TOWN OF DOVER

________________

 

WARRANT

 

for the

 

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

 

Monday, May 6, 2002

 

7:30 P.M.

 

Dover-Sherborn Regional School

Lindquist Commons

 

 

and

 

TOWN ELECTIONS

 

 

Monday, May 20, 2002

7:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Dover Town House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WARRANT COMMITTEE OPEN HEARING

 Monday, March 18, 2002 at 7:30 PM

Dover Town House

 

 

 

ARTICLES OF THE WARRANT

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING 2002

 

 

Norfolk, ss.

 

To any of the Constables of the Town of Dover in said County, Greetings;

 

       In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Dover, qualified as the Constitution requires to vote in elections and in Town affairs, to meet in the Lindquist Commons Building at the Dover-Sherborn Regional High School in said Town on Monday, the 6th day of May, 2002, at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening then and there to act on the following articles, to wit:

 

Article 1. (Selectmen) To hear and act on the various reports of the various committees:

 

       (a)  As contained in the printed 2001 Annual Report;

       (b)  Any other reports submitted to the voters by the Town Committees.

 

Article 2. (Assessors)  To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Section 4 of Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1986 as amended by Chapter 126 of the Acts of 1988, in order to allow an additional real estate tax exemption of up to 100 percent in Fiscal Year 2003 for those who qualify for an exemption under clauses 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37A, 41C, 42 or 43 of Section 5, Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 3. (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will set the salaries for its elected officials for the ensuing fiscal year, or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 4. (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for salaries and expenditures by departments, officers, boards, and committees of the Town for the ensuing fiscal year; to determine whether the money shall be included in the tax levy, transferred from available funds, or provided by any combination of these methods; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 5. (Selectmen)  To see what sums the Town will raise and appropriate for the various capital purposes listed below; to determine whether the money shall be included in the tax levy, transferred from available funds, borrowed, or provided by any combination of these methods; or take any other action relative thereto.

  


1.   Cemetery Department

John Deere Utility Vehicle with Plow

         

         

2.   Fire Department

     Water Tank Replacement (squad 2)

                                

3.   Highway

             Dump Body (Replacement H-14)

         

4.   Park and Recreation

             Caryl Park Well

  

5.   Police Department

                             2 Patrol Vehicles

                             Range Upgrade

 

6.           Selectmen

          Clock Tower Repair and Painting

      Town House Restroom Restoration

      Voice Mail

      Police Station AC Condenser Replacement

               

7.               Water Department

Caryl Park Well Main Pump Replacement         

          

Article 6. (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds for the purpose of funding an  unemployment compensation fund as authorized by Chapter 40, Section 5E, of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 7. (Selectmen)  To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds to provide for the payment of accumulated sick leave to retired police officers as authorized by Chapter 375 of the Acts of 1984; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 8. (Selectmen) To see what sum the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds or borrow, or any combination of these methods, for highway construction, reconstruction and other improvements under the authority of the Massachusetts General Laws as funded by various state budgets; and to authorize the Selectmen to enter into contracts, apply for, and accept, expend and borrow in anticipation of state aid for such projects; or take any other action relative thereto.


 

Article 9.  (Selectmen) To see if the Town will vote pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2, to authorize the use of revolving fund accounts for the following boards or departments, and that unless otherwise amended by Town Meeting, such accounts shall not exceed the amounts provided as set forth in this Warrant Article for fiscal year 2003:

 

       Building Department

               a. Gas Inspector                              $ 4,000

               b. Plumbing Inspector                      $14,800

               c. Wiring Inspector                                     $20,000

 

Board of Health

               a. Perk & Deep Hole inspection and permitting        $40,000

               b. Septic inspection and permitting                           $40,000

               c. Well inspection and permitting                             $10,000

               d. Swimming Pool inspection and permitting         $10,000

 

       Dover School Committee

               a. School Instrumental Music                           $20,000

 

