About Westborough Today Official Notices and Information 2009-10-19 Special Town Meeting Warrant (DRAFT)
2009-10-19 Special Town Meeting Warrant (DRAFT)
[DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT - for current status, please visit the official town site - DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT
received and reformatted 22-Sep-2009 -- webmaster]
TOWN OF WESTBOROUGH
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2009
WESTBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Here is an outline. Click READ MORE... for the full warrant.
ARTICLE 1 FY10 Budget Reduction Town Insurance
ARTICLE 2 FY10 Budget Transfers
ARTICLE 3 FY10 Sewer Budget Amendment Electricity
ARTICLE 4 FY10 Water Budget Amendment Electricity
ARTICLE 5 Design and Permit Opticom Traffic Controllers
ARTICLE 6 Removal of a Liquor License Requirement-Citizens Petition
ARTICLE 7 Department of Public Works Rainstorm Reimbursement
ARTICLE 8 Public Safety Complex (2/3 Vote Required)
ARTICLE 9 Amendment of Article 12 (Hawkers Peddlers Permit) Bylaw
ARTICLE 10 Public Shade Trees Bylaw
ARTICLE 11 Abandoned and Foreclosed Property Registration
ARTICLE 12 Warren Street Drainage Improvement (2/3 Vote Required)
ARTICLE 13 Work on Town Sewer System
ARTICLE 14 Westborough Country Club Capital Improvements
ARTICLE 15 Special Education Costs
ARTICLE 16 Local Option Meal Excise Increase
ARTICLE 17 Local Option Room Occupancy Tax Amendment
[DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT - for current status, please visit the official town site - DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT
received and reformatted 22-Sep-2009 -- webmaster]
TOWN OF WESTBOROUGH
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2009
WESTBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
ARTICLE 1 FY10 Budget Reduction – Town Insurance
To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY10 budget by reducing the Town Insurance zExpense budget from Ten Million Nine Hundred Eight Five Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Two and 00/100 Dollars ($10,985,532.00) to Ten Million Six Hundred Forty Four Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Four and 00/1 00 Dollars ($10,644,754.00); or take any other action thereon.
Sponsor: Town Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
|
Summary – There is a need to reduce the Town budget to address state aid reductions and a reduction in local receipts. The State Budget contains a reduction of State Aid of $209,966 with the state acting on the budget later than normal this year, these figures were not known at the time of the Town Meeting. Second, local receipts are down a net of $101,000 with the major losses of revenue being in Motor VehicleExcise Tax; Investment Income and the Hotel/Motel Tax and the new growth in theproperty tax base is down by $75, 000 from the amounts estimated at the time thebudget was adopted by Town Meeting. Overall, the budget needs to be reduced by$340,778. The Town Insurance Expense Account can be reduced due to efforts the Town has made to reduce costs through the MIIA Rewards Program and other insurance savings in the Casualty/Property and Workers Comp Insurance costs. |
ARTICLE 2 FY10 Budget Transfers
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Town Insurances Expenses Account the sum of Forty Seven Thousand One Hundred Twenty Three and 00/100 Dollars ($47,123.00) to the following accounts:
Buildings and Grounds Expenses $18,235.00
Fire Department Expenses $ 9,261.00
Library Expenses $ 3,915.00
Street Light Account Expenses $15,712.00
$47,123.00
Or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Town Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – The electric generation charge paid by the Town has increased from 5. 8¢ per KwH to 12.4¢ per KwH and as a result, several of the electricity line items will not have sufficient funding for FY10. This transfer will take funds available from the estimate for Unemployment Compensation that will not be needed in FY10 to pay the additional electric costs in the departments included in the article.
ARTICLE 3 FY10 Sewer Budget Amendment – Electricity
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Sewer Retained Earnings and appropriate the sum of Four Thousand Five Hundred Ninety Four and 00/100 Dollars ($4,594.00) to the Electricity – Sewer Account #64303-5211 for the purpose of paying additional electrical costs associated with the operation of the sewer system; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Town Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – The Sewer Department Electric Account needs to be addressed for the same reasons as the above article due to the change in rate paid for electric generation.
ARTICLE 4 FY10 Water Budget Amendment – Electricity
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Water Retained Earnings and appropriate the sum of Nineteen Thousand Thirty Seven and 00/100 Dollars ($19,037.00) to the Electricity – Water Account #64503-5211 for the purpose of paying additional electrical costs associated with the operation of the water system; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Town Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Summary – The Water Department Electric Account needs to be addressed for the same reasons as the above article due to the change in rate paid for electric generation.
