Clarksburg Passes Fiscal 2017 Budgets, New Zoning Bylaws
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Voters on Wednesday passed the bulk of the annual town meeting warrant with little or no discussion, including a school budget of $2,551,546 and town budget of $1,455,549.93
The adoption of a stretch building code and raising town clerk's salary generated the most talk, with the code passing handily and the salary being rejected.
Voters also passed with some hesitation an animal husbandry zoning bylaw that set limits for property size and drinking water proximity but only after town officials assured several questioners that it could be later amended or that residents could ask for waivers.
Only a few dozen voters turned out to decide the 24-article warrant, taking nearly two hours to get through the questions. All articles passed except for Article 23, which was tabled because it was a repeat of Article 21.
The town is in the midst of updating its zoning bylaws and several amendments were passed on Wednesday. One related to wireless telecommunications facilities passed without comment but the second addressing wind generation required reassurance to several voters were were concerned that noisy wind turbines might still be built.
James Brandon of East Road said the noise from the large turbines on Florida Mountain were very noticeable from his house and noise wasn't detailed in the bylaw.
Planning Board Chairman David Sherman said the noise component is being addressed through the kilowatt output. The bylaw will only allow turbines less than 100 feet tall and generating 10 kW or less by special permit. The intent, he said was to allow residential use and attempts to create a commercial low-power facility would not fly.
Sherman couldn't support, however, the town's adoption of the energy-efficient stretch building code.
Town Administrator Carl McKinney said its adoption was one of the criteria required for the town's application for a Green Communities designation that would mean $125,000 to $135,000 from the state.
"The intent is utilizing those dollars to make our town more energy efficient in as many ways as possible," he said. "I think there is a great deal of good that can come out of it."
Sherman had concerns that the code added extra expenses, and was making houses too airtight and causing mold, citing someone he knows in another town who has been battling mold.
Building Inspector B.J. Church and James Barry of the state Department of Environmental Protection said the code was overall more beneficial than not. Both said it was not much different than the current codes, including the International Energy Code.
Barry said he became convinced of the benefits as a selectman in Belchertown and was hired by the state to explain the process to other towns.
"It will not require a too tight house, a moldy house," he said, adding "you have to use materials that breathe."
Church said there had been no training with implementation of the code, leaving builders trying to figure out how to comply. "I think there's still a learning curve going on."
The code applies only to new construction and, to a lesser extent, major additions and requires an energy consultant or engineer. Barry said rebates, such as through the Mass Save program, easily offset the extra costs related to the stretch code.
Church agreed, saying that Monson, for which she is also inspector, recently rebuilt its Town Hall to the code. "We had so many rebates we offset all that."
Sherman recommended against the measure, which passed 22-12. It goes into affect on Jan. 1, 2017.
A motion by resident Cynthia Schock to increase the town clerk's salary to $10,800 caused a bit of back and forth between Town Clerk Carol Jammalo, the Select Board and Finance Committee.
Jammalo has crossed words with other town officials at the last few annual town meetings over cuts to her budget and reductions in reimbursements. An elected official, she has been trying to get an increase in her salary that she feels is commensurate with her responsibilities.
The town budgeted $9,539 for next year, giving her the same 2 percent raise as other employees.
Schock, a member of the Board of Health, argued that it was important for the town clerk to be properly certified and she should rewarded for pursuing more education.
"Her knowledge is a value for us as a town," she said. "I want to know my town officials are educated."
When no one seconded Schock's motion, Jammalo did.
Jammalo said it was necessary to keep up on everything under her purview, including election laws and public records. "The laws are constantly changing," she said.
Select Board member William Schrade said the town did reimburse her for required training — including accommodations and travel — but it should not have to pay for anything beyond that. Her education budget had been increased for next year.
The other officials said they couldn't recommend an increase in pay because they had no way of knowing how many hours Jammalo actually worked. She currently has office hours on Wednesday specifically for residents but also comes into Town Hall on other days and by appointment; she has said she also works from home.
"I agree Carol does an outstanding job," said Select Board Chairman Jeffrey Levanos. "The problem we have as a board is when she came to us, we couldn't document it. She's here four hours a week. We don't know if she worked Friday night or all weekend or not at all."
Board members said they would revisit her salary if she could give them a better understanding of what she does.
"This is not a personality issue, this is an accountability issue," said Finance Committee member Molly Guest. "We just were asking for information and we didn't get cooperation and we had to base it on what we had."
Schock's motion failed; Levanos motioned the original amount, which passed.
The meeting was the last for the members of the Finance Committee. Chairman Mark Denault and Lori-Anne Aubin served four years during a particularly turbulent time in the town's finances. Guest, a more recent member, is also not returning.
Levanos thanked them for their efforts and town meeting sent them off with applause.
"They have gone above and beyond and it shows, it shows in the budget and how the town has turned around in the past few years," he said.
The town is now looking for three new members for the committee. Letters of interest can be submitted to McKinney; Town Moderator Bryan Tanner makes the appointments.
The town election was held on Tuesday with a paltry 4 percent turnout: 44 of 1,105 registered voters. Incumbents were re-elected unopposed and newcomer Patricial Denault was elected library trustee.
The results are Ernest F. Dix, one-year term as tree warden; Bryan H. Tanner, one-year term, moderator; William Schrade, three-year term, selectman; Michael G. River, three-year term, Board of Health; Carol Jammalo, three-year term, town clerk; Richard Bernardi, three-year term, McCann School Committee; Edward Denault, three-year term, War Memorial trustee; Patricia Prenguber, three-year term, School Committee; and Thomas Jammalo, five-year term, Planning Board.
Tags: town meeting 2016,
