ROCKPORT — Annual Town Meeting on Saturday agreed to support a plan to finance repairs to the seawall at Long Beach, restrict the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers and said no to a citizen’s petition aimed at ending the fluoridation of the town’s municipal water supply.
Gathering on an overcast day with temperatures outside in the 40s, registered Rockport voters met inside the Rockport Middle High School Gymnasium for Saturday’s 8:30 a.m. meeting.
Called to order by Town Moderator Brian Sullivan at 9 a.m., the meeting was adjourned at 3:56 p.m.
Discussion about the town’s budget was pointed but not contentious. In the end, Town Meeting voted to finance a $38.2 million budget.
“We have a budget,” Town Moderator Brian Sullivan said.
Long Beach seawall
Town Meeting members engaged in a lengthy discussion while considering financing repair of the Long Beach seawall before agreeing to spend $1.3 million for FEMA Project 73018.
The Select Board unanimously supported the article, which includes the improvement and replacement of more than 500 cubic yards of concrete seawall and the concrete stairs at the westerly end of the Long Beach seawall.
Select Board Chairperson Sarah Wilkinson pointed to the town’s recent creation of a 10-year lease for the cottages on town-owned Long Beach and Rockport’s stewardship of all of its town-owned beach areas.
“It is now time to add Long Beach to that list,” she said.
Resident Jane Fox Dobson said without the seawall, the town might face an ecological disaster.
“We are all one community and need to work together to keep the town prosperous,” she said
Resident Bill Tobin said while he supported the financing plan for the project, he believes the creation of a fund to pay for Long Beach repairs is warranted.
“I totally support giving them this money,” he said. “Let’s get it repaired.”
Resident Toby Arsenian said he planned to vote against the article.
“We’re generally not in the business of seawalls,” Arsenian said.
Citizens petitions
Discussion of a citizens petition to restrict the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers, Article L, became somewhat contentious when Select Board member Ross Brackett offered an amendment that would have exempted municipal town employees, such as Public Works employees, and commercial lawn care professionals.
In the end, the petition was approved by 146-88 votes cast.
“Once you learn about the health effects of this, it’s hard to turn a blind eye,” said Article L proponent Dianne Finch.
Another citizens petition, Article I, would have request the Select Board to petition the Massachusetts Legislature for a home rule exemption to end the town’s practice of providing fluoride in the municipal water supply.
It was defeated, with 52% of Town Meeting members voting no.
Barbara McCarthy, chairperson of the Board of Health, said more needs to be learned about the effects of fluoride in municipal water supplies. She said her board has considered such effects with more frequency during their recent discussions.
“The science is evolving as we speak,” she said.
Wilkinson recognized
The meeting started with a celebration of Wilkinson’s tenure. She is not seeking re-election and will soon step down after serving 18 years on the board.
State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, and state Rep. Ann Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester, presented Wilkinson with citations from their respective chambers acknowledging her years of service.
Select Board member Paul Murphy said Wilkinson encouraged him to run for the board.
“To say this is a loss to Rockport is an understatement,” said Murphy.
Ferrante echoed the praise given to Wilkinson.
“Sarah’s an all-star,” she said. “I’m sad to see her go.”
Wilkinson, who was joined before the Town Meeting body by her family, returned the praise to her fellow Select Board members, Tarr and Ferrante.
“We make a great team,” she said. “You are the spokes of the wheel that make this town go around. Serving you has been the greatest honor of my life.”
A special Town Meeting, slated to consider the town’s plan to create an MBTA zoning district and other zoning articles, will take place at Rockport Middle High School on Monday, April 29, starting at 5:30 p.m.
How the meeting voted on articles
I – Pay for expenses incurred by the different down departments to balance the town’s fiscal 2024 budget. APPROVED.
II – Pay for the School Department’s special education obligations by transferring money from the SPED Stabilization Fund to the School Department. APPROVED.