ARTICLE 5 Design and Permit Opticom Traffic Controllers
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from free cash and appropriate, the sum of Seventeen Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($17,000.00) to design and permit Opticom traffic controllers at the Route 9 and Otis Street Intersection; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Fire Chief
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This article is related to installation of an Opticom Traffic Controller for public safety purposes (allows public safety vehicles to control the traffic light) at the intersection of Route 9 and Otis Street. Herb Chambers Auto Dealership paid as part of the permitting process for this Opticom Installation, but since that time, the MassHighway Department has added additional requirements that were not covered as part of the payment from the auto dealer. The Fire Chief has indicated that this remains a priority and has asked Town Meeting to fund the difference in cost.
The original estimated was $19,500 which was paid by Herb Chambers as part of the special permit conditions; the additional amount in the article is to address the total cost which is $36,500. The additional costs are associated with a new permitting process required by MassHighway.
ARTICLE 6 Removal of a Liquor License Requirement-Citizen’s Petition
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the Legislature to remove, as a condition of the Full Liquor License held by MandarinWestborough, Inc., the requirement that the License not be relocated except within the Downtown Business District and to allow the License to be transferred to a location within the Town of Westborough, identified by Mandarin Westborough, Inc. and properly zoned for restaurant use by the Town of Westborough, which location shall be specified in the Legislation or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: By Petition of Douglas W. Resnick, Esquire
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – The Mandarin Restaurant has been notified that it’s lease is not going to be renewed by their landlord and after reviewing the area within the Downtown Planning Overlay District (DPOD) they have not been able to locate a restaurant site that is appropriate for their business plan. They have found a location on Route 9 which is outside of the DPOD that does meet their needs, but the language on the Over Quota Liquor License they hold does not allow them to move the license outside of the DPOD. The proponent is seeking to strike the language prohibiting them from moving the license outside the DPOD.
ARTICLE 7 Department of Public Works Rainstorm Reimbursement
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from free cash and appropriate the sum of Seventy One Thousand Forty Three and 72/100 Dollars ($71,043.72) to the Department of Public Works’ expenditures for the rainstorms that occurred this summer; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: DPW Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This article seeks to increase the DPW budget to account for additional costs incurred by the DPW associated with the July 7-8 rainstorms. These include costs associated with emergency road repairs, emergency property repairs, engineering, materials and police details (paid by the DPW). The Town has submitted a request to our state delegation to seek a supplemental budget appropriation from the legislature to cover these extraordinary costs, however, if the Town receives state funding, it will be deposited into the General Fund as a revenue source and will leavethe DPW expenditure budget short by this amount, reducing the amount of work that can done through the remainder of the year.
ARTICLE 8 Public Safety Complex (2/3 Vote Required)
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for designing and constructing a new public safety building, including costs incidental or related thereto; todetermine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise; or to take any other action relative thereto.
Sponsor: Municipal Building Committee
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
|
Summary – This article seeks authority for the Board of Selectmen to borrow the fundsnecessary to construct a new Public Safety Facility that would house both the Policeand Fire Departments. The Town is using the last cost estimate for this project fromDecember 2008 in place of actual bids due to the cost to put the project out to bid. Atthe estimated cost, the Town has the ability to borrow for 20 years for public buildingswhich would result in an approximate annual impact the first year of $292 to theaverage single family home and would average approximately $240 per year over thelife of the debt issuance (estimated at 3% interest). This project is intended to addressstructural and space issues at the Fire Department and space issues and concernsrelated to the general facilities of the Police Department (booking areas, jail cells, etc)and to combine the dispatch centers into one facility. This vote as written also requires a debt exclusion election which will be held on January 19, 2010 if this article passes. |
ARTICLE 9 Amendment of Article 12 (Hawkers Peddlers Permit) Bylaw
To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 12 of the Town bylaws by deleting said Article 12 and replacing it with the following Article 12:
The display, for sale to the general public, of merchandise or goods from a temporary or portable location shall be prohibited except by permit from the Chief of Police. Said permit shall require a fee not inconsistent with Chapter 101 of the Massachusetts General Laws: Religious, charitable or non-profit organizations and persons servicing a parade
within the Town shall be exempt from this Bylaw. A violation shall be $100 (see Article 37); or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Assistant Town Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This article would change the process for obtaining a Hawkers/Peddlers Permit from applying to the Board of Selectmen to the Police Chief. This proposal is to address the process that is currently in place where the Police Chief conducts the review of the applicants and to increase the efficiency in which the Town is able to process applications.
