Special Town Meeting Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 9:30 am

Special Town Meeting October 22, 2016 at 9:30 am in Ashby Elementary. Warrant

Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen (i) to enter into an agreement for “payments in lieu of taxes” pursuant to M.G.L. c. 59, s. 38H(b), or any other enabling authority, for personal property taxes attributable to a solar photovoltaic energy facility to be installed on certain property located in the Town of Ashby and shown on Assessor’s Map 8 as Lots 57 and 57A, for a term of years and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen deems in the best interests of the Town, and (ii) to take all actions necessary or appropriate to administer and implement such agreement; or take any other action relative thereto.

Brief Explanation: The intent of a PILOT (“Payment in Lieu of Taxes”) Agreement is to assure that the Town will receive an established and dependable annual return from personal property taxes relative to a particular enterprise, irrespective of potential fluctuations in the personal property rate or the condition or productivity of the personal property involved. The PILOT agreement does not include any consideration for real estate taxes, which will be handled in the usual manner.

Article 2. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to transfer from “Fire Chief Salary” account to “EMT Wages” account; or take any other action relative thereto.

Brief Explanation: There is an excess in the Fire Chief Salary account and a deficiency in the EMT Wages account. The transfer will forestall a shortfall in the wages account.

Article 3. To see if the Town will approve the $60,000 borrowing authorized by the North Middlesex Regional School District, for the purpose of paying costs of a feasibility study/schematic design for a window and door replacement project at the Hawthorne Brook Middle School, 64 Brookline St, Townsend, MA 01469, including all costs incidental and related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the District has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee. The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the District incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the District; provided further, that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the District and the MSBA; or take any other action relative thereto.