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Since its founding in 1743, the Town of Pelham has maintained the traditional New England Open Town Meeting form of government. Major decisions affecting the town such as local bylaws and budget are made by the registered voters meeting as a local legislative body. Every registered voter may attend and vote at town meetings. The elected Town Moderator is in charge of the meetings.

Annual (Spring) Town Meeting is held on the first Saturday of May. It is held at the Pelham Elementary School auditorium and normally begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues until the business of the warrant is completed; usually 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. The deadline for articles to be placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant is 40 days prior to the date of the meeting. Articles placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant by citizens require the signatures of 10 registered voters from Pelham.

Special, or Fall Town Meeting is held on a Wednesday evening some time mid to late October at the Old Town Hall. Using the Old Town Hall for Fall Town Meeting maintains its status as the oldest Town Hall in continuous use in the United States. Articles placed on the Fall Town Meeting warrant by citizens require the signatures of 100 registered voters from Pelham. Two hundred signatures are required to call a special town meeting.

Archived Warrants & Results

ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS	SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS
May 6, 2006 - Warrant

RESULTS

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

MAY 6, 2006

The Annual Town Meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, Sandra J. Burgess, on May 6, 2006 at 9:17 a.m.

Nominations were taken from the floor of town meeting for temporary moderator. Joseph Larson was nominated and the nomination was seconded.

A motion was made and seconded and town meeting voted unanimously in favor of nominations being closed.

A motion was made and seconded to allow the Town Clerk to cast one ballot. The motion was voted unanimously.

The Town Clerk declared Joseph Larson the elected temporary moderator for the May 6, 2006 Annual Town Meeting

The Town Clerk administered the oath of office to Joseph Larson.

Article 1: Voted unanimously that the Town accept the reports of the Town Officers and Committees.

Article 2: Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning July 1, 2006, in accordance with the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 44, §4, and to issue a note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17

The meeting voted to delay Articles 3 and 4 until after voting on Articles 7 and 8.

Article 7: Voted to dismiss. [That the Town reallocate the line item salary amounts in the Town budget for the Administrative Assistant to $33,910 and Town Clerk to $6,750 for FY 06, and to make no adjustments other than COLA or contractual step raises until such time as the figures are in line with comparison towns (as described in the Personnel Board Wages and Salary report). The Personnel Board assumes that the total current salary for the Administrative Assistant and Town Clerk positions, which are currently filled by one person, will remain as is.]

Article 8: Voted to dismiss. [That the Town award step raises to the Town Police Chief and Highway Department Superintendent in order to address the inequity created by awarding such step raises to some employees and not to others. Beginning in the summer of 2006, the town will award step raises in the amount of 2% for each of the next five years for the Chief of Police and the Town Highway Superintendent.]

Article 3: Voted unanimously that the Town name the salaries and wages for all elected officers for the ensuing year, which payments shall not be made in advance of performance, and to determine when and how they shall be paid.

	FY05	FY06	FY07
	Appropriated	Appropriated	Recommended

Moderator	0	0	0
Town Clerk (plus fees)	750	750	750
Selectmen (each 3)	1200	1200	1200
Assessors (Chairman	1,000	1,000	1.000
(others)	500	500	500
Assessors Salary	2,000.00	2,000.00	2,000.00
Board of Health (Chairman)	200	200	200
(others)	150	150	150
School Committee	0	0	0
Tree Warden	200	200	200
Auditor	0	0	0
Library Trustees	0	0	0
Planning Board	0	0	0
Cemetery Commissioners (each 3)	5.25/hr	5.25/hr	5.25/hr

Article 4: Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate money necessary to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing fiscal year.