1 – Choose an agent for the various trust funds of the town and to choose all other necessary town officers. APPROVED.
2 – Pay unpaid bills and/or payroll from the previous years. APPROVED.
3 – Rescind, amend or revise authorizations previously given to borrow funds for municipal purposes. NO MOTION.
4 – Amend or revise certain compensation schedules as recommended by the Select Board. APPROVED.
5 – Pay for town expenses, including operation of the town departments and offices. APPROVED.
5A – Pay for town expenses, including operation of the town’s Water Enterprise Fund. APPROVED.
5B – Pay for town expenses, including operation of the town’s Sewer Enterprise Fund. APPROVED.
5C – Appropriate and transfer from the fiscal 2025 estimated annual revenue of the Community Preservation Fund to pay for the expenses associated with the Community Preservation Committee. APPROVED.
6 – Pay for capital outlay items. Town Meeting voted decided to appropriate $2,793,577 to pay for such items as the replacement of doors and asbestos remediation at Town Hall, financing a police cruiser, improving ventilation at Rockport Elementary School, replacing windows and carpets in town schools, and paying for road repairs. APPROVED.
6A – Pay for capital outlay items for the Water Enterprise. APPROVED.
6B – Pay for capital outlay items for the Sewer Enterprise. APPROVED.
A – Accept the reports of its officers, boards, departments, committees and commissions. APPROVED.
B – Spend the state-financed Chapter 90 appropriation. APPROVED.
C – Raise and appropriate money for Action Inc. ($4,000), HAWC ($3,000), Senior Care ($3,100) and The Open Door ($5,000). APPROVED.
D – Raise and appropriate money for General Stabilization Fund ($150,000), SPED Stabilization Fund ($200,000), Capital Reserve Stabilization Fund ($150,000), OBEP Trust Fund ($100,000) and the Conservation Trust Fund ($400). APPROVED.
E – Raise money for the Assessor Revaluation Expenses. APPROVED.
F – Rescind the vote taken during the April 1, 2023, annual Town Meeting to create a Special Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund; thus directing the money to be placed in a special revenue fund. APPROVED.
G – Provide a non-binding recommendation to the Select Board on the future of the Old Firehouse Trust Building, including such options as demolishing the structure and creating a public park at the site, or restoring the structure and selling the property. APPROVED.
H – Authorize the Select Board to convey the parcel of land at 3 Dock Square with the Old Firehouse Trust Building. NO MOTION.
I – Approve the following citizen’s petition: “Do you want the Board of Selectmen to reduce environmental pollution and reduce expenditures to the town by taking legislative steps to end fluoridation policy?” The measure requests the Select Board petition the Massachusetts Legislature for a home rule exemption to remove fluoride from the town’s municipal water supply. DENIED.
J – Amend a provision of the town’s Government and By-Law Committee to “hold a public hearing on any proposed changes to the bylaws or Charter to hear public comment prior to the Town Meeting the changes shall be presented at.” APPROVED.
K – Amend Chapter 2, Town Meetings, on the town’s Government and By-Law Committee to remove “Town Government & By-Law Committee” and insert “By-Law Review Committee.” DENIED.
L – Amend the Chapter 14, Section C(3) regarding the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers that would prohibit use of more than one leaf-blower on any lot of 6,000-square-feet or smaller. In addition, the article calls for no person to use a gasoline-powered leaf blower that emits sounds that measure greater than 65 decibels at a distance of 50 feet from the leaf blower. APPROVED.
M – Appropriate money for FEMA Project 73018, to include the improvement and replacement of more than 500 cubic yards of concrete seawall and the improvement and replacement of concrete stairs at the westerly end of the Long Beach seawall. The vote will consider whether money for this appropriation will be raised by borrowing. APPROVED.
N – Authorize the Select Board to petition the Massachusetts Legislature for a special act providing for recall elections in Rockport. DENIED.
O – To see if the town will hear, receive and act on upon the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Town Water Supply. APPROVED.
Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.com.