       Building Maintenance                                               $ 5,000

 

and further, that the fees received in connection with these programs be credited to the respective accounts and that the respective board or department be authorized to make expenditures from these accounts in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 10.  (Assessors)  To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 17E of the Massachusetts General Laws, in order to annually increase the amount of assets certain senior citizens and surviving spouses and minors may have to qualify for an exemption under Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 17D, by applying the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) determined by the Commissioner of Revenue; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 11. (Selectmen/Dover School Committee) To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody, and control of the Caryl School site from the School Committee to the Board of Selectmen; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 12.  (Selectmen/Caryl School Reuse Committee)   To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds or borrow a sum of money, or any combination of these methods, for the purpose of designing, constructing additions to and remodeling, reconstructing and making extraordinary repairs to the Caryl School for the reuse of the school for various municipal purposes; to petition the general court for an act to authorize the town to appropriate funds for the purpose of creating elderly low and moderate income housing in a portion of the Caryl School and/or for creating, preserving and supporting low and moderate income housing in the town; or take any action relative thereto.

 

Article 13. (Selectmen/Dover Housing Partnership/Caryl School Reuse Committee) To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to: (1) enter into a long-term lease agreement, under terms and conditions approved by the Board of Selectmen, with the Dover Community Development Corporation for elderly housing in a portion of the Caryl School; and (2) to petition the General Court for an act to exempt this lease from the state public bidding statutes and to exempt this lease and this elderly housing from the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151B; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 14. (Selectmen & Dover Housing Partnership) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds a sum of money to be expended by the Dover Housing Partnership Committee with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to fund a study or studies of the feasibility to construct affordable housing units in the Town of Dover at those locations to be determined by the Dover Housing Partnership Committee; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 15.  (Dover School Building Committee)  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from available funds, or borrow, or any combination of these methods, a sum of money, in addition to the amount appropriated under Article 1. of the warrant for the February 6, 1999 Special Town Meeting for the purpose of designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing a new school at the Chickering School site; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 16. (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds, a sum of money for the purposes of networking Town buildings and operating said network; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 17. (Citizens’ Petition) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or    transfer from available funds, a sum of money to construct a sidewalk on the east side of Centre Street from the intersection of Dedham Street and Centre Street north to Cross Street, a distance of approximately 2940 feet; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 18.  (Selectmen)   To see if the Town will vote to accept Sections 3 through 7 inclusive, of Chapter 44B of the Massachusetts General Laws (Massachusetts Community Preservation Act), and set the amount of the tax surcharge and any exemptions thereto; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 19. (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 4 of the General Bylaws by adding a new Article XLII thereto entitled “Community Preservation Committee” as shown on a document on file in the office of the Town Clerk and available for inspection, or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 20.  (Selectmen/Conservation Commission/Open Space Committee) To see if the Town will vote to endorse a resolution urging the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to take action, including the creation of a new state park at Medfield State Hospital, to permanently protect all or a portion of the Medfield State Hospital site as open space; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 21.  (Dover Housing Partnership Committee)  To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court for an act to allow the Town of Dover to acquire five acres of land, currently known as Medfield State Hospital or Medfield State Forest, from the Commonwealth for municipal purposes, including affordable housing; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 22.  (Conservation Commission) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds a sum of money for the Conservation Fund  pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 8C, of the Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 23.  (Open Space Committee)  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to revise the Open Space Plan that was written in 1997; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 24.  (Planning Board)  To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 185 of the Zoning Bylaws regarding shared driveways as follows:  or take any other action relative thereto:

       Amend Section 185-19 as follows:

 

       1/       Section 185-19 shall be renamed as the “Street Frontage Interpretation and

Access Rule.”

 

       2/       Section 185-19A(3) shall be amended to read as follows:

 

Physical access to the lot shall be through the frontage or, if the Planning Board approves, through an alternative point of access from a way described in Section 189-19A(2).  Shared driveways or curbcuts shall not be permitted except when an applicant obtains written approval from the Planning Board for a “Shared Driveway or Curbcut,” as defined in Section 185-19C hereof.

 

       3/    A new Section 185-19C is added to read as follows:

 

C.           A “Shared Driveway or Curbcut” is a driveway, curbcut or both which services no more than two adjacent residential lots used for residential purposes in one or more Residential Districts.

 

(1)  It is the intent of this section to permit no more than two adjacent residential lots used for residential purposes in one or more Residential Districts to share a driveway, which use shall be subject to approval and precautions to ensure that the driveway will be maintained and remain useful for both ordinary and emergency access.