ARTICLE 10 Public Shade Trees Bylaw
Section 1.
It shall be the policy of the Board of Selectmen to encourage the conservation of public shade trees in the Town of Westborough and to work for a planned program of replacement for public shade trees that have been removed because of disease or public nuisance, construction or danger, and further, it shall be the policy of the Board to encourage residents, businesses and private builders to conserve and to plant shade trees. Public Shade Trees shall be those trees as defined by MGL Ch. 87, § 1; or take any action thereon.
A. The Board of Selectmen shall request the DPW Manager or his designee to notify the Board and any abutters at least seven (7) days in advance of any publichearing called for the purpose of presenting cause why a non-diseased public shade tree should be removed and should tag said tree in a conspicuous manner.
B. The Board of Selectmen shall request the DPW Manager or his designee to annually list those public shade trees which, in his opinion, constitute a publicnuisance or danger or are diseased and submit said list to the Board on or before September 1 of each year.
C. The DPW Manager or his designee shall prepare and submit to the Board of Selectmen by November 1, a recommendation and a specific site location plan forpublic shade tree replacements and additions and a proposed planting budget for said replacements and additions.
D. The Board of Selectmen shall encourage all private builders and municipal building committees and municipal agencies to plant and conserve public shade trees.
E. The Board of Selectmen shall encourage residents of Westborough to plant public and private shade trees and, from time to time, shall issue public statements thatsupport this procedure and perform a public service by informing residents of best procedures for conservation and planting of shade trees.
F. Wherever practical, the DPW Manager or his designee shall institute a planting program, especially in the Downtown District, in anticipation of tree removal.
G. These rules and procedures shall not take precedence over any General Laws.
Sponsor: Selectman Timothy Dodd
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This article would amend the General Bylaws to include a proposal to confirm the Town’s commitment to maintaining public shade trees. This type of bylaw is a prerequisite to the Town being named a Tree City USA. This bylaw establishes a notification process for removing public shade trees that are unsafe and for replanting of public shade trees.
ARTICLE 11 Abandoned and Foreclosed Property Registration
Section 1. Purpose; Enforcement Authority.
A. It is the purpose and intent of this Article to protect and preserve public safety and
security, and the quiet enjoyment of occupants, abutters and neighborhoods, by:
(i) requiring all residential property owners, including lenders, trustees and service companies, to register abandoned and/or foreclosing residential propertieswith the Town of Westborough; and (ii) regulating the maintenance and security of abandoned and/or foreclosing residential properties to help prevent blightedand unsecure residences; or take any action thereon.
B. The Building Commissioner of the Town of Westborough has enforcement authority as to this Article, pursuant to MGL c. 143, § 3, the State Building Bylaws, and the Town’s Zoning Bylaws.
Section 2. Definitions.
When used in this Article 46, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless a contrary intention clearly appears:
“Abandoned” means vacant.
“Town” means the Town of Westborough.
“Commissioner” means the Building Commissioner of the Town of Westborough or his/her designee.
“Days” means consecutive calendar days, including legal holidays as specified in MGL c. 4, § 7 and weekend days.
“Evidence of abandonment” means any condition that, by itself or in combination with other conditions, might lead a reasonable person to conclude that a property is vacant. Such conditions include but are not limited to overgrown and/or dead vegetation; accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers and/or mail; past due utility notices and/or disconnected utilities; accumulation of trash, junk and/or debris; the absence of window coverings such as curtains, blinds and/or shutters;
the absence of furnishings and/or personal items consistent with residential habitation; statements by neighbors, passersby, delivery agents and/or governmental employees that the property is vacant.
“Foreclosing” means the process by which a property, placed as security for a real estate loan, is prepared for sale to satisfy the debt if the borrower of that loan defaults.
“Initiation of the foreclosure process” means the taking of any of the following actions:
Section 3. Registration.
A. All owners of abandoned and/or foreclosing residential properties shall register
such properties with the Commissioner on forms provided by the Commissioner.
1. Each registration must state the individual owner’s or agent’s name, phone
number and mailing address located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as required by MGL c. 59, § 57D, MGL c. 156D, § 5.02, and 950 CMR 113.20; the mailing address may not be a post office box.
2. Each registration must also certify that the property has been inspected by
the owner and must identify whether the property is abandoned. If the property shows evidence of abandonment, the property is abandoned forpurposes of this Article 46.
