TOWN OF WORTHINGTON
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
May 4, 2019 – 9:30 AM
Download a PDF of the 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
The R.H. Conwell Parent Teachers Organization will have snacks and coffee available and donations are welcomed. Childcare for the Town Meeting will be provided in the kindergarten room.
Hampshire ss:
To either of the Constables of the Town of Worthington in the County of Hampshire.
GREETINGS: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in election and in Town affairs to meet at the RH Conwell Elementary School in said Worthington on Saturday the Fourth of May, 2019 at 9:30 AM, then and there to act on the following articles:
ARTICLE ONE: To Choose all other Town officers as are not required by law to be elected by ballot.
Almoners of the Whiting Street Fund
Bruce Barshefsky, Catherine Whitcomb, Diane Meehan
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers
Bart Niswonger, Kevin Porter, Darlene Millman
Surveyors of Wood and Timber
Keith Manley, Christopher Powell, Clarence Witter
ARTICLE TWO: To Act upon the reports of the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Selectboard, Almoners of the Whiting Street Fund and other elected or appointed officers or committees of the Town.
ARTICLE THREE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer from the General Stabilization Fund the sum of $179,015.63 to fund the additional construction by Comcast of its Cable/Broadband Build Project to reach the additional premises that are currently listed as not to be served on the following roads: Bashan Hill Road, Fisk Road, Parish Road, Rida Road, River Road and Sam Hill Road, or take any action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE FOUR: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $1,091,204.25 for the total Worthington School District Budget for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| Worthington School District Appropriation | FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action |
| Elementary | $742,837.35 | $798,204.25 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Secondary | 335,250.00 | 293,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $1,078,087.35 | $1,091,204.25 |
ARTICLE FIVE:To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $25,000.00 to the Pre-School revolving fund to help mitigate the timing of receipts to expenditures and for any shortfall that may exist between receipts and expenditures, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE SIX:To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $224,300.00 for Vocational Education, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| Vocational Education | FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action |
| $192,933.00 | $224,300.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
ARTICLE SEVEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $77,108.00 to be paid to Gateway Regional School District for Capital and MSBA payback costs, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| Gateway School District Payback | FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action |
| Bonded Projects | $63,011.00 | $55, 820.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| MSBA Payback | 21,288.00 | 21,288.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $84,299.00 | $77,108.00 |
ARTICLE EIGHT: To see if the Town will vote to fix the salaries or compensation of all elected officers of the Town, as provided by MGL Chapter 41, Section 108 as amended, and to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $49,476.00 for these salaries and compensation to be as of July 1, 2019 as follows, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Selectboard, Chair | $2,307.00 | $2,307.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Selectboard, Clerk | .00 | 2,027.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Selectboard, Member | 2,027.00 | 2,027.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Health, Chair | 1,806.00 | 1,829.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Health, Clerk | 1,806.00 | 1,829.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Health, Mem. | 1,806.00 | 1,829.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Moderator | 100.00 | 100.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Clerk | 10,235.00 | 10,368.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors, Chair | 6,121.00 | 6,201.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors, Clerk | 13,133.00 | 13,304.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors, Member | 5,557.00 | 5,629.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tree Warden | 2,0000 | 2,026.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $46,898.00 | $49,476.00 |
ARTICLE NINE: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $398,210.00 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Selectboard Expenses | $3,000.00 | $3,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors’ Expenses | 1,750.00 | 1,750.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Classified Advertising | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Map Maintenance | 1,400.00 | 1,600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors’ Software Support | 7,840.00 | 8,200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assessors’ Revaluation | 1,800.00 | 3,900.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Online Tax Maps | 2,400.00 | 2,400.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Clerk’s Expenses | 700.00 | 700.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Election Expenses | 3,435.00 | 2,180.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Registrars’ Expense | 50.00 | 50.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tree Warden’s Expenses | 20,000.00 | 10,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Collector | 16,640.00 | 17,198.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Asst Tax Cltr/Asst Treasurer | 7,575.00 | 7,825.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Collector’s Expenses | 4,100.00 | 4,100.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Collector’s Software | 5,094.00 | 5,094.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Accounting Services | 30,000.00 | 30,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Accounting Software | 3,434.00 | 3,606.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Treasurer | 16,640.00 | 17,198.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Treasurer’s Expenses | 4,500.00 | 4,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Treasurer’s Software | 1,529.00 | 1,287.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Payroll Service | 2,500.00 | 2,700.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Executive Assistant | 50,711.00 | 52,416.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assistant Secretary | 750.00 | 750.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Recording Secretary | 10,000.00 | 8,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Bd. of Appeals Expense | 500.00 | 500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Conservation Comm. Exp. | 600.00 | 600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Off. Maint. & Sup. | 3,200.00 | 3,200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Hall Maintenance | 4,500.00 | 4,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Hall Custodian | 2,668.00 | 2,634.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Telephone Exp. | 8,160.00 | 8,800.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Building Heating | 23,000.00 | 23,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| War Memorial & Town Bldgs | 250.00 | 250.