By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
8/28/08

(previous)
A separate article calls for payment of FY 09 medical expenses for Pickens.
Another issue is a raise for department heads which would cost about $82,000. With approval, the town will appropriate around $25,800 to police department salary, $14,600 to public works and several other allocations to town departments. The department heads were not given raises at Town Meeting in the spring.
The third article would provide a $400,000 set-aside appropriation for collective bargaining agreements. The appropriations would go toward police and fire contracts, and to library and public works, according to Town Administrator Kevin Mearn.
A separate article contains appropriations for a pay raise for Town Clerk James Mullen and Treasurer Kevin Sorgi. The two elected and full time officials have not had a raise in two years.
Another article would provide funding for new software for the inspectional services department. Mearn said the department’s software was recently damaged in a storm and they have had to keep written records. He estimated the cost for new software at around $30,000.
A generator at town hall and a new server for police is covered in another article. Mearn said it will likely cost around $81,000 for the generator, plus an additional $50,000 to rewire the building, and around $15,000 for a new police server. He said the article includes additional appropriations for two smaller generators, costing around $40,000 each, which would go to Pierce Middle School. The Selectmen adopted language that calls for the town borrowing funds for the generators.
Another article would decrease the FY 09 school budget to cover Medicaid reimbursements funds being made by the state. Recently enacted legislation gives the school department the Medicaid reimbursements. The money was included in the school budget last spring.
There is an article to accept a gift, a 5.74 acre parcel of land on Randolph Avenue, currently owned by the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Mearn said the town is considering housing an animal shelter at the location, but many neighbors have voiced opposition to the plan. He said the land may remain an open space if the shelter is not built there.
The last article would authorize the town to petition the legislature for a liquor license for a planned restaurant at 2 Adams St.
The Town Meeting warrant will be mailed to residents around Oct. 2, according to Mearn.