By Joe Stewart

Wrentham’s Annual Town Meeting began at 7:30 p.m. on June 2 at the King Philip Regional High School.  Voters considered 27 articles including the town’s budget; selling a “first right of refusal” relating to 2095 West Street; updating the town’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) zoning bylaw to conform with the state’s Affordable Housing Act; replacing the town’s Floodplain Overlay District zoning bylaw to adopt recent updates to flood maps; removing from civil service the police lieutenant; and  a citizen’s petition to ask the state legislature to pass a law exempting the spouse of the former deputy police chief George C. Labonte from property taxation on the family’s Wrentham home.

Most warrant articles were passed with unanimous consent or by unanimous voice vote. What follows are summaries of those articles that had at least some discussion.

Library Budget Increased by $3,000

Article 6 related to Wrentham’s operating budget.  Several speakers supported increasing the Library’s budget by $3,000 and paying for the increase by decreasing the Town’s annual reserve from $200,000 to $197,000.  Proponents explained that the Sweatt Fund had provided the funding for several years but would no longer do so as the Sweatt funds are for exceptional requests, not operating needs.  The amendment was approved unanimously as was the resulting amended budget.

Sell 2095 West Street First Right of Refusal

At last month’s Special Town Meeting, voters decided to purchase 2095 West Street to preserve its 65 acres as conservation land.  The acquisition will be funded from several sources (e.g. Wrentham’s Community Conservation Funds, a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and $600,000 from the Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB).) The PWSB conditioned their $600,000 on acquiring a “first right of refusal” for the property.  The purpose of this article was to authorize selling the first right of refusal and, following a few questions, the article passed.  Wrentham will next coordinate an auction to sell the first right of refusal, thus enabling the PWSB to bid its $600,000 and, presumably, win the auction and the first right of refusal.

Remove Police Lieutenant from Civil Service

At the 2021 Fall Town Meeting, voters decided to remove the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police positions from civil service.  Likewise, at the 2023 Town Meeting, voters decided to remove full time members of the Fire Department from civil service. Article 15 would remove the Police Lieutenant position as well.  Following brief discussion, the article passed.  

Earliest Start Time for Town Meeting Set to 7 p.m. 

Following brief discussion about when it would be best to start Town Meeting, voters approved an amendment to the article and set the earliest start time for Town Meeting to 7 p.m.

Property Tax Exemptions

Wrentham authorizes several property tax exemptions for groups in financial distress, including seniors, disabled people and veterans.  The Board of Assessors recommended that voters approve increasing the income exemption levels and voters agreed unanimously.  

Zoning Changes (Accessory Dwelling Units and Floodplain)

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) are an additional residential unit that can be built within an existing home or outside of it.   Wrentham has had zoning authorizing ADUs; however, the state Executive Office of Housing and Living Communities recently published ADU regulations.  The purpose of this article was to adjust Wrentham’s regulations to comply with the state regulations.  An amendment was proposed to remove the requirement that the ADU and the primary residence share common utilities.  Following discussion, the amendment was approved as was the amended article.  Now Wrentham ADU regulations comply with the state regulations and ADUs may have separate utilities.

Following remarks explaining the high-level changes from Thomas Maloney, the chair of the Planning Board, voters approved the new floodplain zoning which now complies with National Flood Insurance Program regulations and which incorporates the latest Flood Insurance Rate Maps. 

Labonte Property Tax Exemption

Wrentham Police Chief Bill McGrath spoke in support of exempting from real estate taxation the home owned and occupied by the surviving spouse of Wrentham Deputy Chief George C. Labonte, who passed away last year.  Following brief discussion, voters approved the article.  Wrentham will now need to petition the Legislature to pass a bill authorizing the exemption.