[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6676160,"mediaKeyId","3416816-5da45c2173b295707830cfe982b52746","parentId",3416816,"title","Votes at a glance: Charlton annual meeting approves budget, capital items, water/sewer budgets and $1.1M borrowing for new engine","audioSeconds",169,"startMs",1039000,"endMs",1208000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3416816-5da45c2173b295707830cfe982b52746&start=1039&end=1208","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3416816-5da45c2173b295707830cfe982b52746/thumbnail_1039000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6676160/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Charlton-annual-meeting-approves-budget-capital-items-watersewer-budgets-and-11M-borrowing-for-new-engine","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676160-c3cdc84f761f91acf923fb791d12ad01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188190&Signature=UREZfS~dysYAjBqindEuZE7~OkvPTCRTxIcmpSM1Vo7p14X7lkm1NFHsUz-AdKYHTgnnOeYgtodHgQ4FxOort7NDZazA0RflLZn4jyDg~Q6ZhVFOVT3oaazqrd6L-D4rQ5pdif4s1b0UFCi-btiD958QiEzuwX1I2NbcAmizMXe5CMrO3g93YUyyITf-DUR8i7WIpwESN2TG6vKvrH2S9YrGHwLJkNvPW1hFMr6p55Ujta2Y6DPwRz2YrU0ag0aerGSPgGVQNxcxn6S7PAPnS1i98uZZPHKZdS5Ssa6PhnUothXDXklbd3j-7zLxHUT3pa1RPA9~ThRSIHh-sGuj3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Charlton, MA","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","CHARLTON, Mass. — Voters at the Town of Charlton’s annual meeting on May 19 approved the FY2026 town budget, capital appropriations, enterprise budgets for water and sewer, and a $1.1 million borrowing authorization to replace Fire Engine 2.

The meeting is the legislative body for the town. Moderator Lorraine Smith presided and called voters through a sequence of motions, committee recommendations and electronic roll calls.

Key financial votes taken by the meeting included the main town budget (Article 8), which the Finance Committee recommended and voters approved by a majority (73 in the affirmative, 4 no). The budget motion included several transfers from reserved funds and a net amount to be raised by taxation noted in the warrant. Voters also approved the Water Department enterprise budget (Article 9) and the Sewer Department enterprise budget (Article 10); the moderator announced the water budget passed 73‑4 and the sewer budget passed 64‑7 with 2 abstentions.

Article 5 authorized an appropriation of $1,100,000 to replace Engine 2 and allowed the treasurer, with Select Board approval, to borrow under G.L. c.44 §7. The article passed after floor questions about whether the engine would be new or used; Town Administrator Andrew Golis (referred by the moderator) stated it would be a new custom‑built engine. The moderator read the final tally as 65 yes and 12 no, meeting the two‑thirds vote requirement for debt exclusion.

Other financial and administrative articles passed by majority votes: acceptance of prior‑year unpaid bills (Article 4) passed (69‑1, 4 abstain); interdepartmental transfers for FY2025 (Article 6) passed (67‑9); capital items and related contracts (Article 7) passed (69‑7); cemetery perpetual care trust acceptances (Article 12) passed (73‑2); establishment/reestablishment of revolving funds (Article 13) passed (69‑2). The finance committee recommended these items where indicated in the warrant and the select board supported them.

Article 3 authorized the town counsel to prosecute and defend suits on behalf of the town; that motion passed (60‑3). Article 11, a motion to postpone indefinitely consideration of transfers to and from the stabilization fund, carried on a majority vote (62‑12‑1) and therefore that transfer was not acted on.

During the capital article discussion, a resident observed that lead times for new fire apparatus can extend several years; the moderator and town officials confirmed the replacement will be a custom‑built new engine and noted the estimated price in the warrant. Other votes on Capital Items (Article 7) included appropriations for Fire Station 1 improvements, landfill monitoring, library HVAC repairs and miscellaneous grant matches.

Several procedural reminders were given at the start of the meeting about voter devices, how to address the moderator, and the town’s parliamentary procedures; the moderator also noted that Article 1 (election results) had been held earlier and results posted on the town website.

