Annual Town Meeting 5/8/2023 Warrant
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
Town of Tolland
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTSHampden: SS.
To the Constable of the Town of Tolland in the County of Hampden,
GREETING:
IN THE NAME OF The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Tolland, who are qualified to vote in town affairs to meet in the PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX, 206 West Granville Road, Tolland, on the 8th Day of May, 2023 at 7:00PM, for the following purposes:
Article 1 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $527,665.00 for the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District assessment for Fiscal Year 2024 commencing July 1, 2023 and ending on June 30, 2024, or take any other action thereon. Requested by the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
Article 2 To see if the Town of Southwick will vote not to disapprove certain additional debt authorized by the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee under a vote dated March 28, 2023, which reads as follows: “Voted: approve the authorization to incur debt by the issuance and sale of bonds or notes up to the amount of $515,000.00 for the purchase of all items specified in the STGRSD FY2024 Capital Improvement Plan, as follows: Grounds Improvements $515,000.00 • Network Improvements • Maintenance Van $450,000 $65,000 Requested by the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
Article 3 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be needed to defray the expense of the Town for the 2024 Fiscal Year as set forth in the following line items:
Article 3 | FY2023 | FY2024 | |||||
| GENERAL GOVERNMENT |
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1 | Legal Counsel | $ 6,500.00 | $ 6,500.00 | ||||
2 | Reserve Fund | $ 6,000.00 | $ 6,000.00 | ||||
3 | Moderator | $ 70.33 | $ 72.44 | ||||
4 | Selectmen's Salaries | ||||||
Chairman | $ 3,376.53 | $ 3,877.82 | |||||
Member | $ 3,376.53 | $ 3,477.82 | |||||
Member | $ 3,376.53 | $ 3,477.82 | |||||
5 | Selectmen's Expense | $ 2,500.00 | $ 2,500.00 | ||||
6 | Adminstrative Assistant | $ 26.86 | $ 44,909.92 | $ 27.67 | $ 47,146.80 | ||
Floating Office Assistant | $ 15.00 | $ 9,360.00 | $ 18.00 | $ 18,720.00 | |||
7 | Grant Writing | $ 4,000.00 | $ 4,000.00 | ||||
8 | Town Clerk Salary | $ 16,965.03 | $ 17,473.98 | ||||
9 | Town Clerk Expense | $ 2,650.00 | $ 2,900.00 | ||||
10 | Assessor's Salaries | ||||||
Chairman | $ 2,189.45 | $ 2,255.14 | |||||
Member | $ 2,189.45 | $ 2,255.14 | |||||
Member | $ 2,189.45 | $ 2,255.14 | |||||
11 | Assessor's Clerk | $ 26.86 | $ 33,521.28 | $ 27.67 | $ 35,196.24 | ||
12 | Assessor's Expense | $ 14,760.00 | $ 13,612.00 | ||||
13 | Revaluation | $ 2,000.00 | $ 2,000.00 | ||||
14 | Conservation Commission Expense | $ 500.00 | $ 750.00 | ||||
15 | Conservation Commission Salary | ||||||
Member | $ 579.81 | $ 597.20 | |||||
Member | $ 579.81 | $ 597.20 | |||||
Member | $ 579.81 | $ 597.20 | |||||
16 | Finance Committee Salaries | ||||||
Chairman | $ 208.54 | $ 214.79 | |||||
Secretary | $ 173.39 | $ 178.60 | |||||
Member | $ 138.23 | $ 142.38 | |||||
Member | $ 138.23 | $ 142.38 | |||||
Member | $ 138.23 | $ 142.38 | |||||
