Town Meeting Approves Fire Engine Refurbishment

The town will pay $265,000 to fix the corroding electrical system of Engine 1.

Burlington Town Meeting approved the appropriation of funds to fix an issue with a fire engine that has been limiting the Fire Department's effectiveness and putting firefighters at risk.  The appropriation was for $265,000 to refurbish Engine 1 that Chief Steve Yetman explained has corrosion problems. Yetman said the vehicle had been in Walpole since September because it was unusable in its current condition. Engine 1 is 10-11 years old and is the department's primary vehicle. It also is not due to be replaced for at least another decade. "We had pump issued, we couldn't get pressure to the hoses," Yetman told Town Meeting. "We had it repaired but a couple of weeks later it started doing the same thing. Right now it is unreliable and …

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Burlington Town Meeting Approves Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Town Meeting unanimously approved a 17-month moratorium on any applications for medical marijuana dispensaries in town.

Burlington Town Meeting voted unanimously last night to approve a moratorium, put forward by the Planning Board, on medical marijuana dispensaries in town. The moratorium would prohibit any application for a marijuana dispensary until June 30 of 2014. The rational for the moratorium, explained Planning Director Kirsten Kassner, was to give the town time to come up with regulations and to give the State Department of Public Health time to provide its regulations and recommendations. According to the law, which was passed as a ballot initiative during the Nov. 6, 2012 election, the Department of Public Health has 120 days to come up with regulations on the state level. The Planning Board recommended a moratorium, rather than a prohibition, …

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Patch Facts

5T: Town Meeting, Electronic Device Help and Ballroom Dance

Five things to know today.

  Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance.  Today is Monday, Jan. 28. Here are 5 things you need to know:  

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Letter: Conservation Commission Proposes Revised Wetlands Bylaw

A letter to the editor from Larry Cohen, Chairman of the Burlington Conservation Commission.

The following is a letter to the editor: The Burlington Conservation Commission is proposing a revised wetlands bylaw (Article XIV, Section 1.0) for approval by our May 2013 Town Meeting.  The current bylaw, last revised in 2000, is lacking in many areas of resource area protection.  The Commission's intent is to protect Burlington’s natural resource areas while simplifying and streamlining the development permitting process for applicants. The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act provides protection for the “Riverfront Area”, defined as an area of land 200 feet from the edge of a perennial stream. Riverfront Area provides natural flood storage, slowing down surface water runoff and limiting property damage caused by storm events.  …

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Proposed Bylaw to Prevent Lighting Nuisances Postponed

Town Meeting voted to postpone a lighting ordinance during the 2012 September session.

Burlington Town Meeting decided not to take an up or down vote on a proposed nuisance lighting bylaw and instead postponed the measure to the 2013 Junuary Town Meeting during the September session last Monday night.  Town Administrator John Petrin said the warrant was written to give the town a basis for handling disputes between neighbors. It was written as a general bylaw rather than a zoning bylaw, Petrin explained, because zoning bylaws can't apply to projects or structures already completed. The town administrator explained that this bylaw was intended to be used to settle an ongoing dispute between two neighbors in town.  The text of the article was as follows:  To see if the Town will vote to amend the General Bylaws of the Town of …

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Landlocked Forest Rezoning Fails by Slim Margin

An article to change the zoning of the Landlocked Forest from general industrial to open space failed to garner the necessary two-thirds majority.

Burlington Town Meetings members took up a warrant article proposing changing the zoning of the Landlocked Forest from general industrial to open space. Though the majority of members voted in favor of the change, the measure failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority. The vote was one of the articles in the 2012 September Town Meeting on Monday.  The article was written and supported by the Friends of the Landlocked Forest and the effort to make the zoning change was spearheaded by member Monte Pearson.  Pearson said the Landlocked Forest is an invaluable asset for the town, one used by many residents for recreation and as a chance to get out in nature, and should be protected. The zoning change, he said, would limit what could be …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today, Sept. 24

Cloudy day but clear night, the September Town Meeting and square dancing.

Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance.  Today is Monday, Sept. 24. Here are 5 things you need to know:

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Open Town Meeting Seat for Precinct 2; How to Get Involved

A notice from Town Clerk Amy Warfield.

Burlington Town Clerk would like to alert residents of Precinct 2 that there is an open Town Meeting seat. According to Warfield, those who wish to be elected to fill such vacancy should contact the remaining Town Meeting Members of the Precincts for the purpose of having their names placed in nomination. The remaining members of said Precincts are hereby notified that a meeting of such members for the purpose of filling such vacancy will be held Monday Sept. 24, 7 p.m., at the Burlington High School, Fogelberg Performing Arts Center, 123 Cambridge St (prior to the September Town Meeting) The list of active Town Meeting members is available at the Town Clerk’s Office or visit the town’s website at: www.burlington.org.  If you have any …

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Selectmen Vote to Recommend Study for Human Services Building

The Burlington Board of Selectmen voted to support a $40k study of the Human Services Building, cutting original article from $85k.

The Burlington Board of Selectmen discussed an article on the September Town Meeting warrant concerning a study of the Human Services Building and voted 4-1 to support a $40,000 expenditure for the project at the meeting Monday night.  The warrant article as printed is asking Town Meeting members to approve $85,000 for a study to completely analyze the building's structure, heating systems, electrical system, heating and air conditioning, environment impact and a host of other aspects of the building. The study would also assess the current and future needs of the departments in the building and address whether the building could support renovations and/or additions. The study is needed, explained Town Administrator John Petrin, because …

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Letter to the Editor: Concerns On Town Spending, New Positions

A letter to the editor from Town Meeting Member Gary B. Kasky.

The following is a letter to the editor: I am responding to the recent decision of Town Meeting to vote, virtually unanimously, to fund two additional positions in Town Hall. While I do not question the possible need for these full time positions, I remain concerned with the continuous spending habits of Town Meeting members with no consideration of the ultimate impact of higher real estate taxes for all citizens. For example, one of the positions approved, was for an additional employee in the Human Resources Department. In private industry, before this additional expense would be approved, the applicant would have to prove that there is an actual need for one more full-time employee. What backlogs exist because this position does not …

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