Each registration must designate a local individual or local property management company responsible for the maintenance and the security of the property. This designation must state the individual or company’s name, direct phone number,
and local mailing address; the mailing address may not be a post office box.
a. If the owner’s inspection determines that the property is abandoned, the registration must be received by the Commissioner within seven (7) days of the owner’s inspection.
b. If the owner’s inspection determines that the property is not abandoned, but foreclosure proceedings have been initiated, the registration must be received by the Commissioner within seven (7) days of the initiation of the foreclosure process.
c. If the Commissioner’s inspection pursuant to Section 46-5 determines that the property is abandoned, the registration must be received by theCommissioner within fourteen (14) days of the Commissioner’s first citation for improper maintenance.
d. If, regardless of any determination as to abandonment, foreclosure proceedings have been initiated, the registration must be received by theCommissioner within seven (7) days of the initiation of the foreclosure process.
B. All property registrations pursuant to this Section 46-3 are valid for one (1) calendar year from the date when the registration is received by the
Commissioner. An annual registration fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) must accompany the registration form. Subsequent registrations and fees are due within thirty (30) days after the date of expiration of the previous registration. Subsequent registrations must certify whether the property remains abandoned and/or remains in foreclosure, as the case may be.
C. Any owner that has registered a property under this Section 46-3 must report any change in information contained in the registration within ten (10) days of thechange.
D. Once the property is no longer abandoned or is sold, the owner shall provide the Commissioner with written notice of legal occupancy or proof of sale, as the case may be.
Section 4. Maintenance and Security Requirements.
A. Properties subject to this Article must be maintained in accordance with the State
Sanitary Bylaws, the State Building Bylaws, and local regulations concerning
external and/or visible maintenance. The local owner or local property management company must inspect and maintain the property on a monthly basis for so long as the property is abandoned or shows evidence of abandonment. The name and the 24-hour contact phone number of the local owner or local property management company responsible for the maintenance must be posted on the front of the property so as to be clearly visible by the Commissioner or his/her designee from the street.
B. In accordance with state law, including but not limited to MGL c. 143, §§ 6-10 and 780 CMR 121.0, abandoned property must be made safe and must be secured so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons.
C. Compliance with this Section 46-4 does not relieve the owner of any applicable obligations set forth in Bylaws regulations, covenant conditions and restrictions,and/or homeowners’ association rules and regulations.
Section 5. Inspections.
Pursuant to the State Building Code, the Commissioner or his/her designee shall have the authority and the duty to inspect properties subject to this Article for compliance with this Article and to issue citations for any violations. The Commissioner or his/her designee shall have the discretion to determine when and how such inspections are to be made, provided that such determination is reasonably calculated to ensure that this Article is enforced.
Section 6. Violations and Penalties.
A. A failure to initially register with the Commissioner pursuant to Section 66-3 shall be enforced by non-criminal disposition pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21D, resulting in a fine of $100.00.
B. A failure to properly designate the name of the local individual or local property management company responsible for the maintenance and the security of theproperty pursuant to Section 46-3 shall be enforced by non-criminal disposition pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21D, resulting in a fine of $100.00 for each violation, and a like fine for each day’s continuation of such violation.
C. A failure to maintain and/or to secure the property pursuant to Section 46-4 shall be enforced by non-criminal disposition pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21D, resulting in a fine of $100.00 for each week during which the property is not maintained and/or not secured in compliance with Section 46-4.
D. The penalties provided in this Section 46-6 shall not be construed to restrict the Town from pursuing other legal remedies available to the Town.
Section 7. Appeals.
Any person aggrieved by the requirements of this Article or by a decision issued hereunder may seek relief in any court of competent jurisdiction as provided by the laws of the Commonwealth.
Section 8. Applicability.
If any provision of this Article imposes greater restrictions or obligations than those imposed by any general law, special law, regulation, rule, Bylaws, order or policy, then the provisions of this Article shall control.
Section 9. Regulatory Authority.
The Commissioner shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement and enforce this Article.
Section 10. Severability.
If any provision of this Article is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be considered separately and apart from this Article’s remaining provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 11. Notice.
A copy of this Bylaw is to be advertised in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Westborough, and is to be mailed to all loan institutions, banks, real estate offices, and management companies located in, and/or having legal or equitable interest in any residential property located in, the Town of Westborough.
Section 12. Effective Date.
The provisions of this Article shall take effect immediately upon passage and all provisions shall be enforced immediately, except that no monetary fine shall be imposed pursuant to this Article until thirty (30) days after the date when notices are mailed pursuant to Section 46-11.
