Special Town Meeting regarding override to precede Annual Town Meeting  

By Theresa Knapp 

Millis will hold a Special Town Meeting and its Fall Annual Town Meeting on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Middle/High School auditorium. 

The warrants are available at bit.ly/MillisATMfall2024. 

Special Town Meeting 

The Special Town Meeting warrant has one question related to a request for $562,384 in “supplemental funding for the FY25 operating budget, which is related to the Proposition 2-1/2 Override Question on the November 5th Ballot,” according to the town website. 

The requested funds include $535,384 for the school department and $27,000 for wages in the Department of Public Works. 

A $1.4 million override was proposed earlier this year. It passed at Town Meeting but failed narrowly at the ballot box. 

Fall Annual Town Meeting 

Topics for the Fall Annual Town Meeting include, but are not limited to, FY24 unpaid bills ($45,210), transfer of marijuana impact fees to pay wages and expenses ($137,503); signage for public town-owned open space ($15,000); repair work for the Lansing Millis building ($125,000); road/sidewalk work ($500,000); lease purchase of a police cruiser ($68,816); water treatment plant improvements ($253,167); updates to the General Bylaws and Zoning Bylaws; and other matters. 

According to the draft warrant available at press time, there is also an article to see if the town will vote to “appropriate and raise by taxation, transfer from available funds, or borrow the sum of $704,297 to fund” the following capital items: (1)  Aerial Boom Lift, $52,923; (2) Lansing Millis Building Repair, $125,000; (3) Police tasers, $96,518; (4) Firefighter Turnout Gear, $36,000; (5) DPW Freightliner dump truck with plow/sander, $280,850; and (6) two 2 Transportation Vans for 7D Routes for school department, $113,856. 

In addition, there is a citizens’ petition “To see if the Town will impose a salary freeze upon all town employees, and refrain from entering into or renewing any collective bargaining agreements that provide for cost of living adjustments or annual step increases, for a period of three years from adoption of this Article or, if such salary freeze is barred by a collective bargaining agreement currently in effect, then extending for a period of three years from the lapsing of any such collective bargaining agreements currently in effect.”