ATM 5-6-2024 Proceedings

PROCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING – MAY 6, 2024 According to legal notice the voters of the Town of Berlin met at the Berlin Memorial School on Monday May 6, 2024, at 7:30 PM. Assistants were James H. Wheeler, Noel Rosenberg, and Amy Grenier as checkers and Police Chief Eric Schartner and Officer Tim Andre. Cable television coverage was provided by Britany Blaney Anderson, Maxwell Martell, and Roger Bradley and broadcast live on Charter channel 191. It will also be recorded and available a few days later via you tube channel. http://www.townofberlin.com/berlin-tv/. Heather White from Petrini Law served as Town Counsel. Barry W. Eager, Moderator, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. There were approximately 288 voters present. There were 2,880 registered voters. The Moderator waived the reading of the articles in the warrant. The Town Clerk then read the call of the meeting and the Constable’s return. The Moderator presented to adopt the following rule for this Town meeting: Voting by electronic means will replace counted standing votes or votes by show of hands. Electronic votes will also be used in place of secret paper ballot votes. The Moderator shall have the discretion to use electronic voting when he deems it desirable to have a complete accurate vote count. Voted YES 228 to NO 10 to approve the rule. CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ENDS JUNE 30, 2024 Article 1. Voted YES 247 NO 9 to transfer $3,403.00 from Free Cash for the payment of the following unpaid prior years’ expenses: Louison, Costello, Condon & Pfaff, LLLP for tax title services $187.00 and Officer Dean Bellville, FY23 Holiday Pay $3,216.00. The Finance Committee recommended this motion 4-0. This was a 96% vote meeting the 4/5ths minimum. Article 2. Voted YES 215, NO 19 to remove the sunset clause by which monies must be expended on Article 19 of the 2020 Annual Town Meeting. The Finance Committee recommended this motion 4-0. Article 3. Voted by voice to transfer Free Cash to the Conservation Open Space Fund. Voted to transfer $27,712 from Free Cash to the Conservation Open Space Fund. The Finance Committee recommended this motion 4-0. Article 4. Voted unanimously by voice to change the installation site for the pavilion to be built on South Commons from the northwest region near the pond and recreation courts to the central region across from the Berlin Memorial School driveway. Article 5. Voted YES 202 NO 71. To approve the Fourth Modification of the Riverbridge Development Agreement. The full text of the Fourth Modification of Development Agreement can be found at https://www.townofberlin.com/home/news/2024-annual town-meeting-information. The Finance Committee recommended this motion 4-0. Article 6. Voted YES 235 NO 34 86% vote was greater than 2/3’s.to authorize the Select Board to exercise its option to purchase Lots 6 a and 6b at River Run and to convey said parcels by sale, long-term lease and or any other means as written in the warrant. UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR 2025 (JULY 1, 2024 – JUNE 30, 2025) Article 7. Voted YES 261 NO 18 a majority to accept MGL Chapter 32B, Section 9a relative to funding 50% of the cost of Other Post Employment Benefits for Town retires. The Finance Committee recommended this motion 4- 0. Article 8. Voted YES 253 NO 16 to establish a Stabilization Fund for the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District pursuant to Section 16G½ of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws, said Stabilization Fund to be invested and to retain its own interest earnings as provided by law, and to set up an operational line item to transfer available monies into said Stabilization Fund. The Finance Committee recommended this motion 4-0. Article 9. Voted YES 214 NO 69. A 2/3’s vote needed; this was 75.6%. FY 2025 Capital Improvement Plan. Voted to transfer $67,900 from Free Cash and $325,963 from the Public Safety Stabilization account to fund the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvement Plan budget for the projects/items as printed in Article 9 of the warrant, and further voted that $177,787 be transferred from Free Cash to the Capital Stabilization Fund, as recommended by the Capital Planning Committee. The Finance Committee recommended this motion 4-0. Under #9, this is a downpayment to Assabet Regional Vocational School as a commitment and upfront money to purchase the necessary supplies to start the