By Joe Stewart

Voters at the November 3 Town Meeting approved a series of capital projects and policy measures, including a $23 million Department of Public Works facility and MBTA Communities zoning.

Moderator Ed Goddard began the meeting with Article 1, Volunteer of the Year awards. The Adult Volunteer of the Year award was presented posthumously to former Select Board Chair Joseph F. Botaish, II, with his wife and son accepting. King Philip Regional High School sophomore, Halle Leblanch, was named the Henry Carr Youth Volunteer of the Year.

New DPW Facility Unanimously Approved

The most significant expenditure of the evening, the new DPW facility, received unanimous support. According to the Report to Voters, the existing 50-year-old facility is “undersized, in deteriorating condition, and no longer meets the operational requirements of the department.”

John Murphy, Jr., chairman of the Public Works Building Committee, spoke about the project. Murphy thanked his colleagues and shared a video illustrating the current facility’s shortcomings, including inadequate space for equipment maintenance and a lack of suitable facilities for staff.

The architect for the project described the plan to reuse the existing structure for cold storage, and Murphy emphasized the goal of building a facility to meet the town’s needs for the next 50 years. Town Manager Michael King stated that the project would have no tax impact, as the funding is structured through borrowing and existing funds.

Recreation Projects Advance

Two articles related to the William Rice Recreation Complex also passed unanimously. Article 3 appropriated $250,000 from Free Cash to design new athletic fields. Ray Palmer, chair of the Recreation Commission, explained the urgent need for the fields due to the impending Roderick Elementary School Replacement Project, which will eliminate existing field space. He noted the loss would affect both local sports and rental revenue.

Article 8, also presented by Palmer, appropriated $208,642 from Community Preservation Act funds to construct a pavilion at the Rice Complex.

Debate Over Forest Conservation

Article 9, which appropriated $310,500 in CPA funds to acquire conservation restrictions on about 15 acres of forest on South and Beach Streets, generated the most debate.  Select Board member William Harrington urged a “no” vote, asserting a “lack of transparency in the process.” Other officials, including Mike McKnight, a former Planning Board chair, questioned the loss of tax revenue.

In support, Lisa Mosczynski, president of the Metacomet Land Trust, explained that the funds would preserve the land from development and that a state matching grant had cut the cost to the town in half. Leo Immonen, Chair of the Conservation Commission, stated the Commission had voted unanimously in favor. Town Counsel, in response to a question about the durability of conservation restrictions, observed that conservation restrictions are virtually impossible to remove.

After a motion to end debate passed, the article was approved 115-67.

MBTA Zoning Bylaw Passes

Article 10, which creates an MBTA Communities Multi-Family Overlay District to comply with state law, also prompted discussion. Rachel Benson, Director of Planning & Economic Development summarized the law, and Town Manager Mike King highlighted that state funding is contingent on compliance.

Select Board Chair Chris Gallo, who had previously opposed the measure, rose to say the board now unanimously supports the zoning as it’s the right thing to do so the town doesn’t lose out on funding. The article subsequently passed.