COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

TOWN OF WESTFORD

WARRANT

Middlesex, ss.

To the Constable of the Town of Westford, in said County,

GREETINGS:

You are required in the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, to notify and warn all inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections, and also in Town affairs, at their several polling places, viz:

Precinct 1 Abbot School
Precinct 2 Norman E. Day School
Precinct 3 Abbot School
Precinct 4 Robinson School
Precinct 5 St. Catherine’s Parish Hall
Precinct 6 Abbot School

Tuesday, May 6, 2003

Being the first Tuesday in said month, at 7:00 o’clock in the forenoon, for the following purposes:

To bring in their votes for the following officers:

FOR FIVE YEARS

One member of the Housing Authority
One member of the Planning Board

FOR THREE YEARS

One member of the Board of Health
One member of the Board of Selectmen
Two members of the Library Trustees
Three members of the School Committee

VACANCY

One member of the Planning Board

The polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM;

And to meet at the Abbot School Gymnasium at Depot Street on the following date:

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2003

At 10:00 o’clock in the forenoon, then and there to act upon the following Articles, Viz:

 

ARTICLE 1: Town Reports Town Manager

To hear the Reports of Town Officers, Boards, Committees for the calendar year 2002;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 2: Property Tax Exemption Board of Assessors

To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 73, Section 4 of the Acts of 1986, as amended by Chapter 126 of the Acts of 1988 by providing for additional property exemptions for qualified residents who may be blind, elderly, surviving spouses or minors, or are disabled veterans, and to maintain the present percentage of 100%;

Or act in relation thereto..

 

ARTICLE 3: Compensation Plan Amendment Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Pay Classification Plan for non-unionized municipal employees, effective July 1, 2003;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 4: Fiscal Year 2004 Operating Budget Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money by taxation, by transfer from available funds, by borrowing, or any combination thereof, for the operation and maintenance of Town Departments for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, and that such sums be expended for such purposes under the direction of the respective Town Officers, Boards and Committees;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 5: Appropriation for Freshman Sports at Westford Academy By Petition

Be it moved that the Town raise and appropriate funds from the taxpayers or user fees to reinstate freshman Sports at the Westford Academy;

Or act in relation thereto.

FISCAL YEAR 2003 TRANSACTIONS

ARTICLE 6: Fiscal 2003 Supplemental Appropriations Town Manager

To see if the Town will appropriate various sums in order to supplement operating budgets for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2003;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 7: Fiscal Year 2003 Transfers Town Manager

To see if the will vote to transfer various sums between and among various accounts for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2003;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 8: Revolving Funds Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to authorize revolving funds for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004, under the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 53 E ˝ for the following:

Council on Aging-Adult Supportive Day Care Center
Recycling Commission
Recreation Commission-Programs
Recreation Commission-Field Maintenance;
Cultural Council

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 9: Highway Department Chapter 90 Funds Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of TWO HUNDRED NINE THOUSAND TWENTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND NINE CENTS ($209,028.09) or some other sum, from the proceeds due the Town under the provisions of Chapter 53C of the acts of 1999;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 10: Highway Department Chapter 90 Funds Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTEEN THOUSAND AND FIFTY SIX DOLLARS AND NINETEEN CENTS ($418,056.19) or some other sum, from proceeds due the Town under the provisions of Chapter 246A of the Acts of 2002;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 11: Brookside Mill Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($150,000) or some other sum, by taxation, by transfer from available funds, by borrowing, or any combination thereof, for the acquisition of three (3) affordable rental units and the reduction in the market cost of five (5) affordable units for home ownership at Brookside Mill;

And waiver of the Building Department fees associated with the Brookside Mill;

And authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into any agreements and take any actions which are necessary to facilitate the acquisition of said units by the Westford Housing Authority;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 12: Rescind Article May 2002 Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to rescind Article 22 Brookside Mill approved at the May 11, 2002 Annual Town Meeting;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 13: Brookside Mill Dam Repairs Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($150,000) or some other sum, to pay for the installation of public improvements, including but not limited to the costs of repairs to the dam on Stony Brook at the Brookside Mill, and acquisition of sidewalk easements, including all costs incidental and related thereto, and that to meet this appropriation, the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7 (7) or any other applicable statute;

Or act in relation thereto.

