MIDDLEBORO — In an otherwise quiet Town Meeting, the two issues that generated the most discussion were submitted by residents.
Middleboro voters agreed at the April 22 meeting to change the zoning of an area near Harding Street to rural residential, which would allow only housing to be built in the area. But voters rejected a resident’s request to ban large capacity trucks from a portion of Old Centre Street.
“We have had enough,’’ said Matthew Brufee, an area resident who was among the proponents of the zoning change. He was referring to numerous attempts by developers to build large-scale projects, including warehouses on the site.
The land is home to two brooks and abundant wildlife, he has said.
“We’re not merely trying to preserve land, we’re trying to preserve a way of life,’’ he said.
Several residents wanted to know why the Planning Board voted against supporting the article. The board at its April 16 meeting said that changing the zoning could open up development of large-scale residential projects, including those that fall under Chapter 40B, which can allow developers to bypass certain town regulations if a portion of the homes are affordable. This would add to the tax burden, members said.
No Planning Board members stood up at Town Meeting to explain their vote. In the end, voters sided with the neighbors by the required two-thirds vote.
The second issue raised by a resident— an exclusion of trucks with capacity greater than 2 ½ tons from Old Centre Street between Bedford and Pleasant streets— was rejected by voters.
Matt Phillips, who brought the issue forward, said the proposed change was an issue of “public safety.’’ He said he sees “an inordinate amount of traffic’’ from large vehicles.
These vehicles also cause road damage, he said, which taxpayers are responsible for fixing.
But questions were raised about the potential ramifications of passing such a restriction. Select Board member Brian Giovanoni said that banning trucks on one section of road would then move them through another neighborhood.
Police Chief Joseph Perkins spoke passionately against the article, saying that the reference to public safety was “misleading.’’ In the last 10 years, he said, there were no accidents involving trucks in the area in question.
He also said the wording was “vague’’ and unclear on what types of vehicles would be prohibited. “If you pass this, I’m telling my officers not to enforce it,’’ he said.
In the end, the article did not pass.
Voters also took action on several other issues.
The future of the Peirce Building, an historic structure on 99 North Main St. that has been the subject of some controversy in recent years, has been decided. Voters approved a 99-year lease that would build apartments and office space to the site while maintaining its historical character. The lease holder has proposed paying the town, which would maintain ownership of the building, $1,000 each month; terms are still being worked on.
The town’s overall $119.1 million budget was approved without discussion.
The budget includes $5.5 million for general government; $40.6 million for education; $11.3 million for public safety; $2.2 million for the Department of Public Works; $1.4 million for library and recreation; $4.4 million for school transportation; $9.7 million for debt service; $23.4 million for town and school employee benefits and insurance; and $3.9 million for “unclassified,” which takes in a variety of expenses, including Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School enrollment and property and liability costs.
About half of these expenses— $59.3 million— will be covered by town property taxes. The remainder will essentially be covered by $26.5 million in state aid and $10.8 million in local receipts.
Voters also approved spending $33 million for the construction of a new East Grove Water Treatment Plant that would treat for manganese, iron and PFAS, which are man-made chemicals that have been used in the manufacturing of certain fire-fighting foams, moisture and stain-resistant products and other industrial processes.
The levels of PFAS in the East Grove Well exceeded the state limit for the last two quarters. A significant portion of the cost will be offset by state grants and a zero interest loan, Town Manager James McGrail said.
Voters supported allocating $350,000 to take the next steps in tying the Miller, Tispaquin and Rocks pumping stations together to eliminate manganese, iron and PFAS in the water. The money would fund a pilot study and evaluation of the project. The ultimate goal of constructing the plant will be brought up at a future meeting. The $350,000 will come from water rates and not be borne through taxes.
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