WARWICK — In a speedy, 17-minute meeting on Monday night, voters approved all seven articles on the Town Meeting agenda, including amending the zoning bylaws regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs), allocating free cash for the installation of solar panels at the Fire Department, and lowering the town’s tax rate by 58 cents.

With Article 4, the approximately 50 voters in attendance approved amendments that would clean up the current language regarding accessory dwelling units and make the bylaw correspond with the state’s Affordable Housing Act, which goes into effect on Feb. 2.

The act made the construction of ADUs a by-right activity in single-family zoning districts, which was previously only allowed in Warwick with a special permit.

The amendments approved by voters will allow the construction of ADUs up to 900 square feet on properties that meet frontage and acreage requirements. The amendments also state that an ADU can be used as a short-term rental, however, both the ADU and the primary residence cannot be used for short-term rental simultaneously.

Discussion came from resident John Gagliani, who expressed disappointment with state legislators who passed the act, and said it would lead to a drain on town resources.

“A small town like Warwick is the one that’s going to suffer from it, not towns like Weston or Wellesley or places where some of these wealthier communities are,” Gagliani said. “This will also require an increase in police and fire, and at 900 square feet, an impact on schools if tenants have children. So that’s extra cost to the town that the state hasn’t even looked at.”

He added that non-owner occupied buildings with non-attentive landlords could cause issues.

Town Coordinator David Young said he understood Gagliani’s frustration, but state law trumps local law, so even if the town voted against the bylaw amendments, Warwick could still see ADUs being constructed.

“We could have not come here and not voted on this and the same rules would apply,” Young said. “All the changes make our zoning coincide with state zoning.”

The article passed with only one “nay” vote.

The rest of the articles on the agenda were financial in nature and included appropriating free cash and transferring funds to new accounts.

Free cash is a town’s unrestricted, leftover funds from the previous fiscal year which can be spent on anything decided on at Town Meeting. This year, Warwick has $536,646 in free cash to spend, $300,000 more than usual due to a one-time settlement from the Pioneer School District after the town left it to open their own schools.

With Article 1, voters unanimously approved appropriating $70,000 in free cash to reduce the 2025 fiscal year tax levy, which will lower the tax rate by 58 cents. Prior to Town Meeting, the Selectboard and Board of Assessors had a tax classification hearing and voted on a single tax rate. With the article approved, the town can finish setting the tax rate, which should be approved within the next few days.

Article 2 appropriates $170,000 in free cash to install solar panels on the roof of the fire station. The article was recommended by the Selectboard, Finance Committee and Building and Energy Committee, which estimates the panels could save the town as much as $600,000 in energy costs over the lifespan of the panels.

The only discussion on the article came from William Lyman, who suggested the town wait until construction and renovation work at the station is completed before spending more money on solar panels.

“I’m in favor of solar panels, but I believe this should not be passed until down the line, at a point when the building is functionably usable by the Fire Department,” Lyman said.

Article 3 appropriates $120,000 in free cash to the highway machinery revolving fund, bringing the account total to $197,132. The fund can be used as needed by highway commissioners for repairs to or purchase of Highway Department vehicles. The department has two aging trucks which need to be replaced.

With Article 5, voters approved appropriating $7,000 in free cash to fund after-school and summer activities. Article 6 asked voters to approve paying bills not paid by their respective departments on time, and thus needed to be brought to Town Meeting for approval. Voters approved paying $173.48 from the fountain grounds account for plantings, $63.53 from the Town Hall account for hardware and $639.28 from the highway account for cleaning supplies.

Article 7 rescinded the 2023 annual Town Meeting vote that created an opioid stabilization account, and instead creates a special revenue account so the funds may be spent on drug prevention without needing further Town Meeting appropriations required.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com