Some questions have arisen about this Tuesday night’s meetings and hearings and how to view and/or participate.
- The Hearing and the Selectboard Meeting will be available virtually via GotoMeeting as usual.
- The Special Town Meeting is IN PERSON ONLY. You must be present to participate in the Special Town Meeting at 7pm.
Massachusetts state law does not allow for remote participation in Town Meetings. - The Agenda for the evening is below with links for what’s virtual.
The order for the evening is as follows:
6:30pm – Tax Classification Hearing
This meeting will be held in the Selectboard Office and will be available virtually.
What is a Tax Classification Hearing? – Per Massachusetts Law: Before the tax rate can be set, the selectboard must hold a public hearing each year to consider the tax rate options available to the municipality under property tax classification. 10 The hearing is held after the assessors have determined final values and classified all properties and reported this information to DOR. These values set the parameters for the options the municipality may adopt.
This hearing is basically a presentation from the Assessors followed by questions and/or comments from the public. The hearing is typically pretty brief.
The selectboard will decide, after the hearing, whether to have separate tax rates for residential and businesses. The town, like most small towns in the Commonwealth, has always only had a single tax rate that’s the same for both.
6:40pm (approximately) – Selectboard & Finance Committee joint meeting.
This meeting will also be in the Selectboard office and available virtually.
After determining the tax rate classification as above we’ll be discussing how we will be determining estimated receipts for the town next year, which we do annually as well.
The meeting will adjourn at 7pm for the Special Town Meeting and resume following.
7:00pm – Special Town Meeting
This will take place in the large room in Town Hall and will not be available virtually. You must attend in person to participate.
The full warrant is available here:
At approx. 7:30pm (following the Special Town Meeting) – The Selectboard meeting will resume.
The meeting will again be held in the Selectboard Office per the agenda below and will again be available virtually.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
December 5, 2023
SELECTBOARD AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
6:30 PM – Town Hall
Remote Public access to this meeting shall be provided in the following manner:
Attendees can use either phone or computer to participate in the meeting. The link and app can be found on the Town Website’s Community Calendar – on the date of the meeting.
https://www.gotomeet.me/CharleyRose/selectboard-meeting
Phone: +1 (646) 749-3112 – Access Code: 233-643-381
6:30 PM Assessors – Tax Classification hearing
6:40 PM Finance Committee – review of what should be estimated for local estimated receipts
Police Chief re: POST certification of Officer Scobie (unsure whether this will be prior to, or after the STM)
7:00 PM Special Town Meeting
IN PERSON ONLY at Town Hall.
The Warrant is available here.
Fllowing the Town Meeting the Selectboard Meeting will resume in the Selectboard Office and will be available virtually.
ACTION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS
Letter of Increase to MassDOT to fund CHA Extra Work Authorization #14 – for Phase 2 of Route 143 Project – to be signed
Jay Dreschnack’s letter of appointment to COA Board of Directors to be signed
Building Commissioner’s re-appointment letter to be signed
Letter in support of Comcast’s Gap Network Grant Program application to be signed