By Janet Tice
Thomas Jefferson described the town meeting as “…the wisest invention ever devised by the wit of man for the perfect exercise of self-government…”
On May 11, at Annual Town Meeting, the voters of Shirley will practice what Jefferson preached when they cast their votes regarding the town’s operating budget, capital purchases, special projects, and new bylaws. By discussing, deliberating, and voting for or against, Shirley’s residents will be engaged in “the purest form of democracy:” directly deciding important aspects of the town’s future.
The list of items to be voted on, called the “warrant,” will not be available in its final form until late April after approval by the Select Board and legal review by Town Counsel. To provide readers with a sneak peek, I sat down with Town Administrator Bryan Sawyer for a preview of what to expect. For all the details, be sure to review the actual warrant when it’s posted on the town website in late April. (Printed copies will also be available as handouts for those attending the meeting.) In the meantime…
What are the key items on the warrant this year? As always, the most important warrant article is the town’s operating budget for fiscal year 2027, beginning July 1. The budget consists of dozens of individual line items – each of which is discussed individually if requested by voters – and is the result of a process that began back in January when all town departments, boards, committees, and commissions submitted their budget proposals. After months of work by the town’s finance team, the end result is a balanced budget with a modest year-over-year increase and no need for a Prop 2-1/2 override, a notable achievement in a year when many cities and towns have had to resort to overrides to balance their budgets.
As an adjunct to the operating budget, sewer, ambulance, and curbside solid waste/recycling budgets are addressed separately, each with its own warrant article. These self-sustaining “enterprises” are budgeted so that their expenses equal the revenues they generate through the fees they collect. Next up: the 5-year capital improvement plan and capital expenditures for FY27. No surprises here, nor major items likely to generate controversy, according to Sawyer.
Article 12 asks voters to appropriate $35K required as a local “match” for a $145K Green Communities Grant received from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The aim is to improve the energy efficiency of all town-owned buildings and other infrastructure with the dual goal of saving taxpayer dollars and protecting the environment.
Next, a trio of articles addresses the Fire Department, Department of Public Works, and clerical union contracts, all of which are up for renegotiation this year. In the case of the Fire Department, the current contract has been extended for
an additional year. The DPW and clerical union contracts were still in negotiation at the time of my sit-down with Sawyer, but will be finalized in time for Town Meeting.
Article 16 relates to the so-called Chapter 90 funds – state funds dedicated for maintenance of Shirley’s roadways. Very simply, it asks Shirley voters to formally accept the funding, which amounts to $390K, an amount almost identical to FY26 and determined by a non-negotiable formula that dictates the dollar amount. With costs ever increasing, erratic weather, and increasing heavy truck traffic taking their toll on pavement, expect the new funds to cover fewer roadway miles than they did last year. Likewise, Article 17 seeks approval for accepting funding for Shirley’s public access television, with the dollar amount contractually tied to the (declining) number of cable customers in Shirley and beyond voter control.
Last, but by no means least, comes a series of “quality of life” articles (my words, not Sawyer’s). Four of these relate to Community Preservation Act funds, first asking voters to accept the projected CPA revenue for FY27; then seeking approval to expend a portion of CPA funds for three local projects, one for temporary rental assistance and two for historic preservation (see companion article for details).
Two final articles, both sponsored by the Planning Board, propose new bylaws, the first to protect the Town’s public shade trees by assessing fines for unauthorized damage, destruction or removal; the second to provide similar protection for the many hand-built stone walls that line Shirley’s roadways in the public right-of-way. These trees and stone walls belong to the public and deserve protection as valuable town assets that contribute to Shirley’s unique rural character and scenic beauty.
If that sounds like a busy evening, it is. But Moderator has proved to be adept at moving things along while still carefully explaining the more complex articles and allowing voters to fully express their views at the microphone. If you attend – and I sincerely hope you do – you will be participating in one of New England’s unique and lasting contributions to the practice of democracy and helping to shape Shirley’s future, both at once. What a great way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary!
Janet Tice has lived in Shirley for over 40 years and never misses a Town Meeting. She is currently serving her tenth year on the Planning Board, is a founding member of the Transportation Action Committee and sits on the Shirley Meeting House Board of Directors.