SOUTHAMPTON — The town’s $17.6 million budget, improvements to the William E. Norris School building and upgrades to the Police Department were among the articles approved by residents at Tuesday night’s annual Town Meeting.
There were 35 articles on the warrant and 171 residents attended the meeting in the Norris gymnasium where Robert Floyd served as town moderator.
An amendment to the town budget introduced by Police Chief Ian Illingsworth cut the police department’s budget by $30,402 by adjusting wages and expenses within the department, and those savings were then transferred to the Norris school budget, according to Town Administrator Ed Gibson.
“It shows the teamwork that happens between departments,” Gibson said on Wednesday.
Voters also approved numerous improvements to Norris in three articles. Article 21 will fund $97,800 of improvements to the school that include $9,000 for sink replacements in science labs and classrooms, $28,500 to replace carpeting in several classrooms, $48,500 for the replacement and repair of the exterior doors in the school, $10,500 for repairs to the roof, gutters, drains and roof drain scuppers, and $1,300 for the repair of the building’s exterior masonry.
A $28,498 replacement of the fire alarm system at the school and $26,000 to repair sidewalks at the school were approved unanimously, according to Gibson.
The police dispatch radio console, which is used by the Fire Department, Highway Department and EMS, will be replaced by modern equipment after voters approved a $92,112 appropriation.
Voters authorized the town to spend $660,000 to acquire 14 acres across five lots on Pomeroy Meadow Road in order to protect the town’s drinking water supply. A geological study determined the area critical to the recharge area of the water supply and a $216,000 state grant will contribute toward acquisition of the 14 acres.
A local property owner, Kristina Madsen, also offered to place nearly 70 acres of land into conservation restriction, according to Gibson.
Articles 4 and 5 dealt with exemptions for seniors in Southampton. Voters approved a change in income level limits for tax exemptions from $18,000 to $20,000 for singles and from $20,000 to $25,000 for married couples.
Voters also approved changing the age for property tax exemption by lowering the minimum age requirement from 70 to 65.
Southampton will no longer have a Board of Selectman, but rather a Select Board, after residents voted to change the official title of the body. The change will officially take place once the state attorney general’s office approves the amendment to the board’s title, which could be anywhere between six weeks and three months, Gibson said.
“The thought process is that the term ‘selectman’ in today’s world is probably not as inclusive as you see and it’s more geared towards a male terminology, ” Gibson said. “Select Board is more neutral.”
The town will become a member of the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District for a year, costing $5,000, to provide Southampton with a mapping of mosquito breeding areas and testing of mosquitoes for any diseases they might carry.
The 22-year-old Edwards Public Library roof will be replaced after voters approved $44,000 to fund the project.
Voters approved the creation of two new revolving funds, one for the Conservation Commission and one for the Fire Department. The Conservation Commission will take revenue from harvesting trees on town conservation lands and use the funds for the management of trails on conservation lands.
The Fire Department will use the revenues collected from fire permits and use them to purchase equipment needed to fight brush fires.
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com