Marblehead to tackle $63M budget

MARBLEHEAD – Tonight?s the night Marblehead voters have been waiting for: the opening of Town Meeting at the Marblehead Veterans Middle School at 7:45 p.m.Will this year?s deliberations go one night or two? Several town boards have already posted meetings for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, in case three nights are required.The evening will kick off earlier than that for those interested in the two zoning articles which redefine lot size in a way that would nullify a 15-year court case and save a Bubier Road home from being town down or moved.The Planning Board is scheduled to meet at the school at 7 p.m. to formulate recommendations on the two articles, the subject of Planning Board hearings and newspaper guest commentaries over the past year.With 39 articles in this year?s warrant, tonight?s voters are expected to deliberate the longest on these:u Article 25, an estimated $63 million town budget;u Article 28, seeking $668,000 in renovations to make the 1727 Old Town House handicapped-accessible;u Article 29, which would ban smoking in the Devereux Beach playground;u Articles 30 and 31, which would remove the police chief?s job from Civil Service.The Old Town House article will require a debt exclusion override vote if it passes.The four selectmen candidates who are seeking re-election supported removing the police chief?s post from Civil Service. One challenger opposed the change because it would remove an incentive for local police officers.The change was recommended by a consultant who studied the police department, but the volunteer committee studying the consultant?s recommendations was not scheduled to make a recommendation on the articles. “Our report isn?t due until fall,” said Town Counsel Jeff Shribman, who chairs that committee.