17 | Finance Committee Expense | $ 300.00 | $ 300.00 | ||||
18 | Office Supplies | $ 3,500.00 | $ 3,500.00 | ||||
19 | Tax Collector Salary | $ 12,997.53 | $ 13,387.45 | ||||
20 | Tax Collector Expense | $ 5,998.50 | $ 6,653.10 | ||||
21 | Tax Title (Collector) | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | ||||
22 | Treasurer Salary | $ 12,997.53 | $ 13,387.45 | ||||
23 | Treasurer Expense | $ 15,649.68 | $ 17,680.24 | ||||
24 | Tax Title (Treasurer) | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | ||||
25 | Accounting Officer | $ 12,997.53 | $ 13,387.45 | ||||
26 | Board of Appeals Expense | $ 100.00 | $ 100.00 | ||||
27 | Meetings & Election Expense | $ 10,000.00 | $ 7,400.00 | ||||
28 | Registrar of Voter Salary | $ 70.33 | $ 72.44 | ||||
29 | Planning Board Salaries | ||||||
Chairman | $ 1,009.88 | $ 1,040.17 | |||||
Secretary | $ 607.40 | $ 625.63 | |||||
Member | $ 346.72 | $ 357.12 | |||||
Member | $ 346.72 | $ 357.12 | |||||
Member | $ 346.72 | $ 357.12 | |||||
30 | Planning Board Expense | $ 250.00 | $ 250.00 | ||||
TOTAL | $ 242,489.09 | $ 257,937.76 | |||||
| DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS |
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31 | Superintendent | $ 66,000.00 | $ 72,600.00 | ||||
32 | Working Foreman | $ 27.20 | $ 56,793.60 | $ 30.00 | $ 62,640.00 | ||
33 | Equip Operator/Mechanic | $ 25.00 | $ 52,200.00 | $ 27.50 | $ 57,420.00 | ||
34 | Overtime | $ 3,000.00 | $ 3,000.00 | ||||
35 | Part Time Staff | $ 18.00 | $ 5,472.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 6,080.00 | ||
36 | Constructions/Maintenance | $ 118,420.00 | $ 119,000.00 | ||||
37 | Road Repair | $ 100,000.00 | $ 100,000.00 | ||||
38 | Snow & Ice Control | $ 70,000.00 | $ 70,000.00 | ||||
39 | Winter Overtime Salary | $ 8,700.00 | $ 8,700.00 | ||||
40 | Custodian | $ 18.54 | $ 7,712.64 | $ 19.10 | $ 7,945.60 | ||
41 | Fuel (gasoline & Diesel) | $ 35,000.00 | $ 38,000.00 | ||||
42 | Utilities | $ 50,000.00 | $ 50,000.00 | ||||
43 | Buildings and Grounds | $ 51,700.00 | $ 56,219.00 | ||||
TOTAL | $ 624,998.24 | $ 651,604.60 | |||||
| PUBLIC SAFETY |
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44 | Emergency Management Salary | $ 515.00 | $ 530.45 | ||||
45 | Emergency Management Expense | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | ||||
46 | Fire Chief Salary | $ 13,328.56 | $ 13,728.42 | ||||
47 | Firefighter Stipend | $ 6,000.00 | $ 6,000.00 | ||||
48 | Fire Department Expense | $ 38,955.00 | $ 49,541.00 | ||||
49 | Ambulance | $ 20,000.00 | $ 37,000.00 | ||||
50 | Police Department Salaries | ||||||
Chief | $ 13,328.56 | $ 13,728.42 | |||||
Sargent | $ 20.77 | $ 21.39 | $ 8,900.30 | ||||
Officer's | 2 | $ 19.70 | $ 16,391.96 | $ 20.29 | $ 16,883.72 | ||
Extra Patrolling | $ 20.77 | $ 6,480.24 | $ 21.39 | $ 6,674.65 | |||
51 | Police Department Training | $ 2,406.80 | |||||
Sargent | $ 21.39 | $ 855.60 | |||||
Officer's | 2 | $ 20.29 | $ 1,623.20 | ||||
52 | Police Department Expense | $ 15,268.14 | $ 19,888.20 | ||||
53 | Animal Control Salary | $ 1,688.26 | $ 1,738.91 | ||||
54 | Animal Control Expense | $ 2,000.00 | $ 2,000.00 | ||||
55 | Building Inspector Salary | $ 6,000.00 | $ 6,180.00 | ||||
TOTAL | $ 143,362.52 | $ 186,272.87 | |||||
| HEALTH AND SANITATION |
