Special Town Meeting Results

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DISMISSED — ARTICLE 1: Approve Unpaid bills from previous fiscal years.

APPROVED — ARTICLE 2: That the town reduce the following fiscal year 2021 operating budgets by $515,436.

DISMISSED — ARTICLE 3: Fiscal Year 2021 budget transfers.

APPROVED — ARTICLE 4: That the town appropriate from free cash the sum of $55,000 for the purpose of providing funds to address associated issues regarding perchlorate contamination.

APPROVED 155 to 46 — ARTICLE 5: Approve Community Preservation Committee Recommendations. * That the town appropriate the sum of $1,344,152 from the Community Preservation fund for the purpose of constructing a new amenities building at Westford Academy’s Trustees Field for recreational purposes.

FIVE APPROVALS AND ONE DENIAL — MOTION 1: ARTICLE 6:  Approve fiscal year 2021 capital appropriations: Voters approved a free cash appropriation of $255,000. All but  $90,000 for a feasibility study for a school administrative office was approved.

• APPROVED — MOTION 1 continued — Another $897,000 for capital requests and costs by the Water Enterprise retained earnings.
• APPROVED — MOTION 2 — That the town appropriate the sum of $440,000 for the purpose of constructing a sidewalk on Carlisle Road.
• APPROVED — MOTION 3 — That the town appropriate the sum of $8,160,000 for the Oak Hill, Plain and Moore Roads infrastructure improvement project to replace the water main, drainage, pavement, and improve pedestrian accommodations.

DISMISSED — MOTION 4 — That the town appropriate the sum of $1,344,152 for the purpose of constructing the Westford Amenities building located on 30 Patten Road.

APPROVED — Article 7 — That the town transfer the following available funds to reduce the net amount to be raised by taxes for fiscal year 2021: $352,711.81.

APPROVED — Article 8 — This authorizes the Board of Selectmen to accept easements on Oak Hill, Plain, and Moore Roads.

APPROVED — Article 9 –– Authorizes the town to acquire by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, on such terms and conditions as selectmen determine, permanent and/or temporary easements on the parcels of land shown on the plans entitled “Plan of Land, Carlisle Road, Westford, MA.”

APPROVED — Article 10 — Authorizes the town to acquire by purchase, gift, alnd/or eminent domain in parcels of land abutting and/or near Beaver Brook Road and Webber Road for the reconstruction, installation, inspection, maintenance, improvement, repair, replacement and/or relocation of a bridge, rights of way, sidewalks, drainage, etc.

DENIED 111 to 108 — Article 11 — Sought to have Town Meeting go on the record to call the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Westford.

DISMISSED — Article 12 — Sought to add an additional all alcohol on premises license to be exercised by Veled, Inc.

DISMISSED — Article 13: Clarify the memorandum of understanding between the town of Westford and Westford Community Access TV.

APPROVED – Article 14 — Resolution to promote clean energy and reduce fossil fuel use to achieve the commonwealth of Massachusetts’ limit of net–zero greenhouse gas emissions.

DISMISSED — Article 15 — TWO MOTIONS:  Amend the town’s general and zoning bylaws to reflect inclusive language amendments to the town charter pending before the General Court.

• DISMISSED — MOTION 1: Would amend the town’s bylaws to name the Board of Selectmen the Select Board.
• DISMISSED — MOTION 2: Asked the town to amend zoning bylaws to reflect pending amendments to the town charter that will change the name of the Board of Selectmen to Select Board.

APPROVED — Article 16: Amend the zoning bylaw to clarify minimum lot frontage.

APPROVED — Article 17: Amend the zoning bylaw to extend the time for lapse of special permits from two years to three years.

APPROVED — Article 18: Asked the town to amend the zoning bylaw to clarify area standards for accessory dwelling units.

DISMISSED — Article 19: Amend the zoning bylaw to regulate massage establishments.

APPROVED — Article 20: Amend the zoning bylaws to delete section 6.3: growth management (and related subsections) which expired on May 11, 2009.

DENIED, 124 to 83 — Article 21:  Amend the zoning bylaw to define and regulate short-term rentals, and to establish a Summer Village short-term rental overlay district.

APPROVED — Article 22: Amend the zoning bylaw to define short-term rentals and to establish a summer village short-term rental overlay district.

DENIED — Article 23: Amend the zoning bylaw to allow drive-through facilities in certain zoning districts by special permit from the Planning Board.

APPROVED — Article 24:  Would authorize selectmen to convey both the house and carriage house at 63 Main St. as a single family residence with historic restrictions and that a portion of the property contiguous to the Town Hall parking lot be retained to accommodate parking.

APPROVED — Article 25: That the town vote to authorize the board of selectmen to petition for special legislation permitting the town to disburse funds it currently holds pursuant to an agreement for judgment in the matter of DeMauro v. DeMauro.