Published in the October 12, 2017 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — After dispensing with five articles related to the future of the town’s water supply and backing a new social host general bylaw to curb access to alcohol and other drugs by those under age 21 by allowing the police to impose civil fines, the nearly 130 voters at October Town Meeting made short work of the remainder of the warrant last week.

The following business was acted upon by the voters:

APPROVED Article 2 to pay prior year’s bills totaling $9,973.06 by transferring funds from the FY2018 omnibus budget approved at June Town Meeting from: Water Enterprise expenses ($282.06); DPW Snow and Ice expenses ($216); DPW Road and Street expended ($6,945); and Pensions and Benefits ($2,530).

APPROVED Article 3 to transfer $200,000 from Free Cash to the Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund, increasing the fund balance to $1,309,171. This fund is used to offset the cost of capital equipment purchases and debt financing.

PASSED OVER Article 4 to appropriate money to Stabilization Fund, a.k.a.: the “rainy day fund.”

PASSED OVER Article 5 to transfer funds to Other Post Employment Benefits (OPED) Liability Trust Fund. The fund balance is currently $892,546.83. Transfers are typically made in the spring, not fall and the article served simply as a placeholder in case the funding was deemed available after Free Cash was certified from the state DOR and other expenses determined.

APPROVED Article 6 to amend the FY 2018 Operating Budget by transferring $4,700 from the salary pool to DPW salaries, building and grounds division, to pay wages owed to the assistant building superintendent.

APPROVED Article 7 to fund repairs to town buildings: A $50,000 sum from Free Cash was approved to fund miscellaneous repairs to town buildings, including Senior Center entrance (prime and paint $8,000); security camera upgrade and repairs at the Police Station ($15,000); an upgrade to the fire protection and security alarms at the DPW complex ($10,000) as well as roof repairs ($2,983); and replacing the elevator floor ($2,800) and upgrading HVAC controls ($5,828) at the library.

APPROVED Article 8 to fund the Town Facilities Master Plan with $200,000 from Free Cash to create a master plan that addresses current and future town facility needs. Selectmen Chairman Michael Prisco explained that this evaluation, combined with the recently completed Town Master Plan, will provide the town with a complete picture of its needs at all facilities for proper planning.

PASSED OVER Article 9 to appropriate supplemental funds for the J.T. Berry/Lowell Road property as Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto stated there is no need for additional funds at this time. Prisco explained that the town is very close to meeting its target date of closing on the property, a future site of 450 age-restricted condominiums, on November 29.

PASSED OVER Article 16 to amend the town’s General By-Laws concerning betterment assessments.

APPROVED Article 17 to appropriate money for Special Counsel Legal Expenses amounting to $150,000 from Free Cash. Funds will be used to fund continued legal action related to the Secondary School Building Project. To date, the town has spent $497,000 on legal expenses and about $147,000 remained in the fund prior to this additional appropriation.

APPROVED Article 18 to authorize the sale of land at 8 Devens Road (Map 42, Parcel 71), which the town had acquired through tax title, in order to sell it via a Request for Proposals (RFP) process rather than by auction to the highest bidder. This will enable the Board of Selectmen to consider the intended use of the property. It is a buildable lot and has two abutters expressing interest in it.

APPROVED Article 19 to acquire a further easement for a public potable water main at 100 Lowell Road (Map 14, Parcel 9). This action authorized the Board of Selectmen to remove restrictions on an existing town water main easement at 100 Lowell Rd. in order to provide a water main to service surrounding properties, including the property to be sold for age-restricted housing at 104 Lowell Rd.