		FY06	FY07	FY07	FY07
		Appropriated	Requested	Proposed	Voted
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
2	Selectmen Salary	3,600.00	3,600.00	3,600.00	3,600.00
	Expenses	5,720.00	5,720.00	5,720.00	5,720.00
3	Town Clerk Salary	750.00	2,750.00	750.00	750.00
	Expenses	1,050.00	1,050.00	1,050.00	1,050.00
4	Finance Committee	190.00	190.00	190.00	190.00
5	Assessors Salary	2,000.00	2,000.00	2,000.00	2,000.00
	Contract Service	16,000.00	16,000.00	16,000.00	16,000.00
	Expenses	6,590.00	6,590.00	6,590.00	6,590.00
6	Collector Salary	12,064.00	12,667.00	12,551.00	12,551.00
	Expenses	6,750.00	7,350.00	6,885.00	6,885.00
7	Treasurer Salary	19,355.00	20,323.00	20,136.00	20,136.00
	Expenses	2,850.00	2,850.00	2,850.00	2,850.00
	Clerical/Consulting	1,400.00	1,500.00	1,400.00	1,400.00
8	Legal Services	12,000.00	12,000.00	12,000.00	12,000.00
9	Town Meetings,	4,243.00	5,618.00	5,618.00	5,618.00
	Elections,
	Registrations, etc.
10	Town Reports	2,400.00	2,400.00	2,400.00	2,400.00
11	Town Office Wages	39,910.00	41,930.00	41,522.00	41,522.00
	Expenses	3,698.00	3,698.00	3,698.00	3,698.00
12	Buildings & Grounds
	Salaries	11,966.00	12,324.00	12,205.00	12,205.00
	Expenses	60,314.00	45,201.00	45,201.00	45,201.00
	Maintenance	7,200.00	7,344.00	7,344.00	7,344.00
13	Blanket Insurance	46,070.00	47,000.00	47,000.00	47,000.00
15	Reserve Fund	28,000.00	28,000.00	28,000.00	28,000.00
16	Surety Bonds	930.00	930.00	930.00	930.00
17	Civil Defense	1,000.00	1,000.00	1,000.00	1,000.00
18	Archivist	300.00	300.00	300.00	300.00
TOTAL GENERAL GOVERNMENT		296,350.00	290,335.00	286,940.00	286,940.00

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
20	Board of Appeals	200.00	200.00	200.00	200.00
21	Conservation Commissiom	835.00	835.00	835.00	835.00
22	Council on Aging	2,270.00	2,270.00	2,270.00	2,270.00
23	Historical Commission	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
24	Library Trustees
	Director Salary	17,489.00	23,338.00	17,839.00	17,839.00
	Staff Salaries	10,031.00	12,046.00	10,231.00	10,231.00
	Expenses	6,050.00	5,923.00	6,171.00	6,171.00
25	Planning Board	450.00	450.00	450.00	450.00
26	Recreation Commission	600.00	600.00	600.00	600.00
28	Cemetery Commission	5,000.00	5,000.00	5,000.00	5,000.00
TOTAL BOARDS & COMMISSIONS		43,025.00	50,762.00	43,696.00	43,696.00

SCHOOLS
30	Pelham Elementary	1,202,554.00	1,262,555.00	1,218,834.00	1,218,834.00
31	Amherst Pelham Regional	820,610.00	986,722.00	953,819.00	953,819.00
TOTAL SCHOOLS		2,023,164.00	2,249,277.00	2,172,653.00	2,172,653.00

PUBLIC WORKS
40	Highway Fund
	Superintendent Salary	44,276.00	46,489.00	45,161.00	45,161.00
	Staff Salaries	81,142.00	85,905.00	85,093.00	85,093.00
	Expenses	72,148.00	73,590.00	73,590.00	73,590.00
41	School Signal Lights	450.00	518.00	518.00	518.00
42	Snow Removal
	Salaries	8,783.00	9,134.00	9,047.00	9,047.00
	Materials	28,561.00	29,131.00	29,131.00	29,131.00
TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS		235,360.00	244,767.00	242,540.00	242,540.00




PROTECTION OF PERSONS & PROPERTY
50	Police Department
	Chief Salary	47,521.00	48,947.00	48,471.00	48,471.00
	Full Time Officer Salary	36,500.00	37,595.00	37,974.00	37,974.00
	Part Time Officer’s Salaries	7,962.00	8,201.00	8,121.00	8,121.00
	Overtime	6,273.00	6,461.00	6,399.00	6,399.00
	Expenses	25,100.00	29,700.00	25,602.00	25,602.00
	Reserve Officers		500.00	200.00	200.00
50A	Town Road Detail	3,585.00	3,693.00	3,656.00	3,656.00
50C	Constable: Elections	2,186.00	2,252.00	2,230.00	2,230.00
51	Fire Department
	Chief Salary	10,815.00	11,139.00	11,031.00	11,031.00
	Firefighter’s Salaries	17,200.00	17,716.00	17,544.00	17,544.00
	Expenses	24,679.00	25,173.00	25,173.00	25,173.00
53	Fire Hydrants	250.00	250.00	250.00	250.00
54	Tree Warden Salary	200.00	400.00	300.00	300.00
	Expenses	4,850.00	5,000.00	4,950.00	4,950.00
57	Ambulance	13,471.00	16,945.00	16,945.00	16,945.00
58	Animal Control	1,700.00	2,000.00	1,734.00	1,734.00
TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY		202,292.00	215,972.00	210,580.00	210,580.00

HEALTH & SANITATION
60	Board of Health
	Salaries	500.00	500.00	500.00	500.00
	Expenses	400.00	400.00	400.00	400.00
61	Solid Waste
	Hazardous Household Waste	800.00	800.00	800.00	800.00
	Recycling	8,050.00	8,050.00	8,050.00	8,050.00
63	Inspector of Animals	75.00	75.00	75.00	75.00
65	Quabbin Health District	11,000.00	11,250.00	11,250.00	11,250.00
TOTAL HEALTH & SANITATION		20,825.00	21,075.00	21,075.00	21,075.00

