From the Town Clerk

Rehoboth May 14, 2022 Annual Town Meeting

Francis Farm Community Complex - Museum Building

1:00 PM ~ 4:50 PM

Article Number

Vote

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING:

Town Meeting-Convened @ 1:00 p.m.

Article # 1

Annual Town Surplus Equipment Auction Authorization

Voted by majority vote to authorize the disposal of surplus Town equipment and materials from any Town departments by bid, auction or scrap pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30B, or by donation or other disposition pursuant to applicable laws.

Article #2

Authorization to Pay Bills of a Prior Year

Voted by 4/5ths vote to authorize the payment of bills from the previous year as printed in the warrant. 

Source of funds: Free Cash

Article #3

Set Salaries and Compensation of

Elected Officials

Approved by Majority Vote

As Printed in the Warrant

Article #4

340 Anawan Street-Town Hall

Note Payment

Voted unanimously, as amended, to appropriate the sum of $116,342 from the Solar Revenue Fund and the sum of $66,658 from Taxation for a total of $183,000 for the annual payment of principal and interest on the 340 Anawan note for the 2021 purchase of 340 Anawan Street.

Article # 5

Board of Health Transfer Station

Offset Receipts

Vote to reauthorize an “Offset Receipts” account for the solid waste handling facility and recycling area and its operation.  The fiscal year 2023 expenditures shall be limited to $158,000.00.

Article #6

Reauthorize Revolving Accounts Expenditures

Voted to authorize the total expenditure limits for the revolving funds as printed in the warrant.

Article #7

Community Preservation Budget & Appropriation of Monies from Community Preservation Fund Annual Revenues

Approved by Majority Vote

As Printed in the Warrant

Article #8

Appropriate Funds from Network Transportation Reserve Receipt Fund

Approved by Majority Vote

As Printed in the Warrant

Article #9

Acceptance of Report

Voted unanimously, as printed in the warrant and amended, to receive the reports of the Rehoboth Board of Health, Water Commission and Housing Authority. 

Article #10

Property Swap Between Town of Rehoboth and Rehoboth Housing Authority

Voted, by two-thirds* majority, to authorize the Board of Selectmen (BOS) to declare available for disposition and convey the land with the buildings as described in the warrant, to the Rehoboth Housing Authority (RHA), and, as consideration therefor, to authorize the BOS to acquire from the RHA, the land off Anawan Street, as described in the warrant, to be under the care, custody and control of the BOS, and to enter into all agreements and execute any and all instruments as may be necessary on behalf of the Town of Rehoboth to affect said transfer.

*2/3rds Vote Received

YES = 115               NO = 26                TOTAL = 141

Article #11

Fiscal Year 2023 Town Budget Recommendations from the Finance Committee – Acceptance of Report

Voted by majority vote, to approve as amended, to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the amount of $11,808,768 and to further amend the source of funds to transfer from Taxation the amount of $11,629,414, from Over Lay Surplus the amount of $59,420, transfer from the Cannabis Fund the amount of $66,658 and transfer from Free Cash the amount of $53,276 to defray the expenses of Town Government and for the ensuing fiscal year and to make all appropriations therefore.  Also voted by majority vote* an amendment to the article by treating the total appropriation as a single line-item so as to allow the Selectmen to do inter-departmental transfers, as needed, during the fiscal year.

*2^nd Amendment (Single Appropriation) –

YES = 89               NO = 48                TOTAL = 137

Article #12

Fiscal Year 2023 Dighton Rehoboth Regional School Budget

Voted unanimously, to approve, as presented in the warrant and as amended, to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $20,362,471 from Taxation.

Article #13

Fiscal Year 2023 Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical High School Budget

Voted unanimously to receive the report of the Finance Committee, and to raise from Taxation, the sum of $1,196,994 as printed in the warrant.

Article #14

Fiscal Year 2023 Bristol County Agricultural High School Budget

Voted unanimously, to approve, as presented in the warrant and as amended, to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $170,000 from Taxation.

Article #15

CPC Funds from the Undesignated Fund for Related Expenses of the Purchase of

the Grear Property

Voted unanimously, to approve the appropriation of $20,000 from the Town’s Undesignated Community Preservation Funds for expenses relating to the preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of the Grear property, to include engineering, administrative, and filing costs for the development of the Conservation Restriction.

Article #16

CPC Funds from the Undesignated Fund for Related Expenses of the Purchase of

Francis Farm

Voted unanimously, to approve the appropriation of $20,000 from the Town’s Undesignated Community Preservation Funds, for expenses relating to the preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of a portion of the Francis Farm property, to include engineering, administrative and filing costs for the development of the Conservation Restriction.

Article #17

Replenish Stabilization Fund

Voted unanimously, to transfer from Free Cash the amount of $287,251 into the Town’s Stabilization Fund.

Article #18

Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Budget-Town

Voted unanimously, to transfer from Free Cash the sum of $318,500 for the purposes of funding FY23 Capital Improvement Plan as printed in the warrant.

Article #19

Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Budget-DRRSC

Voted by majority vote to transfer from Free Cash the sum of $225,000 for the purposes of reimbursing the actual cost, upon completion and inspection, up to the approved appropriation of the FY23 Capital Improvement Plan items as submitted by the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District and as printed in the warrant.

Article #20

Capital Stabilization Fund: Education

Voted by two-thirds vote* as amended to establish a special purpose Stabilization Fund as printed in the warrant; and further to appropriate $25,000 from Free Cash to said Stabilization Fund.

