North Brookfield Special town meeting set for May 7

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

NORTH BROOKFIELD - A 17-article warrant will be voted upon at a special town meeting held Friday, May 7, at 7 p.m. at the North Brookfield Elementary School auditorium.

First on the list, dependent upon answers to a question on the May 3 election warrant, is to authorize the selectmen to borrow money to fund the entire cost of the Horse Pond Dam repair.

If voters approve the debt exclusion on Monday, town meeting article one will provide the opportunity to move ahead with a government-mandated improvement to the dam which has been declared unsafe. That approval will also put into motion consideration of a loan of $1.24 million loan by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a possible grant of nearly one third of the cost. That grant, according to town officials, is by no means a certainty, but neither the loan nor the grant will be under any consideration unless the town approves (1) the debt exclusion and (2) the town’s assumption of the debt. If the debt exclusion is not approved Monday, the town cannot move forward with this article; there is a contingency clause.

Several articles deal with routine transfers within accounts; however, four articles transfer funds from within the police budget to the police part-time salary account.

Article 16 seeks to amend town by-laws by adding section to Chapter VIII use of public ways and places. It permits, in certain cases, repairs and maintenance of approved private roads “at a time and in a manner determined by the highway superintendent,” grading and finishing of gravel or fill. The article will apply a dollar limit per mile, and releases the town from liability. Roads must be included on a list prepared and approved by the highway superintendent and board of selectmen. Private roads are to be posted as such, according to the proposed bylaw.

The final article seeks the voters’ approval of leasing to Quabaug Corporation portions of property owned by the town, a portion of the so-called Aztec property near the new police station. The lease would be for a term of up to 35 years, with agreed-upon 10 year extensions.