Dartmouth’s Spring Town Meeting will ask members to approve an overall budget of $103.6 million, make changes to the town charter and bylaws and fund a number of Community Preservation Committee projects, among other issues.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 4 in the Dartmouth High School auditorium. A Special Town Meeting held for previously approved capital projects and Community Preservation open space funds will follow. 

The Planning Board would like to update the bylaw pertaining to the construction of accessory dwelling units, or independent living spaces that homeowners can build on their property in addition to their primary residence. While the current bylaw caps accessory dwelling units at around 500 square feet, the updated bylaw would allow these units to be built up to 1,000 square feet, Director of Planning Christine O'Grady said.

Another bylaw change comes from the Conservation Commission, requesting for the deletion and replacement of the entirety of Chapter 360 in the General Laws, which pertains to wetlands. 

Garrett said the bylaw was written in 1990 and served its purpose, but was in need of some changes to evolve with the times, adding how the information is now written more clearly and in terms understood by the general public. State and local jurisdictions are now more clearly defined as well.

The Charter Review Committee has multiple requests, including removing the lotted seats, in which candidates for Select Board run for a specific seat. The committee would like to do the same for the Parks and Recreation Department who were changed to a lotted seat system that was never taken up due to a clerical error. Because these are Town Charter requests, if these changes are brought before Town Meeting and are accepted, they will still need to be approved by voters on the spring election ballot in 2025.

The Community Preservation Committee is requesting a total of $83,000 from the Community Preservation Act Unrestricted Fund for five projects, including the Dias Landing dinghy storage improvements, harbor dredging design and permitting, the Apponagansett Park and Dias Landing master plan, the Dartmouth housing production plan and Cornell Pond trail development.

Community Preservation Committee Chair Buddy Baker Smith said some of the money requested for these projects is being matched through grants from other organizations.

Additionally, Farm & Coast is looking to expand its offerings and is seeking an All Liquor License at Town Meeting. The business currently has one of the town’s Beer and Wine Licenses. Because the town has reached its capacity for All Liquor Licenses, Farm & Coast must gain approval at Town Meeting and subsequently the approval of the state legislature.

Once more, the old police station, located at 247 Russells Mills Road, has made its way onto the agenda for Town Meeting members to vote on. It abandoned in 2014 after legionella bacteria, which can cause a severe type of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease, was discovered in the plumbing. 

However, Historical Commission member Chris Sewall and other members of the Historical Commission argue the building can still be rehabilitated and would be a worthy cause for the town. She added they would like to see the results of the appraisal and evaluation of the building before it goes to Town Meeting, but that information has not been made available yet.