WHATELY – Town Administrator Brian Domina expects smooth sailing at the April 30 Annual Town Meeting, noting the most debate may center around two articles pertaining to a proposed pumping station to be located off Chestnut Plain Road.
One article on the warrant asks if voters wish to borrow up to $220,000 for the station’s design and construction, and for associated pipes and infrastructure to connect the Whately Water District’s water supply system to that of the Whately Water Department. The next article asks if voters will vote to transfer $87,000 from the general stabilization fund to cover the cost of upgrading that station’s station to provide sufficient water volume and flow for the water supply system to be used by the fire department in the event of a blaze at the station.
Domina explained Whately has two public water systems — a town water department and water district he said is a “separate, quasi-public district” that has about 45 customers. Domina said long-term operation of the water district is not sustainable due to limited water supply, the low number of customers, increasing regulations and increasing operating costs.
“So the plan is for the water department to connect the two systems and for the water department to take over those roughly 45 customers,” Domina said, “and for the water district to eventually dissolve.”
He said Berkshire Design Group is conducting the cost estimates and engineering.
The proposed total operating budget is $5,257,831. That is an increase of $184,356, or 3.63 percent, from this year. The proposed Whately Elementary School budget is $1,785,184 – an increase of $103,925, or 6.18 percent, from this year.
Domina explained the hike in the overall town operating budget is attributable to various factors, including increases in insurance, retirement, cost-of-living adjustments and schools. He said the 6.18 increase in the school budget is the result of anticipated teacher salary increases and steps related to the current contract negotiations.
“Another part of the elementary school increase is due to declining school choice revenue which requires the shifting of costs previously paid for with school choice revenue (in previous fiscal years) to now be paid for out of the town operating budget for FY20,” he wrote in an email.
The annual town meeting is slated to begin 7 p.m. at Whately Town Hall at 194 Chestnut Plain Road on April 30.
Voters will also be asked to:
— Transfer $35,000 from free cash to finance the design of handicapped-accessibility improvements at the S. White Dickinson Memorial Library.
— Amend the town’s zoning bylaws to include a section about converted historic municipal, religious and commercial buildings. This article requires a two-thirds majority.
— Amend the zoning bylaws by deleting language regarding tourist homes/bed-and-breakfast establishments and replacing it with a section about short-term rentals in accessory apartments, and single-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings. This pertains to services like Airbnb.
— Adopt a resolution in support of changing the state flag and seal of Massachusetts.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.