10 Takeaways From The March 21 Finance Committee Public Hearing On 2023 Town Meeting Warrant

WILMINGTON, MA — Below are 10 takeaways from the Wilmington Finance Committee’s public hearing on the 2023 Town Meeting warrant held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 7pm in the Town Hall Auditorium.

The Finance Committee ran through 46 of the 47 Town Meeting warrant articles in less than 80 minutes. No members of the public asked any questions. The hearing served as a preview of what will be discussed and voted upon at the Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9am.

#1) Town Meeting voters will be asked to make numerous investments in public safety, including the funding of the following capital requests:

• the purchase of four replacement police cruisers for $250,000 (Article #6)
• the purchase of one replacement fire prevention vehicle for $67,000 (Article #6)
• the purchase of three cardiac monitors for the Fire Department for $180,000, described as a key step in eventually bringing ALS (Advanced Life Support) services in-house, under the Fire Department’s purview (Article #14)
• the purchase of four mobile computers, antennas, and mounting to be installed in police cruisers and vehicles for $50,000 (Article #16)
• the continued replacement of a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phone systems at the Public Safety Building and other municipal buildings (Article #15)

Voters will also be asked to authorize the Select Board to acquire by gift, purchase, or eminent domain all or part of 333 Andover Street (Sciarappa Farm) for municipal purchases, including a potential fire/police substation in North Wilmington. (Article #40)

Resident Joanne Ricardelli, an EMT, is also asking voters to authorize the State Legislature to permit her Civil Service Firefighter Exam results be allowed for employment as a firefighter in Wilmington. Ricardelli is currently over the state-mandated minimum age to become a firefighter. She has the support of Fire Chief William Cavanaugh. (Article #43)

#2) Town Meeting voters will be asked to make numerous investments in Wilmington Public Schools, including the funding of  the following capital requests:

• the renovation of sections of the Wilmington Middle School to accommodate the relocation of Wildwood Early Childhood Center staff and students, plus the relocation costs, furnishings and equipment for a total of $1.1 million (Article #32). Town Manager Hull expects the project’s cost to decrease as the actual pricing will be finalized before the Town Meeting.
• the replacement of 19,124 square feet of roofing at the West Intermediate School for $675,000 (Article #27)
• the design phase to replace, in the following year, the windows and exterior doors at the West Intermediate School for $170,000 (Article #28)
• the replacement and upgrade of public address (PA) systems at the Early Childhood Centers, Elementary Schools and Intermediate Schools for $45,000 (Article #33)
• the replacement of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phone system at all school buildings for $200,000 (Article #34). Town Manager Hull noted the district’s current phone system will no longer be supported starting in 2025.
• the purchase of one replacement Handicap Accessible Wheelchair Minivan for the School Department for $76,000 (Article #6)

#3) Town Meeting voters will be asked to make numerous investments in recreation and fields, including the funding of  the following capital requests:

• the replacement of the 22-year-old playground at the Boutwell Early Childhood Center for $120,000 (Article #20)
• the engineering services for, in a future year, the eventual replacement of the 10-year-old turf field carpet at Wilmington High School’s Alumni Stadium for $40,000 (Article #21)
• the resurfacing of the tennis courts at the Boutwell Early Childhood Center for $40,000 (Article #22)

#4) Town Meeting voters will be asked to make numerous investments into the Town Museum, including the funding of the following capital requests:

• the design phase and actual replacement of the windows at the Harnden Tavern Museum for $115,000 (Article #29)
• the design phase and actual replacement of the roof at the Harnden Tavern Museum for $98,000 (Article #31)
• the design phase and actual replacement of the roof at the Harnden Tavern Museum’s Carriage House for $60,000 (Article #30)

#5) Town Meeting voters will be asked to make numerous investments to benefit the Department of Public Works, including the following capital requests:

• the purchase of one heavy duty 3/4 ton pickup truck with plow for the Cemetery Division for $65,000 (Article #6)
• the purchase of one heavy duty dump truck with plow and swappable dump body, flatbed, and sander for the Highway Division for $300,000 (Article #6)
• the purchase of one heavy duty winged field mower for the Parks & Grounds Division for $142,000 (Article #6)
• the purchase of one stainless steel salter for the Highway Division for $36,000 (Article #17)
• the purchase of one laser grader attachment for the Highway Division for $25,000 (Article #18)
• the purchase of one leaf box for the Parks & Grounds Division for $19,250 (Article #19)
• the replacement of 320 feet of chain link fencing at the Library for $20,000 (Article #23)
• the continued phased development of the Wildwood Cemetery, including develop plots in the recently purchased area on Wildwood St. and making improvements of the roads inside the cemetery, for $80,000 (Article #24)
• the replacement of a 40-year-old pump at the Pilcher Drive Pump Station for $30,000 (Article #26)

#6) Per a request of the Wilmington Board of Library Trustees, Town Meeting voters will be asked to rename the library’s second-floor Conference Room the Christina Stewart Room, in honor of Library Director Tina Stewart, who is retiring this fall after 49 years of service to the town. (Article #41)

#7) Per a request of Wilmington Historical Commission member and retired Wilmington Police Officer Paul Chalifour, Town Meeting voters will asked to name the police department’s firearms range and training facility located at Abigail’s Island as the “Officer Lawrence L. Redding Firearms Training Facility.” Redding is a longtime Wilmington resident, WHS graduate, Vietnam War veteran, former State Trooper, and retired Wilmington Police Officer. He was a driving force in the department obtaining its first firearms range. (Article #44)

#8) Town Meeting voters will be asked to make numerous investments to show support for veterans and patriotic causes, including the following requests:

• help fund the Fun on the Fourth celebration for $50,000 (Article #10)
• costs associated with the town’s observance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies for $8,000 (Article #11)
• covering the renewal costs of the VFW Clubhouse (Headquarters for the Nee-Ellsworth Post 2458) and the American Legion Clubhouse (Headquarters for Wilmington Post 136) for $1,500 (Article #12)

#9) The final article on the warrant (Article #47) is a request to amend the town’s zoning bylaws to have the Select Board, rather than the Board of Appeals, authorize carnivals on municipal land, The article was not addressing during the hearing, and — instead — will be discussed by the Planning Board at its April 4, 2023 7:30pm meeting. The article is brought forward by Patrick Giroux, Chairman of the Fun on the Fourth Committee.

#10) The only articles to receive any sort of negative reaction were Articles #45 and #46, where a petitioner asked the town to decrease $1.5 million from the Town Hall/School Administration project and then use $1.5 million to construct a “safe and conducive learning environment” for Wildwood students at the Middle School.

“These two articles – in my estimation – are just not necessary,” said Town Manager Jeff Hull. “They were put forward in an effort to address the Wildwood issue…. I’ve had multiple conversations with Superintendent Brand, Assistant Superintendent Ruggiero, and the respective chairs of the Select Board and School Committee. We’re all in unison here that the [$1.1 million] approach we’re already taking will accommodate the [Wildwood] students.”

The petitioner — Michael Bergeron — was not at the hearing. As a result, the Finance Committee did not take much time reviewing the articles. Finance Committee member Marianne Gallezzo questioned if the articles would be ruled out of order. Town Counsel Mark Rich responded that he’d be having a discussion with the Town Moderator Jonathan Eaton tomorrow to address the matter further.

DON’T FORGET: In addition to the capital requests, naming requests, and proposed bylaw changes outlined above, don’t forget about the BIGGEST article of them all — Article #5 — the town’s omnibus budget, currently slated at $129,448,963, an approximately 3% increase over this year. Three of the biggest cost drivers, according to Town Manager Hull, involve health insurance, heating oil, and the Shawsheen Tech assessment (approx. a 15% increase).

The 2023 Wilmington Annual Town Meeting will take place on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9am in the Joanne Benton Memorial Auditorium at Wilmington High School.