 

(2)   This section shall apply only to driveways constructed after (the effective date of this amendment), and to lawfully existing driveways changed after that date to connect with or serve no more than two residential lots used for residential purposes in one or more Residential Districts.

 

(3)   Prior to approving a Shared Driveway or Curbcut, the Planning Board must find that:

 

(a)        Each lot sharing the Shared Driveway or Curbut would be entitled to construct and use a separate driveway in accordance with the standards of Section 196-1 et seq. of the Selectmen’s Regulations and the applicable provisions of this Bylaw.

 

 

 

 

(b)        An access permit for a Shared Driveway or Curbcut would be appropriate under the standards of Section 196-1 et seq. of the Selectmen’s Regulations (other than dimensional requirements providing for distance between a driveway and other driveways and property lines, which requirements shall not apply to Shared Driveways or Curbcuts approved by the Planning Board);

 

(c)        The Shared Driveway or Curbcut will provide practical, safe and efficient vehicular access to each of the lots served thereby, and the Shared Driveway or Curbcut will be in the public interest.

 

(d)  The Shared Driveway or Curbcut benefits no more than two adjacent residential lots used for residential purposes in one or more Residential Districts;

 

(e)  A perfect square, as referenced in Section 185-17 hereof, exits on each lot served by the Shared Driveway or Curbcut; each such perfect square could be accessed by a conventional driveway or curbcut which would comply with the standards of Section 196-1 et seq. of the Selectmen’s Regulations without regard to Section 196-6(c); and, despite the fact that the current or proposed residence on a lot may not be located within such perfect square, that a residence could be built and accessed on the perfect square on each lot without violation of the rules and regulations of the Conservation Commission and without regard to Planning Board approval for a Shared Driveway or Curbcut;

 

(f)  The necessary perpetual and appurtenant easements have been granted in a form satisfactory to the Planning Board to ensure that:

 

[1]  each lot will at all time have a right to safe access from a way

       described in Section 189-19A(2)  hereof, and

 

[2]  each owner of a lot served by the Shared Driveway or Curbcut

          will at all times have the right to maintain the Shared

Driveway or Curbcut and that maintenance of the Shared

Driveway or Curbcut will at no time be the responsibility of

the Town.

 

(g)        The Shared Driveway or Curbcut shall be contained entirely within the lots being served thereby.

 

 

 

 

When appropriate, the Planning Board shall consult with and involve appropriate Town officials, representatives and employees in making the aforementioned findings.  The Planning Board’s findings shall be in addition to, and not in place of, any approvals or permits, such as an access permit, required under local bylaws, rules and regulations.

 

(4)   The Planning Board may, in conjunction with its approval of a Shared Driveway or Curbcut, require inspections at certain points in the construction by an agent authorized by the Planning Board.

 

(5)       No access permit under Section 196-1 et seq. of the Selectmen’s Regulations will be effective and no building permit shall issue unless Planning Board approval of the Shared Driveway or Curbcut has been granted, the easement(s) required above have been approved and recorded in the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, and written approval by the Planning Board has been issued to the applicant and a copy of such approval has been delivered to the Building Inspector.

 

 

Article 25.  (Planning Board)  To see if the Town will vote to designate all of Dedham Street as a Scenic Road under the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 15C; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 26:  (Planning Board)  To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw by adding the following new paragraph 185-52.E; or take any other action relative thereto:

 

E.      When reviewing an application for or when conducting inspections in relation to a Special Permit, the Special Permit Granting Authority may determine that the outside assistance of consultants is necessary.  In such event, the procedures, requirements and financial responsibility outlined in Chapter 248 Subdivision of Land, Article VII, 248-25.  Review Fees shall apply.

 

 

Article 27:  (Planning Board)  To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw by adding the following new paragraph 185-46.V; or take any other action relative thereto:

 

V.        In accordance with 185-52. Special permits., the Planning Board, as the Special Permit Granting Authority, may authorize the hiring of private consultants at the applicant’s expense.  For the purposes of review of personal wireless service facilities this provision includes consultation with an independent RF engineer to review and evaluate the information submitted by the applicant.       

