WARWICK — Of the town’s 689 registered voters, 46 made quick work of a five-article Special Town Meeting warrant on Monday, wrapping up the meeting in about 20 minutes.
All articles were approved unanimously, with the exception of Article 4, concerning a debt exclusion to cover Warwick’s share of the new Franklin County Technical School building costs. Article 4 was passed over, with Selectboard members and Town Coordinator Lizzie Alwan saying there wasn’t enough information to make an informed decision on Monday.
Both the Selectboard and Finance Committee recommended passing over this article.
The project involves borrowing $236.6 million to cover the total project cost. The Massachusetts School Building Authority is expected to reimburse the towns up to $113.8 million, leaving the towns on the hook for $122.8 million. With a “yes” vote secured from voters in the Oct. 6 special election, construction on the new building could begin in 2028, and it is expected to be complete and open for fall 2030.
“It is far too early for this,” said Diana Noble, former chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Warwick School Committee, adding that when the time comes, there will be multiple information sessions on the potential debt exclusion before a vote takes place.
Articles 1 and 2 were connected, and related to Article 22 at Warwick’s Annual Town Meeting. Article 22, which had passed unanimously in May, allocated $87,257 toward the town’s fiscal year 2026 snow and ice deficit. However, after Annual Town Meeting, the town received a Winter Recovery Assistance Program (WRAP) grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The grant covered the entirety of the snow and ice deficit.
Article 1 asked the town to rescind its original allocation of $87,257 to the snow and ice deficit, while Article 2 sought to then put that money into General Stabilization.
Residents asked if the financial transfer would just put the town in a similar situation again in the future, with a snow and ice deficit. Noble replied that this wouldn’t be an issue, saying, “if we had to fill the gap, we could.” Both articles passed unanimously.
A new bylaw, concerning vehicles parked in handicapped spots without a placard, was unanimously approved in Article 5. The new regulation adds a $200 fine for vehicles that are illegally parked in handicapped spots, and gives the Police Department or officers assigned to traffic duty the authority to remove or arrange the towing of illegally parked vehicles, among other provisions.
Selectboard member Brian Snell noted that the board has also recommended that the town conduct a survey of parking locations to potentially add more accessible parking spots.
Also unanimously approved was Article 3, which used $3,113 in Community Development Block Grant funding to pay prior year bills for highway flaggers and Verizon lines.
