Town meeting to include proposed projects

WEST BOYLSTON - The Board of Selectmen voted to close the warrant for the fall semi-annual town meeting at its Sept. 23 meeting.

The warrant has 12 articles, all of which selectmen approved, although there is a chance they might vote to pass over at least one of the articles at the town meeting.

The articles include a request to borrow $2.9 million for a new police station and $1.3 million for the purchase and renovation of the Bethlehem Bible Church for a new senior center.

Article 4 requests a total of $49,654 for community preservation fund projects recommended by the Community Preservation Committee.

A total of $20,000 from the fund balance, designated for affordable housing, would be used to fund a grant for community housing services to assist with affordable senior and veteran housing needs. That grant would be submitted by the West Boylston Affordable Housing Trust and be expended under the direction of the town administrator.

A total of $29,654 from the undesignated fund balance would be used to fund a grant for the purchase of fencing for the high school and little league "A" baseball fields, and would be submitted by and expended under the direction of the West Boylston Parks Commission.

Article 5 requests appropriating $27,500 for capital improvement purchases for a DPW mix recycler. Selectmen approved that article, but it still needs the Capital Investment Board's recommendation.

Article 11 requests the appropriation of $18,533 for a bunker rake for the DPW.

Selectmen decided to approve a request of $6,642 for a new voting machine, but want the town clerk to explain why the town needs a new machine before the town meeting. If they decide purchasing a new machine is unnecessary, they can vote to pass over that article at the town meeting.

Article 8 requests appropriating $17,875 for the installation of new electrical outlets for 55 ceiling projectors at the middle/high school by the School Committee.

Article 12, also known as the budget "fix," asks for $87,200 total in appropriations for fiscal year 2016 accounts.

That includes $35,000 for a new police cruiser for the police chief and $45,000 in unemployment benefits, a number that will likely go down, according to Interim Town Administrator James Purcell.

The fall town meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., in the middle/high school auditorium.