Town Meeting Voters Approve Budget, Other Items

There was some concern at the outset about whether the required 175 people would show up at the Lynnfield spring town meeting for a quorum, but within a few hours voters passed the FY 2014 budget plus a couple of other proposals.

The 18 town warrant articles from Monday night can be viewed at this link.

The town's budget for fiscal year 2014 is just over $44.7 million, and a handful of motions offered by residents would have changed certain aspects. For example, at one point resident David Miller proposed moving $150,000 to road repairs from the school budget, which School Committee Chairwoman Dorothy Presser warned would jeopardize the district's iPad initiative for the students. "It's money that we only have this year," said Presser, referring to the district's savings on special education costs.

The town should have an "honest shot" in a couple of years of having its road repair schedule fully on track anyhow, explained Town Administrator Bill Gustus, based on expected town expenditures and state aid amounts.

For non-budget items, town voters approved the medical marijuana moratorium with no debate or opposition. This proposal, modeled after one adopted by nearby Burlington, would keep keep any medical marijuana dispensaries from opening in town until either next summer or until state and local policies on the issue are fully determined.

Another measure that passed with no debate or opposition was an auto excise tax exemption for certain active duty military personnel who are serving overseas.

More from Lynnfield's town meeting will be posted on Lynnfield Patch this week.