10/15/2018 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

Home Browse Search

3 Board of Selectmen Minutes October 15. 2018 Review of Town Meeting Warrant with the Finance Committee, Town Counsel and the Town Moderator: Meeting Called to Order by Finance Committee Chairman Richardson at 6:09 p.m. Finance Committee members in attendance; Mike Richardson, Jeffrey Pettengill, Chris Avis, Gregory McKelvey, and Phil McCahill. The Finance Committee reviewed the proposed Town Meeting articles with the Board of Selectmen taking action as follows; Article 13: Home Rule Petition to authorize Sewer Construction& Water Quality Maintenance and Improvement Fund: The proposed Home Rule Petition article would empower the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court for a Special Act that authorizes the establishment of a Sewer Construction and Water Quality Maintenance and Improvement Fund. With authorization of the Special Act, the Town would have the ability to receive revenue, and appropriate grants and other monies to the fund for special purpose which includes planning, designing and the construction of sewers and other means of comprehensive wastewater management and maintenance as well as the improvement of water resources. Funds when deposited must remain segregated in this account for sewer infrastructure improvements only. In discussing this article it was noted that available resources include, but are not limited to,the use of the local option hotel/motel and short term rental taxes. The potential revenue the Town is currently receiving from the hotel/motel tax is approximately $100,000. With the authorization of the Special Act, funds from the hotel/motel tax would no longer be deposited into the General Fund. In further considering this article, it was agreed the specific language should be addressed as Section 2 of the Act is not clearly defined. Mr. Avis recommended the article be deferred to the May Town Meeting to ensure full clarity of the intent and of the percentage that would derive from the hotel/motel tax. It was then suggested the establishment of the special account move forward deleting the hotel/motel tax option. It was disclosed the Board of Selectmen would have full authority regarding this account, and most likely a percentage of the tax would be deposited into this fund.