upstairs renovation at the Municipal Offices to provide sleeping quarters for the male/female Fire Department members, enlarge the kitchen to be shared with the Police Department, the Police Department gets more evidence holding space needed for accreditation. This construction will bring the different trades of Assabet to the project and will take approximately 18 months. The next town meeting will fund the remainder of the project A motion to stop debate YES 263 NO 30. The YES carried with 89.7% # DEPARTMENT ITEM AMOUNT SOURCE 1 Select Board Demo Brown Barn and Pave Parking Lot by Recreation Courts at South Commons (matched with $50,000 in ARPA funding) $50,000 Free Cash 2 Pub. Building Pave the Driveway at the 1870 Town Hall $17,900 Free Cash 3 Fire/EMS Gas Meters (6) $18,000 Public Safety Stabilization Funds 4 Fire/EMS EMS Stair Chair $5,000 Public Safety Stabilization Funds 5 Fire/EMS Gear Washer & Dryer $24,463 Public Safety Stabilization Funds 6 Fire/EMS Turn Out Gear Replacement $19,000 Public Safety Stabilization Funds 7 Police Tasers (5) $25,000 Public Safety Stabilization Funds 8 Police Cruiser Replacement $59,500 Public Safety Stabilization Funds 9 Public Safety Materials for Upstairs Renovation at Muni Offices $175,000 Public Safety Stabilization Funds 10 Capital Planning Comm. Capital Stabilization Fund $177,787 Free Cash Article 10. General Government Voted YES 238 NO 22 to raise and appropriate $1,671,608 to fund items 1 through 49, as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY2024. 100 100 GENERAL GOVERNMENT 1 114-5110 Moderator - Salary 50 2 114-5700 Expenses 145 3 122-5110 Select Board - Stipend 3,939 4 122-5112 Wages-FT 0 5 122-5200 Consulting 0 6 122-5700 Expenses 0 7 123-5111-0 Town Administrator - Salary 148,000.00 8 123-5111-1 Admin - FT Salary 71,682.00 9 123-5200 Consulting 20,500.00 10 123-5700 Expenses 13,765.00 11 123-5150 HR Expenses (new) 55,000.00 12 131-5700 Finance Comm. - Expenses 180.00 13 132-5781 Reserve Fund 110,000.00 14 135-5111 Accountant - Salary 98,269.00 15 135-5112 Wages-FT 54,075.00 16 135-5700 Expenses 13,426.00 17 136-5700 Audit 21,000.00 18 141-5110 Assessor - Elected Salary 2,490.00 19 141-5113 Assessor - FT Salary 81,600.00 20 141-5114 Wages-PT 66,802.00 21 141-5170 Incentive 1,000.00 22 141-5700 Expenses 75,236.00 23 142-5000 Revaluation - Expenses 0.00 24 145-5111 Treasurer/Collector - Salary 94,095.00 25 145-5112 Wages - FT 56,564.00 26 145-5170 Incentive 1,000.00 27 145-5700 Expenses 45,876.00 28 151-5700 Legal - Expenses 100,000.00 29 152-5700 Personnel-Expenses 250.00 30 153-5000 Tax Title - Expenses 10,000.00 31 155-5700 Data Systems - Expenses 103,388.00 32 161-5110 Town Clerk-Salary 42,000.00 33 161-5114 Wages PT 17,029.00 34 161-5700 Expenses 3,535.00 35 162-5124 Elections-Wages PT 8,000.00 36 162-5700 Expenses 6,250.00 37 163-5113 Registration-Salary 150.00 38 163-5114 Wages-PT 700.00 39 163-5700 Expenses 175.00 40 171-5114 Con. Comm-Wages PT 16,105.00 41 171-5700 Con. Comm-Exp. 2,000.00 42 175-5700 Planning Board-Expenses 1,000.00 43 176-5700 Zoning Board of App.-Exp. 500.00 44 177-5700 Agricultural Comm. -Exp. 1,375.00 45 192-5700 Pub. Build. – Exp. 139,457.00 46 192-5701 Rep. (Town Owned Property) 0.00 47 192-5211 Electricity 80,000.00 48 192-5212 Fuel Oil 95,000.00 49 195-5700 Town Report/Comm.-Expenses 10,000.00 100 TOTAL GENERAL GOVERNMENT 1,671,608.00 Voted YES 243 NO 31 which is an 88% vote, to raise and appropriate $2,506,163 to fund items 50 through 66, transfer from the Public Safety special Stabilization Fund $146,264 to item 51 Police Wages FT & PT and to appropriate from Ambulance Receipts Reserved for Appropriation $125,000 to item 55 Fire & EMS Wages FT & PT, for the sum total $2,777,427, as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 200 PUBLIC SAFETY 50 210-5111 Police-Salary $141,833 51 210-5112/4 Wages FT & PT $1,137,658 52 210-5114 Wages PT (See Wages FT & PT) 53 210-5700 Expenses $128,577 54 221-5111 Fire & EMS- Salary $156,825 55 221-5112/4 Wages FT & PT $613,486 56 221-5114 Wages PT (See Wages FT & PT) 57 221-5700 Expenses $166,042 58 241-5111 Bldg Inspector-Salary $100,616 59 241-5114 Wages PT $36,307 60 241-5700 Expenses $24,108 61 242-5700 Pulmb & Gas Insp - Expenses $300 62 243-5700 Elec Inspector - Expenses $600 63 249-5113 Animal Inspector-Salary $2,500 64 249-5700 Expenses $1,100 65 296-5112 Communications-Wages FT $52,200 66 296-5700 Expenses $215,275 TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY $2,777,427 Voted YES 254 NO 15 to