1873
|
VOTED to grant control of Town Common to the
Belchertown Park Association, in concurrence with the Selectmen.
|
1883
|
VOTED to establish elected Trustees of Calvin
Bridgman Funds.
|
1888
|
VOTED to accept a gift of $2,000 for the support
of a public library from Miss Amarilla Bascom.
|
1888
|
(April 9) VOTED $2,000 to break out the roads
after the late snowstorm.
|
1888
|
VOTED to require the County Commissioners to
establish one or more truant schools as provided in Public Statutes
Chapter 48, Section 14.
|
1889
|
VOTED to pass over an article that would have
established a regional school superintendent with Enfield and Granby.
|
1891
|
VOTED that after this date the number of constables
appointed by the town shall be five.
|
1891
|
VOTED to choose hereafter annually its Surveyors
of Lumber, Measures of Wood and Bark, Fence Viewers, Field Drivers,
Almoners of Whiting Street Fund, Trustees of Calvin Bridgman Fund
and Commissioners of Burial Grounds by nomination instead of by ballot.
|
1892
|
VOTED to instruct Selectmen to petition the
Legislature to rescind the vote (on the Australian ballot) and to
return (the town) to its former manner of electing said officers.
|
1893
|
VOTED to elect a committee of five to enforce
the liquor law.
|
1893
|
VOTED that the Chair appoint a committee to
investigate what needs to be done about better fire protection.
|
1894
|
VOTED to pass over an acceptance of Chapter
431 of the Acts of 1888, relating to the employment of a Superintendent
of Schools.
|
1894
|
VOTED to pass over an article which would have
empowered Selectmen to act as Overseers of the Poor.
|
1894
|
VOTED to dig a well on the high school ground.
|
1895
|
(Ballot question) "Is it expedient that the
municipal suffrage be granted to women?" Yes-96; No-111; Blank-50.
|
1896
|
VOTED to adopt first major bylaw.
|
1896
|
VOTED to pass over an article designed to provide
a single, elected Highway Surveyor.
|
1896
|
VOTED to grant a franchise to the Belchertown
Water Company.
|
1896
|
VOTED $500 for the purposes of establishing
sewers.
|
1897
|
VOTED to accept the bequest provided under Chapter
507 of the Acts of 1897.
|
1897
|
VOTED to build a tramp house at an expense not
to exceed $100.
|
1898
|
VOTED to rescind vote of March 5, 1883, establishing
a Board of Trustees of Calvin Bridgman Funds.
|
1898
|
VOTED to appoint the Board of Selectmen and
their successors in office as a Board of Trustees for the Calvin Bridgman
Fund.
|
1898
|
VOTED that the Chair of the School Committee
and the Town Treasurer, and their successors in office, be designated
as ex officio members of the Board of Trustees of the Calvin Bridgman
Fund.
|
1899
|
VOTED to fix a salary ($125 per annum) of the
Tax Collector.
|
1899
|
VOTED to purchase fire equipment and to build
a building to store it (marks beginning of Fire Department).
|
1900
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone an article that
would have established "a precinct district and polling place in the
south part of the town."
|
1900
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone accepting provision
of Section 72 of Chapter 423 of the Acts of 1890, relative to establishing
voting precincts.
|
1901
|
VOTED not to authorize division of the town
into voting precincts.
|
1901
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone an article that
would have established a voting precinct in the south part of town
to be used only at the fall election.
|
1901
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone an article relating
to the acceptance of Chapter 482 of the Acts of 1901, authorizing
a three-year term for the Town Clerk.
|
1903
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone an article instructing
the School Committee to form a union (with other towns) and employ
a Superintendent of Schools, as required by an act of the Legislature
of 1900.
|
1903
|
VOTED the free use of hearse and town team for
persons dying in Belchertown, even though they are buried in an adjoining
town.
|
1904
|
VOTED to instruct the School Committee to form
a union with the School Committee of Enfield for the purpose of employing
a Superintendent of Schools.
|
1904
|
VOTED to pay the School Committee.
