Town Meeting - May 5th, 2025

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

Announcements

(Elizabeth Dray, Precinct 10) Ms. Dray works with the Teosinte sister city project. El Salvador is watching their democracy slip away, and this should be a warning to us. She's here to talk about a 37 year partnership with Teosinte, who continues to prioritize education and the search for a clean water source. They recently paved several stretches of road and are looking to build a playground. Ms. Dray says we should strive to show the similarities that unite us. 100% of the money we raise is returned to the community. The Teosinte sister city project is a volunteer committee and appreciates your support. Their website is http://www.arlingtonteosinte.org/.

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana says we're also being visited by members of our sister city in Japan.

Article 3 - Reports of Committees

Town meeting receives the supplemental report of the Finance Committee and a revised supplemental report from the Select Board.

(Rebecca Gruber, Hybrid Town Meeting Study Committee) Ms. Gruber says the study committee pursued several areas of investigation. There was support for hybrid meetings but general concern about the technology. They looked at Belmont and Lexington, whose town meetings have 25% remote participation on any given night. There are multiple bills in the state legislature regarding hybrid meetings. Hybrid meetings would add new technical requirements, and we'd need to make investments in A/V technology and support staff.

(Alex Bagnall, Hybrid Town Meeting Study Committee) Mr. Bagnall says that overall, the committee believes that the advantages of a hybrid meeting outweigh the disadvantages, but that feeling is not unanimous. The next steps will be to review the remote voting contract, and the needs for support staffing.

There are no more reports, so Article 3 goes back on the table.

Article 7 - Energy Efficiency and Electrification Revolving Fund

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana says there were issues with the main motion presented last week, which effectively nullified the article. The article was postponed until today, in order to prepare a new main motion. Effectively, we'll be re-doing Article 7 from scratch.

(Diane Mahon, Select Board) Ms. Mahon says the fund will be used to defray electrification costs, and the Capital Planning Committee will have to approve expenditures over $50,000.

(Jim Feeney, Town Manager) Mr. Feeney says that revisiting article 7 let to the discovery of an issue with several new revolving funds. Now, the article seeks to amend the table of revolving funds in the town bylaws. Arlington is one of 19 communities designated as a climate-friendly community, which will make us eligible for additional grants. The Electrification Revolving fund will have the unique restriction that the Capital Planning Committee has to approve expenses of over $50,000.

(Paul Bayer, Precinct 13) Mr. Bayer motions to postpone the article until Monday, for three reasons. First, the new main motion was released on Friday. Second, members of town meeting have not had enough time to prepare amendments. And third, this is a different kind of revolving fund; the Finance committee should have an opportunity to discuss it, which they will do on Wednesday.

(Greg Christiana) Mr. Christiana says the Minuteman Budget is scheduled for Monday, so he would take Article 7 after Article 55.

(Pi Fischer, Precinct 6, Point of order) Mr. Fischer says he can't hear the balcony mic.

(Greg Christiana) Mr. Christiana summarizes Mr. Bayer's motion.

Motion to postpone passes by voice vote.

Article 18 - Ranked Choice Voting

(Diane Mahon, Select Board) Ms. Mahon says the Select Board voted to recommend favorable action, 3--1.

(Greg Dennis, Petitioner) Mr. Dennis was the chair of the Election Modernization Committee, who proposed the use of ranked choice voting in local elections. Vote splitting can lead to a candidate winning with less than 50% support. Ranked choice voting uses ballots where voters rank their candidates in order. Ballots are processed by counting the first choice votes. If no one has a majority, the last place candidate is dropped, and the first two choices are counted. Rounds of counting continue until there are only two candidates left, and one of them will have majority support from the voters. A similar process would be used to determine the winner of a second seat in a multi-seat election. The benefits of ranked choice voting include the avoidance of vote splitting and increasing turnout. The Elections Modernization Committee was unanimous in its support for Ranked Choice Voting. If the legislature approves this home rule petition, then the question will go to voters for adoption.

