Selectman seeks to cut health insurance for new board members

Town Meeting is a chance for ordinary citizens to have their say, and below is a summary of changes they want considered this spring.

Six of the 15 issues have to do with the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex at Summer Street. Others involve health insurance for new selectmen, conflict of interest and, yes, off-leash dogs.

All are noted briefly below.

Marie Krepelka, the selectmen's administrator, said Feb. 9 no citizen articles were submitted for the May Special Town Meeting.

The Board of Selectmen voted Monday, Feb. 1, to call a Special Town Meeting to be held on May 10, at Town Hall starting at 8 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is for the appropriation of funds for capital projects.

The warrant for the Special Town Meeting was open Monday, Feb. 9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this time, warrant articles could be submitted to the Board of Selectmen's Office. Please note 100 signatures are required. 

The period to submit a warrant article for the spring's 2010 Annual Town Meeting extended from Tuesday, Dec. 1, to noon Friday, Jan. 22.

Any warrant article can, but is not required, to be reviewed by the town moderator and/or town counsel for form; however, warrant articles need to be presented to the selectmen's office, second floor, Town Hall during regular business hours.

Selectwoman Diane Mahon plans to submit a warrant article next month asking Town Meeting to ban texting while driving in Arlington, Boston.com reported Dec. 23. Mahon said she wants the town to consider the ban if for no other purpose than to spark a discussion and educate people about the dangers of texting when they are behind the wheel, the Web site says.

Boston’s City Council voted in favor of a driver’s texting ban last week, so officials in Newton and Arlington are preparing to propose similar bans, the Web site says. The goal of the advocates is to pressure the Legislature to enact a statewide ban and educate people on the dangers of texting behind the wheel.

Arlington's Special Town Meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, voted in favor of increasing the excise taxes on restaurant meals and on stays at the town's only hotel.

One article on acholol was adopted, while a proposal to allow two more package stores received no action. Meeting members gave a loud "no" to the proposal to amend the committee to reorganize town government.

The Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 on Monday, Sept. 14, to schedule a Special Town Meeting for Monday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. in Town Hall, and it was held that night. Read a summary here >>

The warrant was open for one day, Thursday, Sept. 24, from 8 a.m. to to 7 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to give the town the opportunity to vote on the optional meals and hotel tax increase. To read the warrant and selectmen's report for this meeting, see >>