The following list of warrant articles -- or agenda items -- for the spring 2008 meeting was taken from paperwork provided to the selectmen’s office by citizens or officials. In each case, following the subject of the article is a brief description of the article and then the person or official body bringing the article to Town Meeting’ attention. A complete description of these articles will be published after town counsel reviews them. 

Music in restaurants: Amend the bylaws to allow musical performances in restaurants at a later hour than 10 p.m.  (Oakes Plimpton)

Alcohol in restaurants: Amend the bylaws to allow restaurants patrons to be served alcoholic drinks without being served a meal independent of food service. (Oakes Plimpton)

Community pool/ recreation center:  To seek a feasibility study to see whether the town would build a recreational center, including an outdoor community swimming pool, and to determine how the money for such a project would be raised. (Carol Band)

Report on nonprofits: To require the town manager to report annually, beginning with the 2009 Town Meeting, listing the approximate cost of all services provided to nonprofits in town. That would include the cost of trash removal and field maintenance. Exceptions include nonprofits that pay rent to the town for the use of real estate and public space. (Gordon Jamieson)

Longer warrant-article period: To see whether the town will vote to amend bylaws to provide that the warrant for Town Meeting remains open for 60 days before the beginning of the annual meeting. (Town Meeting procedures Committee)

Limiting speakers: To see whether the town will vote to amend bylaws to allow the Town Meeting moderator to use discretion to limit the number of Town Meeting speakers, how long they speak and the time of the debate. (Town Meeting procedures Committee)

Broaden sidewalk snow removal: To amend the snow-removal bylaw to include clearing of heavily used sidewalks, curb cuts and school routes to increase pedestrian safety. (Stephen Harrington)

Notifying abutters: Amend Article 18 of Title I of the town bylaws on meetings and minutes to require notifying abutters and others of any meeting or hearing affecting property rights. (Jeanne Leary)

Canine control: To amend Article 2 of Title VIII of the town bylaws to allow dogs off-leash at certain times and under certain conditions. (Sue Doctrow)

Ban dogs at Menotomy Rocks: To amend the bylaws to prohibit the presence of dogs in Menotomy Rocks Park. (David O’Rourke)
Leaf blowers:  Ban or regulate the use of leaf blowers. (Carol Band)

Affordable Housing Trust Fund: To see whether Town Meeting would accept Section 55C of Chapter 44 of the Mass. General Laws, which establishes such a fund, to preserve affordable housing. (Affordable Housing Task Force)

Zoning amendment:  To give the planning director the right to approve all sign requests (Kevin O’Brien, town planner)

Subdivision control laws: To change bylaws to reflect certain parts of Sections 81 of the Mass. General Laws. (Board of Selectmen) 

Retirement Board annual report: To require the Retirement Board to provide an annual report in writing no later than the 2009 Town Meeting, including fund performance, year-end balance, and return on investment. (Vision 2020 Fiscal Resource Task Group)

Tip funds, Medicare Part D: To revise the budget reporting to recognize tip-fund stabilization money as well as Medicare Part D reimbursements. (Gordon Jamieson)

Special education: To revise town budget procedures to budget future costs of special education at a level above the 7 percent of fund appropriated during the preceding fiscal year. (Gordon Jamieson)

Extend benefits for certain deceased town employees:  A request to selectmen to seek Home Rule legislation that would extend the benefit of deceased town employees who had been veterans (Retirement Board)

Healthcare Trust Fund transfer: Replaces Article 57 from the 2007 Town Meeting and would transfer all money into Other Post Benefits.  (Retirement Board, OPEB, Finance Committee)

Honoring Peg Spengler: To see whether Town Meeting will form a committee to recommend ways to honor the late Margaret T. Spengler. (Library trustees)

Harry Barber program: To seek an appropriation so that this community-service program may continue. (John Jope, executive director, Council on Aging)

Public-safety pleas: A number of articles involve potential applicants for public-safety positions seeking a waiver of the rule requiring one to be 32 or younger. They are Matthew Silva and Thomas Wesley, seeking to be on the Police Department; as well as Thomas Wesley, James Carnell, Matthew Earley and Robert Griffin, seeking to be on the Fire department. (Joe Tully brought the article for Carwell; the others brought articles in their own cases)

[NOTE: The selectmen's agenda for Feb. 11 includes a warrant-article hearing to change the composition of the town building committee. This article was not among those provided by the selectmen's office when YourArlington checked the articles on Jan. 24.]

Building committee change: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Bylaws Title I, Article 1, Sec. 7 o add a provision to the effect that, with respect to resolutions and articles dealing with matters outside of the legislative powers of the Town, the Moderator may, in his or her discretion, limit the number of speakers, the time for speaking and/or the total time for debate, notwithstanding the rules hereinbefore set forth; or take any action related there to. (Town Meeting Procedures Committee)

This story was first reported by YourArlington Monday, Feb. 4, 2008.

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