Budget Talk Dominates Selectmen's Discussion Before Election Day

The Stoneham Board of Selectmen discussed several items relating to the being brought before the voters in what was their last meeting before Election Day on April 5.

Board Tackles Budget Agreement Issues

In particular, the town budget took precedence on several fronts, first with reaction to the School Committee’s request for an amendment of the proposed Budget Agreement between the two boards and the Finance and Advisory Board.

While the School Committee narrowly approved (3-2) to sign onto the budget agreement, their motion also made their participation in the non-binding pact based upon taking another look at the principles of the agreement in two years.

The Selectmen voted 4-1 to approve the amendment of the Budget Agreement, with Selectman Robert Sweeney the lone voice of opposition.

Sweeney brought forth concerns with Town Administrator Dave Ragucci’s figures regarding the town’s proposed $65,282,481 budget, which may change if the Proposition 2 ½ override is approved by the voters at Town Meeting on May 2.

In particular his concerns came from nuances over Section 15 of the Budget Agreement, which states that there would be no for the duration of the agreement if the override was passed, although other Selectmen implied during the meeting that if the override doesn't pass, there would be a trash fee regardless of the outcome at Town Meeting.

“It’s basically holding a gun to the voters saying ‘you are going to pay $250 a year over and above the 2 ½ percent increase,'” Sweeney said. “You have a choice: it’s either this way or that way.”

Sweeney also addressed Selectman John DePinto’s earlier vote against the trash fee, which was initially proposed as a method to allay Stoneham’s budgetary problems prior to discussions regarding the override, and for the Budget Agreement, which he saw as implied consent for a trash fee if the override failed.

“(Chairperson) Paul (Rotondi) asked me for a leap of faith, and I wanted to see the faith in writing,” DePinto said in response to Sweeney’s question.

Senior Center Gets Additional Funding

The board also agreed to add about $30,000 to the recommended budget for the Stoneham Senior Center after the Council on Aging agreed to indefinitely postpone its at its meeting earlier in the day.

Snow Removal Warrant Articles

In other news at the meeting, resident Christopher Willard discussed his two proposed warrant articles regarding the removal of snow from sidewalks after snowstorms.

The first (Article 7) sets a fine of $10 for any resident that doesn't clear snow from their sidewalks after a storm, while the second (Article 8) would set a fine of up to $300 for anyone shoveling snow onto sidewalks or streets after a storm without Department of Public Works approval.

Current Stoneham bylaws only require this in certain parts of Main Street, and Willard told the board that expanding the law to the entire town would help increase safety during the colder months.

“We still have a lot of kids walking to school during the winter, we have people taking the T, and there are plenty of adults walking (down the street) and having issues,” Willard said. “I myself was nearly hit five times this winter.”