WHATELY — Voters on Tuesday used the first Town Meeting held in Whately Town Hall since 1999 to adopt articles pertaining to the design and construction of a proposed pumping station to be located off Chestnut Plain Road, plus the associated pipes and infrastructure to connect the Whately Water District’s water supply system to that of the Whately Water Department.
The roughly 120 residents in attendance voted unanimously to borrow up to $220,000 for the design and construction and to transfer $87,000 from the general stabilization fund for upgrades to provide sufficient volume and flow for the water supply system to be used by the fire department in case of a blaze in the area. Loans will be paid back by the Water Department Enterprise Fund through the collection of hook-up fees and retained earnings to be appropriated later.
Town Administrator Brian Domina previously explained Whately has two public water systems — a town water department, and water district he said is a “separate, quasi-public district” that has about 45 customers. Domina said limited water supply, the low number of customers, increasing regulations and increasing operating costs make long-term operation of the water district unsustainable.
Berkshire Design Group is conducting the cost estimates and engineering for this project.
Voters also adopted the proposed total operating budget of $5,257,831 — an increase of $184,356, or 3.63 percent, from this year. The Whately Elementary School budget is $1,785,184, an increase of $103,925, or 6.18 percent, from this year. Domina has attributed the overall town operating budget’s spike to various factors, including increases in insurance, retirement, cost-of-living adjustments and schools. He said anticipated teacher salary increases and steps related to the current contract negotiations resulted in the 6.18% school budget increase.
A ribbon-cutting and open house was held at the old Town Hall on Sept. 30, 2018. The second floor, where the Town Meeting was held, can seat 135 people, which Selectboard member Frederick Orloski previously said is how many typically attend Town Meeting. The building at 194 Chestnut Plain Road has an air-conditioning and heating system, fully accessible elevator and bathrooms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Voters on Tuesday also:
■ Agreed to transfer from free cash $5,000 to “to pay for the design and engineering of sidewalks along Chestnut Plain Road.” Highway Superintendent Keith Bardwell said the sidewalks will span from the Center School to The Whately Inn.
■ Agreed to transfer from free cash $31,500 for new siding and other exterior repairs to the fire station, $20,000 to install new tile floors and area rugs at Whately Elementary School, and $13,750 to buy a new 5-inch fire hose for the Fire Department.
■ Agreed to transfer from free cash $35,000 for the design of handicap-accessible improvements to the S. White Dickinson Memorial Library at 202 Chestnut Plain Road.
■ Adopted a resolution in support of changing the state flag and seal of Massachusetts.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.