Alford Town Hall

Alford’s Annual Town Meeting Warrant for 2013 is linked here as a PDF. Mark you calendars: Alford’s Town Meeting is on Tuesday May 14th at 7:00pm, and Alford’s Elections will be held on Tuesday May 21st from 8:00am to 8:00pm.

Alford’s Annual Town Meeting is on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 7:00 pm, and we ask that all town residents make an effort to attend and to vote on this year’s articles. Please download and review the attached file before the meeting…

Alford Annual Town Meeting 2012

Alford Annual Town Meeting Warrant
May 10, 2011

Berkshire ss:

TO: Larry Pezze and/or Peter Schoeffer

GREETINGS:

In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Alford, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet at the Alford Town Hall in said Town on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 7:00 pm to vote on the following Articles:

ARTICLE I. To hear and as appropriate, act upon the reports of the Town’s Officers and any Committees of the Town.

ARTICLE II. To see if the Town will vote to appoint any committees or other officers and give them, or any officers instructions, authority or indemnity and make other appropriations and transact any other business which may properly and legally come before said Town Meeting.

ARTICLE III. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Boards of Selectmen and the Board of Health to appoint any member of the Board of Selectmen, or Board of Health, respectively, to another office or position for the term provided by law, if any, otherwise for a term not to exceed one year, in accordance with Section 4A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.

ARTICLE IV. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from Free Cash the sum of One Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Six and 00/100 Dollars, ($1,736.00) for the FY 2012operating budget of the Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation Corporation (S.B.E.T.C.) for the transportation of the seniors and disabled population of our community or take any other action thereon.

ARTICLE V. To see if the Town will vote to approve the creation of the following “departmental revolving fund” accounts, as provided for by G.L. ch.44; Section 53E ½. The receipts from plumbing inspections are to be credited to the Plumbing Inspector who is to be paid from this account to a maximum of Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000.00). The receipts from oil burner inspections are to be credited to the Oil Burner Inspector who is to be paid from this account to a maximum of Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000.00). The receipts from electrical inspections are to be credited to the Electrical Inspector who is to be paid from this account to a maximum of Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000.00). The receipts from sanitation inspections are to be credited to the Sanitation Inspector who is to be paid from this account to a maximum of Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000.00). The receipts from fire inspections are to be credited to the Fire Inspector who is to be paid from this account to a maximum of Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars. The Board of Selectmen shall be authorized to expend monies from these funds.

ARTICLE VI. To see if the Town will transfer from free cash the sum of Twenty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000.00), or any other sum for repairs and improvements to Alford Highways.

ARTICLE VII. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow by notes or transfer from free cash, the sum of Seventy Three Thousand Two hundred and Fifty nine Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($73,259.00) as requested by the Board of Selectmen, to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under the State Aid to Highway Program Chapter 90.

ARTICLE VIII. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take all necessary and appropriate action to establish and to maintain, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 164 of the General Laws and in accordance with the rules, regulations and orders of the Department of Utilities and the Department of Telecommunications & Cable, a municipal lighting plant for all purposes allowable under the laws of the Commonwealth, including without limitation the operation of a telecommunications system and any related services, or to take any other action relative thereto. (Written ballot required)

ARTICLE IX. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to defray the charges and expenses of the Town describes in the Feature Accounts on these pages, including the salaries of the Town Officers and Employees for FY 2012.

