‘Smart’ water meters, budget, dog license fees on Town Meeting agenda

May 11, 2021

Town Meeting members will weigh in on a “smart” water meter project, a $94.6 million town budget, and a minor increase in dog license fees — along with 22 other articles — when the meeting convenes virtually on June 1.

The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. via Zoom. Town Meeting members, elected by voters of each of Dartmouth’s nine precincts, are eligible to vote on items.

Members of the public will be able to observe proceedings on channel 18 in Dartmouth, via live stream on DCTV’s website at www.dartmouthtv.com, or finally on our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/dartmouthcommunitymedia.

Town budget

Town Meeting members will be asked to approve a $94.6 million budget this year, up from $91 million last year.

Roughly half  around $47 million  will go towards Dartmouth Public Schools, up $1.5 million from the schools budget requested for Fiscal Year 2021.

Capital plan

The town will be asking for members to approve an $8.7 million capital plan to fund major projects, including a plan to borrow $2 million of a $2.7 million project to switch residents’ water meters to a “smart” cellular system.

Superintendent of the town’s water and sewer division Steven Sullivan said that Dartmouth employees currently drive all over town to read the meters every six months.

With the new system, home and business owners will be able to check their water usage online, and billing will be quarterly.

If approved, Sullivan said that residents can expect all meters to be changed over to the new system within six months to a year.

Other big-ticket items include $600,000 for road improvements and maintenance and $435,000 to replace a recycling truck, along with $300,000 for HVAC upgrades at multiple schools and just under $300,000 to replace the playground and repair the building at Jones Park.

This year’s capital plan is $3.2 million higher than the $5.5 million plan approved last year.

New engagement coordinator position and seasonal worker raise

The town is seeking to add an engagement coordinator position at the Council on Aging for outreach and case management duties.

According to Dartmouth Finance Director Greg Barnes, it will be funded through a private grant for the first year if approved.

Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes said at a May 10 Select Board meeting that the position will be reevaluated if the funding dries up.

Meanwhile seasonal Parks and Recreation workers could also see small raises effective January 2022.

If approved, beach supervisors, lifeguards, park laborers, truck drivers, and the Assistant Recreation Director would see their pay go up $0.75 per hour.

The concession assistant manager and production assistant could see their pay increase by anywhere from $0.50 to $4 per hour.

Zoning and floodplain map amendments and related bylaw revisions

Town Meeting members will be asked to approve updates to the aquifer protection and floodplain maps in the town to conform with state and federal regulations.

If the new floodplain map is approved, the town’s bylaws will also have to be revised.

The changes would prohibit altering sand dunes if the Conservation Commission deems it would increase the risk of flooding, and would add a chapter on floodplain management to the town’s general bylaws.

Old North branch library

The Select Board is asking the town to transfer the control of the old North branch library property on Tucker Road from the Library Board of Trustees to the Select Board ahead of plans to move the building to the Council on Aging property.

“This is a very expensive proposition,” noted Select Board member Stanley Mickelson at a May 10 Select Board meeting. “But there is an awful lot of support to do this.”

Groups like the Friends of the Elderly plan to raise funds to move the historic library, which would otherwise be demolished when the state reconfigures the Tucker Road/Route 6 intersection in the next few years.

McBratney land lease

Town Meeting members will be asked to negotiate a new lease for the town-owned McBratney parcel on Slocum Road for a term of 30 years.

The parcel is currently home to the Burgo Basketball Association. Previous lease terms had been set at ten years.

Steve Burgo, the nonprofit association owner, told the Select Board in January that a longer-term lease could help him secure funding for an indoor sports facility.

Select Board member John Haran noted at a recent meeting that the city of New Bedford has 50-year leases for some of its properties.

Board Vice Chair David Tatelbaum stated that he is in favor of putting the question before Town Meeting to determine public sentiment on the issue.

Dog license fees

The Select Board is asking for a modest increase in dog license fees for spayed or neutered dogs, from $12 to $15 per year starting in 2022, after Town Clerk Sarah Arruda proposed the new fees in March.

If approved, the extra funds would go towards contracting a new licensing program called PetData, which would allow residents to apply and pay for their licenses online.

The Town Clerk’s office currently registers between 3,500 and 4,500 dogs each year.

 

Dartmouth’s Select Board voted to recommend all 25 articles on the warrant this year.

All articles were approved unanimously except for two: The $94.6 million budget appropriation request was approved 4-1 with board member John Haran dissenting, and the 30-year lease term for the McBratney parcel was approved 4-1 with board member Stanley Mickelson dissenting.

A copy of the Town Meeting warrant is available on the town website at town.dartmouth.ma.us.