ARTICLE 1 - Town of Natick

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Article 6 Cont’d # Proposed Item Amount Funding Source 4 Street Light Replacement In Spring 2009, Town Meeting approved the same amount for streetlight replacement, but still far short of the annual requested amount of over $80,000 annually. The Administration, has recently been exploring a program to convert existing street lights to LED ‐ powered lights which are far more efficient. We intend to undertake a pilot program at various locations throughout the community to determine if this new lighting provides adequate illumination. Appropriating $25,000 will bring the total amount to $50,000 this fiscal year. $ 25,000 Free Cash 5 Replacement of E‐2 This request replaces E‐2, a 2001 mini‐van with 61,000 which is utilized by the DPW Engineering Division daily to conduct fieldwork, surveying, GIS mapping and a variety of other tasks. The van has over 75,000 miles on it and has reached the end of its useful life. The body is rusting away and holes have developed in several places. The vehicle has been on the replacement plan since 2005. $ 23,000 Free Cash 6 Passageway Doors at DPW Facility Several steel doors at the DPW facility have become rotted, rusty and no longer work properly. In some cases they do not even close, which poses a security problem at the DPW. Originally a request for seven doors, this request would replace approximately 3 doors, thereby improving energy efficiency and reestablishing proper security at an important Town‐ owned property. $ 12,880 Free Cash 7 Replacement of LF‐19 This request replaces a frontline 2001 Hustler Z lawn mower. It mows many fields used daily by the Recreation Department and the Natick Public Schools. Replacement of this lawnmower is essential in Fall 2009 so as to have available for use beginning in Spring 2010. $ 13,000 Free Cash 8 Replacement of Dumpsters Deferred from Spring, the DPW annually has requested $10,000 to replace rotted and unsafe dumpsters at municipal and school facilities. This ongoing capital equipment purchase should be made regularly, as it and is important to maintain safe and hygienic trash collection on municipal properties. $ 10,000 Free Cash 9 Replacement of Guardrails Deferred from Spring, the DPW annually has requested $10,000 to replace unsafe guardrails along various streets and highways within the Town. This ongoing capital purchase should be made regularly to ensure that motorists are properly protected along Natick roadways. $ 10,000 Free Cash Total $ 797,380 Even as recently as a year ago, efforts were being made to strengthen annual capital spending and dedicate more resources annually towards capital projects. Unfortunately, given the state of the economy and the significant financial pressures facing the Town, it is not possible to sustain that progress at this point in time. The administration has stated that the $1,200,000 of capital equipment approved in spring and recommended at the 2009 Fall Annual Town Meeting represents replacement of and repair of only the most critical projects and equipment necessary for the continued operation of General Fund Page 20
Article 6 Cont’d and Water & Sewer Operations. Important projects for both the Public Schools and the General Government cannot be funded at this point in time because the additional costs cannot be incurred in the current fiscal climate. The administration has stated that those projects that are being deferred, however, cannot be forgotten because failure to replace and renew capital assets in a timely manner leads to costlier replacements in the future. The Finance Committee’s Capital Sub-committee met with representatives of Town Administration, the Department of Public Works, the Fire Department and the School Department and toured the equipment maintenance facility at the Department of Public Works to inspect the vehicles & many of the other items proposed for funding. During the review of this article it was noted: Replacement Fire Engine DPW Maintenance estimates that as much as $30,000 to $40,000 would be needed to repair the vehicles proposed to be decommissioned and strongly support this plan to dispose of these vehicles which are at the end of their serviceable life. A typical lifespan for a vehicle of this type would be 10 years for a pumper, and 15 years for an aerial, so these units are well beyond that. Funds from surplus vehicles go into the General Fund, although on occasion, this might be put into the DPW revolving fund. The decision on whether a vehicle is traded in or auctioned is made at the time of the surplus decision. It could be nearly a year before the new vehicle is actually in place, however, every effort will be made to shorten that timeframe. The 75-foot apparatus is being proposed at this time instead of the 100-foot vehicle which the Fire Department also hopes to acquire because the 75-foot truck is smaller, lighter and, because it can serve as both a pumper and a ladder truck, more flexible. It therefore enables the decommissioning of the two older vehicles. Purchase of the 100-foot vehicle would not allow both to be taken out of service. Replacement of Eliot School Doors Although the current lease for the Eliot School is a short-term lease, the Administration is currently negotiating with the present tenants for an additional term of up to three years and, thereafter, will be negotiating for a long-term (up to 99 years) lease for this property. The importance of maintaining the security and integrity of the building was stressed, whether the building is occupied or unoccupied. Replacement of H-1 This is a “take home” vehicle because the Highway Supervisor must be on call twenty-four hours a day. The policy guidelines for such vehicle use are delineated in the collective bargaining agreements. Due to the type of use, the wear and rot on the undercarriage is excessive in spite of excellent maintenance by the DPW. Replacement of E-2 The DPW is eager to consider energy efficient alternative fuel vehicles provided the payback is reasonable. The DPW Deputy Director and the Town’s Page 21
Page 1 and 2: ARTICLE 1 Omnibus Budget (Town Admi
Page 3 and 4: ARTICLE 3 Funding for Quinn Bill Pa
Page 5 and 6: ARTICLE 4 Funding for Judgment in F
Page 7 and 8: Article 4 Cont’d Following the ru
Page 9: ARTICLE 6 Capital Equipment (Town A
Page 13 and 14: Article 6 Cont’d MOTION B: (two-t
Page 15 and 16: Article 7 Cont’d MOTION: (two-thi
Page 17 and 18: ARTICLE 9 Unpaid Bills (Town Admini
Page 19 and 20: ARTICLE 11 Natick High School Proje
Page 21 and 22: Article 12 Cont’d Although as a
Page 23 and 24: ARTICLE 14 Acceptance of MGL c.140
Page 25 and 26: Article 15 Cont’d The Board of Se
Page 27 and 28: ARTICLE 17 Glenwood Cemetery: Use o
Page 29 and 30: ARTICLE 18 Abandon a Portion of Dra
Page 31 and 32: # 28 # 28 # 8 # 10 # 137 # 26 # 135
Page 33 and 34: Article 19 Cont’d acceptance also
Page 35 and 36: 2008 at a cost in excess of one mil
Page 37 and 38: @ @ @ ! !8 @ @ @ @ !8 !8 PROSPECT S
Page 39: WEST CENTRAL ST (RTE 135) HOME AVE

ARTICLE 1 - Town of Natick

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