COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
TOWN OF HARWICH
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION BALLOT
MAY 16, 2000
BARNSTABLE, ss:
To either of the Constables of the Town of Harwich in said County,
Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs to meet in the Community Center Gymnasium, 100 Oak Street, in said Town on Tuesday, May 16, 2000, then and there to act on the following ballot:
POLLS WILL BE OPEN AT 7:00 A.M. and CLOSE AT 8:00 P.M.
To choose on one (1) ballot the following Town Officers and Committees: one (1) Moderator for three (3) years; one Selectman for three (3) years; two (2) School Committee Members for three (3) years; one (1) Water Commissioner for three (3) years; three (3) Library Trustees for three (3) years; one (1) Housing Authority Member for five (5) years.
NON-BINDING PUBLIC ADVISORY BALLOT QUESTION
Shall the President be asked to negotiate an international treaty for the gradual elimination of nuclear weapons?
Whereas nuclear weapons continue to threaten all life on earth;
Whereas in signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty Extension, the United States and other nuclear powers committed themselves to reducing and ultimately eliminating nuclear weapons.
Whereas developing and maintaining nuclear arsenals divert resources
from education and other public needs;
Therefore, the people of Harwich
call upon the President and Government of the United States to engage
other nuclear nations in negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention,
an international treaty requiring a specific timetable for phased elimination
of nuclear weapons, including effective verification and enforcement measures.
Be it further resolved that the Clerk of the Town of Harwich
shall send copies of this request to the President of the United States,
to members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, and to our Representatives
in the Massachusetts Senate and House.
YES____NO____
NON-BINDING REFERENDUM QUESTION
The Harwich Board of Health enacted a regulation in 1994 requiring all
food service facilities (restaurants and bars) to provide a minimum of
50% of all seating to be non-smoking.
“Do you support a change in the regulation to require all restaurants
and bars to be 100% non-smoking?”
YES____NO____
………………………………………
CHARTER AMENDMENTS
1. “Shall the Town approve the Charter amendment proposed by the May
1999 Annual Town Meeting summarized below?”
YES____NO____
This amendment would replace the existing 7-15-1 and 7-15-2 and clarify
the Cemetery Commission’s administrative and management authority over
cemeteries and cemetery funds. It would also establish that the Cemetery
Administrator acts under the day to day supervision of the Town Administrator
and is responsible for implementing the Cemetery Commission’s policies
and direction regarding Town-owned cemetery properties.
2. “Shall the Town approve the Charter amendment proposed by the May 1999 Annual Town Meeting summarized below?”
YES____NO____
This amendment would replace the existing Chapter 9, Section 6, “Capital
Outlay Plan.” The amended section would require an extension of the
Town’s capital outlay plan from
five to seven years, and it would also require a 2/3 vote of Town Meeting
to approve any capital outlay project which is not included in the approved
plan.
BALLOT QUESTIONS
1) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to assess an additional $585,672.00 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of establishing, upgrading and funding the following positions and related expenses;
Planning Department
Principal Clerk (increase from part-time to full-time) $3,115.00
Community Center Staff
Community Center Manager $41,481.00
Custodian $30,318.00
Custodian $30,318.00
Custodian (1/2 time) $17,909.00
Youth Counselor $50,000.00
Fire Department
4 new Firefighters $204,610.00
School Department $207,921.00
as outlined in Articles 4, 5 and 13 (Line Item 990, Operating Budget)
of the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, for which the monies from
this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a general override and a permanent
increase in taxes if passed.
2) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions
of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the
bond issued in order to purchase and equip a new engine (1500 gpm) for
the Harwich Fire Department as outlined in Article 18 of the May, 2000
Annual Town Meeting?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a temporary increase in taxes
to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt. The purchase/equipping
of a new engine is included in the Capital Outlay Plan for FY’01.
3) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to build and equip a new or renovated Administration Building at Cranberry Valley Golf Course as outlined in Article 20 of the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting Warrant?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This questions proposes a temporary increase in taxes to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt. The Administration building/renovation project is included in the Town’s Capital Outlay Plan for FY’01.
4) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to build and equip a new or renovated Maintenance Building at Cranberry Valley Golf Course as outlined by Article 21 of the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting Warrant?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a temporary increase in taxes to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt. The Maintenance building/renovation project is included in the Town’s Capital Outlay Plan for FY’01.
5) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions
of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the
bond issued in order to complete design development, detailed cost estimates,
bid development and all other pre-construction activities and tasks related
to the proposed Expansion and Renovation of the Elementary School as outlined
by Article 22 of the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting Warrant?’
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a temporary increase in taxes to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt. The expansion/renovation project is included in the Town’s Capital Outlay Plan for FY’01.
6) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions
of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the
bond issued in order to fund the “Road Maintenance Program” as outlined
by Article 24 of the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting Warrant?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a temporary increase in taxes
to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt and is included in
the Town’s Capital Outlay Plan for FY’01.
7) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions
of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the
bond issued in order to purchase and equip one (1) new front end loader
for the Landfill as outlined in Article 25 of the May, 2000 Annual Town
Meeting Warrant?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a temporary increase in taxes to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt. The purchase of a new loader is included in the Town’s Capital Outlay Plan for FY’01.
8) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions
of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the
bond issued in order to purchase and equip one (1) new street sweeper for
use by the Highway Department as outlined in Article 26 of the May, 2000
Annual Town Meeting Warrant?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: The question proposes a temporary increase in taxes to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt. The purchase of a new street sweeper is included in the Town’s Capital Outlay Plan for FY’01.
9) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions
of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the
bond issued in order to reconstruct Dunbar Field, including the track and
soccer field as outlined in Article 76 of the May, 2000 Annual Town Meeting
Warrant?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: The question proposes a temporary increase in taxes to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt.
10) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to assess an additional $339,000.00
in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of purchasing
and equipping one (1) new 100 cubic yard trailer for C & D waste and
to pay for C & D disposal costs as outlined in Article 29 of the May
2000, Annual Town Meeting Warrant for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2000?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a capital expenditure exclusion
and a temporary one-time increase in taxes for one (1) year.
11) “Shall the Town of Harwich be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 ½, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to purchase and install a generator at the new Community Center located at 100 Oak Street as outlined in Article 13 of the May 2000, Special Town Meeting Warrant?”
YES____NO____
Explanation: This question proposes a temporary increase in taxes
to pay exactly the principal and interest on new debt.