Sponsor: Selectman Lydia Goldblatt
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE: To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This bylaw seeks to amend the General Bylaws to add a provision that requires registration of foreclosed properties and establishes a maintenance and security requirement. This is to address concerns related to foreclosed properties that are not being maintained and the Town has no contact person as issues arise. It will also provide notification for the Town’s Water Department to confirm whether water service should be shut off during winter months when properties are not heated.
ARTICLE 12 Warren Street Drainage Improvement (2/3 Vote Required)
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow pursuant to any applicable statues, or accept a grant the sum of Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000), or such other amount as the Town Meeting may approve, for the purpose of stream bank improvements, installation of culverts and or by-pass culverts with associated structures, mitigation to nearby properties, and any work necessary on Warren Street and adjacent properties to alleviate overtopping of the Jackstraw Brook, and to purchase, accept as a gift, or take by eminent domain under the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 79, as amended or otherwise acquire parcels of land and/or easements for said improvements; or take any other action thereon.
Sponsor: DPW Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This article would provide the authority for the Selectmen to authorize a debt issuance to address the flooding problems that have occurred on Warren Street where the Jack Straw Brook crosses the street. During the past few years, the residents in this area have had significant flooding incidents where the brook overtops the road and floods their basements and erodes banks and causes other flooding damage. Using the same estimated interest rates/terms as the Public Safety Facility, the annual impact to a single family home in Westborough is $5.84 the first year.
ARTICLE 13 Work on Town Sewer System
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute or transfer from available funds the sum of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00), or such amount as the Town Meeting may approve to rehabilitate the Longmeadow Sewer Pump Station including engineering supervision and constructions services and any work on such stations incidental to and purchase, accept as a gift, or take by eminent domain under the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 79, as amended or otherwise acquire parcels of land and/or easements for said pump stations; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: DPW Manager
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This is a planned 20 year review and update of this pump station. The updates include upgrading the pumps from 40 hp to 70 hp and installing new variable speed controls. Other improvements include corrosion protection, painting floors and lower walls, a new generator and cleaning/coating the wetwells as well as installing a new fence around the pump station.
ARTICLE 14 Westborough Country Club Capital Improvements
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate through the transfer from retained earnings under the Westborough Country Club Enterprise Fund a sum of money to supplement those funds voted under Article 7 (FY2010 Operational Budgets) of the May 2009 Annual Town Meeting for the Country Club Enterprise for capital improvements, including but not limited to improving the drainage from the parking lot, at the Westborough Country Club; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Country Club Operating Committee
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This article would allow the Country Club to improve drainage in their parking lot. The funds to cover the cost would come from the Country Club Enterprise Account.
ARTICLE 15 Special Education Costs
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from free cash and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Sixty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($160,000.00), or such other amount as the Town Meeting may approve, to cover unanticipated special education costs; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: School Superintendent
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – The School Superintendent submitted a request to increase the School Department budget to cover additional Special Education costs for several students that were not anticipated at the time the budget was developed and then voted on by Town Meeting in May.
ARTICLE 16 Local Option Meal Excise Increase
To see if the Town will vote to impose a .75% meals tax on the sales of restaurant meals by accepting Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 64L, Section 2(a); or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Board of Selectmen
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – This article would establish a local sales tax on meals. Currently the State Sales Tax on Meals is 6.25% which was increased this year from 5.0%. Cities and Towns have been authorized to establish by local option a 0.75% sales tax on meals to bring the total to 7.0%. It is estimated that this tax would raise $369,831 (Mass DOR) per year, however for the first year revenues would not begin to accrue until the start of the next quarter (if adopted Jan 2010).
ARTICLE 17 Local Option Room Occupancy Tax Amendment
To see if the Town will vote to amend its local room occupancy excise under G.L. c. 64G, § 3A to the rate of six percent 6.0%; or take any action thereon.
Sponsor: Board of Selectmen
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
To be inserted
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
To be inserted
Summary – The Town presently has implemented a 4.0% Room Occupancy Tax on hotel rooms. Cities and Towns have been authorized to establish by local option a maximum 6.0% on Room Occupancy Taxes. Based upon FY10 Town of Westborough budget estimates, the additional 2.0% would raise approximately $292,500 per year however, for the first year revenues would not begin to accrue until the start of the nextquarter (if adopted Jan 2010).
[DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT - for current status, please visit the official town site - DRAFT -- DRAFT -- DRAFT
received and reformatted 22-Sep-2009 -- webmaster]
Tags
| Comments |
|