Selectmen review draft warrant
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - The Board of Selectmen reviewed a draft version of the Town Meeting Warrant at its March 3 meeting.

The 33-article warrant includes a possible Proposition 2-1/2 override question as article 1. The selectmen have not discussed putting an override question on the ballot for this year as of yet, however school officials have stated that they will request an override question if the town doesn't fully fund its budget request.

Article 9 of the warrant includes Town Manager Daniel Morgado's supplemental budget in the event that an override question is passed by voters. These additional budget items will be eliminated if the override question is not put on the ballot this year.

The warrant also seeks to set up an enterprise fund for pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) solid waste removal revenue, as well as transfer funds from the Health Department into the PAYT program.

The board had decided at its last meeting that it will recommend implementing a feebased trash removal service in town, however they haven't yet voted on the details of the program. Proposals for the program include a per bag fee, the possibility of one free bag and then charging for additional bags, or allowing residents to vote on a trashspecific override in May. The board is expected to finalize the details of the program in the coming weeks.

The Health Department, which is traditionally responsible for trash removal, will see its budget drop significantly if PAYT is implemented by Town Meeting.

Article 14 of the warrant would seek money to fund a new staff position in the Town Manager's Office. This is the only additional municipal employee that has been requested.

Article 11 details the manager's Capital Budget, which Morgado said is currently being refined as the town looks for areas to cut.

The Board of Selectmen took no action on the warrant, which needs to be signed by Monday March 17. The selectmen will meet with the School Committee and the Finance Committee to hammer out the warrant details before Town Meeting starts Monday May 19.