CAPITAL REQUESTS/VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS

ARTICLE 14: Capital Requests/Various Departments Town Manager

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,300,000.00) or some other sum, by taxation, by transfer from available funds, by borrowing, or any combination thereof, to provide for the capital requests of the following Town departments in the following amounts:

Technology $238,480.00
Town Clerk $ 4,100.00
Animal Control $ 5,000.00
Police Department $162,855.00
Fire Department $ 20,000.00
Highway Department $200,000.00
Library $ 22,540.00
Park & Recreation Department $ 47,025.00
Westford Public Schools $600,000.00

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 15: School Buildings and Facility Repairs Board of Selectmen

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of FIVE HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($510,000.00) or some other sum, to pay for the cost of repairs and renovations to various school buildings and facilities as follows:

Abbot School Elevators
Day School Boiler Replacement
Day School Generator

Including all costs incidental and related thereto and that to meet this appropriation, the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7 (3) and (3A) or any other applicable statute;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 16: Acceptance of MGL Chapter 140/Section 139 Town Clerk

To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 140, Section 139 as amended in 2002, which adds the following sentences after the third sentence;

"No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog owned by a person aged 70 years or over in a city or town that accepts this provision."

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 17:

Amendment to Chapter 1 Section 1.4 of General Bylaws

Conservation Commission

To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 1, Section 1.4 of the Westford General Bylaws, "penalties and enforcing persons for violation of bylaws and regulations." As follows:
  1. by amending the Title of the enforcing persons for " Chapter 171: Wetlands" and "Use of Conservation Land" from Planning/Conservation Coordinator as it currently reads to Conservation Commission Members, and or Conservation Administrator
  2. by amending the fine for a violation of Ch 171, Wetlands Bylaw to be $300.00 for a 1st offense and each subsequent offense;
  3. by amending the fine for a violation of the Regulations for Use of Conservation Land of the Westford Conservation Commission to be $100.00 for a 1st offense and each subsequent offense;
  4. by adding the following under the Conservation Commission Regulations heading:
    5.

Conservation Commission Regulations

Enforcing Persons

Offense

Fine

S 235 Violation of any Provision of Wetland Regulations

Conservation Commission and/or Conservation Administrator

1st offense and each subsequent offense

$300.00

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 18: Scenic Road Bylaw By Petition

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Scenic Road Bylaw by designating Concord Road as a Scenic Road;

Or act in relation thereto.

ZONING AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE 19: Change of Zoning Classification Planning Board

 To see if the Town will vote to amend, under Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A, the Westford Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map described in Section 2.2 of the Zoning By-law, to change the zoning classification from Residential B (RB) to Business (B), for a portion of land located on numbers 2 and 4 East Prescott Street shown on Assessors Map 57 as parcels 105 and 106;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 20:

Amendment to Zoning Bylaws /Table of Dimensional and Density Regulation

Planning Board

 

To see if the Town will vote to amend, under Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A, the Westford Zoning Bylaw described in Appendix C Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations of the Zoning Bylaw, as follows;

Delete Footnote 16 and replace it with the text:

"When wetlands, as defined under this chapter and/or M.G.L c. 131, s. 40, occur on a lot: The open space requirements for lots requiring 50% open space shall be calculated as follows: OS = 0.50(TLA - W). Lots requiring thirty (30) percent open space shall be calculated as follows: OS = 0.30(TLA - W), where OS = required non-wetland open space areas; TLA = total land area in the parcel; W = total wetland area in the parcel."

Delete Footnote 18 in its entirety;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 21 : Amendment to Zoning Bylaw and Map Planning Board

To see if the Town will vote to amend, under Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A, the Westford Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map described in Section 2.2 of the Zoning Bylaw, to delete the disclaimer on the zoning map and replace it with the following text:

Disclaimer: This is a generalized Zoning Map for Information only. All site-specific questions regarding allowable uses must be directed to the Planning Department at 978 692 5524, Town Hall, 55 Main Street, Westford MA, 01886. No financial decisions should be made on the basis of this map. The Town assumes no legal responsibility for the information shown on this map.

Or act in relation thereto.