|
1905
|
Board of Selectmen designated the "residential
part of the town to the Tree Warden," in accordance with MGL c. 53,
§ 13. (This presumably defined the scope of the Tree Warden's
responsibilities.)
|
1905
|
VOTED to rescind the vote passed at a former
meeting whereby a Highway Surveyor was to be elected by ballot, thus
leaving it incumbent upon the Selectmen to appoint a Superintendent
of Streets. (The action referred to the acceptance of Section 336
of Chapter 11 of the Revised Laws, which had taken place in 1903.)
|
1906
|
VOTED to choose a committee of three, to be
known as the Committee on Appropriations. (Origin of Finance Committee.
The article stated its responsibilities as follows: "who shall carefully
investigate and report to the next Annual Town Meeting the amounts
needed in the several departments to be expended the year ensuing.")
|
1908
|
VOTED to close fiscal year on February 1 instead
of 15.
|
1908
|
VOTED to guarantee the payment of bonds not
to exceed $30,000, to be used to defray the expenses of building a
water supply system in the fire district.
|
1909
|
VOTED to authorize the town clerk to have the
doings on the town warrant printed in the town reports for all times.
|
1911
|
VOTED $100 to aid in the suppression of the
brown tail moth, as required by Chapter 381 of the Acts of 1905.
|
1913
|
VOTED to empower the Selectmen to act as an
Investment Committee. (The duties included "to safety invest all funds
now held.")
|
1913
|
VOTED to rename three town ponds as follows:
Lake Metacomet, Lake Arcadia and Holland Lake.
|
1914
|
VOTED to change the date of the Annual Town
Meeting from the first Monday in March to the first Monday in February.
|
1914
|
(Ballot question) VOTED against an act which
would have provided vacations for (town) laborers.
|
1915
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone an article designed
to increase the term of Selectmen to three years.
|
1915
|
VOTED to make every field driver's premises
a public pound in accordance with MGL c. 33, § 28.
|
1915
|
VOTED that the Selectmen be asked to open the
polls at 7:00 a.m. for annual and state elections.
|
1915
|
(Ballot question) A constitutional amendment
relating to the granting of the suffrage to women. Yes-88; No-221;
Blank-54.
|
1916
|
VOTED to petition for an audit to prepare a
correct statement of the financial condition of the town.
|
1917
|
VOTED to instruct the Selectmen to keep a flag
on the flagpole in the park.
|
1918
|
At this time the practice developed of naming
the Chairman of the Selectmen, the Chairman of the School Committee
and the Superintendent of Streets as the Committee on Appropriations.
|
1919
|
VOTED to hire a district nurse to superintend
the health of the community.
|
1921
|
VOTED to henceforth give perpetual care to the
cemetery lot of any person, on payment of $50 to the Town Treasurer
for that purpose, paid money to be invested with the cemetery funds,
the Cemetery Commissioners to report annually, and the report of each
bequest to be kept by itself. (The article had proposed $100 rather
than $50.)
|
1921
|
VOTED to raise and appropriate $15 for work
in connection with the establishment of a "public dumping ground."
|
1921
|
VOTED to instruct town officials to itemize
their accounts in each division, the same to be printed in the town
report each year.
|
1921
|
VOTED "by a large majority, to continue the
use of standard time."
|
1921
|
VOTED to rescind the vote, taken in 1919, accepting
the provisions of MGL c. 11, § 336, relating to the election
of the Highway Surveyor.
|
1922
|
VOTED to petition the Legislature for a special
act to authorize the town to exceed the statutory limit on indebtedness.
|
1922
|
VOTED to create a committee on establishing
a town forest.
|
1922
|
VOTED that hereafter, one copy of warrants shall
be posted on the Bridgman Brick block instead of on Community Hall.
|
1922
|
Name of Committee on Appropriations was changed
to Finance Committee, and Moderator began making appointments.
|
1923
|
VOTED to direct the Selectmen to prepare a division
of the town into two voting precincts. (In December 1923 the Selectmen
filed their report, submitted it to the town and it was rejected.