BENEFITS & INSURANCE
70	County Retirement	130,095.00	125,258.00	125,258.00	125,258.00
71	Veterans’ Agent Salary	2,500.00	3,000.00	3,000.00	3,000.00
	Expenses	450.00	450.00	450.00	450.00
	Benefits	3,500.00	6,000.00	4,500.00	4,500.00
72	Workers’ Compensation	8,000.00	11,000.00	11,000.00	11,000.00
73	Unemployment Insurance	11,000.00	4,710.00	4,710.00	4,710.00
74	Group Health/Medicare	73,530.00	95,000.00	95,000.00	95,000.00
TOTAL BENEFITS & INSURANCE		229,075.00	245,418.00	243,918.00	243,918.00
GRAND TOTAL		3,050,091.00	3,317,606.00	3,221,402.00	3,221,402.00

Article 5: Voted to dismiss. [That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $15,003 to meet Pelham’s Fiscal Year 2007 assessment for the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Operating Budget to supplement line item 31 of the budget which has been appropriated under Article 4 of the 2006 Annual Town Meeting and the sum of $43,721 for the operation of the Pelham Elementary School to supplement line item 30 of the budget which has been appropriated under said Article 4, which sums shall be contingent upon the approval by the voters of an override of Proposition 2½, so called.]

Article 6: Voted unanimously that the Town approve an amendment to the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Agreement which shall enable the realignment of annual assessments to be consistent with said Agreement while supporting the strongest possible Regional budget, such that the Towns of Leverett and Shutesbury will each make a transitional contribution of $62,000 in addition to the assessments determined for each member town by Section VI of the Regional Agreement ("per-pupil method"), such an amount to offset the assessment to the town of Amherst, which amendment shall apply to Fiscal Year 2007 only.

Article 9: Voted that the Town award variable step increase percentages (1% or 2% for adequate and good performance, respectively) for all full-time employees presently not under salary contract (i.e., new hires) based on the completion of a written performance evaluation by the employee’s supervisor (that being the full Select Board for those department heads reporting to them).

Article 10: Voted that all town employees receive a written performance evaluation, which must be completed within 30 days prior to the employee’s anniversary date of hire, and signed by both employee and supervisor (that being the full Select Board for those department heads reporting to them). A separate sign off sheet is to be supplied to the Personnel Board within two weeks of the completed evaluation.

Article 11: DEFEATED substitute motion [to rescind Article 8 of Annual Town Meeting on May 3, 2003 and replace that Personnel Board with a new Personnel Board that will be appointed by the Selectboard. The committee shall have 5 members that are appointed for a *two-year term after a public hearing where the Selectboard will interview these candidates and the public will have an opportunity to ask questions or to make comment. Members of the Personnel Board must be town residents who are not serving or have not served for at least one year on either the Finance Committee or Selectboard. Current members of the existing Personnel Board will be part of the new board until the expiration of their current terms and will then be subject to the aforementioned appointment process. {*Amended motion was made to change one-year term to a two-year term}]

Article 12: DEFEATED [To authorize the Selectboard to establish a scale for all wages, benefits, and other compensation for all Town employees.]

Article 13: Voted to dismiss. [That the Town appropriate from the Stabilization Fund the sum of $4,500 for the purpose of hiring the services of a professional consulting firm to conduct a Wage and Benefit survey for all Town employees.]

Article 14: Voted unanimously that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $250,970 for payment of the Town’s (General Fund) indebtedness.

Article 15: Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept and/or apply for any State or Federal funds or grants that may become available during the fiscal year 2007 and to expend such funds in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, provided that no funds shall be expended to widen, or to enter into a contract to widen, any town road unless the Board of Selectmen has held a public hearing advertised at least fourteen (14) days in advance with any proposed contract and/or plans for such road improvements being posted for public viewing prior to the public hearing, and further provided that such policy is consistent with state requirements.

Article 16: Voted unanimously that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into contracts with the Massachusetts Highway Department for construction and/or maintenance of public highways for the fiscal year 2007, and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the Town to accept and expend any money from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for highway construction and/or maintenance, provided that no funds shall be expended to widen, or to enter into a contract to widen, any town road unless the Board of Selectmen has held a public hearing advertised at least fourteen (14) days in advance with any proposed contract and/or plans for such road improvements being posted for public viewing prior to the public hearing, and further provided that such policy is consistent with state requirements.

Article 17: Voted to dismiss. [That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $49,000 for the purchase of a new 4-wheel drive police cruiser for the Police Department, said appropriation contingent upon the approval by the voters of a Capital Exclusion.]

