WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington’s 2015 Annual Town Meeting takes place tomorrow — Saturday, May 2 at 10:30am — in the brand new Wilmington High School Auditorium.
Will you be 1 of the 2% of voters that actually show up and decide HUGE issues for the rest of the 22,500 Wilmington residents? In 2014, only 328 of 15,764 registered voters attended the Annual Town Meeting, and most did not stay the whole time.
There are 56 articles on this year’s warrant — 43 submitted by the Selectmen and 13 petitioned by town residents. (At least 3 of the petitioned articles will be passed over because they involved the purchase of town-owned land that the town deemed NOT to be surplus.)
Highlights of the 43 town-sponsored warrant articles include:
- The town’s proposed $100.5 million budget
- Vehicle requests: 5 police cruisers; 1 heavy dump truck with plower and sander for Highway Division; 1 ton dump truck with plow for Highway Division; 1 heavy duty 1 ton pickup truck for Parks and Ground Division; and 1 student transport van.
- Liquid de-icer truck assembly for Department of Public Works
- Convert underground fuel takes to above-ground fuel tanks at Department of Public Works
- Replacement of chiller at Public Safety Building
- Boiler replacement at Shawsheen Elementary
- Partial roof replacement at Shawsheen Elementary
- Partial roof replacement at Woburn Street School
- Upgrade clock and intercom systems at Middle School
- Purchase new ELA elementary curriculum program
- Purchase new math elementary curriculum program
- Reconstruct parking lot at Shawsheen Elementary
- Drainage improvement project for Mass Avenue
- Drainage improvement project for Cunningham Street
- Replace 30-inch culvert passing under Butters Row
- Fund a Municipal Facilities Master Plan
- Design & construct a recreational facility at 9 Cross Street (Yentile Farm)
- Bylaw change to allow the Yentile Farm Committee to name fields, play areas & structures at new recreational facility
- Fund the operation of the Public Rink Enterprise (for Ristuccia Arena)
- Demolish the Whitefield School
- Sell the Butters Farmhouse
- Accept the town’s newest proposed street — Lt. Buck Drive
- Various measures to create tax relief for seniors
- Continue the town’s Senior Tax Volunteer Program
Highlights of the 13 warrant articles petitioned by residents include:
- Name the recreational facility at 9 Cross Street as the “Yentile Farm Recreational Facility”
- Strengthen the town’s fencing bylaw
- Post all contracts signed by the Town within 72 hours of signing (Kevin MacDonald)
- Repeal the Special Town Meeting vote from 12/4 and not authorize the Selectmen to borrow money to purchase the Ristuccia Arena (Kevin MacDonald)
- Prevent the old high school from being demolished (Kevin MacDonald)
- Suspend all spending for the recreational facility at 9 Cross Street and privately build, manage, and lease 2 ice arenas on that site (Kevin MacDonald)
Read the entire Town Meeting warrant HERE.
Watch the Planning Board/Finance Committee Public Hearing on the Town Meeting warrant below.
Got a strong opinion on any of the articles? Share your thoughts in the comments section, post your thoughts on our Facebook page, or email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com!
Wilmington Apple 