GREENFIELD – The City Council will meet Wednesday for its monthly meeting, where it will discuss everything from regulations for detached in-law apartments and reducing the city’s budget by $370,000 to holding a public hearing on Greenfield’s tax classification. The council also will perform the first reading to consider an extra $6 million for the temporary and new fire station project next month when it will take the vote.
The council will discuss and vote on many of the items on its agenda, allow public comment, as it always does, and allow people to present their views during a public hearing on the city’s tax classification.
The city’s Economic Development Committee and Planning Board recently revisited an ordinance that regulates accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs. Earlier this year the council voted to remove the requirement to require a special permit to build an ADU, so as it is written now, neighbors have no say and no way to express their concerns to the city.
A petition signed by resident Al Norman and 49 others was presented to the city after that vote was taken, and the Economic Development Committee and Planning Board held a joint public hearing last month to once again consider anyone’s concern.
This past weekend, Norman sent out a reminder to people who opposed the changes to the ordinance and are asking it return to requiring a special permit. He urged them to attend the virtual meeting and speak during public comment to voice their opposition and why — the council is expected to vote Wednesday night on whether to keep the ordinance as is or change it back.
Norman said councilors should respect the Planning Board’s decision the ordinance is not fair to neighbors who should be able to voice their concerns before a building is constructed near their property lines.
Norman said he will tell councilors that building a second home on a lot is a “big deal” to neighbors — it means another family living just feet from them and that means more cars and noise and the loss of open space.
“It could have a significant impact on the resale value of people’s homes,” Norman said. “It could change the character of a neighborhood. For most of us, our house is the largest investment of our lives. We should not lose the right to speak out about a proposal that could have a financial impact on our properties.”
The Planning Board will present its recommendation of bringing back the requirement for a special permit, while the Economic Development Committee, a subcommittee of the council, will present its, as well. The Economic Development Committee voted to keep the ordinance as it is when it comes to that requirement.
Less state aid this year has forced the mayor to make a cut of $370,000 to the operating budget, though it won’t mean any job losses or deep cuts to services at this point, she said.
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner said the reduction to the fiscal 2021 budget means the city’s total operating budget will be about $53.5 million instead of the nearly $53.9 million the City Council voted earlier this year. The council will have to vote Wednesday night to approve the changes.
“Those with the largest budgets, like the Department of Public Works and fire, will have to cut their budgets,” Wedegartner said. “Those cuts will include positions the departments haven’t hired but had planned to, so no one will actually lose their job.”
As it does every year, the council will consider a single tax rate for residents and businesses, and will also discuss the minimum residential factor, residential exemption and small commercial exemption.
Later in November, the city will set its tax rate. It set a rate of $22.93 per $1,000 valuation last November, increasing it by just under 2.5 percent from the previous year when it was $22.36 per $1,000 valuation. Once the tax rate is set and approved by the state, it will go into effect.
In past years, the council has considered a single tax rate and a split tax rate but always ended up voting a single one.
City Council will perform the first reading, which means it will discuss and vote on the mayor’s request for $6 million more for the temporary and new fire station project next month.
Wedegartner is asking the council for $1 million more than she originally said she would, because the project is estimated to cost about $17.3 million now. She said the city will seeks other forms of funding, like grants, to make up the difference between the $17.3 million and $16 million it will have if the council votes the extra $6 million.
City Council voted in May to approve $10 million for the project.
The mayor said the city is in “urgent need” of a new fire station but the fire department will have to move into a temporary one while the Greenfield Public Library builds its new library, which requires the current fire station be razed. The site of the temporary station is planned for the municipal parking lot on Hope Street. The site being negotiated for the permanent fire station is the open-air market on Coombs Avenue and Main Street. Negotiations are ongoing.
To attend the City Council meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m., visit: https://greenfieldma.my.webex.com/greenfieldma.my/j.php?MTID=m2faa1185dd9e7b72c858f9e25c75e996. Also visit the city’s website at: bit.ly/35xrHct.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.