(Paul Schlichtman, Precinct 9) Mr. Schlichtman has filed a substitute motion that would remove multi-seat elections from ranked choice voting. He says this decision will have to go to a voter referendum, and the median voting age in Arlington is 62. The voters are a different demographic than the town as a whole. Mr. Dennis is right about the benefits in single-seat elections, but ranked choice voting is more complicated for voters. He thinks ranked choice voting will lead to strategic voting in multi-seat races. What if you can't decide how to rank your first and second choices? Mr. Schlichtman says that everyone who's won a multi-seat election did so with more than 50% support. Ranked choice voting changes the dynamic of elections. "Give me your first choice" is a harder ask than "give me one of your two votes". Mr. Schlichtman asks town meeting to adopt ranked choice voting, but only for single-seat elections.

(Leslie Waxman, Precinct 6) Ms. Waxman says she's spent the last 15 years doing ranked choice elections in the City of Cambridge. The Election Modernization Committee had a range of stakeholders and proposed ranked choice voting because they felt it was best for the town. She urges town meeting to reject the substitute motion. Gamesmanship is worse without ranked choice voting, and ranking a candidate second or third never hurts the candidate you've ranked first. The Select Board has multi-seat elections in some years, and a single-seat election in others, which means that some elections would be done with ranked choice, and others not. Ms. Waxman has had lots of conversations with people about ranked choice voting. She thinks Arlington's biggest challenges are the lack of voter participation and uncontested races.

(Paul Selker, Precinct 9) Mr. Selker asks if there's a requirement to rank all candidates.

(Greg Dennis) Mr. Dennis says no. Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they wish.

(Paul Selker) Mr. Selker asked if the election modernization committee looked at research into voter confusion, or voters opting out.

(Greg Dennis) Mr. Dennis says that understanding is the number one fear of ranked choice voting, but it tends to dissipate as soon as people use it. Portland, ME started using ranked choice voting in 2011, and its use has expanded since then.

(Amos Meeks, Precinct 3) Mr. Meeks says that ranked choice voting is really about getting information from voters, and expressing the will of the people. Our current system can produce terrible distortions when there are many more candidates than seats. It's not fair to underestimate voters. The only way to lessen voter confusion is through practice. He asks town meeting to support the article.

(Daniel Jalkut, Precinct 6) Mr. Jalkut moves the question.

Motion to terminate debate passes, 153--56--7.

Schlichtman substitute motion fails, 27--185--1.

Article passes, 189--29--2.

Article 19 - William Pilleri

(Diane Mahon, Select Board) Ms. Mahon says the Select Board voted 4--0 in favor of filing a home rule petition so that William Pilleri could sit for the civil service exam, despite being 32 years old.

(William Pilleri, Petitioner) Mr. Pilleri says he's lived in Arlington his entire life, and he wants to give back to the town by working for the fire department.

(Mark Rosenthal, Precinct 14) Mr. Rosenthal asks what the current age limit is, which precludes Mr. Pilleri from being hired. He asks about the rationale for the age limit.

(Michael Cunningham, Town Counsel) Mr. Cunningham says the age is set by statute, and the maximum age is 31. He doesn't know the rationale for that age limit.

(Mark Rosenthal) Mr. Rosenthal asks if there's anyone who does know the rationale.

(Al Tosti, Precinct 17) Mr. Tosti says the work of a uniformed officer can be dangerous, and they also get sustained benefits. Someone who's hired at 45 will only serve for ten years, but someone hired at an earlier age will serve longer. You'll get more years of service from a younger employee.

(Gordon Jamieson, Precinct 12) Mr. Jamieson says that in years past, we've asked the Fire Chief to share their thoughts.

(Jim Feeney, Town Manager) Mr. Feeney says the fire chief has no objections to this article.

(Paul Schlichtman, Precinct 9) Mr. Schlichtman asks if we've ever hired a candidate after the legislative process.

(Jim Feeney) Mr. Feeney says the most recent candidate was appointed to a position.

(Gulliermo Hamlin, Precinct 14) Mr. Hamlin doesn't see a reason why we should deny this resident's desire to serve. We should give him the opportunity.

(Pi Fischer, Precinct 6) Mr. Fischer asks about the minimum number of years before a firefighter can receive a pension.

(Jim Feeney) Mr. Feeney says the minimum is ten years, and the max is 65 years of age.

(Al Tosti) Mr. Tosti moves the question.

Motion to end debate passes by voice vote.

Article passes, 199--12--6.

Article 20 - Acceptance of Clause 22I of M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5

(Jim Feeney) Mr. Feeney says this article seeks to support veterans via local option legislation that was part of the HERO act. It would provide veterans with a cost of living adjustment tax break, rather than a flat dollar amount. This would be similar to a tax break currently available to seniors. If adopted, changes would take place in 2026.

