by Brian Keaney

The Selectmen have placed a dozen articles on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held on November 16.  Included among them are two articles related to the proposed new Avery School, and two tax increases on meals and hotel rooms.

The first article will be to approve contracts with several town unions.  There are eight bargaining units that negotiate with the Town Administrator, and most town employees have been working without a contract for two years.  Several of the smaller School Department bargaining units have already reached agreements but the much larger teachers’ union has not.

“We hope to be successful with some if not all of our collective bargaining units” by Town Meeting, said Assistant Town Administrator Nancy Baker.   

There will also be an article to adjust the operating and capital budgets approved at the Annual Town Meeting.  Budget cuts are expected when Town Administrator Bill Keegan presents his proposed adjustments to the Finance Committee in October.

Two articles will also be included relating to the construction of a new elementary school in East Dedham.  The first would authorize the construction of a new Avery School on Pottery Lane, and the second would authorize a significant improvement to the athletic facilities at Stone Park, contingent upon the approval of the school construction.

Town Meeting will also be asked to rescind authorization of a $3 million bond related to the Middle School construction.  The state provided an earlier than expected reimbursement to the Town and that money thus no longer needs to be borrowed.

The state legislature has still not acted on a home rule petition to combine the positions of treasurer and tax collector approved at the Annual Town Meeting in May.  Town Administrator Bill Keegan is sponsoring a new article asking for the question now to be put on the ballot at the annual town election so that the townspeople themselves may petition the General Court.

Also at the Annual Town Meeting was an article to streamline the process of signing the Town payroll warrants.  The Attorney General suggested a few alterations and they will be voted on in November as well.

Town Meeting will also be asked to create a new stabilization fund for capital needs projects.  It is expected to be funded with tax revenue from increased hotel and motel taxes, as well as a new meals tax that Town Meeting will also be asked to approve. 

Currently the hotel tax stands at 4%, and the Town does not collect a meals tax.  Under legislation recently approved by the state, cities and towns can now raise the hotel tax to 6%, and can impose a .75% tax on meals in addition to the 6.25% tax that goes to state coffers. 

Finally, Town Meeting will also be asked to vote on an article related to the sewer inflow and infiltration fund, and one to move the Adult Use Overlay District to an area off of Enterprise Drive.