raise and appropriate $851,665 to fund items 67 through 77, and to appropriate the sum of $9,450 from General Cemetery Receipts and the sum of $1,600 from Sale of Lots to item 77 Cemetery Expenses, for the sum total $862,715, as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 400 PUBLIC WORKS/FACILITIES 67 422-5111 Highway-Salary $92,735 68 422-5112 Wages FT $351,515 69 422-5114 Wages PT $22,263 70 422-5700 Expenses $146,680 71 423-5112 Snow & Ice - FT OT $45,253 72 423-5114 Wages PT $14,257 73 423-5700 Expenses $89,600 74 424-5211 Street Lights $9,000 75 433-5114 Transfer Station-Wages PT $47,503 76 433-5700 Expenses $27,850 77 491-5700 Cemetery - Expenses $16,059 400 TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS $862,715 Voted YES 218 NO 29 to raise and appropriate 169,308 to fund items 78 through 89 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 500 HUMAN SERVICES 78 510-5111 Board of Health-Salary $2,045 79 510-5114 Wages PT $7,267 80 510-5700 Expenses $1,000 81 511-5200 Nashoba Health $11,387 82 522-5200 Nashoba Nursing $5,220 83 541-5112 COA/Social Serv-Wages FT $73,853 84 541-5114 Wages PT $25,769 85 541-5700 Expenses $17,841 86 543-5111 Veterans-Salary $9,541 87 543-5700 Expenses $385 88 543-5800 Benefits $11,000 89 599-5200 Community Social Services $4,000 Total 169,308 Voted YES 256 NO 13 to raise and appropriate $ 215,612 to fund items 90 -96, as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 600 CULTURE AND RECREATION 90 610-5114 Library-Wages PT $132,075 91 610-5700 Expenses $38,362 92 630-5700 Recreation-Expenses $30,660 93 630-5114 PT Wages $10,400 94 631-5700 Cultural Council -Expenses $1,500 95 691-5700 Historic Comm- Expenses $615 96 692-5700 Memorial Day-Expense $2,000 600 TOTAL CULTURE & RECREATION $215,612 Voted YES 245 NO 16 to raise and appropriate $285,475 to fund items 97 and 98 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 700 DEBT & INTEREST 97 752-5800 Interest $95,475 98 752-5900 Principal $190,000 700 TOTAL DEBT & INTEREST $285,475 Voted unanimously to raise and appropriate $999 to fund item 99, as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 99 800-5641 CMRPC $999 Voted unanimously to appropriate from the Affordable housing Account $8,500 to fund item 100, as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 100 840-5700 Assabet Reg Housing Consortium $8,500 Assabet Regional School Assessment Voted YES 230 NO 19 to raise and appropriate $694,928 to fund items 101 through 103, as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025 as follows: 800 INTERGOVERNMENTAL EXPENDITURES 101 835-5321 Assabet Valley Regional Assessment $621,688 102 835-5901 Assabet Debt Repayment $64,162 103 835-5800 Assabet Capital Stabilization $9,078 Berlin Memorial School Operating Assessment The Finance Committee moved to raise and appropriate $4,022,545 to fund item 104 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. The Berlin Boylston Regional School Committee moved to amend the motion by substituting the following: to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,508,106. Which sum includes an appropriation for the Berlin Boylston Regional School District budget in the amounts listed under the column “FY23 Request” for Account No. 835-5320. The Finance Committee moved to amend the amendment by substituting the following: to raise and appropriate $4,022,545 to fund item 104 as recommended by the Finance Committee to pay the town’s assessed share of the Berlin Memorial School Operating Assessment for FY 2025 and to raise and appropriate the additional $485,561 required to fully fund the assessment and thereby approve the district’s operating assessment for the Belin Memorial School for the year, provided that this additional appropriation be co ntingent on the approval of a Proposition 2½ levy limit override under General Laws Chapter 59, §21C(g). There was extended discussion about the amounts proposed and the possibility of a Prop 2½ ballot vote. It was voted YES 244 NO 28 to cut off debate. The Finance Committee’s proposal to make the additional funding contingent on a ballot vote was defeated by a vote of YES 138 NO 145. The School Committee’s amendment increasing the amount to $4,508, 106 was defeated by a vote of YES 130 NO 139. Voted YES 162 NO 97 to raise and appropriate $4,022,545 to fund item 104 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 104 835-5320 Berlin Memorial Assessment $4,022,545 Voted YES 161 NO 37 to transfer from Free Cash $143,132 to fund item 105 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY25. 105 Berlin Memorial Capital Assessment $143,132 The School Committee proposed the list to the Capital Committee. 1 HVAC/Air Conditioning in Classrooms $400.000 --- 2 Instructional Technology $115,500 $115,500 3 Walkie Talkies $12,400 $12,400 4 Card Swipes on Access Doors $15,232 $15,232 Berlin Memorial Total $543,132 $143,132 . Voted YES 135 NO 52 to raise and appropriate $3,286,541 to fund item 106 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 106 835-5322 Tahanto Assessment 3,286,541 Voted YES 153, NO 32 to end the debate. The Moderator took note that it was after 11 PM. According to the Town’s Bylaws, the voters need to be polled as to whether to continue or adjourn. The voters resoundingly voted to adjourn until 7 PM on May 7, 2024. Two hundred ninety registered voters attended the first night of the Annual Town Meeting. The Meeting adjourned at 11:15 pm. May 7, 2024, second night of the Annual Town Meeting. Michael Terry was introduced as Town Counsel. The meeting started with 98 voters. The Moderator called the meeting at 7 PM. Voted unanimously to transfer from Free Cash $38,253 to fund item 107 to raise and appropriate $489,935 to fund item 108 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. Voted unanimously to transfer from Free Cash 107 835-5900 Tahanto Capital Assessment $38,253 The School Committee proposed the list to the Capital Committee. # ITEM SCHOOL REQUEST CAPITAL RECOMMEND 1 Non-Student Device Replacement $5,226 $5,226 2 HVAC $2,822 $2,822 3 Boiler Repair $3,484 $3,484 4 Paving of Walkway $2,351 $2,351 5 Walkie Talkies $10,699 $10,699 6 Athletic Fields Renovation $10,187 $10,187 7 Replacement of Water Heater $1,742 $1,742 8 Lawn Mower $1,742 $1,742 Tahanto Total $38,253 $38,253 108 835-5902 Tahanto Debt Repayment $459,935 Voted unanimously to raise and appropriate $22,000 to fund item 110 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 109 292-5113 Intermunicipal Animal Control Officer $- 110 292-5700 Expenses $22,000 Voted unanimously to raise and appropriate $1,851,005 to fund items 111 through 178 as recommended by the Finance Committee for FY 2025. 900 900 MISC BENEFITS & INSURANCE 111 911-5200 Worcester Regional Retirement $736,314 112 912-5200 Workers Compensation $55,000 113 913-5200 Unemployment Insurance $35,000 114 914-5175 Chap32B Insurance (Health/Dental,+) $830,025 115 916-5200 Police & Fire Sick & Acc Ins $- 116 919-5190 Sick Pay $41,590 117 920-5170 Medicare $50,000 118 945-5740 Property/Liability Insurance $103,076 900 TOTAL MISC BENEFITS & INSURANCE $1,851,005 Article 11. Municipal Offices Maintenance. Voted unanimously to transfer $32,000 from Free Cash to fund air duct cleaning and floor maintenance at the Municipal Offices. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 12. Berlin Master Plan Update. Voted unanimously to transfer $15,000 from Free Cash to fund the Town’s Master Plan Update. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 13. FY26 Real & Personal Property Revaluation. Voted unanimously to transfer $55,000 from Free Cash to fund the FY26 Real and Personal Property Revaluation as required by Mass General Law. Article 14. Transfer Funds to OPEB Stabilization Fund. Voted to transfer $85,000 from Free Cash to the Other Post Employment Benefits Stabilization Fund. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 15. Transfer Funds to General Stabilization Fund. Voted unanimously to transfer $177,787 from Free Cash to the General Stabilization Fund. Article 16. Amend Revolving Fund Bylaw. Voted unanimously to establish a revolving fund for Transfer Station Expenses pursuant to MGL Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ and to establish the annual expenditure limit for Fiscal Year 2025, and to amend the table under Article XX of the Town of Berlin’s General Bylaws by inserting said revolving funds. TITLE SOURCE OF RECEIPTS AND USE OF FUNDS AUTHORITY TO EXPEND SPENDING LIMIT Transfer Station Sources: Transfer Station stickers & recycling fees. Uses: Expenses associated with operating the Transfer Station. Board of Health $200,000 Article 17. Establish revolving fund annual spending limits. Voted unanimously to set the maximum amount that may be spent during Fiscal Year 2025 beginning on July 1, 2024 for the revolving funds established under Article XX of the Town General Bylaws for certain departments, boards, committees or officers in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E½ as written in Article 17 of the warrant. TITLE SPENDING LIMIT Library Video Fines $1,000 Recreation $50,000 Town Hall $40,000 Plumbing & Gas Inspector Wages $75,000 Electrical Inspector Wages $75,000 Bucket Truck Expenses $20,000 Transfer Station $200,000 Article 18. Voted unanimously to transfer $5,000 from Free Cash to fund the Bucket Truck Revolving Fund. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 19. Voted unanimously to appropriate from the Public, Educational, and Government (P.E.G.) Access & Cable Related Fund the sum of $78,010 as a grant to be used for Fiscal Year 2025 operating purposes, in accordance with the P.E.G. Access grant and Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53F ¾, said sums to be expended by the Cable Access Committee. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 20. Voted unanimously to transfer $5,000 from Public Safety Stabilization Fund to the Fire Detail Account. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 21. Voted unanimously to rescind the vote taken on June 19, 1996 to adopt MGL Chapter 59, Section 21A ½ and to adopt MGL Chapter 59, Section 21A, regarding additional compensation for Massachusetts Certified Assessors. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 22. Voted unanimously to pass over. (8 Lancaster Road to Housing Trust) Article 23. Voted unanimously to approve the FY25 Community Preservation Act budget as described in Article 23 of the warrant. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Appropriations From FY 2025 estimated revenues: For Committee Administrative Expenses....... $24,628.25   For Budgeted Reserve .................................. $320,167.25  Reserves From FY 2025 estimated revenues: For Community Housing Reserves................ $49,256.50   For Historic Reserve....................................... $49,256.50   For Open Space Reserve............................... $49,256.50 Article 24. Voted unanimously to pass over ($30,000 for Rail Trail feasibility study) Article 25. Voted the Town appropriate the total sum of $200,000 from the Fund Balance Reserved for Affordable Housing for Fiscal Year 2024 to construct affordable housing units and to develop a grant fund to assist low-income, first-time homebuyers. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 26. Voted to appropriate the total sum of $20,000 from the Fund Balance for Affordable Housing for Fiscal Year 2024 to pay a portion of the expense of engaging a part-time Housing Coordinator for FY25 and FY26. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 27. Voted YES 116 NO 17 the Town appropriate the total sum of $300,000 from the Fiscal Year 2024 Budgeted Reserve for Fiscal Year 2024 for the installation of a well and irrigation system for the soccer and baseball fields and general turf improvement at South Commons. The Finance Committee recommended this motion. Article 28. Voted to add Section 970, “Digital Municipal Information Signs” to the Berlin Zoning Bylaws as described in Article 28 of the warrant. Section 970 “Digital Municipal Information Signs” 970.1 General Digital Municipal Information Signs (DMIS) are signs composed of directly viewed arrays of LED light sources, fiber optic or backlit display light source and such other similar technologies that are electronically controlled to display fixed or dy namic messages and which are used for public safety and public informational displays in accordance with this Section 970. 970.2 Content Messages shall be limited to information of public interest, related to public safety, municipal activities and events, information for parents and students of Berlin schools, and other similar information as determined by the Content Guidelines. 970.3 Content Messages shall not advertise or promote individual businesses except for specific acknowledgement of public contributions or similar support and specifically allowed by the Content Manager. 972 Location 972.1 One DMIS shall be allowed no more than 1,000 feet from the Town Center, as defined by the intersection of Central and Carter Streets. 972.2 One DIMS shall be allowed no more than 500 feet from the Berlin Memorial School, as defined by the intersection of the school driveway and South Street. 973 Maximum Dimensions 973.1 The maximum size of the illuminated DMIS area shall be no more than: Width no more than 3 feet Height no more than 5 feet Total square feet 15 square feet per side 973.2 DMIS may have one-or two-sided illumination as appropriate for the location. 974 Technology 974.1 The technology shall be digital, internally illuminated signs conforming to the description in Section 970 that produce text or images from multiple individual light sources. 974.2 The visual resolution (number and size of individual light sources) shall be suitable for clear recognition of a minimum of three lines of text at a distance not more than 300 feet. 974.3 The technology must provide security features to prevent unauthorized alteration of content. 974.4 The content must be determined solely by remote electronic programming which should be maintained in a secure manner subject to supervision of the Content manager. 975 Illumination 975.1 Each DMIS may be illuminated between the hours of 6:00 am and 9:00pm, except as modified, from time to time, by the Select Board or [TBD School Committee or Superintendent]. 975.2 The illumination intensity must be variable and automatically adjusted to an appropriate level based on current external ambient light luminance – the light intensity of the light leaving the sign surface in a given direction. Night-time luminance shall be limited to 20 candelas per square meter (cd/m2). 976 Display 976.1 Content must be displayed only on a black background. 976.2 Content is limited to static text and static images. 977 Content Management and Sign Administration 977.1 Content decisions for each DMIS shall be made, implemented, and enforced by its Content Manager. 977.2 The Selectboard shall appoint the Content Manager for any municipal signs and shall disseminate and enforce Content Guidelines. 977.3 The TBD [School Committee or superintendent] shall appoint the Content Manager for any school signs and shall disseminate and enforce Content Guidelines. The Berlin Planning Board held a Public Hearing on April 9, 2024, to consider comments concerning Article 28 on the Annual Town meeting Warrant, to be held on May 6, 2024. At the Planning Board meeting held on Tuesday April 9, 2024, the Planning Board voted 3 in favor, 2 opposed to Article 28. An amendment to eliminate the Town Center sign failed by a voice vote. Voted unanimously by voice to amend Section 973.1 to read as follows: The dimensions of the DMIS shall be no more than: Illuminated Surface: 15 square feet. Height from ground (at top of sign): 8 feet The final vote YES 101 NO 15 on the amended motion which is an 87%. Article 29. Voted YES 98 NO 15, which is an 86.7% in excess of 2/3’s to amend the Zoning Bylaws Section 720 Senior Residential Development by eliminating 723.2(b) and changing 723.2(c) to 723.2(b) as described in Article 29 of the warrant. Voted to amend the Zoning Bylaw Section 720 Senior Residential Development by eliminating 723.2(b) as shown below in strikethrough and changing 723.2(c) to 723.2(b) as shown below in strikethrough and bold type. 723.2    Occupancy Restriction: The following provisions are intended to ensure that the dwelling units in an SRD are used as residences for persons of age 55 and older.  (a)         Each unit in an SRD shall be occupied by at least one person 55 years of age or older.  (b)        Children under age 18 may not reside in a dwelling unit in an SRD for more than six (6) months in any nine (9) month period.  (c)(b)  In the event of the death of the qualifying owner/occupant(s) of a unit, or foreclosure or other involuntary transfer of a unit in an SRD, a two -year exemption shall be allowed for the transfer of the unit to another eligible household.  The Berlin Planning Board held a Public Hearing on April 9, 2024, to consider comments concerning Article 29 on the Annual Town meeting Warrant, to be held on May 6, 2024. At the Planning Board meeting held on Tuesday April 9, 2024, the Planning Board voted 5 in favor, 0 opposed to Article 29. Article 30. Voted unanimously to pass over. (land had been sold, 180 River Road West for a different use). Article 31. Voted unanimously to adjourn this meeting to Monday, May 13, 2024 at 12 noon at the Berlin Town Offices, 23 Linden Street, lower level, at which time and place the polls will be open for election of Town Officers under Article 31, and that following the announcement of the results of the election, this meeting be dissolved. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. One Hundred forty-five voters attended for the second night. Three Hundred twenty-one (321) registered voters took part in this meeting. There were 2,880 registered voters as of April 26, 2024 Open Voter Registration. Barry W. Eager, Moderator Eloise E. Salls, Town Clerk