MONTAGUE — Residents approved every article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant on Saturday, giving the town the go-ahead to hire an assistant town administrator, implement Smart Growth Overlay Districts and add a demolition delay bylaw.
The meeting, which started an hour late because of a lack of quorum, was called to order at Turners Falls High School at 9:38 a.m. and adjourned at 4:01 p.m. — with a 40-minute lunch break in between — saw residents hold lengthy discussions on the need for an assistant town administrator and Smart Growth Overlay Districts, question the Gill-Montague Regional School District superintendent and consider the necessity of the demolition delay bylaw.
Residents approved the proposed operating budget of roughly $11.18 million, a 3.77% increase over fiscal year 2022. Chief among the budget requests were the addition of the assistant town administrator, which was also its own separate article. The position was budgeted at $86,924 for FY23 as part of an $118,781 budget increase that also accounts for the addition of a part-time administrative assistant.
Town Administrator Steve Ellis said the position was requested to help “best position Montague for the long-term” as financial needs grow but town staff’s work capacity remains the same.
“This is not about Steve Ellis,” he said. “It’s about creating the bandwidth for doing the jobs we are responsible for. … For a town of Montague’s size, the appropriate next step would be to add some really strong capacity in the Selectboard office.”
The Finance Committee was split 3-3 on the recommendation of the position, which resident Michael Naughton called a “red flag” as he raised concerns about the necessity of the position.
“I would personally like to see some of the responsibilities currently in the Selectboard office be spread around to the other departments,” he said. “Maybe that’s not the best idea, but there should be more discussion about that.”
While Naughton requested more community input on the matter, Finance Committee Chair Jennifer Audley said the position has been discussed for nine months, which she added is “enough time for us to make a decision.”
More discussion followed and a resident moved the question. Voters approved the addition of the position, 39-25, after a hand-count of voters was conducted.
While Montague’s assessment for the Gill-Montague Regional School District was unanimously approved, several residents took Superintendent Brian Beck to task on the Town Meeting floor for the number of students leaving the district through School Choice.
“Turners Falls’ school district is also bleeding students to other districts,” said resident Melanie Ames Zamojski. “What is the intention of how the district is planning to stop this?”
Beck said the district’s goal is to continue to build and diversify a “school community here that is inviting, that is supportive.”
“We have outstanding faculty and staff that are dedicated to our students,” Beck said. “We want to do the best that we can with the students that we have … to demonstrate that students are growing and learning both academically and socially-emotionally.”
Selectboard member Matthew Lord felt some of Beck’s answers were insufficient regarding the number of students leaving the district through School Choice.
“Superintendent Beck, I am disappointed with some of your answers today,” Lord said, adding that “there should be some effort made as to why so many students” opt to attend other districts.
The question was soon moved and residents unanimously approved the school budget, despite the concerns levied at the superintendent.
Article 32, which was approved with a two-thirds majority, concerned the implementation of Smart Growth Overlay Districts that would encourage the development of residential or mixed-use buildings, of which at least 20% of the units are considered “affordable.”
The zoning overlay, which does not affect the underlying zoning designation, will be implemented on First Street and at the former Railroad Salvage site at 11 and 15 Power St. — residents also gave the Selectboard approval to sell that land in the subsequent two articles.
Resident David Jensen raised concerns about the “affordable” eligibility requirements for people who may live in these residences because once they earn enough money they won’t be able to live there anymore. Town Planner Walter Ramsey said those problems are at the state level and Montague can only do so much to try to help people.
“These are much bigger issues than Montague can resolve,” Ramsey said. “This is one thing we can use to help support the construction of affordable housing.”
The demolition delay bylaw was approved 27-15, but then drew controversy as several residents noted there was no longer a quorum at the meeting. Town Counsel Gregg Corbo said there is an “assumed quorum at all times” unless someone challenges it and all votes prior to the quorum challenge were valid.
“(Article) 35 is done, and that vote counts and it passed by majority,” Corbo said.
Before voting, residents held a drawn-out discussion as they discussed the need for the bylaw, which functions to “preserve and protect, through advance notice of their proposed demolition, significant buildings,” as written in the draft bylaw. The draft states this would “encourage owners of preferably preserved significant buildings to seek out persons who might be willing to purchase and to preserve, rehabilitate or restore such buildings rather than demolish them.”
“It is a kind of reactionary tool and it’s created precisely to try and give the most historical buildings — not just any old building over 100, the most historical buildings — a second chance,” said Janel Nockleby, who helped present the bylaw. “It gives us a transparent public hearing where we can all understand together what might make a building historical or not.”
Nockleby added that the Massachusetts Historical Commission “highly recommends” this bylaw for “all towns in the commonwealth.”
Naughton proposed an amendment to the bylaw, which struck a section referencing any building constructed “over 100 years ago that contributes to the historical or architectural heritage or resources of the town” to make the bylaw more clear. The amendment was passed and the article was approved as amended.
Residents also approved a slew of articles that included appropriating $2.87 million for operations within the Water Pollution Control Facility and associated pumping stations; and allocating $415,000 to benefit projects including improvements to the Town Hall roof, Shea Theater Arts Center, Carnegie Public Library basement and Montague Center Library. The full warrant and budget information can be viewed at bit.ly/3ylWFmz.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.