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Conwell Bldg. Expenses | 102,500.00 | 102,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| IT/Comptr. Replenishmt plan | 4,000.00 | 4,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Comptr. Maint. & Supplies | 700.00 | 700.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Computer Maint. Labor | 3,200.00 | 3,200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Web Site | 2,500.00 | 1,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Planning Board Expenses | 300.00 | 300.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| P.V.P.C. | 187.00 | 192.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Recreation Comm. Exp. | 1,600.00 | 1,600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Finance Comm. Expense | 140.00 | 140.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Reports | 1,250.00 | 1,250.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Law Account Expense | 12,000.00 | 12,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Taking-Collector | 1,200.00 | 1,200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Title Foreclosure Treas. | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Tax Title Foreclosure Maint. | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Audit Expenses | 12,500.00 | 12,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Council on Aging | 7,486.00 | 8,490.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| COA Building Lease | 15,000.00 | 10,700.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total | $410,489.00 | $398,210.00 |
ARTICLE TEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $440,935.00 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Hampshire Cty Retirement | $113,996.00 | $143,665.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Group Insurance | 201,566.25 | 218,315.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Unemployment Comp. | 1,200.00 | 1,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Workers Compensation | 15,000.00 | 10,137.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Insurance and Bonds | 48,656.00 | 46,818.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Medicare | 20,500.00 | 20,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $374,352.00 | $440,935.00 |
ARTICLE ELEVEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $19,845.00 for the Worthington Library, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Worthington Library | $18,900.00 | $19,845.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
ARTICLE TWELVE: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $9,351.00 and transfer from the Rolland North Cemetery Fund the sum of $8,544.00 for a total of $21,295.00 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Center Cemetery Maint. | $4,460.00 | $4,434.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| North Cemetery Maint. | 8,594.00 | 8,544.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Ringville Cemetery Maint. | 4,018.00 | 3,995.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Historical Cemetery Maint. | 928.00 | 922.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Grave Openings | 3,400.00 | 3,400.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $21,400.00 | $21,295.00 |
ARTICLE THIRTEEN: To see if Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $280,216.01 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Emergency Mgmt. Salary | $962.00 | $975.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Mgmt. Expenses | 600.00 | 600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| CivicReady | 1,110.00 | 1,110.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Animal Control Officer Salary | 1,579.00 | 1,600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Animal Control Officer. Exp. | 300.00 | 300.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Police Department Expenses | 11,000.00 | 16,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Police Department Wages | 37,382.00 | 41,382.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Police Wages Clerical | 9,360.00 | 9,672.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Police IMC Software Maint. | *NEW* | 900.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Regional Lockup Assessment | 1,098.00 | 1,098.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Dept. Operating Expenses | 22,795.00 | 22,795.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Department Fuel | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Dept. Wages, Clerical | 4,680.00 | 4,836.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Chief | 5,200.00 | 5,375.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Dept. Grant Writer | 1,191.00 | 1,206.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Dept. Code Insp. Comp. | 1,500.00 | 1,500.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Fire Dept. Call Comp. | 13,000.00 | 13,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Hilltown Comm. Ambulance | 24,568.00 | 28,360.01 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Constable | 100.00 | 100.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Animal Inspector | 659.00 | 668.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Building Commissioner | 10,046.00 | 14,841.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Building Inspector Alternate | 200.00 | 203.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Building Inspector’s Expenses | 400.00 | 1,375.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Plumbing Inspector | 1,431.00 | 1,450.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Plumbing Inspector’s Expense | 400.00 | 400.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Wiring Inspector | 3,235.00 | 3,277.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Wiring Inspector’s Expense | 120.00 | 120.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Assist. Wiring Insp. Expense | 300.00 | 300.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Gas Inspector | 1,125.00 | 1,140.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Board of Health Expenses | 200.00 | 200.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Board of Health Agent | 4,900.00 | 3,900.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Ctrl. Hamp. Veterans’ Service | 5,033.00 | 5,227.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Veteran’s Aid | 36,000.00 | 30,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Disposal Works | 45,000.00 | 45,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Disposal Attendant | 10,500.00 | 10,800.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Hilltown Resource Mgt. Coop. | 6,546.00 | 6,220.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Street Lights | 750.00 | 800.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Hampshire Cnty Emer Comm Sys | 486.00 | 486.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $266,256.00 | $280,216.01 |
ARTICLE FOURTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $630.20 from the Town Radio Upgrade Account and the sum of $9,280.00 from the Thermal Imaging Account to fund a new Fire Department Radio Upgrade Account, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE FIFTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $40,223.00 from the General Stabilization Fund to purchase a 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Cruiser to replace the current 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Cruiser or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE SIXTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectboard to enter into a ten (10) year contract with the option for a five (5) year extension, commencing on July 1, 2020 with the qualified vendor selected by MassDEP through a competitive bid process for recycling processing services for the Town, subject to the Selectboard’s determination that the contract is in the best interests of the Town and subject to Town Meeting approval in the Spring 2020 for funding for these services or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE SEVENTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $34,983.50 for Principal and Interest on the Fire Truck Debt, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| Fire Pumper Truck | $35,731.00 | $34,983.50 | Recommended | Recommended |