Item, FY 2011, FY 2012

1 SBRSD-Operating $515,856.00 $522,541.00
2 SBRSD-Capital $43,280.00 $5,784.00
3 Insurance $39,375.00 $43,312.00
4 Community Health Program $800.00 $800.00
5 Berkshire Mental Health $177.00 $177.00
6 Visiting Nurse Association $585.00 $471.00
7 Loan Principal $0 $0
8 Interest on Loans $0 $0
9 Veteran’s Service $1,447.66 $1,140.74
10 So. Berkshire Solid Waste $1,400.30 $1,400.30
11 Berkshire Regional Retirement  $25,218.00 $26,418.00
12 Berkshire Regional Planning  $253.71 $253.71
13 Veteran’s Benefits  $100.00 $100.00
14 Insect Pest Control  $1,000.00 $1,000.00
15 Emergency Reserve  $11,000.00 $11,000.00
16 Town Buildings  $50,000.00 $52,000.00
17 Street Lighting  $350.00 $350.00
18 Sanitation  $50,000.00 $52,000.00
19 Snow & Ice Overtime Fund  $13,000.00 $8,000.00
20 Public Works Highway  $45,000.00 $46,500.00
21 Rd. Superintendent Salary  $50,274.00 $56,274.00
22 Employee Benefits  $13,000.00 $13,000.00
23 Public Works Employee Salary  $45,466.00 $46,830.00
24 Part Time Employee  $8,000.00 $8,500.00
25 Public Works Snow & Ice  $46,225.00 $48,000.00
26 Interest on Temporary Loans  0 0
27 Machinery & Maintenance  $15,500.00 $15,500.00
28 Fire Department  $11,000.00 $11,000.00
28-A Alford firefighter stipends  $12,000.00 $12,000.00
29 Fire Chief Expense  $100.00 $100.00
30 Police Department  $31,000.00 $31,000.00
31 911  $6,619.36 $6,817.95
31-A Reverse 911  $2,500.00 $2,500.00
32 Medicare  $2,500.00 $3,000.00
33 Division of Employment  $500.00 $500.00
34 Eagle Fund  $2,000.00 $2,000.00

Total $1,045,527.03 $1,030,269.70

35 GENERAL GOVERNMENT
A Assessor’s Expense  $22,175.00 $9675.00
B Assessor’s Clerk Salary  $7,800.00 $8,034.00
C Selectmen’s Expense  $7,500.00 $8,000.00
D Secretary Salary  $27,851.00 $28,686.00
E Accountant’s Salary  $6,240.00 $6,427.20
F Tax Collectors Expense  $2,300.00 $2,300.00
G Town Clerk’s Expense  $1,650.00 $1,650.00
H Treasurers Expense  $4,000.00 $4,500.00
I Board of Registration Expense  $700.00 $900.00
J Board of Appeals Expense  $250.00 $250.00
K Planning Board Expense  $2,000.00 $2,000.00
L Moderator’s Expense  $20.00 $20.00
M SBRSD-Rep. Expense  $700.00 $721.00
N Council on Aging Expense  $920.00 $920.00
O Building Inspector Expense  $1500.00 $1,500.00
P Conservation Commission  $1,500.00 $1,500.00
Q Library Trustee Expense  $300.00 $300.00
R Hazardous Waste Center  $1,000.00 $1,000.00
S Hazardous Waste Commission  $532.00 $532.00
T Town Counsel Salary  $6364.80 $6,555.74
U Town Counsel Expense  $1,000.00 $1,000.00
V Animal Control Officer  $1,768.00 $1,768.00
W Alford News Letter  $1,200.00 $1,200.00
X Finance Committee Expense  $150.00 $150.00
Y Tree Warden’s Expense  $4,500.00 $5,000.00
Z Historic Commission  $500.00 $500.00

Total $104,420.80 $95,088.94

36 TOWN OFFICER’S SALARY
A Assessor, Chairperson  $3,800.00 $3,800.00
A-1 Assessor $2,000.00 $2,000.00
A-2 Assessor $2,000.00 $2,000.00
B Animal Inspector $636.48 $655.57
C Building Inspector  $12,000.00 $12,000.00
D Constable  $636.48 $655.57
E Librarian  $636.48 $655.57
F Moderator  $106.08 $107.00
G Clerk of Registrars  $106.08 $107.00
H Selectmen, Chairperson  $3,800.00 $3,800.00
H-1 Selectmen  $2,000.00 $2,000.00
H-2 Selectmen  $2,000.00 $2,000.00
I Tax Collector  $6,364.80 $6,554.92
J Town Clerk  $6,364.80 $6,554.92
K Treasurer  $6,364.80 $6,554.92

Total $48,816.00 $49,445.47

ALL TOTALS $1,198,763.83 $1,174,804.11
ARTICLE X. To see if the Town will vote to approve the vote of the Southern Berkshire Regional School Committee authorizing the borrowing of up to $3,000,000.00, as allowed by MGL Chapter 71, Section 16(d), in order to pay for the costs of remodeling and making extraordinary repairs to various school buildings of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, and to pay costs of purchasing various items of capital equipment for general technology upgrades and building improvements and upgrades, and for payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto, or to take any other action relative thereto.