In 1924 the Board was instructed to draw up new precincts, which were
finally adopted in May 1924.)
|
1924
|
At the annual meeting several ballot questions
were submitted. All dealt with the power of the Selectmen.
VOTED to empower Selectmen to act as Overseers
of the Poor.
VOTED to authorize Selectmen to appoint a Chief
of Police.
VOTED to authorize Selectmen to appoint a Chief
of the Fire Department.
VOTED to authorize Selectmen to appoint a Tree
Warden.
VOTED to authorize Selectmen to appoint a Superintendent
of Streets.
|
1924
|
VOTED to accept the report of the Selectmen
regarding the division of the town into two voting precincts.
|
1924
|
VOTED to establish a committee to draft such
bylaws as may be necessary for regulating municipal affairs.
|
1924
|
VOTED a committee of three (none of them to
be heads of departments) to be known as a Finance Committee or Committee
on Appropriations). (The article had called for a committee of 10
members.)
|
1924
|
VOTED to accept a report on renaming of cemeteries.
|
1924
|
VOTED to rescind actions taken on 1924 ballot
questions (which had dealt with the appointive powers of the Board
of Selectmen).
|
1924
|
VOTED not to increase power of Appropriations
(Finance) Committee.
|
1924
|
Selectmen prepared a major report on naming
of streets.
|
1925
|
VOTED that the date for holding the subsequent
meeting provided for by MGL c. 39, § 20, as amended, shall
be held one week later than the town election; the hour of holding
the same to be named by the Selectmen. (This established the practice
of holding the "elections" and "action" part of the Annual Town Meeting
on different days.)
|
1925
|
VOTED to accept bylaw report, submitted by committee.
(Most of the bylaws adopted in 1925 are still in force today. The
1925 code gave the Selectmen the power to appoint the Finance Committee.)
|
1928
|
VOTED to sell to the commonwealth, for $8,000,
a tract of land with buildings thereon, known as the "Poor Farm."
|
1929
|
Town experienced first difficulties with quorum,
which bylaws had established at 50.
|
1931
|
VOTED to elect Moderator annually by ballot,
as provided by MGL c. 39, § 14.
|
1932
|
VOTED to give preference in its employment of
school teachers to those applicants who are graduates of the Belchertown
High School, as far as possible.
|
1933
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone motion that would
have given Selectmen a three-year term.
|
1934
|
VOTED "to accept with thanks the contributions
made in 1933 by the teachers, bus drivers, School Committee and Superintendent
to reduce the tax levy."
|
1934
|
VOTED $75 to immunize the children of the town
against diphtheria.
|
1936
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone a motion that
would have authorized construction of toilets at Franklin School.
|
1938
|
VOTED to accept as a gift a tract of land for
recreational purposes given by Mrs. Marion P. Spencer in memory of
her father, Lawrence S. Parsons.
|
1938
|
VOTED to use Franklin School as a voting precinct.
|
1939
|
VOTED a sum of money to publish the bylaws.
Town Clerk was instructed to make them "legally enforceable." (Town
Clerk subsequently published bylaws three different times in Belchertown
Sentinel.)
|
1939
|
VOTED, in accordance with general law, to adopt
a system of sewerage and sewage disposal plant for the town and authorize
the Selectmen to make necessary applications, agreements and contracts
with the City of Springfield, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and
the Works Program Administration and other agencies of the United
States of America necessary or proper to carry into completion such
system of sewerage and sewage disposal plant.
|
1939
|
VOTED to authorize and instruct the Selectmen
to take general charge of constructing, maintaining and operating
the sewerage system and plant, until such time as Sewer Commissioners
are elected.
|
1940
|
VOTED two major "takings" for sewer purposes.
|
1941
|
VOTED to appoint a committee to look into establishment
of a citizens' caucus, for the purpose of nominating candidates for
various town offices without regard to political affiliation.
|
1941
|
VOTED against increasing term of Selectmen to
three years.
|
1942
|
VOTED an appropriation of $2,500 for civil defense,
under the direction of the Selectmen, according to Chapter 487 of
the Special Acts of 1941.
|
1942
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
sell property taken under tax title procedure, providing the sale
is advertised and a notice of 14 days is given. Selectmen may reject
any bid they deem inadequate.
|
1943
|
VOTED to authorize Cemetery Commissioners to
employ themselves. (The hourly rate, in 1943, was $0.55 per hour.)
|
1944
|
VOTED to reduce quorum in bylaw from 50 to 25.
