Town Meeting - May 28th, 2025

Night nine of Arlington's annual town meeting. Materials were available from https://arlington.novusagenda.com/Agendapublic/MeetingView.aspx?MeetingID=2254&MinutesMeetingID=-1&doctype=Agenda.

Voting records are available from https://www.arlingtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/74473.

Opening Remarks

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana got a lot of feedback on Article and it ranged from good to bad to ugly. When expecting a high demand for speaking, Mr. Christiana ties to add more structure in order to hear a variety of opinions. Everyone seems to have their own ideas about how to manage the speaking queue. There were attempts to use points of order to express opinions on both sides of the debate. Mr. Christiana thinks he failed to police the rules strongly enough and that led to some imbalance. He stands by his decision that debate on Article 40 was terminated appropriately. None of these issues are grounds for reconsideration.

Announcements

(Valerie Geary, Precinct 11) Ms. Geary has two kids in the Arlington schools and she's speaking on behalf of Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention. They focus on gun safety, through things like the secure storage of firearms and the Mother's Walk for Peace. They're a state-wide organization. They need help and would like to have more people. The group is also involved in gun violence prevention. Firearms were the number one cause of children's deaths in 2023.

(Jim Feeney, Town Manager) Mr. Feeney says that our compliance with the MBTA Communities enabled us to get a three-million dollar grant to support the acquisition of affordable homes.

(Christine Deshler, Finance Committee) Ms. Deshler says the Finance Committee is holding an open forum next Wednesday, 7pm at the Community Center.

(Diane Mahon, Select Board) Ms. Mahon offers a proclamation in consideration for John Worden's service to town meeting.

(John Leone, Former town moderator) Mr. Leone says that Mr. Worden taught him about town meeting, and how to run one. He served as Mr. Worden's assistant moderator for three years, and Mr. Worden stepped in for him one year. Mr. Leone says the town owes Mr. Worden a debt of thanks.

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana wishes Mr. Worden well in his retirement.

Article 64 - Appropriation for Arlington Community Media

We started deliberating Article 64 last week, and will continue now.

(Michele Durocher, Precinct 19) Ms. Deshler says she's a passionate supporter of public media and a free press. She supports these organizations because they're deeply important. She doesn't feel comfortable forcing these choices on her neighbors. People can already choose to donate money to ACMi and Arlington is facing a multi-million dollar override in a few years. Arlington gives all its PEG access fees to ACMi and doesn't keep any of that money for itself. Revenue has been declining because people are no longer subscribing to cable. This isn't a surprise and this article should not be before us. She's alarmed to see Article 64 touted as a one-time funding bridge. Arlington has many non-profits who don't ask for taxpayer money. Let's not burden the taxpayers who are digging deep to fund town services. Let taxpayers choose which charities to support. Please vote no on the article and the amendment.

(Guillermo Hamlin, Precinct 14) Mr. Hamlin has defended PEG access before, and he supports the amendment. To not support would be to retreat from investments we've already made. Let's not punish ACMi for our lack of regulatory scope, and find ways to charge access fees for streaming service providers. We run the opportunity of consolidating voices we often hear. Mr. Hamlin doesn't advise retreating here. He supports votes in favor of the amendment and the main motion, and hopes we can discuss ways to do away with the old model for PEG funding.

(Mark Rosenthal, Precinct 14) Mr. Rosenthal says that ACMi is a valuable resource. They record events and teach residents how to record and produce video. Two years ago, we eliminated the requirement for a live transcript of town meeting. If the meeting is not recorded by stenographers, who will it be recorded by? Mr. Rosenthal thinks we benefit from a financially healthy ACMi. The Ruderman amendment amounts to a fart in a windstorm in terms of the overall town budget. Mr. Ruderman asks how other towns in Massachusetts are making up for the loss of PEG funding.

(Norm McCloud, Executive Director of ACMi) Mr. McCloud says Newton gives their cable access station $250k/year. Lexington gives $150/year. Westboro plans to add their cable access TV station to the operating budget. Hopkinton has given theirs $75k and Lynn has given $50k.

(Mark Rosenthal) Mr. Rosenthal asks if ACMi will be able to continue providing services, if they don't get this funding.

