Special Town Meeting Tonight at High School

The Special Town Meeting articles have been reviewed by the appropriate parties — bond counsel, town counsel and the Massachusetts School Building Authority — and are ready to be presented tonight.

The meeting is at Swampscott High in the auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

The major item on the warrant is Article 2, the proposed school feasibility study and schematic design for a new elementary school.

This item asks them to approve a study of different options to meet the district's elementary education needs. The town would be reimbursed by an estimated 45 percent for the cost of the study.

The School Building Committee held its last of three community forums on the proposal on Oct. 2, at Swampscott High School.

ARTICLE 1. To hear and act on the reports of Town Officials, Boards and Committees.

Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen

Comment: This routine Article appears every year to allow Town groups to make reports.

ARTICLE 2. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, a amount of money to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee for the feasibility study and schematic design for the Hadley Elementary School, 24 Redington Street, Swampscott, Massachusetts for which feasibility study the Town may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”).  The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any costs the Town incurs in connection with the feasibility study in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town, or act or to take any action relative thereto.

Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and School Committee

Comment: A feasibility study/schematic design is required by the MSBA to continue in their pipeline for partial funding of a new or renovated school.  The feasibility study will determine the most efficient enrollment configuration of the Swampscott elementary schools, including a possible new school, consolidation of schools, or renovation of an existing school.  Once that determination is made, the schematic design will create a working set of plans which will be used to determine the cost of construction and to build the new school or renovation.

Article 2 requires 2/3’s affirmative vote to adopt for bonding. 

The Finance Committee will report on this Article at Town Meeting.

ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By-Law as follows:

SECTION 4.5.2.4.   Add "single family dwellings" to the section so that it reads as follows:

"In the Temple PDD, single family or multi-family dwellings and an accessory garage or storage area, located either beside or under the dwellings, for private automobiles are allowed as of right."

SECTION 4.5.3.0.    The table of PDD dimensional Regulations for the Temple PDD is amended by inserting the following:

“Multi-family" as a header in the column listing the Dimensional Requirements in the Temple PDD

A new column with the header “Single-family” listing the following Dimensional Requirements in the Temple PDD

Minimum Lot Area (sf: square feet)              4,500 sf

Minimum Lot Frontage                        50 feet

Front Yard Setback                                    15 feet

Rear Yard Setback                                    10 feet 

Side Yard Setback                                    10 feet 

Side Yard Setback                                    10 feet 

Maximum Building Coverage                          35%

Open Space Requirement                          N/A

Maximum Height                                       35 feet

Minimum Size Parking Space                          8 ft by 16 ft

Maximum Number of Dwelling Units              14

Maximum Number of Principal Structures per Lot                  1

SECTION 4.5.4.0 is amended to replace the section with the following:

"4.5.4.0 Parcel Subdivision. No parcel of land in the Phillips Fire Station Planned Development District, the Burrill Senior Center Planned Development District, or the Greenwood Planned Development District may be subdivided.

or to take any action relative thereto.

Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen

Comment:  In 2011, the town issued a Request for Proposals soliciting offers for the former Temple Israel property and the Board of Selectmen voted to accept the offer submitted by Atlantic Crossing, LLC.  In order for the Atlantic Crossing, LLC to proceed with the permitting process, amendments to the Zoning By-Law as pertains to the Temple Israel Planned Development District are required.  The Board of Selectmen supports these zoning amendments.

Article 3 requires 2/3's affirmative vote to adopt for a change in zoning.

ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or borrow the additional sum of $150,000.00 for Department of Public Works Project No. 13-03, Essex Avenue Drain Repair, said sum to be added to the amount appropriated under Article 12 of the May 7, 2012 Annual Town Meeting warrant for a total project appropriation of $350,000.00; or to take any other action relative thereto.

Comment: This article authorizes an additional $150,000 to the approved Essex Avenue Drain Repair project to fund improvements to the Stacy’s Brook Chlorination Station which was required by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in an order to the town dated June 7, 2012 after the completion of the Annual Town Meeting.  This project will upgrade an existing chemical feed station so that it complies with state regulations and also includes replacement of a chemical feed storage tank, modification to the piping and pumping arrangement, replacement of parts to a circular chart recorder and addition of a portable safety eyewash and shower DEP requires this project to be completed by May 1, 2013.

Article 4 requires 2/3’s affirmative vote to adopt for bonding.

The Finance Committee will report on this Article at Town Meeting.

ARTICLE 5 To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY2013 budget voted under Article 25 of the May 7, 2012 Annual Town Meeting warrant to increase Line No. 11, Workers’ Compensation, from $350,000.00 to $520,000.00 for increased benefits/insurance, and as funding therefor, to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $170,000.00; or to take any other action relative thereto.

Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen

Comment: This article increases the appropriation to FY13 Workers’ Compensation account.  This is the amount we are required to budget for the account based on our employment history.  We did not receive the actual renewal premium amount until after the conclusion of the Annual Town Meeting in May.

Article 5 requires a majority affirmative vote to adopt for appropriation.

The Finance Committee will report on this Article at Town Meeting.