Votes (selected) — counts read aloud by moderator:
- Article 2 (Accept town reports): 66 yes, 5 no — approved
- Article 3 (Authorize town counsel to prosecute/defend suits): 60 yes, 3 no — approved
- Article 4 (Payment of prior year unpaid bills): 69 yes, 1 no, 4 abstain — approved
- Article 5 (Replace Engine 2 — $1,100,000 borrowing): 65 yes, 12 no — approved (two‑thirds required and achieved)
- Article 6 (Interdepartmental transfers, FY2025): 67 yes, 9 no — approved
- Article 7 (Capital items & contracts): 69 yes, 7 no — approved
- Article 8 (Town budget, FY2026): 73 yes, 4 no — approved
- Article 9 (Water enterprise budget): 73 yes, 4 no — approved
- Article 10 (Sewer enterprise budget): 64 yes, 7 no, 2 abstain — approved
- Article 11 (Postpone stabilization fund transfers): 62 yes, 12 no, 1 abstain — motion to postpone approved
- Article 12 (Cemetery perpetual care trusts — $23,500): 73 yes, 2 no — approved
- Article 13 (Revolving funds): 69 yes, 2 no — approved

The meeting adjourned after a motion to adjourn carried; the moderator reminded voters about a door prize and announced she will not seek re‑election as moderator next year.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Charlton: Annual Town Meeting May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Town of Charlton annual meeting on May 19, 2025, voters approved the municipal budget, several appropriations and capital projects including $1.1 million to replace Fire Engine 2, enterprise budgets for water and sewer, and other routine warrant articles; one appropriation postponement and other actions were also taken.","taxTitle","Town of Charlton, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",54464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6676168,"Charlton voters approve most zoning bylaw changes, reject one major tabled rewrite",250,2924000,3174000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3416816-5da45c2173b295707830cfe982b52746&start=2924&end=3174","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3416816-5da45c2173b295707830cfe982b52746/thumbnail_2924000.jpg","/articles/6676168/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Charlton-voters-approve-most-zoning-bylaw-changes-reject-one-major-tabled-rewrite","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676168-14d797bed56f884765b2ba46fe23bbb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188190&Signature=PQ1Jo6t-1VVPdWupIq~kShTYe2ZAlmyjbwlmjo43mtbOVZdcLPzDmvoPROdg412ZJuhwvRnc0kgGRogHXi4mLq1TFi74FGKWjcxEZEgqzDX7JxKC1l2Y2i16~2-5DefiRm~vngFv9YnYTygZMe8K6thCSoQI~4mcXgJvO5jeEuUYct41ZpuIQ8BSnsQiPiqDVM5cm3Wwko-9W7easpi2127qa7EoZS5P3LPLZC-Abf~ujmxyJwtkkdN~NZ3KsXOHm4X86sm72nsRhjzzohBPySWYfMSgOlGgfmB4MjKJHq4qSJ7mMdeLLNrRLRXKSm~sjx2HrqdueIhO6kGt75gilQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CHARLTON, Mass. — Voters at the Town of Charlton’s annual meeting on May 19 approved a series of zoning bylaw changes proposed by the Planning Board, including new definitions and rules for flea markets and accessory dwelling units, revised village‑district pedestrian requirements and several procedural changes to site‑plan review. One larger rewrite of the use‑regulation table failed to get the two‑thirds majority required under state law.

The package of zoning articles was presented by the Planning Board and was considered in a set of appendices included with the warrant. Planning Board members and residents debated several provisions before votes were taken.

The most detailed debate centered on Article 15, which replaces the term “accessory apartment” with “accessory dwelling unit (ADU)” and establishes minimum standards and size limits. The ADU language states that ADUs must comply with applicable state building, electrical, plumbing, gas and energy codes and may not be sold separately from the principal dwelling. When attached to a principal dwelling an ADU is capped at 1,250 square feet of gross floor area and must “maintain the appearance of a single‑family residence.” When created in an accessory structure the ADU is limited to 900 square feet or one‑half the living area of the principal dwelling, whichever is less. The article passed by the required two‑thirds vote; the moderator read the count as 58 in favor, 9 opposed and 2 abstentions.