ARTICLE EIGHTEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $546,286.00 for the following Town charges, or take any other action in relation thereto:
| FY2019 Adopted | FY2020 Proposed | Selectboard Action | Finance Comm. Action | |
| General Highway Maint. | $50,000.00 | $50,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Road Sweeping | 6,000.00 | 6,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Town Mowing | 8,000.00 | 10,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Winter Highway Maint. | 95,000.00 | 110,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Wtr. HWY Overtime Wages | 11,853.00 | 11,853.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway Dept. Wages | 111,842.00 | 148,963.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway Wages Clerical | 4,680.00 | 4,836.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway Superintendent | 67,247.00 | 69,555.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Hwy.Supt. Add’l Wtr. Comp. | 2,479.00 | 2,479.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Garage Maintenance | 14,000.00 | 14,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Machinery Maintenance | 30,000.00 | 30,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Highway/Police Fuel | 27,000.00 | 27,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Superintendent’s Expense | 700.00 | 1,600.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Secondary Rd. Improvemts. | 60,000.00 | 60,000.00 | Recommended | Recommended |
| Total: | $488,801.00 | $546,286.00 |
ARTICLE NINETEEN: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $44,000.00 from the General Stabilization Fund to purchase a 2019 Ford F350 Flatbed Pick-up Truck (includes Trade-in and Plow Package), to replace the current 2010 Ford F350 Pick-up, or take any action relative thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $3,500.00 from the General Stabilization Fund to Contract Services to Paint the East Exterior Side of Town Hall, or take any action relative thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $5,000.00 from the General Stabilization Fund to the Route 143 Land Easement Acquisition Account, or take any action relative thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $3,500.00 for expenses associated with a Founder’s Day Event to be held on June 29, 2019, or take any action relative thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE: To see if the Town will vote to Raise and Appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to establish a Reserve Fund to provide for extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures, as provided by M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 6, as amended, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-FOUR: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate as available funds the total sum of $234,479.00 from Chapter 90 funds or any other amounts from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for highway construction and/or maintenance, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-FIVE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $302,112.00 from Free Cash to the General Stabilization Fund, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-SIX: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $18,080.00 from the FY 2019 Vocation Education Account to the Conwell Stabilization Fund, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
ARTICLE TWENTY-SEVEN: To see if the Town will vote to Authorize the Selectboard to enter into contracts with the Massachusetts Highway Department for construction and/or maintenance of public highways for the Fiscal Year 2020, and further to authorize the Selectboard on behalf of the Town to accept any money from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for highway construction and/or maintenance, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT: To see if the Town will vote to Authorize the Selectboard to apply for Massachusetts State or Federal grant programs and to further Authorize the Selectboard to expend monies received through such programs following a public hearing, or take any other action in relation thereto.
ARTICLES FOR FY 2019
ARTICLE TWENTY-NINE: To see if the Town will vote to Appropriate and Transfer the sum of $33,591.63 from the General Stabilization Fund to fund deficit spending in the Winter Highway Maintenance Account, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Selectboard Action: Recommended Finance Comm. Action: Recommended
*****
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall and Post Office seven days at least before the time of said meeting.
Hereof, fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands April 27, 2019 I have served this warrant as directed.
Date of Posting:
Constable
Selectboard
ATTEST
GLOSSARY
APPROPRIATION: An authorization granted by a Town Meeting to make expenditures and to incur obligations for specific purposes. A “specific” appropriation is carried forward year to year until spent for the designated purpose or transferred by Town Meeting vote to another account.
AVAILABLE FUNDS: Free Cash, reserves and unexpended balances available for appropriation.
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS: Estimate of money to be received by the Town from various sources, such as licenses, state reimbursements, etc. The estimate is deducted by the Assessors from the gross amount to be raised by taxes when the tax rate is set.
FISCAL YEAR: A twelve-month period commencing July l, to which the annual budget applies and at the end of which a Town determines its financial position and the results of its operations.
FREE CASH: Certified each July l by the Director of Accounts. This is the surplus revenue account (also called “excess and deficiency”), less any uncollected taxes of prior years. It is available for appropriation upon certification. By action of a Special Town Meeting after certification and before setting the tax rate, part or all of any unexpected “free cash” may be applied to reduce the tax rate of the current year. “Free Cash” is also referred to as “Available Funds”.
OVERLAY: Is an amount of money raised by Assessors for the purpose of creating a fund to cover abatements and uncollectible taxes.
OVERLAY SURPLUS: Unused, accumulated amount of the Overlay for various years, which may be voted for extraordinary or unforeseen purposes.
RESERVE FUND: An amount appropriated for unforeseen or emergency purposes. An amount can be transferred from the Overlay Surplus Account to this fund, and it is controlled exclusively by the Finance Committee.
STABILIZATION: A special account created to provide for capital expenditures which are invested until used.
SURPLUS REVENUE: The amount by which the cash, accounts receivable and other assets exceed the liabilities and reserves.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT: A written order calling an Annual or Special Town Meeting and containing a list of items to be acted upon. Warrants are posted at the official posting places (Town Hall and Post Office).