Article passes, 215--11--4.

Article 21 - Acceptance of Chapter 399 of the Acts of 2024

(Diane Mahon, Select Board) Ms. Mahon says that Article 21 would accept legislation allowing the town to install school bus monitoring systems.

(Paul Schlichtman, School Committee) Mr. Schlichtman says that, in January, the governor signed legislation allowing the use of photo enforcement from school buses. Peabody and Salem piloted this program and found an extraordinary number of violations. Buses would have a camera mounted to the stop arm and could record vehicles that failed to stop when the bus's red lights were flashing. Police officers could review the camera footage, and issue a citation. Citations would not result in points on the violators driver's license.

(Ed Trembly, Precinct 19) Mr. Trembly used to drive a school bus, and he's in favor of this article. It's dangerous to have people passing school buses. He says that a camera mounted on a stop arm won't see vehicles passing on the right. Mr. Trembly says that bus drivers should pull over if a lot of vehicles are behind them, so those vehicles can pass. He hopes our school bus drivers are trained to do this.

(Sam Polk, Precinct 12) Mr. Polk says we can take data from Peabody. They recorded 3.6 illegal passings per school bus, per day. He thinks there are adequate data privacy safeguards. Footage would be owned by the town, and limited in its use. He says that footage would be destroyed if not used within 30 days.

(Anna Henkin, Precinct 6) Ms. Henkin would like assurances that the camera footage won't be used for anything besides school bus violations.

(Michael Cunningham, Town Counsel) Mr. Cunningham says the permitted uses are set forth in the state legislation that we're considering to adopt.

(Anna Henkin) Ms. Henkin asks how many police hours would be needed to monitor the footage.

(Paul Schlichtman) Mr. Schlichtman says we'll have to price that out. He expects the school resource officer and traffic enforcement officers to do that work.

(Kristin Pennarun, Precinct 20) Ms. Pennarun is strongly in favor of acceptance. She asks who will be responsible for enforcement and issuing citations.

(Paul Schlichtman) Mr. Schlichtman says that tapes from school buses would be reviewed by the police department, and could only be used for school bus enforcement.

(Kristin Pennarun) Ms. Pennarun asks about penalties.

(Paul Schlichtman) Mr. Schlichtman says the penalties are described in the state law.

Article passes, 212--4--5.

Article 22 - Endorsement of CDBG Application

(John Hurd, Select Board) Mr. Hurd says that Article 22 is seeking town meeting's endorsement of the Community Development Block Grant recommendations. The vote was 6--0 in favor, with Town Manager Jim Feeney providing the sixth vote.

(Claire Ricker, Planning Director) Ms. Ricker says we're all operating in a time of real uncertainty, but she does expect us to get this funding from HUD. $255k from prior years will be re-programmed, and we are waiting for HUD to determine the final grant amounts. Each request is in one of six categories. We've recommended funding to all applicants, but not necessarily in the amount requested. She lists a number of grant recipients. The article includes funding for grant administration. Over the last 20 years, Arlington has deployed over $60M of these funds.

(Dean Carman, Precinct 20) Mr. Carman agrees with the town's position to move ahead with community development block grants, but asks what will happen if the federal government cuts funding to Arlington.

(Jim Feeney, Town Manager) Mr. Feeney says we'd have to call the committee back together to determine an alternate budget.

(Dean Carman) Mr. Carman asks what will happen if the feds don't give us any money.

(Jim Feeney) Mr. Feeney says that means we'll have no money.

(Dean Carman) Mr. Carman says there's a real possibility that this funding source could go away at some point. He thinks it would be an easy target for federal spending cuts. He'll endorse it, but if the funding doesn't happen, he wants people to understand why.

(Linda Hanson, Precinct 9) Ms. Hanson says this is one of the few ways we can support human service organizations. She's pleased to see funding being opened up to new non-profits. We're seeing more food insecurity as the cost of living increases. Arlington EATS serves hundreds of families per week.

(Steve Revilak, Precinct 1) Mr. Revilak says the grant recipients are doing good work in our community. He supports the grants, but has a question about one of the items. There's an award recommended to Fidelity House for installing a sprinkler system. The description says this award will benefit 50,000 people. Mr. Revilak asks where that number comes from.

