This article allows Town Meeting to hear reports from town officers and committees. This time around, Town Meeting Members can expect to hear from the Economic Development Department, Town Administration, and Town Finance.

Economic Development Director Melisa Tintocalis gave an update about her department's work. See the draft Mixed-Use Zoning plan that will be voted on at a future Town Meeting.

Paul Sagarino presented the budget overview, which is found starting on page 22 of the Budget Book and in our Buzz Overview.

Ways & Means Chair John Iler explained the Ways & Means position that, assuming the Fox Hill and/or Police Station projects are approved by Town Meeting, a debt exclusion would be best for the future financial health of the town.

Authorizes the use of funds to pay outstanding FY2023 expenses and close out the year.

Authorizes the funding of the FY 2025 budget. This is a HUGE article, accompanied by its own separate budget book. Town Meeting also votes on the School Department budget, but only on the final number. See the Buzz overview and deep dive. The Ways & Means Committee voted unanimously in favor of each budget.

Transfers money from our Free Cash to our Stabilization Fund. Free Cash is money left over after the fiscal year’s accounts are trued up, and the Stabilization fund is a kind of rainy-day fund established to take care of any unexpected expenses that come up. some of the later capital articles are requesting to be paid from the stabilization fund.

Transfers money from our Free Cash to our OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) fund, which pays for things like health insurance for retired town employees.

Establishes how much is allowed to be in our revolving accounts, which are accounts related to a specific service or program that have both income and expenditures, and essentially fund themselves. Examples of this are the rain barrels, which the town buys and residents buy from the town, or the Ice Palace Improvement and Maintenance, which is funded by Ice Palace Revenues. At a certain point the excess goes into the town’s free cash, so we are essentially deciding what that amount is. You can find a chart of such accounts in the Warrant and more detail is in the backup.

This article is to fund the replacement of outdated portable radios, last purchased in 2011, for the police and fire department. The amount also includes funds for radio box receivers which ring the station bells when a home fire alarm goes off. This is the third and final phase of the communications upgrade for Burlington's public safety agencies. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This is for a rescue ATV that can reach more rugged and hard-to-reach areas. Ways & Means vote: 8-4-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

The Fire Department would like to get a new front-line Shift Commander response vehicle, using the current one to replace the Training Officer car, which is in need of repairs and is becoming less reliable. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

The evaluation of the intersection funded through Town Meeting last May determined that a traffic signal should be installed at this intersection. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

These Variable Frequency Drives are original to the facility and need to be replaced proactively to keep the sewer pump running and prevent the station from releasing sewage into the aquifer and onto Terrace Hall Ave. This is Phase 2 of the project; Phase 1 was funded through Town Meeting last May. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

The town has been replacing water meters on an ongoing basis and is requesting funds for the design, analysis, and procurement documents for a future meter purchase. Old, end-of-life meters tend to read less accurately and can result in penalties from the state. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This will fund drainage repair and stream cleaning to relieve localized flooding. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

As a part of the Department of Public Works program to replace vehicles on an ongoing basis and maintain a reliable fleet, the Department is looking to replace two dump trucks, two pickup trucks, and a utility truck. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This will replace the existing leaf vacuum. Ways & Means vote: 9-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This versatile piece of equipment hopes to improve efficiency for athletic field maintenance, spring/fall cleanups, snow removal, and more. Ways & Means vote: 9-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This will replace the older of the town's existing zero-turn mowers. Ways & Means vote: 9-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This will replace the current ballfield groomer, which is 15 years old and at the end of its useful life. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

These funds will replace an existing 20+-year-old playground with new equipment and an accessible surface. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This is to make up the difference between the funding approved by Town Meeting in May of 2022. Between the time of the quote and the time of the equipment being sourced, prices went way up, and the schools are seeking the difference to be able to complete the project. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This funding will go toward replacing worn or failed HVAC components in the rooftop penthouses at Burlington High School. (Don't get excited, these penthouses don't house humans—just heating & ventilation equipment!) Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This is for the retubing of three boilers at the high school. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

