{"id":1600,"date":"2013-04-23T01:42:58","date_gmt":"2013-04-23T05:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/?p=1600"},"modified":"2013-04-23T10:44:56","modified_gmt":"2013-04-23T14:44:56","slug":"town-meeting-13-session-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/2013\/04\/town-meeting-13-session-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Town Meeting \u00e2\u20ac\u212213, Session 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>I take notes during Town Meeting. They are not official in any way. As I listen to people speak, I type notes. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure that, at times, I mishear or misunderstand the speaker, but my notes represent what I hear at the time. I try to publish the notes every night after the meeting, <a href=\"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/2013\/04\/town-meeting-notes-2013\/\">as time allows<\/a>. I do go back and make a few edits as errors are pointed out to me. \u00c2\u00a0<\/em><em>I do not try to reproduce my entire notes for this online version. Sometimes I relay a quote from a specific speaker. Most of the time I only summarize the discussion. At points I give a purely personal opinion; those are clearly labeled like this:\u00c2\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Personal note<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Arlington Town Meeting of 2013 was called to order by Moderator John Leone.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting sang the National Anthem led by Town Meeting Member Jane Howard on the piano.<\/p>\n<p>Father John J. Graham from St. Agnes\u00c2\u00a0gave the invocation.<\/p>\n<p>Moderator Leone gave his remarks. \u00c2\u00a0He talked about the history of Arlington&#8217;s town meeting. \u00c2\u00a0He reminded members that any substitute motion or amendment needs to be provided at least 48 hours before the article is discussed. \u00c2\u00a0He invited members to join the <a href=\"http:\/\/seven.pairlist.net\/mailman\/listinfo\/townmeeting\">town meeting member email list<\/a>. \u00c2\u00a0He talked about the improved civility last year and and asked for it to further improve. \u00c2\u00a0He remarked on some of the terrible events of this year, and we had a moment of silence.<\/p>\n<p>Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine talked about the condolence books in the front entry way for town residents to sign. \u00c2\u00a0He reported on how the Arlington police department was involved in the week&#8217;s activities. \u00c2\u00a0The department was given a standing ovation.<\/p>\n<p>New members to town meeting were sworn in. \u00c2\u00a0They were welcomed with applause. Returning members were sworn in.<\/p>\n<p>I made the motion for the annual vote about seating rules. \u00c2\u00a0The only people allowed \u00e2\u20ac\u0153on the floor\u00e2\u20ac\u009d are Town Meeting Members and various officials; guests and observers should watch from the balcony.<\/p>\n<p>We voted to reconvene on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 2 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c State of the Town<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I gave the <a title=\"State of the Town \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 2013\" href=\"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/2013\/04\/state-of-the-town-2013\/\">state of the town<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Announcements and Resolutions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jim O&#8217;Conor talked about joining\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/seven.pairlist.net\/mailman\/listinfo\/townmeeting\">town meeting member email list<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Selectman Kevin Greeley announced the upcoming 100th anniversery of Town Hall. \u00c2\u00a0Tickets can be bought at Leader Bank or the Selectment&#8217;s office.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Article 3 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Reports of Committees<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many of these reports can be found on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.town.arlington.ma.us\/Public_documents\/ArlingtonMA_TownMeet\/2013ATM\/reports\/index\">town website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I gave the report of the Board of Selectmen, and introduced the board and department heads.<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> I hadn&#8217;t remembered the introduction part &#8211; that was last minute, and I forgot three people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"display: inline !important;\">Al Tosti gave the FinComm report and introduced\u00c2\u00a0members\u00c2\u00a0of the committee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>Bruce Fitzimmons gave the ARB report and introduced the committee.<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"display: inline !important;\">The electronic voting study report was given by Eric Helmuth. \u00c2\u00a0He gave a 10-minute presentation about electronic voting, and showed a video from <a href=\"http:\/\/votevideos.wordpress.com\/\">votevideos.wordpress.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"display: inline !important;\">William Logan asked that the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee be dissolved, and it was.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The moderator said that several committees were ripe for dissolution, and that at the end of town meeting he was inclined to ask for several of them to be ended.<\/p>\n<p>Al Tosti moved that all motions within the reports be incorporated as the main motions for the relevant articles.<\/p>\n<p>Article 3 was tabled.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 4 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Measurer of Wood and Bark<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I moved that Elsie Fiore be appointed, and she was.