Article 14 added a definition of “flea market” — “any indoor or outdoor place, location, or activity where new or used goods or secondhand personal property [are] offered for sale or exchange to the general public by multiple individuals or licensed vendors” — and passed by two‑thirds (vote read as 52 yes, 13 no, 4 abstain).

Article 20 amended Village District requirements to add a public‑sidewalk construction standard (a concrete sidewalk of at least 5 feet in width and granite curbing within the municipal right of way, where approved by the highway superintendent) and allowed the planning board to accept a payment in lieu of sidewalk construction where building a short, disconnected sidewalk would be impractical. It also added a ground‑floor transparency requirement for non‑residential facades (except single‑family and duplex homes). The measure passed (42 yes, 16 no, 1 abstention).

Several other technical and map changes passed on two‑thirds or majority votes: Article 16 (intensity/use and parking changes) passed (53 yes, 7 no, 1 abstain), Article 17 (allowing district boundaries to follow lot lines when a boundary encompasses 33% or less of a lot) passed (53 yes, 7 no, 3 abstain), Article 19 (revising reduced‑frontage‑lot language) passed (49 yes, 15 no), Article 21 (site‑plan administration and waiver authority amendments) was amended on the floor and passed after the amendment (final vote read as 49 yes, 7 no, 2 abstain), and Article 22 (a map change extending the Community Business zone along the northerly side between 379 Worcester/Route 20 and the Oxford town line) passed by two‑thirds (54 yes, 4 no).

Article 18, a broad set of revisions to the Use Regulations table that would have changed permitting categories for many uses (restaurants/bars, offices, funeral homes, sawmills, and others), failed to reach the two‑thirds threshold. The moderator read the count as 36 in favor, 24 opposed and 3 abstentions; the motion did not meet the two‑thirds requirement and therefore did not pass.

Residents raised concerns on several items during discussion. Multiple voters questioned sidewalk standards (the change from a 4‑foot to a 5‑foot minimum), how fee‑in‑lieu calculations would work when the town requires payment instead of immediate construction, and whether existing accessory units would be forced to change; planning board representatives answered that existing ADUs would not be altered by the bylaws and that the sidewalk language was intended to avoid one‑house “stub” sidewalks that do not connect. A handful of residents urged more outreach or edits for clarity on some changes; Planning Board members said they had held a public hearing (May 7) and made some wording changes based on comments.

The votes were taken under Massachusetts law; multiple articles required a two‑thirds majority under M.G.L. c.40A §5 and similar provisions. The Planning Board recommended the package where noted.

Votes at a glance for Articles 14–22: Article 14 (flea market definition) — passed (52‑13‑4); Article 15 (ADU rules) — passed (58‑9‑2); Article 16 (intensity/parking) — passed (53‑7‑1); Article 17 (district boundaries follow lot lines) — passed (53‑7‑3); Article 18 (use regulation table rewrite) — failed (36‑24‑3); Article 19 (reduced‑frontage lots) — passed (49‑15); Article 20 (Village District sidewalk/amenities) — passed (42‑16‑1); Article 21 (site plan administration/waiver authority) — passed as amended (49‑7‑2); Article 22 (map amendment — Community Business zone extension) — passed (54‑4).

The Planning Board said it will publish final text and maps on the town’s website and in future materials for reference.

Charlton residents and property owners living or owning property within the town’s Village, Community Business and residential districts are the immediate geographic groups affected by these changes; the town planner and planning board will handle implementation and any required administrative follow‑up.

","At the Town of Charlton annual meeting on May 19, 2025, voters approved a package of zoning bylaw amendments including a new definition for flea markets, rules for accessory dwelling units and village‑district sidewalk standards, amended site‑plan rules and a map change; one broad zoning table rewrite failed to reach the required two‑thirds vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Charlton annual meeting approves budget, capital items, water/sewer budgets and $1.1M borrowing for new engine

Charlton voters approve most zoning bylaw changes, reject one major tabled rewrite