ARTICLE XI. To see if the Town will vote to amend the existing Regional Agreement Establishing the Southern Berkshire Regional School District to read in its entirety as set forth in the document titled “Restatement of Regional Agreement Establishing the Southern Berkshire Regional School District” as submitted to the Town by the Egremont Board of Selectmen.

ARTICLE XII. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from free cash the sum of One Thousand 00/100 Dollars ($1,000.00) or any other sum for the Great Barrington Public Library or take any other action relating thereto.

ARTICLE XIII. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate , the sum of Twenty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000.00) to increase the Stabilization Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 5B of Chapter 40 of the General Laws.

ARTICLE XIV. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($10,000.00), for repairs and improvements to Alford Highways.

ARTICLE XV. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($15,000.00), for painting of the Town Buildings.

And, you are required to serve this Warrant, by posting attested copies at the Town Hall and such other places as the Selectmen deem appropriate at least (7) days before said Meeting.

Hereof and fail not to make return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the clerk of said Town on or before the time of said Meeting.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Charles F. Ketchen, Chairman
Raymond E. Wilcox, Jr.
Timothy E. Drumm

CONSTABLE: (Peter Schoeffer and/or Larry Pezze)

Winter is coming to an end, temperatures are rising, and we are starting to see and feel the first signs of spring . This past winter was especially difficult, weatherwise. Once again, we can all be thankful to our hard working road crew, led by Road Superintendant, Monty Green and his assistant, Rich Robarge for keeping our roads open and safe, storm after storm. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the storms will be behind us and we will be experiencing Spring in full force!

Your Selectmen have been busy. As usual, our major recent focus has been preparing next year’s budget for your consideration at the annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Town elections will be held on the following Tuesday, May 17th at Town Hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Alford continues to be in good financial shape. We have no debt and the budget appears to allow us to maintain services without increasing taxes. School costs are down about $30 per thousand, due to the 20 year, $25 million dollar bond completion, as well as the new District Agreement worked out by representatives of Select Boards from all five District member towns. Alford’s Town Counsel, Lucy Prashker, was of major assistance to the group in helping them accomplish this.

Construction of the new Town Garage/Maintenance Building was completed in the fall and the Town Hall roof repair should be completed soon. Several slate sections had been broken and, for safety reasons, parts of the roof needed immediate attention. Alford residents can now utilize services of the Mason Library in Great Barrington thanks to an agreement worked out between Great Barrington Library officials, Town Counsel Lucy Prashker, and ourselves. Last year at Town Meeting, monies were voted to support such use.

For better than 3 years, we have been waiting for progress on the repair of the bridge on the Great Barrington/Alford Road. We recently received a letter from the State Highway Department assuring us that they are planning to replace it – but once again, no dates were given. The presence of a traffic counting device recently installed is encouraging, however, so we are hopeful…

Now that spring is here, State Police patrols will be increasing – helping to keep our roadways safer. Thanks, once again, to all of Alford’s residents who serve on Town boards. Through their dedication and hard work. Alford has become and continues to be the wonderful place we all enjoy!! We hope you all are well and happily enjoying the new season. Looking forward to seeing you at Town Meeting on May 10th.

Sincerely,
Charlie Ketchen, Chairman

At the Alford Annual Town Meeting in May, voters approved a resolution for the Town to enter into discussion with other towns about the formation of a municipally owned broadband Internet network for Western Massachusetts. A total of 47 towns have agreed to participate in this planning effort.

In order to follow through on this effort, the Town is seeking a resident with a keen business sense to serve as Alford’s representative to Wired West, the organization that is coordinating the project. If anyone is interested is playing that role, which involves attending periodic planning meetings, please contact Debbie Blackwell at the Town Offices, 528-4536. Information about Wired West and the broadband project is available at http://www.wired-west.net.

Alford Select Board