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 5 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Election of Assistant Town Moderator<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Michelle Durocher\u00c2\u00a0nominated Jim O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Conor. \u00c2\u00a0No other nominations. \u00c2\u00a0He was elected.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 6 &#8211; Accessory Apartments<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Voted no action.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Articles 7 and 8 &#8211; Medical Marijuana Zoning and 1-year Building Moratorium<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ARB chair Bruce Fitzsimmons introduce the articles as a collaboration with department heads and the town manager. He noted that if both articles fail, dispensaries can open in the near future as a regular retail use. He said they are not trying to say no to these stores, they are trying to say not yet. A couple speakers spoke against 7 because of children and neighbors, but yes on 8. \u00c2\u00a0They didn&#8217;t think that Arlington Center was a good location, but what those speakers didn&#8217;t suggest was where they thought it should be permitted. \u00c2\u00a0Stephen Harrington moved to table article 7 so that the moratorium can be considered first.The motion to table failed on a standing vote. \u00c2\u00a0Harry McCabe tried to postpone instead, and that failed on voice vote. Two speakers were in favor. \u00c2\u00a0Molly Flueckige explained how the Massachusetts law is much more strict than previous states. \u00c2\u00a0She is concerned that B5 is too small.<\/p>\n<p>We had a break for 10 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Stuart Clienman said he is voting against both because it&#8217;s a medicine we shouldn&#8217;t delay. A vote to terminate debate failed. Other speakers were in favor of both, some in favor of only the moratorium. \u00c2\u00a0Town Counsel Juliana Rice explained that both articles are being considered \u00c2\u00a0because when warrant was opened, the legal situation wasn&#8217;t clear. It is more clear now that a moratorium is legal. \u00c2\u00a0Nathan Swilling move terminate debate, which carried. \u00c2\u00a0Article 7 failed by a vote of 114-72 (it required 2\/3). \u00c2\u00a0Article 8, the moratorium, was approved. \u00c2\u00a0Lyman Judd gave notice of reconsideration.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 9 &#8211; Easements Thompson School<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is for 3 poles that are already in place. \u00c2\u00a0There were a couple questions about poles and burying power lines that weren&#8217;t related to this specific article. \u00c2\u00a0(It was noted that burying power lines would be expensive, and the cost passed on to the rate payer). <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u00c2\u00a0I was asked why I was opposed to this article. \u00c2\u00a0I opposed it because an easement is a more permanent solution, and there are less permanent rights that we could grant instead. \u00c2\u00a0Verizon had demanded the permanent. \u00c2\u00a0I&#8217;m not too worried about this, though, because in the big picture we can just take it back by eminent domain if we really need to. \u00c2\u00a0<\/span> The easement was granted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 10 &#8211; Junk Dealers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I explained that this doesn&#8217;t change any of the rules. \u00c2\u00a0We&#8217;re making the change because sellers of used goods don&#8217;t like being told they are selling junk. \u00c2\u00a0The change was approved.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 11 &#8211; Use of Public Property<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No action.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 12 &#8211; Electronic Voting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Eric Helmuth gave a presentation and talked about how this will increase accountability. \u00c2\u00a0Chris Loreti offered two amendments that would have reduced the number of electronic votes. \u00c2\u00a0He said that &#8220;roll call shouldn&#8217;t happen by default.&#8221; \u00c2\u00a0 There were questions about how devices would work and how they might fail. \u00c2\u00a0Pete Howard opposed the plan because of the cost. \u00c2\u00a0Bill Hayner spoke in favor of accountability.<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \u00c2\u00a0I spoke, not as a member of the board, but on my own behalf, against the amendments. \u00c2\u00a0I think that roll call should be the default &#8211; we should be proud of our work. \u00c2\u00a0Our votes over a three year term are our body of work that we should be judged by.<\/span> \u00c2\u00a0Hugh McCrory proposed an amendment to permit town meeting to override the moderator&#8217;s choice on whether or not to use electronic voting. \u00c2\u00a0All three amendments went down by voice vote. \u00c2\u00a0The main motion was approved.<\/p>\n<p>Al Tosti moved to table articles 13-41, and it was approved.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Article 42 &#8211; Appropriation for Electronic Voting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Al Tosti explained this is a lease so we can evaluate for a year if we like it or not. \u00c2\u00a0Lyman Judd was opposed and called it a parliamentary maneuver, and got in a shouting match with the moderator. \u00c2\u00a0The motion was approved.<\/p>\n<p>Articles 13-41 were taken from the table.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting adjourned for the night.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I take notes during Town Meeting. They are not official in any way. As I listen to people speak, I type notes. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure that, at times, I mishear or misunderstand the speaker, but my notes represent what I hear at the time. I try to publish the notes every night after the meeting, as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-town-meeting-13"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1600"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1604,"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1600\/revisions\/1604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}