On a damp Tuesday night, less than 100 Wrentham residents headed to the November Special Town Meeting and quickly plowed through the articles listed on the warrant, approving a zoning bylaw designating an adult entertainment district, agreeing to the purchase of several capital pieces of equipment including a fire truck and recognizing four residents for their volunteerism benefiting the town.
In a unanimous vote, an undeveloped 20 acres of land adjacent to Shire Industrial Park located in Norfolk off Route 1A will be zoned for adult entertainment use. Since the Town of Wrentham did not have a zoning bylaw designating an area for such use, any commercially zoned land, including property in the downtown was vulnerable to a business of that nature setting up shop.
According to Town Planner Paige Duncan, Wrentham cannot prevent an adult entertainment business from coming to the town, but the bylaw will allow the town to keep one from being placed near a church, schools and residential homes. This was not done to attract an adult business but rather protect the community. There are no plans for a business of this nature to open in town. Bordering towns that have already established adult entertainment districts include Norfolk, Franklin, Plainville, and Foxboro.
The town also approved the purchase of a new $500,000 fire truck to replace the town’s Engine # 1, a 17 year vehicle which has significant structural damage due to rot. Prior to the meeting, Chief James McMorrow said, “We've been aware of it for the last few years and it's starting to become a major problem. It needs to be replaced.”
Other approved capital purchases include the replacement of a vehicle used by the Council on Aging to help with senior citizen transportation requests, the replacement of DPW fueling equipment, and Information Technology for the Finance Department.
Unanimous approval was also given to the Wrentham Police Department to conduct criminal history checks on people applying for licenses, such as manager of alcoholic beverage license, ice cream truck vendors, and pawn dealers to name a few.
The meeting also featured Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Joe Botaish delivering updates on the town in general. In his presentation, Botaish reported the town has $1,375,174 in free cash in the general fund as of the end of fiscal year 2012. The town also has $480,519 in the retained earnings in the Water Enterprise Fund as of the end of FY 12. Botaish also said the tax base for FY 2013 will exceed the Assessor's estimate. Commercial, industrial and personal property values are growing and the number of building permits is increasing over the last year, he explained. He also said State aid is set to be less and property values have declined. “The town needs to save for its future while maintaining its services and quality of life,” he said. “The town cannot depend on State Aid to preserve services, but must continue to work to increase its revenues while remaining careful in its spending.”
An update on the Government Study Committee was delivered by the committee's chair, Jerry McGovern. He mentioned the citizen survey mailed out in the past few days. He reminded the meeting that the surveys can be completed and dropped off at Town Hall, Fiske Public Library, Senior Center, or the Sheldonville Post Office and are due November 19. The survey can also be completed online. He cleared up a few points of concern people have expressed to him. The code on each survey is randomly generated and doesn’t identify the respondent. It is just used to prevent duplicates from being submitted. McGovern also suggested citizens visit Government Study Committee's section of the town web site.
Duncan mentioned the Wrentham Planning Board’s workshop on November 27 at 7 pm in the Delaney School Cafeteria, 120 Taunton St., to discuss the vision for Wrentham Center. The Workshop is being held to help planners and government officials in drafting zoning and other regulations to shape the future development of the downtown. The workshop will be facilitated by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and it is funded by a District Local Technical Assistance grant to the Town.
The Volunteers of the Year were also announced. Judy Ellis was named Volunteer of the Year in the over 18 category, while Riley Magane, Lauren McSweeney, and Troy Neubecker each received the honor for volunteers under the age of 18.
In a unanimous vote, an undeveloped 20 acres of land adjacent to Shire Industrial Park located in Norfolk off Route 1A will be zoned for adult entertainment use. Since the Town of Wrentham did not have a zoning bylaw designating an area for such use, any commercially zoned land, including property in the downtown was vulnerable to a business of that nature setting up shop.
According to Town Planner Paige Duncan, Wrentham cannot prevent an adult entertainment business from coming to the town, but the bylaw will allow the town to keep one from being placed near a church, schools and residential homes. This was not done to attract an adult business but rather protect the community. There are no plans for a business of this nature to open in town. Bordering towns that have already established adult entertainment districts include Norfolk, Franklin, Plainville, and Foxboro.
The town also approved the purchase of a new $500,000 fire truck to replace the town’s Engine # 1, a 17 year vehicle which has significant structural damage due to rot. Prior to the meeting, Chief James McMorrow said, “We've been aware of it for the last few years and it's starting to become a major problem. It needs to be replaced.”
Other approved capital purchases include the replacement of a vehicle used by the Council on Aging to help with senior citizen transportation requests, the replacement of DPW fueling equipment, and Information Technology for the Finance Department.
Unanimous approval was also given to the Wrentham Police Department to conduct criminal history checks on people applying for licenses, such as manager of alcoholic beverage license, ice cream truck vendors, and pawn dealers to name a few.
The meeting also featured Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Joe Botaish delivering updates on the town in general. In his presentation, Botaish reported the town has $1,375,174 in free cash in the general fund as of the end of fiscal year 2012. The town also has $480,519 in the retained earnings in the Water Enterprise Fund as of the end of FY 12. Botaish also said the tax base for FY 2013 will exceed the Assessor's estimate. Commercial, industrial and personal property values are growing and the number of building permits is increasing over the last year, he explained. He also said State aid is set to be less and property values have declined. “The town needs to save for its future while maintaining its services and quality of life,” he said. “The town cannot depend on State Aid to preserve services, but must continue to work to increase its revenues while remaining careful in its spending.”
An update on the Government Study Committee was delivered by the committee's chair, Jerry McGovern. He mentioned the citizen survey mailed out in the past few days. He reminded the meeting that the surveys can be completed and dropped off at Town Hall, Fiske Public Library, Senior Center, or the Sheldonville Post Office and are due November 19. The survey can also be completed online. He cleared up a few points of concern people have expressed to him. The code on each survey is randomly generated and doesn’t identify the respondent. It is just used to prevent duplicates from being submitted. McGovern also suggested citizens visit Government Study Committee's section of the town web site.
Duncan mentioned the Wrentham Planning Board’s workshop on November 27 at 7 pm in the Delaney School Cafeteria, 120 Taunton St., to discuss the vision for Wrentham Center. The Workshop is being held to help planners and government officials in drafting zoning and other regulations to shape the future development of the downtown. The workshop will be facilitated by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and it is funded by a District Local Technical Assistance grant to the Town.
The Volunteers of the Year were also announced. Judy Ellis was named Volunteer of the Year in the over 18 category, while Riley Magane, Lauren McSweeney, and Troy Neubecker each received the honor for volunteers under the age of 18.
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