BELCHERTOWN — Town Meeting voters will consider codifying the new town manger position, authorizing two public roads, adding bylaws for battery storage system installations and approving a contested school budget that will cut 14 people, including 10 teaching positions.

The 40-article warrant presented during Monday’s meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Belchertown High School, includes a roughly $61.6 million fiscal year 2025 budget, which is an increase of $1,314,505, or 2.18%, from last year. A special Town Meeting will start 30 minutes before the regular Town Meeting, in which residents will consider four articles that address outstanding expenses from the current year.

School budget

The school budget makes up roughly half of the total allocated amount at $33.1 million, which is $587,533 more than last year. The School Committee initial asked for a level budget of $34.4 million, but the town presented the committee with a number that was $1.3 million lower than the school committee’s request.

As a result, 14 staff positions will be eliminated next school year. According to the School Committee’s budget presentation on April 7, Belchertown High School will lose two teachers, one paraprofessional and one custodian. Six teachers at Jabish Brook Middle School will not return, along with one teacher each at Chestnut Hill Community School and Swift River Elementary School. Four paraeducators and one central office clerk at Cold Springs School are also being laid off.

Residents will vote on raising fines for leash law violations and vicious or worrisome dogs. Increased fees for dog licenses, business registrations, and copy of records will also be considered.

Other articles

The capital budget proposed in the warrant includes $187,681 worth of equipment and renovations. Purchases include several mowers; an automotive lift; new windows and HVAC system for the Finnery House; new doors for the Fire Station, Senior Center and Recreation Building; and renovations to the Fire Station living quarters.

In addition to the capital and operational budget, residents will vote on four other expenditures, the largest of which is $68,000 in financial support for Belchertown Community Channel. The money will pay for the director’s position and new equipment to run the channel.

Bylaw changes

The longest item on the warrant codifies the Town Manager title and duties into Belchertown’s laws. In addition to the town administrator’s duties, the town manager will be the municipality’s personnel director and delegate wages and classifications for each government employee. The position will also handle union grievances and sick leave.

Three zoning bylaw changes appear on the warrant, two of which loosen space restrictions on accessory dwelling and residential zones. Both bylaws allow for larger percentages of a plot of land to be developed. Medium density residential developments can cover 40%, rather than 20%, of a plot. Accessory dwellings would be able to use up to two bedrooms with an size limit of 45% of the home’s square footage.

Residents will also discuss adopting a zoning bylaw to allow battery storage systems, both built-in and stand-alone developments, in town. Battery storage systems are used to storage and save energy generated by solar or wind energy, and appear in both small commercial and residential systems, as well as larger systems upward of 10 megawatts.

Built-in battery systems used in residential and small commercial renewable energy systems would require a building permit from the building inspector. Larger developments will undergo a similar site review process required of most developments in town, including technical reviews by the Fire Department, Board of Health, Department of Public Works and an engineering firm.

New public roads and land

Two roads in town may become public ways regulated by the town, helping to boost Chapter 90 funds by adding more miles to the town’s jurisdiction. If passed, Meadow Pond Road, just off Ware Road, and the upper part of Jasons Way will stay as built but simply become part of the town’s roads.

Industrial Road is a short cul de sac left to the Carriage Road roundabout that connects to the commercial development area of Belchertown State School. All three roads were previously approved subdivisions that finished development and now require adoption into the town’s public roads.

The town also proposes purchasing 94 acres off State Street to expand open space and recreational areas. The total cost of the area, located t o next to Foley Field, is $160,501 and expected to be paid for by grants.

Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.