(Changed to 75, 5-13-1986.)
|
1945
|
VOTED to establish a committee to revise bylaws
and to recommend a code of building regulations.
|
1945
|
VOTED to authorize one member of the Board of
Selectmen to sell gravel to the town.
|
1945
|
VOTED to elect the Tax Collector for a period
of three years (beginning in 1946).
|
1946
|
VOTED to petition Legislature to be allowed
to borrow $100,000 to build a new school building.
|
1947
|
VOTED to allow residents of the town to water
trap.
|
1948
|
VOTED to rescind the action taken under Article
3 of a Town Meeting held September 29, 1873, whereby the Belchertown
Park Association was granted control of the Common in concurrence
with the Selectmen.
|
1948
|
VOTED to authorize Selectmen to execute a lease
in the name of the town for the use of Clapp Memorial Library for
school purposes. (Lease was to run for 25 years.)
|
1949
|
VOTED that the town provide that the Collector
of Taxes shall collect, under the title of Tax Collector, all accounts
due to the town.
|
1949
|
VOTED that the Moderator appoint a Regional
School District Planning Board of three members, one of whom shall
be a member of the School Committee.
|
1949
|
VOTED to authorize Selectmen to appoint an Inspector
of Wires as required under Chapter 529, Acts of 1949.
|
1950
|
VOTED to establish a committee to investigate
the desirability of a Planning Board.
|
1952
|
VOTED to establish a public welfare district
with the Town of Granby.
|
1951
|
Planning Board apparently established.
|
1953
|
VOTED to establish the term of office of the
Board of Selectmen at three years.
|
1953
|
VOTED to indefinitely postpone proposed zoning.
|
1955
|
VOTED to establish an appointed Town History
Committee.
|
1956
|
VOTED to establish a Town Government Study Committee.
|
1956
|
Rules and regulations of Board of Health published
in Sentinel.
|
1957
|
VOTED to establish the term of office of the
Town Treasurer to be a three-year elected term, under the provisions
of MGL c. 41, § 1, beginning in 1958.
|
1957
|
VOTED to establish an elected Board of Health
of five members, each to be elected for a three-year term, beginning
in 1958. (Changed to five members 3-11-1996.)
|
1957
|
VOTED to accept Zoning Bylaw.
|
1958
|
VOTED to authorize Selectmen to make bylaws
designed to control boating on all waters within the limits of the
town.
|
1958
|
VOTED not to suspend operation of trapping law.
|
1959
|
VOTED to authorize the printing of a pamphlet
of bylaws. (As far as can be ascertained, this is the only time bylaws
have been printed. The booklet, now obsolete, has long been out of
print.)
|
1959
|
Board of Health issued rules and regulations
on piggeries.
|
1959
|
VOTED to adopt a bylaw regulating boating (STM
7-27-1959).
|
1960
|
Initial discussion of Town Manager form of government.
|
1961
|
VOTED a Zoning Bylaw amendment requiring building
permits.
|
1961
|
VOTED not to accept provisions of MGL c. 41,
§ 97. (The acceptance would have formally established a
Police Department, under a "weak-chief" provision.)
|
1961
|
VOTED to enlarge membership of the School Committee
from three to five members, all to serve for terms of three years.
|
1963
|
VOTED to enlarge the Board of Selectmen from
three to five members, and thereafter all shall be elected for a term
of three years.
|
1964
|
VOTED not to reduce Board of Selectmen to three
members.
|
1966
|
VOTED to adopt bylaw on unregistered automobiles
and trucks.
|
1967
|
VOTED to establish a committee to investigate
feasibility of appointing a Town Manager or Executive Secretary.
|
1967
|
VOTED to authorize Board of Selectmen to appoint
a Parks and Recreation Committee of five members.