 

Article 28. (Selectmen)  To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 116 of the General Bylaws to expand the boundary of the GW-1 Groundwater Protection District to include the entire Zone II area designated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for the Draper Road well, as is shown on a revised Groundwater Protection Districts Map and described in bylaw changes on file in the office of the Town Clerk and available for inspection; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 29. (Assessors)  To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41D of the Massachusetts General Laws, in order to annually increase the amount of assets and income certain senior citizens may have to qualify for an exemption under Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41C, by applying the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) determined by the Commissioner of Revenue; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 30.  (School Committee) To see if the Town will vote to accept the proviso in MGL c. 40, Section 3 to allow the balances remaining in the School Committee revolving fund at the close of the fiscal year to remain in said account, and/or raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money for the upkeep and maintenance of facilities under the control of the School Committee; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 31. (Selectmen)  To see of the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to donate used equipment or furniture in the Caryl School to charitable organizations in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30B, Section 15(g), under the terms and conditions approved by the Board of Selectmen; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 32. (Historical Commission)  To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 96 of the General Bylaw concerning Demolition Review as follows; or take any other action relative thereto:

              

              Amend Section 96-2. definition of “Historically Significant Structure” and Section 96-5.A by striking out the date “1899” and replacing it with the date “1929.”

 

              Amend Section 96-3, parts I, J, and K by striking out the words “six months” or “six-month” or “6 months” and replacing them with “one year.”

 

Article 33.  (Warrant Committee) To see if the Town will appropriate pursuant to Chapter 40, Section 6 of the Massachusetts General Laws, a sum not to exceed 5% of the tax levy of the 2001-2002 fiscal year to be a Reserve Fund, from which transfers are voted by the Warrant Committee from time to time and transferred as provided by statute, and determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds including the Reserve Fund Overlay Surplus, or by any combination of these methods; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 34. (Warrant Committee) To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds to pay any unpaid bills rendered to the Town for prior years; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 35. (Warrant Committee) To see if the Town will make supplemental appropriations to be used in conjunction with money appropriated under Article 4 of the Warrant for the 2001 Annual Town Meeting, to be expended during the current fiscal year, or make any other adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2002 budget that may be necessary, and determine whether the money shall be provided by transfer from available funds; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 36. (Warrant Committee) To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Free Cash in the Treasury an amount to meet the appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year and will authorize the Board of Assessors to use the same to reduce the tax rate; or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Article 37. (Selectmen) To see what sum the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from available funds for the purpose of supplementing the Town of Dover Stabilization Fund in accordance with Chapter 40, Section 5B of the

Massachusetts General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto

 

And in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby further required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Dover, qualified as aforesaid,

to assemble at the Town House in said Monday, the 20th of May, 2002 at seven o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following article, to wit:

 

Article 38.   To choose by ballot the following Town Offices:

       Moderator....................................................................….one year

       Town Clerk.................................................................…..three years

       One member of the Board of Selectman......................….three years

       One member of the Board of Assessors.......................….three years

       Two members of the Dover School Committee…......…..three years

       One member of the Dover/Sherborn

                   Regional School Committee........................….….three years

       Two members of the Board of Library Trustees…............three years

       One member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners...three years

       One member of the Planning Board...................................five years

       One member of the Park & Recreation Commission.…....three years

       One member of the Board of Health..................................three years

      

For these purposes the polls will be open at seven o'clock in the forenoon and will close at eight o'clock in the evening.

 

 

       And you are directed to serve this warrant by (1) posting attested copies thereof

on each of the bulletin boards erected in the Town House, at the Post Office, and in no

less than three other Public places where bills and notices are usually posted; and (2) mailing a copy thereof to or leaving same at the residence of every registered voter fourteen days at least before the time of holding said Meeting.

 

       Hereof fail not and make due return of the Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time of the Meeting.

 

       Given under our hands this 6th day of March, 2002.

 

                               

                                ___________________________________

                                            Robert F. Comiskey, Chairman

                                                                         

 

                                            ____________________________________

                                            Douglas W. Scott, Clerk

­­­                                                                        

 

                                            ____________________________________

                                            Tobe Deutschmann Jr., Member

 

 

 

_______________________

Carl E. Sheridan, Constable                     

A true copy attest: