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Open Town Meeting is the form of democratic governing practiced in Tyngsborough, used for over 250 years. Special Town Meetings occur throughout the year when deemed necessary. Any registered voter may participate in Town Meeting. You can check your voter registration status by clicking here.

Unlike an election, there are no alternative voting methods for Town Meeting. Attendance must be in person. Due to the nature of the meeting, and the possibility of amendments on Town Meeting floor, there is no absentee or early voting for Town Meeting. While all Town Meetings are recorded and broadcast live, there are no virtual participation methods available.

State law requires that municipalities host at least one meeting, Annual Town Meeting, each Spring. This meeting is the primary business meeting for municipalities. This is where the Annual Town Budget is approved, thus funding government operations for the following fiscal year. Tyngsborough typically also hosts a Town Meeting each Fall or early winter. The Select Board may call a Special Town Meeting at any time and residents may call a Special Town Meeting through a citizen’s petition.

The Town Meeting is moderated by the Town Moderator who is elected by the Town for a term of 3 years. The Moderator is currently Robert L. Kydd, Jr. whose term expires in 2023.

You can watch Town Meetings on Verizon channel 29 and Comcast channel 8 as well as stream it live here.

Upcoming Town Meetings & Events

Article Summary Finance Committee Votes (TBD)

Select Board Votes

In Favor-Opposed-Abstain

Article 1: Reports of the Town Officers and Committees To see if the Town will vote to accept the reports of the Town Officers and Committees as printed, or take any other action relative thereto. 5-0-0 5-0-0
 Article 2: Appropriate Commonwealth Transportation Infrastructure (CTI) To see if the Town will vote to appropriate $3,347.80 as received from the Commonwealth Transportation Infrastructure (CTI) Fund to the TNC Special Revenue Account, which funds must be used “to address the impact of transportation network services on municipal roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure or any other public purpose substantially related to the operation of transportation network services in the city or town including, but not limited to, the complete streets program established in [G.L. c. 90I, § 1] and other programs that support alternative modes of transportation,” or take any other action relative thereto. 5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 3: Deposits to Stabilization Funds

To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $210,000 from the following sources to the following Stabilization Funds, for the purposes hereafter specified:

Amount Fund From Purpose
$200,000 Capital Asset Stabilization Fund Certified Free Cash Reserved for expenditure on capital assets
$10,000 Stormwater Stabilization Fund FY24 Receipts Funding compliance with Federal, State, or Local stormwater regulations or local stormwater infrastructure improvements
5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 4: Authorize Appropriations from Stabilization Funds for Fiscal Year 2024

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to expend up to the following amounts from the following Stabilization Funds, for the following purposes, or take any other action relative thereto. 

 

Amount Fund Purpose
$800,000 Road Stabilization Fund Roadway improvements, including the related incidental costs such as, but not limited to, drainage, pedestrian access, lighting, and signage
$30,000 Stormwater Stabilization Fund Funding compliance with Federal, State, or Local stormwater regulations or local stormwater infrastructure improvements
$234,000 Special Ed Stabilization Fund Funding unanticipated or unbudgeted costs of special education, out-of-district tuition, or transportation
5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 5: Continue and Approve Revolving Funds

To see if the Town will vote to establish, pursuant to the authority granted under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E½, FY24 spending limits for the following revolving funds, to be expended in accordance with Article XLIV DEPARTMENTAL REVOLVING FUNDS, Section 5: Table of Authorized Revolving Funds, or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Fund Programs and Purposes Departmental Receipts Authorization to Expend Funds FY24 Spending Limit
Fire Department Fire programs and materials Hazmat fees Select Board $  10,000
Recreation & Parks Committee Recreational programs and activities Fees collected from participants Select Board $120,000
Public Building Rentals Public buildings operation and maintenance Fees collected from rentals Select Board $ 50,000
Rec Field Use Field maintenance Field use fees Recreation Department $ 50,000
Recycling Committee Recycling programs and materials Fees collected from participants Board of Health $ 50,000
Bulky Items Collection and disposal of bulky items and appliances Fees collected from participants Board of Health $ 60,000
Board of Health Medicare Reimbursement program for Medicare Plan members Medicare reimbursements Board of Health $   6,000
Wetland Protection Conservation Commission activities Fees from local Wetland Protection By-law Conservation Commission $ 20,000
Stormwater Fund Conservation Commission activities Fees from local Stormwater Protection By-law Conservation Commission $ 20,000

Sealer of Weights

and Measures

Inspection activities Fees collected from participants Select Board $   3,000
Police Details Police Traffic Details Citations Select Board $ 30,000
PEG Audio and visual equipment and supplies User fees and rental fees Select Board  $   3,000
Road Maintenance Roadway improvements, including the related incidental costs such as, but not limited to, drainage, pedestrian access, lighting, and signage Pavement Impact Fees, Road Opening Fees Select Board $200,000
5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 6: Authorization of the Select Board Regarding Contracts in Excess of Three Years To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to enter into Lease/Purchase Agreements up to five years to lease or purchase equipment for the Town, said contracts to be subject to annual appropriations, or take any other action relative thereto. 5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 7: Appropriation – General Fund for Fiscal Year 2024

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from available funds such sums of money as may be necessary to fund Town expenses for Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024), or take any other action relative thereto.

(Budget attachment as Exhibit A)

5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 8: Compensation of Elected Officials

To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of elective officers of the Town as provided by Section 108 of Chapter 41 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended, for the Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024), or take any other action relative thereto.

Salaries of the Elected Officials are included in the Department Appropriations submitted within Article 2.

                                                  PRIOR YEAR     REQUESTED         RECOMMENDED
                                                  SALARIES           SALARIES             SALARIES
                                                  7/01/22                   7/01/23           7/01/23
                                                  6/30/23                   6/30/24           6/30/24
Elective Town Officers
Moderator                                    $        500       $        500 $        500
Select Board (5)
Chairman                                     $     2,000        $     2,000 $     2,000
Members (4)                                $     1,500        $     1,500 $     1,500
Town Clerk                                   $   72,357        $   74,166 $   74,166
Assessors (3)
Chairman                                      $          0          $           0 $           0
Member (2)                                   $          0          $           0 $           0
Board of Health
Chairman                                       $   1000          $   1,000 $   1,000
Members (4)                                  $     800          $      800 $      800
Tree Warden                                  $         0          $          0 $          0
Cemetery Commissioners (3)      $         0          $          0 $          0
School Committee (7)                   $         0          $          0 $          0
Library Trustees  (6)                      $         0          $          0 $          0
Sewer Commissioners  (3)
Chairman                                        $   1,000        $   2,500 $   1,000
Member (2)                                     $      800        $    2,000 $      800
Planning Board (5)
Chairman                                        $   1,000        $   1,000 $   1,000
Members (4)                                   $      800        $      800 $      800
Finance Committee (5)                 $          0         $          0 $          0
Constables (2)                                $          0         $          0 $          0
Greater Lowell Technical HS (1)  $          0         $          0 $          0

5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 9: Transfer of Funds from Free Cash

To see if the Town will vote to transfer from free cash the following sums of money, for the following purposes, or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Amount To For the following purpose:
$52,500 Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund Meet long-term OPEB Funding Plan commitment 
$200,000 Capital Account Fund the 2023 Roads Program as outlined in the FY2024 Capital Asset Management Committee report.
$60,000 Capital Account Fund the abatement and demolition of the former Council on Aging building at 180 Lakeview Ave, having recently sustained significant water damage due to a burst pipe.
$248,355 FY23 Snow and Ice Account Fund Snow and Ice Deficit
$264,322 FY23 School Department Revenue Fund Medicaid Reimbursement
$200,000 Capital Asset Stabilization Fund Reserve for future capital asset expenditures
$100,000 Special Ed Stabilization Fund Funding unanticipated or unbudgeted costs of special education, out-of-district tuition, or transportation
$50,000 FINCOM Reserve Fund To provide for extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures in FY24
5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 10: Appropriation – Ambulance Enterprise Fund for Fiscal Year 2024

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be expended by the Select Board to operate the Ambulance Enterprise for Fiscal Year 2024 as follows: 

Salaries $ 511,081.00
Fringe Benefits $   47,741.44
Subtotal $ 558,822.44
Expenses $   81,600.00
Indirect Costs to the General Fund $   18,188.20
Subtotal $   99,788.20
TOTAL $  658,610.64
with $655,768 to be raised through Department Receipts, as follows:
Estimated Department Receipts $ 700,000.00
Estimated Surplus $       41,389

and that $47,741.44 and $18,188.20 be included in appropriations from the General Fund for fringe benefits and indirect costs respectively, as shown above, and to be allocated to the Ambulance Enterprise for funding, or take any other action relative thereto.

5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 11: Appropriation – Sewer Enterprise Fund for Fiscal Year 2024

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be expended by the Sewer Commission to operate the Sewer Enterprise for Fiscal Year 2024 as follows: 

That the following sums be appropriated:
Salaries & Stipends $    244,644
Expenses $ 1,470,679
Capital Outlay $    441,702
Debt & Interest Sewer Dept. $    125,321
Debt & Interest from Betterments $    895,518
Subtotal $ 3,177,864
Transfer Indirect Costs to General Fund $    194,350
Total $ 3,372,214
From the following funding sources:
Department receipts $ 1,451,526
Betterment Fund $    895,518
Retained Earnings $ 1,025,170
Total $ 3,372,214
or take any other action relative thereto.

4-0-1 5-0-0
Article 12: Transfer of Funds from PEG Fund

To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $158,612 from the PEG Fund to the general fund for the following purposes, or take any other action relative thereto.

 

Amount To
$158,612 Support PEG Operating Budget for public, educational, and governmental television access
5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 13: Appropriation – Community Preservation Committee Fund

To see if the Town will vote a sum of money to be appropriated or reserved from estimated annual revenues of the Community Preservation Fund for the Fiscal Year 2024, with each item to be considered a separate appropriation, for the payment of administrative expenses of the Community Preservation Committee, debt service, community preservation projects, and all other necessary and proper expenses, as follows:

Description Amount Fund Category
Lake Massapoag Weed Control $     3,500 Open Space and Rec
Flint Pond Weed Control (1-time Sonar) $   25,000 Open Space and Rec
Winslow Waterfall Grant Match $ 200,000 Open Space and Rec
Sherburne Rd Open Space and 
Recreation Amenities $800,000 Fund Balance
Winslow Waterfall Grant Match $  50,000 FY24 Receipts
AARP Livable Communities Grant Match $  25,000 FY24 Receipts
Lake Mascuppic Weed Treatment $   7,000 FY24 Receipts
Administrative Expenses, 5% allowance $  50,000 FY24 Receipts
Debt Service First Parish yr 3 of 10 $244,875 FY24 Receipts
Debt Service Old Town Hall yr 6 of 10 $  75,774 FY24 Receipts
Debt Service Old Town Hall yr 6 of 10 $118,926 Historic Preservation
Total CPC Appropriations above $1,600,075
Deposits to Reserve Accounts:
Reserve for Historic Preservation $100,000
Reserve for Affordable Housing $100,000
Reserve for Open Space/Recreation $100,000

or take any other action relative thereto.

5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 14: Authorize Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School to establish a Stabilization Fund To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School District to establish a Regional School District Stabilization Fund in accordance with G.L. c.71 s.16 G1/2,, or take any other action relative thereto. 5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 15: Special Act- Appointing the Town Clerk’s position

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to file a petition within the General Court for special legislation, substantially as set forth below, authorizing the Town of Tyngsborough to appoint the Town Clerk’s position; to authorize the General Court to make clerical and editorial changes of form only to the bill, unless the Select Board approves amendments to the bill before enactment by the General Court; and to authorize the Select Board to approve amendments which shall be within the scope of the general public objectives of the aforesaid petition, or take any action relative thereto. 

An Act authorizing the Town of Tyngsborough to appoint a Town Clerk

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. As of the effective date of this act, the elected incumbent town clerk shall continue to serve in such elected position for the term for which she was elected. The town clerk shall, during this period, be subject to the call of the appointing authority for the position as set forth in the Tyngsborough Town Manager Special Act. Upon the expiration of such elected term, the elected office shall be abolished; provided, however, that the elected incumbent holding office as of the effective date

of this act shall become the first appointed clerk under this Act. If the elected incumbent removes from office prior to the expiration of the elected term, the elected position shall thereupon be abolished and such office filled in accordance with appointing procedures as set forth in the Tyngsborough Town Manager Special Act.

4-1-0 4-0-1
Article 16: Authorization to sell surplus property. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to sell a parcel of land commonly referred to as 120 Westford Rd, having approximately 14.61 acres of land and shown on Assessors Map 22 Block 1 Lot 0, and also recorded in the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds, Book 02652 Page 0722, or any portion thereof, such land having been determined to be no longer needed for any municipal purposes, upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Select Board, but at a minimum must include the Town maintaining permanent rights in perpetuity to access, maintain, lease, and control the existing billboard located on the property, or take any other action relative thereto. 4-1-0 5-0-0
Article 17: General Bylaw Amendment – Aerator Use Regulations https://www.tyngsboroughma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Aerator-Bylaw-2023.pdf 5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 18: Zoning Bylaw Amendments – Electronic Message Board Regulations https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OBP7xZdcvW7W8q1tP83LIBU9NCf-UtSV/view 5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 19: Zoning Bylaw Amendments – Split Zone Lots

To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 3, Districts, of the Town’s Zoning Bylaw, by adding a new subsection shown below, or take any other action relative thereto.

3.4 Split Zoned Lots.

Where a district boundary line divides any lot, existing at the time the boundary line is adopted, between the Business 3 zoning district and the Industrial 1 zoning district, and the lot frontage is located in the Business 3 district, the Use and Dimensional regulations of the Business 3 district may be extended, to a new, uniform and equidistant district boundary line from the existing district boundary line into not more than 25% of the lot area situated in the Industrial 1 District. See illustrated examples 1 and 2.

Such special permit shall require mandatory findings by the Planning Board in accordance with Section 2.7 F of this By-law, with respect to the boundary extension proposed; the extension of the Business 3 Use and Dimensional regulations into the Industrial 1 district may be expanded to not more than 50% of the lot area of the Industrial 1 district subject to approval of a special permit by the Planning Board.

5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 20: Zoning Bylaw Amendments – Site Plan Review Process

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OeUeHPos4Jdc3gF1nO67qWn-SFOGIt_S/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I1KMurJRnC4Hj9YOkSMTOrLdEqZcMot9/view

5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 21: Zoning Bylaw Amendments – Floodplain and Floodway Districts https://www.tyngsboroughma.gov/departments/inspectional-services/planning/ 5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 22: Amend income limit for Senior Property Tax Deferral, MGL Ch 59 Sec 5 Clause 41A To see if the town will vote to increase the gross income criteria to be eligible to defer property taxes under G.L. c.59 sec. 5, Clause 41A from $40,000 to 100% of the amount established annually by the Commissioner of Revenue as the income limit for single seniors who are not heads of households to qualify for the “circuit breaker” state income tax credit for the preceding state tax year, ($64,0000 for 2022), said new income limit to become effective for real estate tax deferrals granted for taxes assessed for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2023 (Fiscal Year 2024), or take any action relative thereto. 5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 23: Approve Prior Year Bills

To see if the Town will vote to approve payment on the following bills which were incurred during a previous fiscal year (FY22):

Vendor Invoice Amount Account Department
WB Mason  225145941 $12.40 01241200 54210 Building
Industrial Protection Services, LLC 173828-00 207.00 01220200-524030 Fire
5-0-0 5-0-0
Article 24: Winslow School Preservation Project

To see if the Town will vote a sum of money not to exceed $1,500,000 to be appropriated or reserved from estimated annual revenues or existing undesignated funds of the Community Preservation Fund for the Fiscal Year 2024, for the following community preservation project:
Relocate original Winslow School onto a new foundation, remove the additions, lower the existing hill by approximately four feet.

 

This project preserves some of the historical integrity of the school and allows the option to add open space/recreation amenities to the site in the future. When additional funding is available in the future, the original school has potential to be renovated or added onto and used for municipal uses. Photo of original school shown below.

 

5-0-0 1-3-1 (Motion Fails)
Article 25: Winslow School Demolition To see if the Town will vote to transfer from free cash $250,000 for the abatement and demolition of the former Winslow School and lowering the hill approximately four feet, or take any other action relative thereto. 4-1-0 3-1-1

May 2, 2023 Town Meeting Supporting Documents

Town Meeting Minutes

Prior Town Meeting Guidebooks & Warrants

Notable Past Town Meeting Votes and Updates

Ever wonder what came of that Town Meeting vote? Browse through a few notable outcomes from votes. If you have a suggestion for something we can spotlight, reach out on the contact page.