|
1967
|
VOTED to appoint constables for three-year terms
and abolish practice of electing them.
|
1967
|
VOTED to extend the scope and authority of the
War Memorial Committee, to include the keeping of suitable data on
persons serving in combat zones since the Korean conflict.
|
1968
|
VOTED to organize and establish the Belchertown
Housing Authority under the provisions of MGL c. 121, § 26K
and acts in amendments thereof and in addition thereto.
|
1968
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
appoint a five-member committee to investigate the sewer and water
facilities in South Belchertown.
|
1969
|
VOTED to join the Lower Pioneer Valley Regional
Planning District.
|
1970
|
VOTED to take no action on establishment of
Citizens' Caucus, as provided under MGL c. 53, § 121.
|
1971
|
VOTED no action on MGL c. 41, § 97.
|
1971
|
VOTED to establish nonpartisan caucus (see General
Law acceptance).
|
1972
|
VOTED to establish Police Department under strong-chief
provision.
|
1972
|
VOTED to accept bylaw on conduct of town caucuses.
|
1972
|
VOTED to establish a Master Plan.
VOTED to establish a Master Plan Advisory Committee.
VOTED to establish a Select Committee on Goals.
|
1972
|
VOTED to accept a moratorium bylaw on mobile
home construction.
|
1974
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
institute a forestry management plan in the sanitary landfill area.
Sale of wood to third parties was authorized, the proceeds to go to
the town treasury.
|
1975
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
submit the necessary procedural documentation which will qualify the
town for eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program.
|
1976
|
VOTED to accept Personnel Bylaw.
|
1977
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Health of the
Town of Belchertown to join the Quaboag Valley Visiting Nurse Association,
Inc., as a full-fledged member.
|
1978
|
VOTED to authorize a survey of needs to provide
more low-rent elderly housing, under Chapter 667 of the Acts of 1954.
|
1978
|
VOTED to change the term of the Tree Warden
from one year to three years, to begin in 1979.
|
1979
|
VOTED to establish a committee of five (to review
and revise the town bylaws).
|
1979
|
VOTED that any person or firm engaging services
of Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent in their official capacity
to pay for such services at $6.50 an hour, in accordance with MGL
c. 44, § 53C.
|
1980
|
VOTED to establish a committee on the adequacy
of the present form of town government.
|
1980
|
VOTED to raise salary of Chairman of Board of
Selectmen to $10,000 (for the ensuing year).
|
1980
|
VOTED to exceed the levy limit established by
Chapter 151 of the Acts of 1979.
|
1981
|
VOTED to establish an Energy Resources Commission,
as provided under MGL c. 40, § 81.
|
1981
|
VOTED to adopt executive secretary bylaw.
|
1981
|
VOTED to establish a Personnel Board.
|
1981
|
VOTED to amend bylaws to provide for appointment
of Finance Committee by Moderator. (Hitherto, Committee had been appointed
by Selectmen.)
|
1982
|
VOTED an appropriation to institute a capital
improvement and budgeting program.
|
1982
|
VOTED to direct the Selectmen to petition for
a special act "providing for the establishment and administration
of rent regulations and the control of evictions in mobile home park
accommodations in the Town of Belchertown."
|
1983
|
VOTED to limit the number of flower pots and/or
arrangements at each grave site to two.
|
1983
|
VOTED to adopt mobile home bylaw.
|
1983
|
VOTED to authorize the town to borrow moneys
under the provisions of Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1948, as amended,
for the construction of a new middle school and municipal swimming
pool.
|
1984
|
VOTED to adopt the aquifer protection district
amendments to Zoning Bylaw.
|
1984
|
VOTED to take no action on the five-year open-space
plan, submitted by Conservation Commission.
|
1985
|
VOTED to adopt "A Compendium of the Bylaws,
Special Acts and General Law Acceptances of the Town of Belchertown,"
as prepared for the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Belchertown
by David A. Booth Research Associates of Amherst, Massachusetts.
|
1987
|
VOTED to implement a newly organized Belchertown
Emergency Ambulance Service. (Art. 12)
|
1988
|
VOTED to increase the cost of a cemetery grave.
