p m And you are directed to serve this warrant seven days at least before the time of said meeting as provided in the By-Laws of the Town Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon at the time and place of said meeting Given under our hands this 15th da of October, A.D , 1990 • , Selectmen i� 1► `/ (- "rat i of A true copy, Attest. Lexington /2 )22./7/- t1/4)aLCIA14 Constable of L ingto CONSTABLE'S RETURN OSA , 1990 TO THE TOWN CLERK. I have served the foregoing warrant by posting a printed copy thereof in the Town Office Building and in a public place in each of the precincts of the Town and also by sending by, postage pre- paid, a printed copy of such warrant addressed to each dwelling house and to each dwelling unit in multiple dwelling houses, apartment buildings, or other buildings in the Town, /a days before the time of said meeting Attest `-tom Constable of Lexi ton cf el -3 m vt a9 J OFFICER'S RETURN Middlesex, ss Town of Lexington / (;?j , 1990 I, this day notified the voters of Lexington of the coming State Election to be held on the sixth day of November, 1990 I notified 10,697 inhabitants of the Town of Lexington qualified to vote in elections by mailing them a true attested copy of the Warrant on October 2�h,, 1990, 1 4 days before the time of said election. I have also posted a true and attested copy of this Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in the following public places , plus one at the Town Office Building Precinct 1 East Lexington Library Precinct 2 East Lexington Fire Station Precinct 3 Jonas Clarke Middle School Precinct 4 Senior High School Precinct 5 Cary Memorial Building Precinct 6 William Diamond Middle School Precinct 7 Estabrook School Precinct 8 Fire Headquarters Precinct 9 Maria Hastings School o Respectfully submitted, 41 CD c; Constable of Lextlgton c t-s� rn rn J