Adams OKs School Study, Rejects Sewer Line Bylaw
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ADAMS — While many articles on the town warrant sparked debate at Monday night's Town Meeting, it was a subject not slated for discussion that spurred the most heated exchanges.
Anthony Morris, a town resident but not a Town Meeting member, approached the Board of Selectmen during review of the $9.5 million budget with questions he deemed "very serious." In light of the tough economic times, Morris asked the board and the finance committee what cuts they've made to the budget in an attempt to keep the tax rate down.
"Over the years, numerous positions have been cut. We're almost down to the bone now and we just can't cut anymore and provide the same level of service to the community," said Selectman Donald Sommer. "We all realize the predicament and the Board of Selectmen is cognizant of the problems with taxes. I just don't think we should keep them low on the backs of town workers."
Sommer's words were met with thundering applause from the dozens of Town Meeting members in attendance.
"In this town, we have people who work hard, people who haven't had a raise in four or five years, people who work for $8 an hour because there's nothing else out there. To sit there and tell me that people in this town can't afford to not get a raise every year, that's ridiculous," said Morris.
"If you can't run this like a business, you need to step aside for someone who can pull the trigger and pull this town up by the bootstraps," he continued.
Discouraged by Moderator Anthony McBride's insistences to move onto the next issue, Morris stormed out, saying "This is a waste of time."
Article 7, which caused controversy when it was brought before the finance committee during the budget hearings, again raised ire as the two items not recommended by the committee — $12,600 for a telephone system upgrade at Town Hall and $5,500 for repairs to the field house roof at the Valley Street field — became topics of contention.
Article 7A, which requested an appropriation for the field roof, was amended and approved after Beth Bourdon called upon the town to "show its support."
"We owe it to the children of the town to grant the $5,500," Bourdon said.
Finance committee chairwoman Rosemarie Stachura explained that the committee had voted not to recommend the repairs because they were hoping they could have volunteers do the work.
Article 7E was revisited by Sommer, a longtime advocate of fixing the 10-year-old phone system. In his appeal to the members, Sommer noted a recent glitch in the system that keeps callers from connecting the town's voicemail system.
"It just rings and rings," he said.
After a standing vote, the phone system repairs were not approved, 47-45.
The night's biggest topics, eliciting comments from both sides of the issue, were the proposed bylaw amendments.
Article 27, an amendment that would see laterals from the main sewer lines to homes become the responsibility of the landowner, prompted horror stories from several town residents, including former Selectman Edward Driscoll.
"I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I went through," said Driscoll, who said his mother's house had been flooded with sewage late last year after work by the water district damaged one of the laterals. "This bylaw is not going to work."
Town Administrator William Ketcham and Director of Public Works Thomas Satko defended their position, noting that not only do most municipalities in the country have bylaws such as the one listed in Article 27 but the change also eases the pressure on the taxpayer who is responsible for the laterals on private property under the current structure. Additionally, the number of blockages is causing the town's insurance claims to become very expensive.
"If the sewer line crosses past the sidewalk and under the street, it suddenly becomes the responsibility of everyone who pays taxes in the town," Ketcham said.
The article was not approved.
Articles 28, intended to provide more specific guidelines about property maintenance was withdrawn by Sommer because the board did not feel they had enough time to properly present it to the members. Article 29, an effort to more clearly define abandoned properties, was determined by a standing vote and passed 68-27.
Articles approved by voice vote:
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The compensation plan originally not recommended by the finance committee. Stachura said "more complete information" had been provided to the committee and earlier this month, they voted to recommend the payment plan.
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An appropriation of up to $400,000 for the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District to begin a feasibility study for Adams Memorial Middle School.