These funds would provide for walkie talkies, emergency buttons and signal notifiers for the emergency lock-down system, and more to enhance security in all Burlington schools. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This funding will go toward replacing a 20-year-old backup generator at Francis Wyman Elementary. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This would include smoke arms for hallway doors, a refrigerant monitor, and the programming of a control module to help gain the maximum usefulness and efficiency out of the HVAC system at Marshall Simonds Middle School. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This will connect the fields with the school via fiber, replacing the current wireless connection, which is unreliable. This new connection will allow room for expansion. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This will replace an existing 20-year-old forklift, which helps transport materials throughout the 370,000 square feet of the high school, as well as loading and unloading deliveries. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This will allow for the use of a second dedicated vehicle for the schools, rather than individuals continuing to use their own vehicles to transport materials, tools, and supplies between buildings. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This article is for renovation of 9 bathrooms at the middle school and reconfiguration for accessibility. (MSMS was renovated in 2011, but these bathrooms were not a part of this project.) Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This project would include removing lockers, adding new flooring, classroom, fitness center, and bathrooms to the current locker rooms at Marshall Simonds Middle School. The space is not currently being used as locker rooms, and this renovation would help better utilize the space. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

These would replace old and worn cafeteria tables at Fox Hill, and would be able to be used, either in Fox Hill or in another school, after the new building is constructed. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

These funds would replace damaged and aged fencing at Pine Glen Elementary School. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This is for furniture for Tech Ed, science labs, and more at Marshall Simonds. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This is for services related to a full K-12 Math and English curriculum review and teacher professional development. This is not for curricular materials. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

This is for semi-permanent staging floor to address accessibility issues in the band and chorus room. These will be able to be used for other purposes if and when the high school is renovated or rebuilt. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

Replacement of 10,000 square feet of carpeting, including in Central Administration offices at BHS. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0

Accept Chapter 90 funds from the state for infrastructure maintenance including paving. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0

This is to pay back loans from MWRA to help limit our inflow and infiltration problems with the sewer system. Ideally the only water in the sewer pipes would be sewage. Unfortunately sewer systems end up with inflow (water put there illegally - think sump pumps piped into a home's sewer line) and infiltration (water that gets in the system when ground water leaks in through cracks or old porous cement pipes). All of our sewage goes into a larger pipe in Woburn, and from there to Deer Island in the Harbor. There is a meter at the Woburn line and we get charged for every gallon of water/sewage that crosses into Woburn. So we pay to treat storm water. The state requires we try to remediate I/I problems to limit stress on the system and to prevent waste. The MWRA offers a program where we borrow money at 0% interest, then they grant us 75% of the amount borrowed and we pay back the 25% over 10 years at 0%. This annual article pays that loan payment. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0

Annual article to pay the sewer bill. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0

This is to pay for the MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority) connection, so we can be a part of that larger water provision resource. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0

This new engine, which will cost $1.2 million, will replace an old engine; the quote includes communication and other hardware. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

As a part of the town's Pavement Management Plan, this money will go toward paving roads ($2 million), sidewalks ($1 million), and parking lots ($500,000). A full list of areas to be paved and a history of the sidewalk program can be found starting on page 242 of the Backup. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This pump station is 54 years old, at the end of its useful life, and needs to be replaced to avoid sewage flow into surrounding areas. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

This is the final phase of the town's connection to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, a process which began several years ago. This is actually a reappropriation of $4,600,000 in funds already set aside for entrance into the MWRA; the town received a waiver for that fee and would like to use the funds to complete the connection, making 6.5 millions of gallons of water per day accessible to Burlington via the MWRA connection. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

In 2023, the project to install PFAS filters at Mill Pond to address the higher-than-accepted levels of the forever chemicals in our drinking water was completed. The useful life of the resin used in these filters is thought to be about 18 months, but the town is not sure precisely when the filters will need to be replaced. They are requesting to have the material on hand so they can replace it when it becomes necessary, per their regular testing of the water. Note: The Select Board requested that this be rolled into the DPW operating budget in the future. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 7-0-0

There’s a fee on each cable bill that then goes to fund community programming, so this article transfers those fees to BCAT because they provide our community programming. Ways & Means vote: 11-0-0

Transfer from Receipts Reserved Account for Ambulance Services to offset FY24 budget. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Select Board Vote: 5-0-0

This is to fund the Negotiated Settlement Account to fund the Administrative and Professional Compensation Plan. This amount is a result of contract negotiations, and as such it comes from the Negotiated Settlements account and does not affect the operating budget. - NOT SETTLED - WITHDRAWN

