Controversy over clerk heads for vote.

Byline: Lynne Klaft

LUNENBURG - Residents will vote on three controversial citizen-petitioned articles, two concerning the town clerk and a third on the acceptance of a roadway through eminent domain, at the special town meeting tomorrow.

Articles 1 and 2, concerning the town clerk, were put before voters at a special town meeting in August.

Article 1 seeks clarification through a court ruling - not just the town counsel's opinion - on the legality of the change in personnel in the town clerk/treasurer/tax collector's offices instituted by Daniel M. Keyes, the former chief administrative official, last spring.

Petitioners want the clarification as a future reference for town officials.

Mr. Keyes did not re-appoint Town Clerk Kathryn M. Herrick to the treasurer and tax collector positions, thereby cutting her salary to $14,025.

Proponents for Article 1 say that Mr. Keyes instituted a major reorganization of town government by that action.

The town's charter bylaws say a reorganization or regrouping of town offices can be recommended by the chief administrative and financial officer. If the proposal is approved by selectmen, then public hearings and a town meeting vote must be held before any

changes can be effected.

A majority of selectmen say there was no major reorganization - just a change in personnel in standing positions.

Article 2 seeks to increase the town clerk's salary by $20,000, to be administered from the town clerk's budget, by eliminating one of two staff positions in that office and zeroing out various expense lines.

Article 2 requires a two-thirds vote for passage.

The Finance Committee has expressed concern about the impact of the change on this year's budget if an employee is laid off and severance and unemployment benefits must be paid.

Both the committee and selectmen will make recommendations on the floor of town meeting before the final vote is taken.

A third citizen-petitioned article, Article 16 - the acceptance of a private roadway by the town - must be accomplished through the eminent domain process because of errors in deed transfers, even though the property owners have agreed, in writing, to give the road to the town.

Article 3 concerns midyear adjustments to the budget voted in May.

Article 4 will place $350,000 of state funding for a proposed "affordable" housing development at the Tri-Town Drive-In site in a special account.

Article 5 will ask town voters to approve $34,649 to buy a police cruiser.

Article 6, if approved, will allow the town to borrow $322,432 for road repairs and improvements, which will be reimbursed by the state through its Chapter 90 funding program.

Meadow Woods Mobile Home Park residents would have 40 years to repay sewer and water improvement assessments if voters approve Article 7. The measure would also require the Legislature's approval.

Article 8 would change the salary administration bylaw to allow residents serving on standing committees and boards to also serve on the Personnel Board.

The chief administrative and financial officer will be held to a Feb. 15 deadline for submission of an operating budget for the new fiscal year if voters approve Article 9.

If Article 10 passes, the method by which an undeveloped commercial property is assessed sewer betterments would be changed.

"This is a zoning versus future use issue," said Chief of Staff Laura Williams. "There is a major difference between the water usages of a drugstore, which has one bathroom, versus a carwash, which may use thousands of gallons of water a day. You can't know what kind of business will be on an undeveloped commercial property in the future, so how can you assess a betterment?"

Article 11, if passed, would give the Lunenburg Fire Department the authority to designate fire or emergency medical details needed for any event held on town property.

The Public Access Cable committee would be created with the approval of Article 12.

The final three articles, 13, 14 and 15, concern the enactment of stormwater bylaws mandated by state and federal regulations.

The town meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in Lunenburg High School auditorium.

NAME: LUNENBURG SEELCTMEN