(Norm McCloud) Mr. McCloud says yes, but there's a staffing issue. ACMi only has two production people. With the amount of work they do, that's burnout city.

(Mark Rosenthal) Mr. Rosenthal asks which services would be cut.

(Norm McCloud) Mr. McCloud says that has yet to be seen. The Revenue stream is decreasing and only 36% of Arlington households get cable TV. He expects ACMi to be back next year, unless the legislature changes the funding model.

(Al Tosti, Precinct 17) Mr. Tosti says the problem with people cutting cable has been going on for years. ACMi hasn't looked at creating a new business model. He asks about steps taken to help ACMi to date.

(Jim Feeney, Town Manager) Mr. Feeney says that ACMi rents a town building on Park Ave, and there's consideration for reducing that rent to $1/year. ACMi has been paying around $45k/year in rent.

(Al Tosti) Mr. Tosti says the town is already planning to make a $45k/year contribution through rent reduction. Next year, we'll be facing a fifteen- to twenty-million dollar override. He says this is not the time to take on a new financial burden. ACMi's business model is obsolete, and we can't afford this. The recommended vote of the finance committee is for $100,000 to get them over the hump. This is a broad issue, and not an Arlington-specific one. Mr. Tosti says a $200k appropriation is not reasonable.

(Len Diggins, Precinct 3) Mr. Diggins asks if ACMi provides a town-wide benefit, other than the recording services they provide.

(Michael Ruderman, ACMi Board) Mr. Ruderman says we're holders of a franchise to provide cable access. ACMi covers town meetings, and everything else is from staff and volunteers. Educational and public interest programming makes up more than two-thirds of what ACMi puts on the air.

(Len Diggins) Mr. Diggins asks if cord cutting is expected to plateau.

(John Leone) Mr. Leone says a certain subset of the population likes TV and will keep their cable service.

(Len Diggins) Mr. Diggins asks if anyone is exploring changes to the funding model.

(John Leone) Mr. Leone say there was a bill in the legislature, but it never made it out of session. ACMi has started fundraising and looking for business sponsorships. But there are very few big businesses in town.

(Len Diggins) Mr. Diggins says that ACMi's budget still shows a $45k expense for rent.

(John Leone) Mr. Leone says that's still a current expense.

(Len Diggins) Mr. Diggins asks what ACMi plans to do with the $100k appropriation.

(John Leone) Mr. Leone says they'd like to hire one person for grant writing and re-hire two production staff.

(Len Diggins) Mr. Diggins asks if ACMi will be in a more precarious position next year.

(John Leone) Mr. Leone expects ACMi to request another appropriation next year, if there's no change in legislation.

(Josephine Babiarz, Precinct 15, Point of order) Ms. Babiarz doesn't understand what this $100,000 appropriation is for.

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana says that's not a point of order.

(Pi Fisher, Precinct 6) Mr. Fisher asks whether the finance committee will have to reconsider the budget, if the amendment passes.

(Christine Deshler, Finance Committee) Ms. Deshler says the Finance Committee's recommendation is for $100,000. If town meeting approves more, then the finance committee will have to revisit the budget and provide town meeting with a new recommendation.

(Pi Fisher) Mr. Fisher asks if town meeting can end, if the budget isn't balanced.

(Michael Cunningham, Town Counsel) Mr. Cunningham says that town meeting could dissolve, despite the budget being unbalanced. The requirement is to have the budget balanced before setting the tax rate, but the best practice would be to have it balanced before town meeting ends.

(Pi Fisher) Mr. Fisher asks what the town pays ACMi per night of town meeting.

(Jim Feeney) Mr. Feeney says we don't pay a per-night fee to ACMi.

(Alex Bagnall, Precinct 9) Mr. Bagnall moves the question.

Motion to end debate succeeds on a voice vote.

Ruderman amendment fails, 37--170--2.

Article passes, 191--19--1.

Article 69 - Transfer of Funds / Cemetery

(Christine Deshler, Finance Committee Chair) Ms. Deshler says this article involves a transfer of funds for cemeteries. $240k would go towards cemetery maintenance and $9k would go towards fence repairs.

