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Select Board reviews draft annual town meeting warrant, highlights borrowing and capital projects
Summary
Board members reviewed the first draft of the annual town meeting warrant, discussed borrowing articles for water and sewer projects, the Quint pumper proposal for the fire department, and other capital and community preservation items; no final votes were taken.
The Yarmouth Select Board conducted a first review Tuesday of the draft warrant for the upcoming annual town meeting, walking through articles that include borrowing authorizations for water and wastewater projects, capital improvement requests and community preservation proposals.
Town Administrator Bob and staff outlined draft warrant articles and noted that many dollar amounts remain shaded in the working draft pending final finance committee recommendations. Major capital and borrowing items discussed included:
- A $4.4 million borrowing authorization to rehabilitate an equalization tank at the septage facility that town staff said will be repaid from enterprise fund receipts. - A $5.05 million article for PFAS treatment systems at wells 10 and 11, supported by State Revolving Fund (SRF) program financing. - A $2 million borrowing authorization for Route 28 water-main improvements, also to be repaid from water enterprise receipts. - A $2 million borrowing authorization for the fire department to acquire a new quint pumper (ladder-engine combination) as part of long-range fleet planning.
Board members asked staff to clarify repayment sources and to make the warrant explanations clearer when borrowing will be repaid from enterprise funds versus general levy. The town administrator said that each borrowing article requiring debt authorization will be a two-thirds vote at town meeting.
The board also reviewed Community Preservation Act projects, including funding for historical preservation initiatives (interpretive signage, Revolutionary War monument) and recreation projects such as the Station Avenue Elementary playground and Chase Brook Park master plan. Members discussed timing on capital articles, pending finance committee recommendations, and the need to update retained‑earnings figures across enterprise budgets.
No binding decisions were made on items that are shaded as placeholders; the board indicated staff should update figures for draft two, coordinate with the finance committee and return with a revised warrant.
