Millis Town Meeting Approves Operating Budget and Purchase of Village Street Property
Millis Town officials and Select Board members applaud on May 1st, 2021 as Senator Becca Rausch, and later, State Representatives David Linsky and Shawn Dooley, recognized James McCaffrey for his many years of service to the town.
By J.D. O’Gara
The 2021 Millis spring town meeting took place on Saturday, May 1, on a blustery, sunny day in a socially distanced manner due to Covid-19, in the parking lot behind Millis High School.
Proceedings began with Senator Becca Rausch and State Representatives David Linsky and Shawn Dooley, plus fellow members of the Millis Select Board, recognizing Millis Select Board member James McCaffrey for his many years of dedication and service to the town, including 12 years as a Select Board member and 13 years as Town Moderator.
Kathy Lannon was also recognized for her 22 years of service on the Millis Board of Health.
The Town Warrant consisted of 31 articles regarding the business of the town 25 of which passed, 22 of those with little debate; four articles were dismissed; two articles were voted down including (1) Article 23 which sought to amend off-street parking to include the use of compact car spaces by special permit, and (2) Article 26 which sought town authorization to sell a .94-acre parcel of land off Acorn Street.
The first of the articles to raise debate was Article 3 which had to do with the town operating budget beginning Fiscal Year 2022. One town resident suggested a $700,000 decrease to the school budget as enrollment in the town was down. School Committee members responded that a decrease in enrollment does not automatically translate to a lower cost for the town. Ultimately, Article 3 passed. Voters approved the FY22 operating budget of $37,383,110.52 which included a school budget of $17,173,130.55 (up $700,599.42 from FY21).
Article 20 passed. Voters exercised the town’s right of first refusal under Massachusetts Chapter 61A law to purchase the 23.1-acre Braun Property at 377 Village Street. The agricultural land purchase, which will be made with unrestricted money (to allow it to be used for open space, development, or re-sale), will not increase taxes to the town and passed following much debate and a standing count vote of 237 to 95.
Article 21 passed. The article amends the town’s zoning by-laws regarding Large Scale Mounted Solar Installations, and it passed after a resident’s amendment to the language increased the front yard buffer from town roads and residential properties from 50 to 200 feet.
The full warrant is available at www.millisma.gov
The 2021 Millis spring town meeting took place on Saturday, May 1, on a blustery, sunny day in a socially distanced manner due to Covid-19, in the parking lot behind Millis High School.
Proceedings began with Senator Becca Rausch and State Representatives David Linsky and Shawn Dooley, plus fellow members of the Millis Select Board, recognizing Millis Select Board member James McCaffrey for his many years of dedication and service to the town, including 12 years as a Select Board member and 13 years as Town Moderator.
Kathy Lannon was also recognized for her 22 years of service on the Millis Board of Health.
The Town Warrant consisted of 31 articles regarding the business of the town 25 of which passed, 22 of those with little debate; four articles were dismissed; two articles were voted down including (1) Article 23 which sought to amend off-street parking to include the use of compact car spaces by special permit, and (2) Article 26 which sought town authorization to sell a .94-acre parcel of land off Acorn Street.
The first of the articles to raise debate was Article 3 which had to do with the town operating budget beginning Fiscal Year 2022. One town resident suggested a $700,000 decrease to the school budget as enrollment in the town was down. School Committee members responded that a decrease in enrollment does not automatically translate to a lower cost for the town. Ultimately, Article 3 passed. Voters approved the FY22 operating budget of $37,383,110.52 which included a school budget of $17,173,130.55 (up $700,599.42 from FY21).
Article 20 passed. Voters exercised the town’s right of first refusal under Massachusetts Chapter 61A law to purchase the 23.1-acre Braun Property at 377 Village Street. The agricultural land purchase, which will be made with unrestricted money (to allow it to be used for open space, development, or re-sale), will not increase taxes to the town and passed following much debate and a standing count vote of 237 to 95.
Article 21 passed. The article amends the town’s zoning by-laws regarding Large Scale Mounted Solar Installations, and it passed after a resident’s amendment to the language increased the front yard buffer from town roads and residential properties from 50 to 200 feet.
The full warrant is available at www.millisma.gov
