LYNNFIELD — Monday’s Annual Town Meeting marks the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020 that the traditional exercise in democracy in its most basic form will be held at its customary location at the Lynnfield Middle School auditorium.
While the venue may be different compared to the last two years, when meetings were held outside on the high school football field and inside the high school gymnasium, one concern remains constant — reaching a quorum, which currently stands at 150, reduced earlier this year from 175.
“It’s always a concern especially since we’re not done with COVID,” said Assistant Town Administrator Robert Curtin. “Recently, we’ve done well in the spring; it’s the fall meeting usually when there are issues. No matter what, you can never take the quorum for granted.”
The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
The biggest item on this year’s warrant is Article 12. It asks for the transfer or borrowing of $3.85 million for architectural and engineering designs, plans, and associated costs relating to renovations of the existing police and fire stations, Town Hall, and the construction of a new public safety building.
“This article isn’t asking for the funding of the entire project, just the architectural and engineering related studies necessary — which would give us a cost estimate for building the project that we would put before a subsequent town meeting and debt exclusion vote,” Curtin said.
Based on the evaluation of existing facilities, their deficiencies and needs of the departments and a conducted feasibility study, the Public Safety Building Committee proposed the project.
The plans call for building an addition to the Town Hall (to bring it up to the fire code and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance) and the construction of a new two-story building at the Lynnfield South Fire Station site at 598 Salem St. The estimated cost of the project is $41.25 million.
The SelectBoard has withheld its support on Article 4 and Article 5 until the board’s May 16 meeting, which will take place immediately before the start of the Town Meeting.
Article 4 is the annual article to balance the current year budget and transfer line items in and out where there are shortfalls and surpluses. Article 5 seeks authorization for the payment of overdue bills from the prior fiscal year.
Article 1 asks the town to approve the town report that was drafted by various boards and department heads and compiled by the town clerk, while Article 2 is the appointment of honorary officers. Article 3 asks that the town approves payment to the assessors and selectmen boards.
Article 6 asks the town to approve the operating budget, and Article 7, which asks the town to approve the capital budget, also have the support of the board. A key item in Article 7 is a request for money for engineering and design costs of a new clubhouse at King Rail Golf Course.
“Again, this is just for engineering costs, not construction,” Curtin said, adding that the town may seek funding for construction costs at the Fall Town Meeting.
Article 8, the annual appropriation to the capital facilities reserve fund and Article 9, which asks to add the sum of $150,000 to the stabilization fund, are also recommended by the board.
Other articles that have the endorsement of the board are: Article 10 (Ambulance Enterprise Fund, $824,183) and Article 11 (Golf Course Enterprise Fund, about $1.08 million); Article 13 (to approve the revolving funds, including things like the Council on Aging, the library, fields, and recreation, all where money has come in and is spent on the programs that people have signed up and paid for); Article 14 (Fire Chief and Emergency Management Team Director’s proposal to increase fees for ambulance mileage rates and life support to keep the town in line with what other communities are charging); Article 15 (a Planning Board submission asking the town to approve appropriations from proceeds of a bond to complete roads on two ongoing development projects, if necessary).
No action has been taken on Article 16 (a petition article asking for the rezoning of Grandview Estates, at the end of Ramsdell Way, to elderly housing).
“No action is needed, as the petitioner has informed the town he does not intend to go forward with this,” said Curtin.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