No one has an answer.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak says he was just curious, and will still support the article.

Article passes, 209--0--4.

Article 23 - Revolving Funds

(Diane Mahon, Select Board) Ms. Mahon says the Select board voted unanimously to support Article 23.

(Alex McGee, Deputy Town Manager) Mr. McGee says this article seeks to establish caps on revolving funds. Two new funds were set up incorrectly last year, and their money was returned to the general fund. Mr. McGee goes on to list the revolving funds and their amounts.

(Annie LaCourt, Precinct 13) Ms. LaCourt says that revolving funds are set up to pair a dedicated stream of revenue with a dedicated set of expenses. She asks what the Board of Health's revolving fund is used for.

(Alex McGee) Mr. McGee says it's use to for permits and expenses.

There's a Q&A exchange between Ms. LaCourt and Mr. McGee.

(Annie LaCourt) Ms. LaCourt asks what would happen if someone tried to use money in a revolving fund for a different purpose.

(Alex McGee) Mr. McGee says that would be caught by the comptroller, or one of the town's auditors.

(Judith Garber, Precinct 4) Ms. Garber says the Robins Library Revolving Fund and Town Hall Revolving Fund show the same numbers. She asks if that's a typo or a coincidence.

(Alex McGee) Mr. McGee says it's a typo. The Select Board's supplemental report shows the correct amount.

(Judith Garber) Ms. Garber asks if there's a difference between maintenance on public and private ways.

(Alex McGee) Mr. McGee says the town doesn't pay for private way repairs. The revolving fund is used to help people who live along private ways pay for their maintenance.

(Gordon Jamieson, Precinct 12) Mr. Jamieson says the supplemental report contains more granular details for these accounts.

Article passes, 214--0--1.

Article 24 - Revolving Fund for 17 Irving Street

(Jim Feeney, Town Manager) Mr. Feeney says that Article 24 was intended to establish a revolving fund for the Parmenter building at 17 Irving Street. The Select Board recommended no action because it was not placed on the warrant as a bylaw amendment.

The motion for no action is adopted.

Article 25 - Accessory Dwelling Units

(Note: being the article presenter, I wasn't taking notes and am making this summary from memory).

(Steve Revilak, Redevelopment Board) Mr. Revilak says the Redevelopment Board recommended favorable action on Article 25 by a vote of 5--0.

Last year, Massachusetts passed the affordable homes act, which includes provisions to encourage the production of accessory dwelling units throughout the commonwealth. One of the goals is to increase housing options for households at all income levels, and all stages of life. Arlington adopted an ADU bylaw in 2021, and article 25 is about bringing Arlington's bylaw into compliance with new state requirements.

Mr. Revilak summarizes the changes proposed by Article 25. It would change the definition of gross floor area so that it's measured from the interior side of exterior walls rather than the exterior side. This is a state requirement. There are changes to the purpose statement. ADU's will no longer be subject to Arlington's large addition regulations, which require a special permit for additions of 750 square feet or more outside the building footprint.

The existing bylaw allows one ADU per principal dwelling unit, by right, in conjunction with single and two-family homes. The second ADU will now require a special permit, which is another state requirement.

ADUs were subject to a 6-foot setback. Article 25 would subject them to setback requirements of the underlying zoning district.

The existing bylaw has an owner-occupancy requirement, which state law does not allow. Finally, Article 25 corrects a citation in the bylaw.

Mr. Revilak proceeds to go through the textual changes.

He notes that state regulations prohibit ADU bylaws from having a "local preference". We've taken out language that mentions Arlington specifically, and updated the purpose to be more in line with what the state is looking for.

The existing bylaw allows one ADU by right for a single family home, and up to two ADUs by right for a two-family. Article 25 would allow one ADU per principal dwelling, up to a maximum of two. The first is allowed by right. The second would need a special permit, as required by state regulations.

Space used for an ADU would no longer be subject to the large addition provision in the bylaw. This comes from the state requirement that attached and detached ADUs be treated equally.

The currently bylaw requires a special permit for ADUs within 6' of a lot line. Article 25 proposes requiring a special permit when an ADU is built within the required setback for accessory structures. Most zoning districts -- in particular R0 through R2 -- have a 6' setback requirement. But some districts have different ones. For example, R6 has a 10' setback requirement. For this reason, the ARB feels the Evans amendment is duplicative and not necessary, and may create a gray area in the bylaw.