*2/3rds Vote Received

YES = 107              NO = 5               TOTAL = 112

Article #21

Street Acceptances:

Skyla Way and Kaylee Drive

Voted by two-thirds vote* to accept as town public ways Skyla Way and Kaylee Drive, as described in the warrant and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept or take by eminent domain deeds or easements to use such public way for all purposes for which public ways are used in the Town of Rehoboth and further to acquire related drainage, utility and other related easements, as may be necessary. Further, to authorize the transfer from free cash of $1,500 to pay for title and other expenses that may arise.

*2/3rds Vote Received

YES = 104              NO = 10               TOTAL = 114

Article #22

Amend Wording for Building Department Revolving Account

Voted unanimously to amend, as described in the warrant.

Article #23

297 Winthrop Street Payment in Lieu of Taxes Solar “PILOT” Agreement

Voted unanimously in accordance with GL Chapter 59, Section 38h to authorize the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Assessors to review, negotiate and enter into a “Payment in Lieu of Taxes,” as described in the warrant.

Article #24

Creation of Stabilization Fund

Pursuant to G.L. C.40, § 5B

Voted by two-thirds* vote:  to (1) vote to create a special purpose stabilization fund pursuant to GL Chapter 40, § 5b to reserve for expenditures related to the promotion, creation and preservation of affordable housing; and (2) to transfer or appropriate a sum of money into said fund being equal to the proceeds due to the town in the matters of town of Rehoboth v. 7 Samantha Lane Realty Trust, Britni Testa Trustee, et al., Land Court C.A. NO. 18 MISC 000306  and Mass Housing v. Fiola, et al., Bristol Superior Court, C.A. NO. 1873CV000945.

*2/3rds Vote Received

YES = 104              NO = 4               TOTAL = 108

Article #25

General Bylaws Amendment to Chapter A – Town Meetings, Officers, Committees

and Elections

Voted unanimously to amend the Town of Rehoboth General Bylaws – Chapter A – Town Meetings, Officers, Committees and Elections - Article I – Calling of Town Meetings, as described in the warrant, for Rehoboth to move from three to four precincts.

Article #26

General Bylaws Amendment to Chapter A – Town Officials Elected-Constable

Voted unanimously to amend the Town of Rehoboth General Bylaws – Chapter A – Article III – Town Officials – Elected – “Constable,” to four Constables (from three Constables), each for a term of three years.

Article #27

Special Legislation -Stormwater Officer

Voted by majority vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court to adopt the Special Act, as printed in the warrant.

Article #28

Amend Section 3.2 of the Town of Rehoboth Zoning Bylaws and the Town of Rehoboth’s Zoning Map as it pertains to a rear portion of the properties located at 181R and 177 Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA

Voted to defeat* the amendment of Section 3.2 of the Town of Rehoboth Zoning Bylaw and the Town of Rehoboth’s Zoning Map as described in the warrant.

*2/3rds Vote Not Obtained/Defeated

YES =    61           NO =       44         TOTAL =  105

Article #29

To Amend Town of Rehoboth General Bylaws-Chapter A-Article IV

Town Officials – Appointed

Voted by majority vote to amend the Town of Rehoboth General Bylaws Chapter A - Article IV - Section 1, as described in the warrant.

Article #30

Remove Article Va-Rescue Department from Town of Rehoboth Bylaws

Voted unanimously to delete, in its entirety, Article Va of Chapter B of the General Bylaws relating to a Rescue Department.

Article #31

Transfer Care, Custody and Control to Town of Rehoboth Conservation Commission

Voted by two-thirds* vote to authorize the Selectmen to transfer the care, custody and control of the parcels that are described in the warrant, to the Town of Rehoboth Conservation Commission, such parcels to be held for conservation purposes.

*2/3rds Vote Received

YES = 99              NO = 3               TOTAL = 102

Article #32

General Bylaws Amendment to Chapter B – Protection of Persons & Property -

Section 36-Scenic Roads

Voted unanimously to amend the Town of Rehoboth General Bylaws - Chapter B - Protection of Persons & Property - Section 36 - Scenic Roads, as described in the warrant.

Article #33

General By-Laws Amendment to Chapter N – Authorization of Penalties for Violation of Wetlands Protection Regulations

Voted by majority vote to amend the Town of Rehoboth General By-Laws, Chapter N “Wetland Protection By-Law, as described in the warrant.

Article #34

Acceptance of

Clause Twenty-Second H-Brave Act

Voted by majority vote to accept Clause Twenty-Second H of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws as described in the warrant.

Article #35

Acceptance of Cemetery Land Developers-Burial Ground Bylaws

Voted unanimously to amend its General Bylaws to Article II of Chapter C of the General Bylaws, as described in the warrant.

Article #36

To Approve Changes To Article 4.5 Groundwater Protection District

of the Zoning Bylaws

Voted unanimously to indefinitely postpone

Article 36 to a future date.

Article #37

Transact Other Business as may Legally

Come Before said Meeting

Voted unanimously to dissolve the

May 14, 2022 Annual Town Meeting at 4:50 PM.

SELECTMAN (2-Positions)

STORMWATER OFFICER (1-Position)

Craig R. Chapman

Kevin J. Foley

Joseph Albert Nunes

Robert E. Johnson II

Leonard Mills, Jr.