(Art. 12)
|
1989
|
VOTED to adopt a new fee schedule for Town Clerk's
fees in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 262, § 34,
cls. 1 to 79. (Art. 15)
|
1991
|
VOTED to establish a Landfill Enterprise Fund
pursuant to MGL c. 44, § 53E 1/2, as amended. (Art. 16)
|
1992
|
VOTED to establish a revolving fund for the
transportation of pupils in grades 7 to 12. (Art. 21)
|
1992
|
VOTED to approve the solid waste management
plan of the Eastern Hampshire Regional Refuse District. (Art. 22)
|
1993
|
VOTED to petition the General Court for special
acts to provide for the appointment of the Town Clerk and Treasurer.
(Arts. 8 and 9)
|
1993
|
VOTED to withdraw from the Eastern Hampshire
Regional Refuse District. (Art. 27)
|
1994
|
VOTED to establish a new elementary school.
(Art. 1)
|
1995
|
New optical scan voting system (LHS Association);
first machines; see 6-28-1982 Art. 8. (Art. 2)
|
1995
|
VOTED to increase the cost of a cemetery grave.
(Art. 9)
|
1995
|
VOTED to purchase parcel of land at the corner
of Maple and Main Streets. (Art. 14)
|
1995
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
enter into an agreement with the Water District for use of Daigle
Well Supply and Pumping Facilities. (Art. 25)
|
1997
|
VOTED to accept the User Charge System for Wastewater
Treatment Plant and Sanitary Sewer Extensions. (Art. 7)
|
1997
|
VOTED to construct sewer facilities for Pine
Valley Plantation. (Art. 8)
|
1997
|
VOTED to allow the Moderator of a Town Meeting
to take all votes requiring a two-thirds majority in the same manner
in which a vote is taken when a majority vote is required. (5-12-1997
ATM, Art. 16)
|
1997
|
VOTED to appropriate $10,000 to codify the town
bylaws. (Art. 22)
|
1997
|
VOTED to upgrade and expand the wastewater treatment
facility. (Art. 27)
|
1998
|
VOTED to transfer part of the fire station to
the Board of Selectmen to sell to the Belchertown Firefighters Association
for $1. (Art. 1)
|
1998
|
VOTED to acquire land near Hamilton Road Sanitary
Landfill from W. and J. Tolpa. (Art. 2)
|
1998
|
VOTED to elect rather than appoint the Town
Clerk. (Art. 19)
|
1998
|
VOTED to allow the leave of town owned property.
(Art. 29)
|
1998
|
VOTED that Town Meetings may be held outside
of town. (Art. 33)
|
1998
|
VOTED to accept and approve the codification
of the bylaws of the Town of Belchertown. (Art. 4)
|
1999
|
VOTED on new high school. (Art. 2)
|
1999
|
VOTED on collection of R.E. taxes on new structures
built between January 2 and June 30. (Art. 20)
|
1999
|
VOTED on reconsideration of articles at Town
Meeting. (Art. 23)
|
1999
|
VOTED to amend bylaws by adding Brownfields
Tax Abatement Agreements. (Art. 5)
|
1999
|
VOTED to acquire Topping Farm property for conservation
use. (Art. 11)
|
2000
|
VOTED to give the Board of Selectmen certain
authority over easements. (Art. 17)
|
2000
|
VOTED to give the Board of Selectmen certain
authority over land acquisitions. (Art. 22)
|
2000
|
VOTED to extend the town's sewerage system along
Springfield Road and throughout Pine Valley Plantation. (Art. 8)
|
2001
|
VOTED to establish rules and regulations for Town cemeteries. (See Ch. 208, Cemeteries.) (2-12-2007, Art. 27)
|
2001
|
VOTED to expand the membership of the Parks
and Recreation Committee from 5 to 7 members. (2-12-2001 STM, Art.
28)
|
2001
|
VOTED to appropriate funds to pay for the cost
of extending public sanitary sewer service to the Tri-Lakes area.