The police station has been a hot topic of conversation in the last several years, as the current building—first used as the Union School in 1898—has a number of problems that make it unfit for use by Burlington’s public safety officers. As showcased in this tour, filmed by BCAT with Chief Thomas Browne back in January of 2022, there is water damage, mold, and structural concerns, in addition to the fact that the station was not built for a modern, functioning police department. Along with this capital request are two Articles which would rezone the adjacent property, where the Sculpture Park currently sits, so the Police Station could rebuild and expand. Read more about this project in our deep dive. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0

In which the town gratefully accepts a sum from the will of Marshall Simonds to maintain Simonds Park. Ways & Means vote: 10-0-0

The town will split the cost of the Parade with local businesses. Ways & Means vote: 11-0-0

The Zoning Bylaw Review Committee has been working on defining Signage Districts for the last several years, and is hoping to hire a consultant to help them create the actual documentation so Town Meeting can vote on it in January 2025. Ways & Means vote: 11-0-0

The School Department provides custodial services for Scout meetings, PTO meetings, and other "not for profit Burlington civic organizations" when they meet on school campuses after hours. This Article covers an allotment of hours for these groups. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-0-0
ADJOURNED FOR DAY 2 after an hour of debate on Article 25 and one proposed amendment; Town Meeting will return on Monday, May 20 for Night 3 and begin with the second proposed amendment.

This article has been the subject of much discussion, which is better captured here. An amendment proposed at Town Meeting to change the funding source from bonding to free cash failed. An amendment to fund a design first and the full scope of work later also failed. In the end, an amendment to postpone the turf and track replacement and put through the turf installation where the grass field currently sits (funded through bonding) won out. Ways & Means vote: 4-8-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 1-4-0

The school district is seeking a new transportation contract, as the current contract is expiring. Any contract longer than three years is required to go through Town Meeting for an approval of the contract term. The proposed contract is for five years, hence this article. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0

The Recreation Department has requested funding to renovate Overlook Park and make it more usable and accessible. The cost for the project is $2,300,000, and they're hoping to receive $1,000,000 from a Land & Water Conservation Grant. They won't know whether or not they've received it until September, but plan to move forward with the renovations to enhance the usability of this space regardless. Ways & Means vote: 11-0-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 5-1-0

This article is in response to the many complaints the Recreation Department receives about the condition of Burlington's athletic fields, especially in comparison with those of surrounding towns. From Recreation: "This article will also allow us to make renovations to existing fields, replace worn and damaged fencing, backstops, and player’s benches and improve the accessibility of the site. It will allow us to make upgrades to or add irrigation to areas that are not currently irrigated." Ways & Means vote: 9-1-0 | Capital Budget Committee Vote: 6-0-0

This article requests that the town create a stabilization fund for Shawsheen Tech. According to the Budget Book glossary, stabilization funds are "designated to accumulate amounts for capital and other future
spending purposes." This doesn't require funding, just sets up the fund. Ways & Means vote: 12-0-0

Currently the office of the Town Clerk is an elected position, up for re-election every five years. However, Town Clerks can be either elected or appointed. There are pros and cons to each configuration, which we will get into if this article passes. This article, however, is just to place the question on the town-wide ballot next year to see if voters want to make that change.

If government meetings leading up to this are any indication, there's likely to be much discussion at Town Meeting regarding this proposal to create a multifamily housing overlay to meet the state's requirements for MBTA Communities. Read more about the arguments for and against this proposal here, or just tune into Town Meeting; they're sure to be discussing it for quite some time.

This article passed despite efforts to postpone it and to remove the "Staples Triangle" from the overlay.

This Article, presented along with the police station funding article, will take the property where the sculpture Park currently sits out of the Grandview Farm Planned Development District (a PDD is a cohesive district with its own set of zoning regulations).

This article will rezone the parcel removed from the PDD (assuming Article 32 passes) into the Limited Business district so the police station can be built there.

This article and its backup are lengthy, but they amount to modernizing the parking requirements for businesses in town, aligning them more closely with modern needs, allowing flexibility for property owners and developers to meet the requirements, and requiring basic development and landscaping standards. It also reformats the information into a much more user-friendly table.

Similar to Article 35, this article seeks to modernize the section of the Zoning Bylaws known as the Use Table. It puts definitions into a dedicated
Definitions section and formats the use table into a...well, a table. It also would remove outdated uses and allow for a little future-proofing in the definitions it does have.