 

ARTICLE 22: Amendment to Zoning Bylaw Planning Board

To see if the Town will vote to amend, under Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A, the Westford Zoning Bylaw and the Zoning Map described in Section 2.2 of the Zoning Bylaw, to change the zoning classification from Residential A (RA) to Business (B), a portion of the land located at 90 Tyngsborough Road, shown on Assessors Map 47 as Parcel 13;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 23 : Amendment to Zoning Bylaw Planning Board

To see if the Town will vote to amend, under Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A, the Westford Zoning Bylaw and the Zoning Map described in Section 2.2 of the Zoning Bylaw, to change the zoning classification from Business (B) to Residential A (RA), a portion of the land located at 90 Tyngsborough Road, shown on Assessors Map 47 as Parcel 13;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 24 : Land Gift from SINWM Associates Planning Board

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws c. 40 sec. 3, to accept as a gift of land from SIWM Associates/SINWM Associates II, parcels of land located off Littleton Road containing approximately 3 acres, consisting of portions of Town of Westford Assessors’ Map Number 11, Parcel 90 and 91, and also identified as being shown as Parcels S-2, S-3 and S-4 on a plan entitled "Concept Plan Proposed Route 225 Bypass Road Land Transfer, Westford Massachusetts" prepared by Meridian Associates, dated March 2003;

And authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into any agreements and actions which are necessary to facilitate the acquisition of said land by the Town;

Or act in relation thereto

 

ARTICLE 25 : Land Gift from Nashoba View Associates Planning Board

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws c. 40 sec. 3, to accept as a gift of land from Nashoba View Associates, LLC, parcels of land located off Robbins Road containing approximately 2.5 acres consisting of Westford Assessors’ Map Number 11 Parcel 86.11 and a portion of Map Number 11, Parcel 89, and also identified as being shown as Parcels C-1 and C-3 on a plan entitled "Concept Plan Proposed Route 225 Bypass Road Land Transfer Westford, Massachusetts" prepared by Meridian Associates, dated March 2003,;

And authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into any agreements and actions which are necessary to facilitate the acquisition of said land by the Town;

Or act in relation thereto.

ARTICLE 26 : Land Gift from Westford West Realty Trust Planning Board

To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws c. 40 sec. 3, to accept as a gift of land from Westford West Realty Trust, a parcel of land located westerly of Concord Road and Powers Road containing approximately 3.52 acres consisting of a portion of Westford Assessors’ Map Number 11, Parcel 86.6 and also identified as being shown as Parcel G-1 on a plan entitled "Concept Plan Proposed Route 225 Bypass Road Land Transfer, Westford, Massachusetts" prepared by Meridian Associates, dated March 2003:

And authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into any agreements and actions which are necessary to facilitate the acquisition of said land by the Town;

Or act in relation thereto.

 

ARTICLE 27 : Amendment to Zoning Bylaw Planning Board

To see if the Town will vote to amend, under Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A, the Westford Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map described in Section 2.2 of the Zoning By-law;

a) To change the zoning classification from Industrial Highway (IH) to Commercial Highway (CH), for the land situated southerly of Littleton Road, being a portion of the land shown as Westford Assessors’ Map Number 11, Parcel 90 and also identified as Parcels S-4 and S-5 on a plan entitled "Proposed Land Transfer Sketch Plan for SINWIM Associates and Nashoba View Associates, LLC" prepared by Meridian Associates dated March 2003;

 

b) To change the zoning classification from Industrial Highway (IH) to Commercial Highway (CH), for the land situated westerly of Robbins Road being a portion of the land shown as Westford Assessors’ Map Number 11, Parcel 89 and also identified as Parcels C-1 and C-2 on a plan entitled "Proposed Land Transfer Sketch Plan for SINWIM Associates and Nashoba View Associates, LLC" prepared by Meridian Associates dated March, 2003;

 

Or act in relation thereto.

 

 

And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting a true and attested copy thereof at the Town Hall and at each Post Office in said Town of Westford at least fourteen (14) days prior to the time of holding said meeting.

THEREOF FAIL NOT and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the meeting aforesaid.

Given under our hands this day of in the Year of our Lord 2003.

 

________________________

Dini Healy-Coffin, Chair

________________________

Christopher A. Romeo(Vice-Chair)

_______________________

Robert Jefferies

________________________

Robert McCusker

_________________________
Allan Loiselle

 

A TRUE COPY

ATTEST:

 

__________________________________

Constable of Westford

DATE:

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE SERVED THE FOREGOING WARRANT BY POSTING A TRUE AND ATTESTED COPY THEREOF AT THE TOWN HALL, LIBRARY AND AT EACH POST OFFICE IN THE SAID TOWN OF WESTFORD AT LEAST FOURTEEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE TIME OF HOLDING SAID MEETING.