(5-14-2001 ATM, Art. 16)
|
2001
|
VOTED to establish a yearly ambulance subscription
fee program. (5-14-2001 ATM, Art. 31)
|
2001
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VOTED to acquire the Reed Property. (5-14-2001
STM, Art. 16)
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2002
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VOTED to amend Art. 17 of 5-8-2000 ATM to authorize
Board of Selectmen to accept gifts of land and easements with certain
provisions (5-13-2002 ATM, Art. 17)
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2002
|
VOTED to allow the appointment of Inspector
of Buildings, Building Commissioner or local inspector so employed
by the Town to be appointed for a minimum term of three years. (5-13-2002
ATM, Art. 20)
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2002
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VOTED to amend the vote taken under Article
16 of the May 14, 2001 Special Town Meeting, the acquisition of the
Reed Property, by inserting the following language after the word
"domain" in the first line of the vote: "a fee simple interest, subject
to a perpetual conservation restriction held by the Springfield Water
and Sewer Commission and to accept donations toward this purchase."
(1-28-2002 STM, Art. 5)
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2002
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VOTED to transfer the care, custody, management
and control of land owned by the Town from the inhabitants to the
Board of Selectmen for the purpose of conveyance and to authorize
the Board of Selectmen to sell said land to the Mill Valley Corp.
in exchange for the conveyance of land of the Mill Valley Corp. to
the Town (5-13-2002 ATM, Art. 19)
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2002
|
VOTED to designate property of National Fiber,
a division of MacGregor Bay Corporation, as an Economic Opportunity
Area (5-12-2003 ATM, Art. 22)
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2002
|
VOTED to designate property of Universal Forest
Products, Inc. as an Economic Opportunity Area (5-12-2003 ATM, Art.
24)
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2003
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
accept deeds in lieu of foreclosure on parcels known as "Clearwater
Ridge, Barton Avenue, Belchertown" (12-2-2003 STM, Art. 21)
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2003
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VOTED to enact a temporary tax amnesty program
(12-2-2003 STM, Art. 22)
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2004
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VOTED to establish a Recreation Commission (5-10-2004
ATM, Art. 30)
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2005
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VOTED to approve a Tax Incremental Finance Agreement
for MJK Group, LLC, and designate their expansion a "certified project"
(1-18-2005 STM, Art. 5)
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2005
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VOTED to change the Town Moderator's term from
one year to three years (1-18-2005 STM, Art. 6)
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2005
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VOTED to purchase the Topping Farm (1-18-2005
STM, Art. 10)
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2005
|
VOTED to appropriate money for the purpose of
acquiring by purchase property located at Lot 6, Jensen Road, Belchertown
(5-9-2005 STM, Art. 18)
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2005
|
VOTED to approve the preliminary design for
the Clapp Memorial Library Renovation and Expansion Project and to
authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for, accept and expend state
grants (5-9-2005 ATM, Art. 3)
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2005
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VOTED to establish an Agricultural Commission
(12-5-2005 STM, Art. 7)
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2006
|
VOTED to appropriate money for the replacement
of the BSS/Jackson Street Sewer Interceptor and to issue bonds or
notes of the Town therefor (5-8-2006 ATM, Art. 24)
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2006
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VOTED to borrow money for the purpose of acquiring
the property located at 10 Everett Avenue (5-8-2006 ATM, Art. 28)
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2006
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VOTED to discontinue Moore Road. (5-8-2006 ATM,
Art. 29)
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2006
|
VOTED to continue membership in the Hampshire
Council of Governments for fiscal year 2007 through fiscal year 2010
with 75% reduction in annual dues. (5-8-2006 ATM, Art. 31)
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2006
|
VOTED to designate as an invested revenue development
district to be eligible for district improvement financing the land
known as “Proposed Belchertown Town Center & Resort Invested
Revenue District” (10-4-2006 STM, Art. 2)
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2007
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
acquire property now or formerly owned by The Kestrel Trust (1-22-2007
STM, Art. 1)
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2007
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
acquire a parcel of land on Emily Lane now or formerly owned by Partyka
Partners Limited Partnership (1-22-2007 STM, Art. 2)
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2007
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VOTED to accept a section of Barton Avenue (5-14-2007
ATM, Art. 27)
|
2007
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
petition the General Court for special legislation authorizing the
Division of Capital Asset Management to convey to the Town a sewer
easement (5-14-2007 ATM, Art. 28)
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2008
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VOTED to appropriate money and to authorize
the Conservation Commission, with Board of Selectmen approval, to
acquire property formerly owned by Trexlar Topping (1-14-2008 STM,
Art. 1)
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2008
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
sell any properties acquired by the Town through a deed in lieu of
foreclosure (5-12-2008 ATM, Art. 13)
|
2008
|
VOTED to amend the personal property value to
$3,000 (5-12-2008 ATM, Art. 14)
|
2008
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VOTED to accept Emily Lane (5-12-2008 ATM, Art.
