GILL — Adding safety zones to control speeding, implementing a 3 percent excise tax on marijuana, approving various budgets and supporting a resolution to recommend changes to the state flag and seal are among the 26 articles being voted on by residents at Gill’s town meeting.
Due to the town not yet finishing its budget process, 14 of the articles will be discussed at annual Town Meeting Monday, and the rest of the articles will be presented at a Special Town Meeting anticipated for June 19.
The meeting will take place at the Gill Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Voters will determine whether to accept $148,221 for Fiscal Year 2019 Chapter 90 funds for the purpose of road maintenance such as repaving and guardrail projects.
The town will vote to provide $1,619,622 for its FY19 operating assessment and $10,548 for its portion of FY19 debt service costs for the Gill-Montague Regional School District. Combined that amounts to $1,630,170. GMRSD’s FY19 “General fund” and “all funds” budgets both increased by 0.5 percent, and Gill’s overall operating assessment increased by 0.2 percent. Gill’s assessment for the school district’s operating budget increased by $3,179 and the debt service decreased by $3,746.
The town will vote whether to allow the Selectboard to accept a gift of land by Renee Jenkins, of 19 Boyle Road. The piece of land is 0.08 acres and is deemed “historically significant” since it is where Herbert B. Hastings’ Old Blacksmith Shop used to stand. The property has an assessed value of $900 and its annual taxes are $15.46. Also at the meeting, the historical significance of this property will be discussed.
Designated safety zones will be voted on at the meeting, and if accepted they will be implemented on a section of Mount Hermon Road in front of the new Bolger Center for Childhood Education. A safety zone has an enforceable speed limit of 20 miles per hour.
For this project, speed bumps were discussed and subsequently dismissed as they would cause wear and tear on the road and require winter upkeep. Also, a “school zone” wasn’t applicable for the area since these zones are only for grades one through eight.
So far, no recreational marijuana dispensaries have expressed interest in Gill, but voters will determine whether to implement a 3 percent excise tax on the retail sale of marijuana if a dispensary comes to Gill.
State Rep. Byron Rushing, D-Suffolk, has called for an investigation by a special commission to “recommend changes” to the state flag and Seal of the Commonwealth, claiming that the images on the seal and flag depict Native Americans in a negative manner. Gill will vote whether or not to support this resolution.
The town will vote to edit part of the Agricultural Commission’s bylaw in order to more reliably receive a quorum. This would require the commission to consist of three to nine members. There are currently four members on the commission, but the town’s bylaw sets membership at seven people. To achieve a quorum currently, all four members must be present.
Similarly, the town will vote to edit part of the Finance Committee’s bylaw to require the committee to have between five and nine members to better achieve a quorum. The Finance Committee’s membership is set at seven people. There were only five members until late April when a sixth joined.
Other articles being voted on include:
Transferring $3,000 from “available funds” to pay for celebrations relating to Gill’s 225th year as a town.
Granting the Selectboard permission to research, develop, and participate in a contract “to aggregate the electricity load of residents and businesses,” with the option for individuals and businesses to opt out.
Accepting $1,881 from the Quintus Allen Fund, which is a trust fund used for educational expenses in Colrain, Gill, Leyden and Shelburne.
Providing an unspecified Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for town employees and elected officials.
Establishing the position of “Assistant to the Administrative Assistant.”
Appropriating $5,000 toward the cost of an independent financial audit of the town.
Reach Christie Wisniewski at:cwisniewski@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 280