Finally, there's a change to the section of the bylaw which deals with nonconformities. This reflects the requirement that ADUs be allowed in any district where single family homes are allowed, which may not necessarily be in conjunction with a single- or two-family dwelling.

Mr. Revilak asks the moderator if we can make an administrative correction in this section, by changing the word "said" to the word "an".

(Greg Christiana, Town Moderator) Mr. Christiana agrees to the administrative correction.

(Wynelle Evans, Precinct 14) Ms. Evans has an amendment that would require ADUs to be at least six feet from lot lines. She says that having an ADU within six feet of a property line would be an imposition on abutters.

(James Fleming, Precinct 4) Mr. Fleming asks if Mr. Revilak could explain more about the legal gray area that he mentioned.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak says that the Evans amendment adds a requirement that ADUs be six feet from the property line. Later in that section, there's a provision that allows ADUs within setback lines by special permit. Districts R0--R5 have a six-foot setback requirement for accessory structures, so we'd have one part of the paragraph saying "you can't do this" and another part saying "you can do this by special permit". Inspectional services would have to figure out how to interpret that.

(James Fleming) Mr. Fleming encourages town meeting to support the article. He thinks that ADUs are a good way to care for aging family members. While they are expensive, they're a lot less than the cost of assisted living.

(Carl Wagner, Precinct 15) Mr. Wagner thinks the state's ADU bylaw is good, but he has issues with Arlington's version. Mr. Wagner's group, Arlington Residents for Responsible Development has created a table that compares the state requirements with Arlington's version. He thinks town meeting should revisit this next year, and do something closer to the state version.

Evans amendment fails: 72--137--3.

Article passes, 188--21--3.

Article 26 - Transportation Demand Management

(Steve Revilak, Arlington Redevelopment Board) Mr. Revilak says the ARB voted favorable action, 5--0. The zoning bylaw allows the ZBA or ARB to reduce minimum parking requirements when an applicant submits a TDM plan that incorporates at least three strategies from Section 6.1.5.C. The goal is to provide accommodations for forms of transportation other than personal automobiles.

Smaller projects have had the most difficulty meeting these requirements. Article 26 would allow smaller projects -- those with less than ten residential units and less that 3000 square feet of commercial space -- two provide two measures instead of three.

This article also proposes to add two new TDM strategies: providing electric charging stations for bicycles and scooters, and being in close proximity to a subway station or bus stop with frequent service. Practically speaking, this is along the 77's route.

Mr. Revilak says the ARB met earlier this evening, and voted to support Mr. Baudoin's amendment.

(Vince Baudoin, Precinct 1) Mr. Baudoin says his amendment would add cargo bike parking as a TDM measure. Mr. Baudoin had filed a separate transportation demand management article, and the ARB recommended no action on it. Rather than filing a substitute motion, Mr. Baudoin thought it would be more straightforward to amend the ARB's TDM article.

(John Worden, Precinct 8) Mr. Worden doesn't think that 30 minutes should count as frequent bus service. He was waiting for the bus today, and it drove right past him. Public transit used to be good, and Mr. Worden used it for 57 years. He says that 30 minutes is not frequent.

(Ed Trembly, Precinct 19) Mr. Trembly says he had a conversation with the previous planning director about the Housing Corporation of Arlington's apartment at Downing Square. It has no parking and people living there all park on Lowell Street. Mr. Trembly says that no one rides their bikes in the winter, with the exception of Mr. Revilak. He doesn't see a lot of traffic on the bike path during the winter.

(Mark Kaepplein, Precinct 9) Mr. Kaepplein thinks this article is creating new difficulties. Students at the Russian School of Math arrive by car and there's not enough parking. Mr. Kaepplein thinks that charging stations for e-bikes and scooters will create a fire hazard.

(Steve Revilak) Mr. Revilak says the charging facilities would be in a dedicated room for bike and scooter storage, rather than in individual apartments.

(Mark Kaepplein) Mr. Kaepplein asks if this would be a fireproof room.

(Mike Ciampa, Building Inspector) Mr. Ciampa says these rooms would be in multi-family buildings, and would be sprinklered.

(Daniel Jalkut, Precinct 6) Mr. Jalkut moves the question.

Motion to terminate debate fails, 128--69--3 (two-thirds vote required).

It's 23:00, so we'll pick up with Article 26 another night.