21)
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2008
|
VOTED to accept Pheasant Run (5-12-2008 ATM,
Art. 22)
|
2008
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to
designate the board or officer to issue permits for creating a trench
(5-12-2008 ATM, Art. 23)
|
2009
|
VOTED to accept the amended Economic Development & Industrial
Corporation’s Economic Development Plan. (5-11-2009 ATM, Art.
19)
|
2009
|
VOTED to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire land or
rights in land parcels for the purpose of obtaining a secure and public
right-of-way to allow for construction and roadway safety improvements.
(5-11-2009 ATM, Art. 24)
|
2009
|
VOTED to accept Whitlock Way and Berkshire Avenue. (5-11-2009
ATM, Art. 25)
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2010
|
VOTED, pursuant to MGL c. 64L, §2, to impose a local sales
tax upon the sale of restaurant meals originating within the Town
by a vendor at a rate of .75% of the gross receipts of the vendor
from the sale of restaurant meals. (5-10-2010 ATM, Art. 13)
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2010
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VOTED to approve a Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) Agreement for
Bridge Street Enterprises, LLC, 35 Bridge Street, Belchertown, MA,
and designate their expansion at that location a “certified
project.” (5-10-2010 ATM, Art. 23)
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2012
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VOTED to appropriate $1,250,000 to pay costs of designing, constructing,
purchasing materials, supplies, and related costs of developing a
roadway from a point known as STA. 8 + 50 on Business Technology Drive
East to an approximate point to be determined or to be established
as STA. 17 + 50 on Business Technology Drive East. (5-14-2012 ATM,
Art. 12)
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2013
|
VOTED to repeal the establishment of a Recreation Commission
which took place at the Annual Town Meeting of May 10, 2004, Article
30, and to further reestablish the Parks and Recreation Committee,
as voted at a Special Town Meeting on March 6, 1967, Article 20, and
amended by a vote at a Special Town Meeting on February 12, 2001,
Article 28, which increased the Committee’s membership from
five members to seven members. Upon passage of this, all current Recreation
Commission members’ terms will expire June 30, 2013. The Board
of Selectmen, acting as appointing authority, shall appoint seven
members to the newly constituted Recreation Committee for terms beginning
July 1, 2013, for three year terms with the exception of the first
membership appointment which will be for terms expiring June 30 but
so arranged that expiration dates will be staggered: two members for
a one year term (2014), three members for two year terms (2015), and
two members for three year terms (2016). (5-13-2013 ATM, Art. 15)
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2013
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VOTED to approve and authorize the Board of Selectmen to sign
an Agreement for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) pursuant to MGL
c. 59, § 38H(b), or any other enabling authority, for the
anticipated annual sum of $13,400 per megawatt, more or less, escalating
by 2% each year, and for a term of up to 25 years for personal property
taxes relating to a solar renewable energy facility of approximately
1.532 megawatts, more or less, to be installed on land located at
Ware Road, and shown on Assessors Map 244, Parcel 156.281. (5-13-2013
STM, Art. 1)
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2018
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VOTED to withdraw from the Hampshire Council of Governments.
(5-14-2018 ATM, Art. 13)
|