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56 | Visting Nurse Assoc. | $ 1,135.58 | $ 1,135.58 | ||||
57 | Animal Inspector Salary | $ 303.08 | $ 312.17 | ||||
58 | Animal Inspector Expense | $ 50.00 | $ 50.00 | ||||
59 | E911 Communications | $ 9,339.30 | $ 9,619.48 | ||||
60 | Veterans Service Admin | $ 8,624.52 | $ 8,485.60 | ||||
61 | Health Agent Salary | $ 3,600.00 | $ 3,708.00 | ||||
62 | Board of Health Expense | $ 1,400.00 | $ 600.00 | ||||
63 | Transfer Station Salary | $ 17.70 | $ 8,283.60 | $ 18.23 | $ 8,533.16 | ||
TOTAL | $ 32,736.08 | $ 32,443.99 | |||||
| UNCLASSIFIED EXPENSES |
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64 | Hampden County Retirement | $ 105,593.00 | $ 106,815.00 | ||||
65 | Unemployment Compensation | $ 3,500.00 | $ 3,500.00 | ||||
66 | Town Insurance and Bonds | $ 37,000.00 | $ 40,000.00 | ||||
67 | Workers Compensation Insurance | $ 8,500.00 | $ 8,500.00 | ||||
68 | Health Insurance | $ 62,499.91 | $ 64,660.56 | ||||
69 | Medicare Insurance | $ 7,500.00 | $ 7,750.00 | ||||
70 | Library Salaries | ||||||
Librarian | $ 24.92 | $ 18,690.17 | $ 25.67 | $ 19,252.50 | |||
Library Staff | $ 15.15 | $ 454.54 | $ 18.00 | $ 540.00 | |||
71 | Library Expense | $ 6,073.00 | $ 6,641.00 | ||||
72 | Interest on Short Term Debt | $ 4,500.00 | $ 4,500.00 | ||||
73 | Recreation | $ 2,500.00 | $ 2,500.00 | ||||
74 | Furniture and Equipment | $ 1,500.00 | $ 1,800.00 | ||||
75 | Historical Commission Expense | $ 100.00 | $ 100.00 | ||||
76 | Council on Aging | $ 3,500.00 | $ 3,500.00 | ||||
77 | Technical Support & Computer Expense | $ 14,490.00 | $ 17,480.35 | ||||
78 | Webmaster | $ 1,545.00 | $ 1,591.35 | ||||
79 | Town Common | $ 1.00 | $ 1.00 | ||||
80 | Flowers and Gifts | $ 200.00 | $ 200.00 | ||||
81 | Pioneer Valley Planning Commission | $ 83.89 | $ 85.99 | ||||
82 | Cemeteries | $ 10,052.00 | $ 10,052.00 | ||||
TOTAL | $ 288,282.51 | $ 299,469.75 | |||||
TOTAL OF ARTICLE 3 | $1,331,868.44 | $ 1,427,728.97 | |||||
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 4 To see if the town will vote to appropriate and transfer from Free Cash the sum of $2,381.06 to fund the following bills from previous fiscal years:
Vendor Date Amount
Westfield Auto Parts $115.92
M J Levanti & Sons, Inc. Jan 15, 2021 & March 13, 2022 $1,575.00
Napa Auto Parts July 31, 2021, Aug 27, 2021
Sept 18, 2021, Feb 24, 2022
May 4, 5 & 26, 2022 $690.14
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Article 5 To see if the Town will raise and appropriate from available funds the sum of $80,000.00 for the expenses in the process of sealing the floors located in the Public Safety Complex and DPW Building, or take any other action relative thereto.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 6 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $248,954.53 to fund the bond payments due in fiscal year 2024 for the following previously approved debt items:
Public Safety Complex and DPW $100,000.00
Cruiser $ 83,730.33
FY22 Highway Truck $ 65,224.20
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 7 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to operate the trash enterprise fund or take any other action thereon:
Voted: That the following sums be appropriated for the trash enterprise.
