CHESHIRE, Mass. — Voters on Monday night approved all 34 articles on the annual town meeting warrant, including the town and school budgets, a meals tax and a chicken bylaw. 

 

Some 90 voters filled the former Cheshire Community House cafeteria and spent nearly three hours debating and voting.

 

Voters decided to separate several line items from the general government budget article of $1,635,417. Voters specifically separated out the salaries for town administrator, executive assistant, treasurer/collector and town clerk for discussion.

 

Voters approved the budget of $50,000 for the treasurer and collector's office following clarification on the redistribution of duties, hours, and impact on town services. 

 

This discussion was a precursor to Article 33, which requested separating the position into a treasurer and a collector, which passed. This will also have to be adopted by a town ballot vote. 

 

The office has one full-time employee and a part-time employee; the approval authorized it to be changed to two part-time employees. 

 

Voters raised concerns regarding whether this change will negatively impact town services. 

 

Treasurer/Collector Ben Gelb, who started in the position part-time in March, explained that he will be working 19 1/2 hours and will be in the office on Tuesdays and Fridays, as needed. His salary will be $40,000 and any balance leftover will go into free cash. 

 

"There's been efficiency gains that Gelb has implemented. For instance, mailing out of tax bills now go directly from the vendor. Previously, the bills came to the town hall, they were stuffed in an envelope — several hours of time consumption to do that — and now they just go directly from the printer to the residents," Selectmen Chair Shawn McGrath said

 

"Gelb's working on a whole slew of things like that to improve efficiency and decrease the amount of hours needed, with the expectation that at certain times of the year [such as] tax bills are coming in, there'll be a need for adjustment of hours."

 

Gelb said he is confident he will be able to complete his responsibilities within the allotted time because he is doing "half the job." He said in the six other towns he works for, he has been able to offset his salary by increasing revenue and cutting costs. 

 

It was claimed that this change will result in savings of more than $90,000 because the town will not have to pay for benefits that come along with full-time positions.  

 

Voter Gary Trudeau questioned the need increase the hours of the executive assistant to full time -- hiking the salary from $28,378 to $54,309 -- but withdrew his concern following the board's explanation that it relates to more responsibilities, including minutes and research for several committees and boards.

 

"It's also taking more clerical tasks off of the town administrator's desk so she can focus on higher-level research for grants and other funding opportunities for the town," McGrath said. 

 

The Hoosac Valley Regional School budget of $3,206,082, a 3.5 percent increase, passed following a short discussion. 

 

The school budget passed with a couple voters, including a Fiinance Committee member, expressing their support because it is a slight increase and that Cheshire will be outvoted by Adams, the other community in the district, anyway. 

 

Also passed was the town's assessment to the Northern Berkshire Vocational School District of $586,213.

 

Selectwoman Michelle Francesconi also emphasized the need for more oversight of the Berkshire Arts & Technology Public Charter School as she said the town's assessment is disproportionate to the number of students who attend. 

 

Voters approved using $171,000 in free cash for projects including $60,000 for an owner's project manager for a public safety complex and $50,000 for engineering on a heating system for the town offices. 

 

Another $297,897 in free cash will be used to reduce the tax rate. The town has $713,353 in certified free cash; following the approval of the warrant articles it will have $244,456. The general stabilization account has $438,347 and capital stabilization is $283,307. 

 

Voters also authorized a three-year borrowing of $67,150 for police cruiser; this will also require a ballot vote to exclude it from Proposition 2 1/2.

 

An article to pass a local meals tax that failed last year, passed with no discussion this year after a presentation by Selectman Raymond Killeen. The tax adds an additional 0.75 percent — equivalent to 75 cents for every $100 spent — on all food sold by vendors and merchants. This is in addition to the state's 6.25 percent tax.

 

Voters passed the keeping and raising of livestock or poultry bylaw after a discussion surrounding the need and impact. The article passed 61-10.

 

The zoning ordinance, enacted in 1977, prohibited certain livestock or poultry in R-1 districts. Those who wanted to own poultry or livestock in a residential zone would have to request a special permit which could cost up to $600, Zoning Board Chair Stephen Marko said. 

 

However, the ordinance was not equally enforced with some voters saying chickens are everywhere in town and unless they are a nuisance, many neighbors have no idea. 

 

The new bylaw requires that a limited number of livestock or poultry be allowed, be registered with the Board of Health and have regular inspections by the animal inspector.

 

Keeping of pets such as dogs, cats, various rodent species, exotic birds, reptiles, fist, or amphibians is allowed by right. 

 

The bylaw however stipulates that only a maximum of six total adult domesticated fowl, rabbits, and mammals are permitted on a property, regardless of the number of dwelling units. 

 

The goal of the bylaw is to provide better oversight of livestock in residential areas.

 

Voter Bob Tetlow described the bylaw as an "easy out" and advocated for it to stay in zoning.

 

"You're concerned about reducing the value of land here and houses, because you've got some chickens there," said Marko. "You probably don't even know. There are a lot of people with chickens here, and you don't even know it, because they're keeping them well, confined, they're taking care of them."

 

Some voters raised concerns with whether chickens attract rodents. However, several others said it's not the chickens but improperly stored food. 

 

The remaining articles passed with no discussion or following clarification. The town dedicated the annual town report to retired Town Clerk Christine Emerson, for her more than 30 years of dedicated service to the town. She retired last year.