Article 18: Voted to dismiss. [That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $190,000 for the purchase of a new medical/rescue for the Fire Department, said appropriation contingent upon the approval by the voters of a Debt Exclusion.]

Article 19: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $2,500 to pay the Town’s share of the cost to purchase and install an exhaust system at the Fire Department, said appropriation being contingent upon successful grant application.

Article 20: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $5,000 to make repairs to the chimney at the Rhodes School.

Article 21: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $13,500 to purchase and install a new metal roof on the Highway Garage.

Article 22: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $3,500 to pay for Note Issuance costs related to short term borrowing including on the Construction and Renovation of the Elementary School.

Article 23: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $8,500 toward procurement of an audit for FY2007 of the fiscal year 2006.

Article 24: Voted that the Town continue membership in the Hampshire Council of Governments for Fiscal Year 2007 through Fiscal Year 2010 with a 75% reduction in annual dues.

Article 25: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $1,764.50 in accordance with Article 24 to pay Pelham’s assessment for the FY2007 Hampshire Council of Governments budget.

Article 26: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $25,000 for reimbursement of unanticipated special education charges, which reimbursement would require the approval of the School Committee, Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen.

Article 27: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $1,000 to be set aside toward maintenance of the Historic Complex.

Article 28: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $250 to be set aside toward preservation of Town Clerk records.

Article 29: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $500 to defray the cost of consultants to the Board of Appeals.

Article 30: Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate from Stabilization the sum of $750 to defray the cost of consultants to the Planning Board.

Article 31: Voted unanimously that the Town authorize a maximum additional exemption of up to 50 percent for taxpayers qualifying for exemption under Chapter 59, Section 5, Clauses 17D, 22, 37A, or 41C of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Article 32: Voted unanimously that the Town accept Chapter 136 §1 of the Acts of 2005 and set the rate of interest for the Clause 41A Deferral at 4%.

Article 33: Voted unanimously that the Town rescind Article 13 of the 1968 Annual Town Meeting that gave custody of the Town Hall Historical Complex to the Pelham Historical Society.

Article 34: Voted unanimously that the Town designate the Pelham Historical Commission as the custodian of the Town Hall Historical Complex buildings and grounds and the administrator of the Preservation Restriction Agreement between the Town and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by and through the Massachusetts Historical Commission dated April 25, 1994 filed in the Hampshire Registry of Deeds at Book 4465, Page 25, as voted in Article 20 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1976, providing, however, that the Pelham Historical Society shall continue to have use of the interior of the old Congregational Church as a museum, as provided in Article 6 of the Special Town Meeting of 1966, and providing further that the Cemetery Commission shall continue to have care of the cemetery within the Complex and that Public Works shall continue to maintain the grounds around the Museum and Town Hall.

Article 35: DEFEATED [That the Town rescind Article 23 of the May 4, 1985 Annual Town Meeting that provided, under Chapter 53, Section 121 of the Massachusetts General Laws, for the holding of a Town Caucus each year for the nomination of candidates of Town Officers so as to allow the nomination of two candidates at said caucus for each office.]

Article 36: Voted unanimously that the Town reauthorize revolving funds for certain town departments pursuant to MGL 44 § 53E½ for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006.

Revolving Fund	Authorization to Spend Fund	Revenue Source	Use of Fund	FY07 Spending Limit
Fire Department	Fire Chief	Fire Inspection Permit fees and fines	Inspections, supplies and required professional courses	$7,500
Plumbing Inspector	Plumbing Inspector	Plumbing Inspection fees	Inspections, supplies and required professional courses	$1,500
Gas Inspector	Gas Inspector	Gas Inspection fees	Inspections, supplies and required professional courses	$1,500
Wiring Inspector	Wiring Inspector	Wiring Inspection fees	Inspections, supplies and required professional courses	$3,000
Building Inspector	Building Inspector	Building Inspection fees and fines	Inspections, supplies and required professional courses	$18,227
Zoning Board of Appeals	Zoning Board of Appeals	Application and consultation fees	Administrative costs including mailings and supplies	$1,000

Article 37: Voted unanimously that the Town will vote to authorize the Library Trustees to expend such monies as they may receive from the sale of discarded books, gifts, and bequests, and from the State and Federal governments.

Article 38: Voted unanimously that the Town will vote to authorize the Pelham Cultural Council to expend such monies as it may receive from the State and Federal governments, and from gifts and bequests.

Article 39: Voted to dismiss. [That the Town amend the Code of the Town of Pelham by adding a new Chapter 2, to be entitled ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT - Article 1 - Rescinding of Appointments, which chapter provides for the removal by the appointing authority for any board or committee of an appointee to such board or committee before his/her term expires.]

The business of the warrant having been completed, the meeting voted to dissolve at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2006. 158 voters were checked in.

Attest:

Sandra J. Burgess

Town Clerk