Expenses $27,000.00
Total $27,000.00
And that $27,000.00 be raised as follows:
Department receipts $20,000.00
Retained earnings $ 7,000.00
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 8 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from Free Cash the sum of
$9,634.00 to fund the cost of two(2) Officers attending the required Bridge Academy.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 9 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, from available funds, the sum of $4,500.00, which appropriation hereunder shall serve as the Town’s 5% share for a Assistance to Firefighters Grant through FEMA, for the purchase of replacement radio equipment, including all incidental and related costs; or to take any action relative hereto.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 10 To see if the Town will transfer from the Stabilization Fund the sum of $100,000.00 to fund the purchase of equipment and installation for the 911 communications upgrade, or take any other action relative thereto.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 11 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate $250,000.00 for the purchase of equipment
And installation for the 911 communications upgrade, and to authorize the Treasurer,
pursuant to Chapter 44, Section (9), of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
as well as any other enabling authority, to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor,
provided that no sums shall be borrowed or expended for this purpose unless the Town
shall be voted to exclude the amounts necessary to repay any borrowing hereby from
the limitations of Section 21C of the General Laws of Massachusetts (also known as
Proposition 2 ½). Or take any other action in relation thereto
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 12 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate $375,000.00 for the purchase of a Dump Truck,
and to authorize the Treasurer, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section (9), of the General Laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as any other enabling authority, to issue bonds
or notes of the Town therefor, provided that no sums shall be borrowed or expended for this
purpose unless the Town shall be voted to exclude the amounts necessary to repay any
borrowing hereby from the limitations of Section 21C of the General Laws of Massachusetts
(also known as Proposition 2 ½). Or take any other action in relation thereto
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 13 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate $80,000.00 for the purchase of a Cruiser,
and to authorize the Treasurer, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section (9), of the General Laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as any other enabling authority, to issue bonds
or notes of the Town therefor, provided that no sums shall be borrowed or expended for this
purpose unless the Town shall be voted to exclude the amounts necessary to repay any
borrowing hereby from the limitations of Section 21C of the General Laws of Massachusetts
(also known as Proposition 2 ½). Or take any other action in relation thereto
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 14 To see if the town will vote to change the position of Town Clerk from an elected position to an appointed under M.G.L. Chapter 41, Section 1B.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 15 To see if the town will vote to change the position of the Treasurer from an elected position to an appointed position under M.G.L. Chapter 41, Section 1B.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 16 To see if the town will vote to change the position of the Tax Collector from an elected position to an appointed position under M.G.L. Chapter 41, Section 1B.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 17 To see if the Town will vote to offer the post-employment health insurance benefit under M.G.L. Chapter 32 & 32B for vested employees, defined as at least10 years continuous municipal employment, who qualify for retirement and carries no survivorship.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Article 18 To see if the town will vote to accept any monies appropriated by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for Chapter 90 use. These funds to be used for maintenance and reconstruction of town roads and to fund the appropriation by transferring said amounts from available funds with any unspent funds to carry over from year to year until spent by the town. These sums will be reimbursed to the town by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in accordance with Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 19 To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for and accept any and all grants including grants from the Federal Government or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for which said grants are authorized or take any other action relative thereon.
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 20 To see if the town will vote to authorize the use of the following revolving funds for departmental operations which shall not exceed the noted sums for each fund, which shall be under the control of the town Treasurer, which shall be accounted for separately, and to which shall be credited only the receipts received in connection with the departmental operations supported by the revolving fund; further to authorize the town Treasurer to expend from such funds in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2 of the General Laws, provided however that said expenditures for the revolving funds shall not exceed the receipts for said fund:
Building Inspection Permit & Miscellaneous Fees | $5,000.00 | ||||
Electrical Inspection Permit Fees | $2,000.00 | ||||
Plumbing/Gas Inspection Fees | $2,000.00 | ||||
Fire Inspection Permit Fees | $1,000.00 | ||||
Board of Health Fees | $3,000.00 | ||||
Cemetery Fees | $1,000.00 | ||||
Planning Board Permit Fees | $2,000.00 | ||||
Zoning Board of Appeals Permit Fees | $1,000.00 | ||||
Conservation Commission | $1,000.00 | ||||
Board of Selectmen: Recommends
Finance Committee: Recommends
Article 21 To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up attested copies thereon at FOUR PUBLIC PLACES in said Town SEVEN (7) DAYS at least before the time of holding said meeting.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this second (1) day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three.