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana notes that Christopher Moore removed this article from the consent agenda. He asks if Mr. Moore would like to discuss it.

(Christopher Moore, Precinct 14) Mr. Moore says he held the article because there was a mistake in the original finance committee report, but it's been corrected.

Article passes, 200--4--1.

Article 73 - Fiscal Stability Stabilization Fund

(Christine Deshler, Finance Committee Chair) Ms. Deshler says this is the vote that balances the budget. It authorizes the withdrawal of $8,984,000 from the Fiscal Stability Stabilization Fund, leaving a balance of $5.5M for next year. The finance committee recommends a positive vote.

There are no speakers.

Article passes, 200--3--0.

Article 75 - Increase of COLA Base

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana says this article has a recommended vote of no action. He's not sure why it wasn't included in the consent agenda.

(Gordon Jamieson, Precinct 12) Mr. Jamieson thinks it would be useful for town meeting to get annual reports from the Contributory Retirement Fund.

Recommended vote of no action passes by voice vote.

subsubsection{Article 76 - Resolution / Development of Fox Branch Library}

(Anna Litten, Director of Libraries) Ms. Litten is speaking on behalf of the Board of Library Trustees. She asks for a yes vote, to support the rebuilding of the Fox Library. We submitted a grant request for the Fox Library in 2023 and town meeting voted overwhelmingly to support the funding needed by the grant application. Unfortunately, we did not secure the grant. Ms. Litten says we're committed to a new Fox Branch and we've been encouraged to apply during the next grant round. There's a clear need for library services and the Board is working to launch a capital campaign drive. A yes vote will tell the state that the town is behind this effort. Ms. Litten says the Robbins Library exceeded one million checkouts this year.

No one wishes to speak in opposition to the resolution.

Article passes, 191--9--8.

Article 77 - Resolution / Banning Broker Fees

(Guillermo Hamlin, Petitioner) Mr. Hamlin says this article is a resolution to eliminate mandatory broker fees for tenants. Our state's governor thinks it's an initiative worth doing. Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville has submitted home rule petitions to ban broker fees, and he thinks a resolution is an appropriate step for Arlington to take at this time. Mr. Hamlin says our senator is one of the sponsors of a bill that would do this.

Article passes, 169--16--17.

Article 78 - Resolution / Banning Home Equity Theft

(Guillermo Hamlin, Petitioner) Mr. Hamlin says this is a resolution for the town to acknowledge a supreme court ruling whereby local governments can't take surplus equity from tax sales. In Massachusetts there are third-parties worked with municipalities to take equity because of taxes owed. The resolution asks for our residents to be protected.

(Carl Wagner, Precinct 15, Point of Order) Mr. Wagner says that a non-binding resolution has no legal force and can't protect anyone.

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana says that's not a point of order.

Article passes, 174--9--18.

Article 79 - Resolution / Zero Waste Plan

(Jim Ballin, Zero Waste Arlington) Mr. Ballin says this resolution asks the town to develop a zero waste plan. There are many reasons to reduce solid waste, including disposal costs and protecting the environment. MassDEP has a solid waste master plan, with a goal of achieving a 90% reduction by 2050. We have rising disposal costs, and we've done okay with keeping the total tonnage down. Arlington's waste goes to an incinerator in North Andover. The incinerator ash goes to a facility in Shrewsbury which is closing in 2028. 50% of the waste we sent to Wheelabrator's incinerator in 2022 could be diverted elsewhere. Reducing waste would reduce costs, reduce the incineration of food scraps, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A zero waste plan will create opportunities, help us find ways to prevent waste, promote reuse, and structure future waste disposal contracts. If the resolution is adopted, Zero Waste Arlington would seek funding for a consultant to help us reduce waste.

Article passes, 183--15--9.

Closing Remarks

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana asks if there are any motions to reconsider, and there are none.

When we walk out of here tonight, Mr. Christiana would like everyone to think about someone they disagree with. Think about your feelings toward them, what might be going on in their lives, and try to summon some grace. This is where the work is done, and we have a lot of work to do. We can disagree, but have to remember that we're all in this together.

Town meeting dissolved at 21:35.