REMINDER - SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, THURSDAY, 11/12/20 @ 7:00 PM

WARRANT FOR A SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

November 12, 2020

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Berkshire, ss.

To the Constables of the Town of Sandisfield

Greetings:

In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify all

inhabitants of the Town of Sandisfield, qualified to vote in the town affairs to meet at the DPW

Building, 3 Silverbrook Rd., Sandisfield, MA at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2020.

Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to accept the reports of the Town Officers.

Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter III, Section 6 of the Sandisfield ByLaws by striking the existing text and replacing it with the text set forth below:

“There shall be a five (5) member Finance Committee consisting of registered voters or

taxpayers of the Town of Sandisfield, no more than one of which may not be a registered voter,

appointed by the Moderator of the Town for a term of three (3) years. The Town Manager or

designee shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member provided, however, that this person

shall be seated as a voting member whenever the committee lacks a quorum. The Moderator

shall fill all vacancies by appointment.

The Moderator may remove Finance Committee members for cause, by submitting in writing to

the Select Board recommendations for the removal of a Finance Committee member. At a

regular meeting of the Select Board said body will vote to accept or reject the Moderator’s

recommendation for removal.

The Finance Committee shall provide the Select Board with its comments and

recommendations on the Town’s budget in accordance with the Town’s annual budget

timeline. The Select Board shall vote on all appropriation requests with any modifications it

deems necessary, and shall present a final budget to the Finance Committee, which shall vote

on all appropriation requests and present its votes to the Town Meeting. Appropriation-related

articles in the Town Meeting warrant shall include a statement describing the votes of the

Select Board and the Finance Committee on each such article (e.g., Select Board voted approval

2-1; Finance Committee voted disapproval 4-1).

The Finance Committee shall otherwise have the duties prescribed by statute (M.G.L.39, Sec.

16).”

Article 3.

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General

Court for the enactment of special legislation entitled “An Act Authorizing the Town of

Sandisfield to Continue the Employment of Employees Subject to Mandatory

Retirement” as set forth below, provided however, that the General Court shall be

authorized to make ministerial, clerical, and editorial changes of form only to said bill,

unless the Board of Selectmen approves amendments to the bill before enactment by the

General Court; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to approve such amendments, or

take any other action relative thereto.

An Act authorizing the Town of Sandisfield to Continue the Employment of Employees

subject to Mandatory Retirement

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by

the authority of the same as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, Town employees who

would be subject to mandatory retirement on the last day of the month in which they turn 65

years old pursuant to Chapter 415 of the Acts of 1987, may serve in such position until the age of

70, or until the date of retirement or non-reappointment, whichever occurs first; provided,

however that no deductions from regular compensation shall be made under chapter 32 of the

General Laws subsequent to reaching the age of 65 in connection with service to the Town for

retirement or pension purposes; and provided that the employee is mentally and physically

capable of performing the duties of the office. The town may, at the employee’s own expense,

require that the employees be examined by an impartial physician designated by them to

determine such capability.

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.

Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of MGL Chapter 138, §33B,

providing that the local licensing authority of any city or town which accepts said section may

authorize licensees under section twelve of Chapter 138 (sales for on premises consumption) to

sell alcoholic beverages between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Sundays, the last

Monday in May, and on Christmas day or on the day following when said day occurs on Sunday.

Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaws, Chapter IX, by adding the

following language under Section 7, Sign Regulations, Part B., Sign Restrictions:

5. Municipal signage shall be exempt from the requirements of Paragraph 3 and 4. Signs

erected by the Town or on Town property shall require only approval of the Select Board.

You are directed to serve this Warrant by posting true and attested copies thereof at three

public places within the Town of Sandisfield fourteen days at least before the time of said Town

Meeting. Hereto fail not and make due return of the Warrant with your doings thereon to the

Town Clerk at or before time of holding said meeting.

____________________

Brian O’Rourke

____________________

Mark Newman

____________________

George Riley

____________________ 

Constable Date Method of Service

____________________

Attest: Town Clerk