Town of Belmont Annual Report ~ 150Th Anniversary Issue Page 1
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2009 Belmont’s Sesquicentennial Anniversary Year TOWN OF BELMONT ANNUAL REPORT THE BEECH STREET CENTER Dedicated in 2009 About the 2009 Cover. was a very special year for Belmont. On March 18, 2009, Belmont celebrated its 150th Anniversary of incorporation. It was 150 years ago, on March 18, 1859 at 3:15 pm that the news of the incorporation reached the citizens of Belmont and every church bell in the town was rung. At the same time this year, the same re-enactment took place, complete with church bells and town officials making the announcement of incorporation at the Town Hall. To symbolize the activities that were planned throughout 2009 by the appointed “Sesquicentennial Committee”, a logo was created and this logo will be kept in the archives of the Town of Belmont. After 40 years of planning for a senior center by devoted seniors and community members, the new Beech Street Center, was dedicated on Sept. 26, 2009. The center is located at 266 Beech Street on the site of the old Kendall School and houses the Council on Aging services and programs. The design of the building includes an array of senior sensitive features but retains a homelike and aesthetically appealing environment. It is the first environmentally sustainable building in the town and will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. The center affords opportunities for programs previously not possible, such as a meal-site, fitness space and private counseling areas. In addition, it allows for creative uses benefitting the entire Belmont community. The vision for the center as a dynamic hub of activity and substantive connection for the adult community can now be transformed into a reality. Photo credits: 150th logo image courtesy of the Belmont Sesquicentennial Committee. Beech Street Center photos courtesy of John Catlin, architect ~ ~ ~ Many thanks to Sandra Curro for compiling, formatting, editing and producing this 2009 Annual Report Copies of the 2009 Belmont Annual Town Report may be found at: www.belmont-ma.gov One may view a copy of the Town Report at the Belmont Library or at the Town Clerk’s office. 2nd printing Printed on recycled paper TOWN HALL BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS 02478 TOWN WEBSITE: www.belmont-ma.gov BELMONT STATISTICS LOCATION: Belmont is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It is 8 miles west of Boston and 4 miles west of Cambridge. HISTORICAL: First Settlers 1639 Town Incorporated 1859 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION (TOWN HALL): Latitude 42 23’ 46” Longitude 71 10” 33” ELEVATION ABOVE SEA LEVEL: High Point 341.2 feet Low Point 6.8 feet AREA DATA: Total Acreage 2978.95 Area in Square Miles 4.655 Land Surface 2946.4 Water Surface 32.55 acres POPULATION: Federal Census, 1970 28,285 Federal Census, 1980 26,100 Federal Census, 1990 24,720 Federal Census, 2000 24,194 Town Census, 1995 25,741 Town Census, 2000 26,000 Town Census, 2003 25,956 Town Census, 2004 25,754 Town Census, 2005 23,973 Town Census, 2006 25,641 Town Census, 2007 25,395 Town Census, 2008 25,493 Town Census, 2009 25,387 REAL ESTATE IN FY10: Real Estate Valuation (total) $5,251,433,300.00 Personal Property $39,696,440.00 Total Valuation $5,291,129,740 FY10 Tax Rate per Thousand $12.16 2009 Town of Belmont Annual Report ~ 150th Anniversary Issue Page 1 Page 2 2009 Town of Belmont Annual Report ~ 150th Anniversary Issue ◄ TABLE OF CONTENTS ► A Working Vision for Belmont’s Future..................................................4 Office of Community Development............................................133 Report of the Board of Selectmen .........................................................5 Engineering Division...............................................................133 Sesquicentennial Anniversary Year in Review ......................................6 Building Division .....................................................................135 Town Boards and Officials.....................................................................9 Planning Division....................................................................135 Town Meeting Members ......................................................................13 Planning Board..........................................................................136 Planning Division.......................................................................137 TOWN MEETINGS/ELECTIONS Traffic Advisory Committee .......................................................138 Warrant, Annual Town Meeting, April 27, 2009...................................16 Zoning Board of Appeals...........................................................140 Transcript, Annual Town Meeting First session, April 27, 2009 ................................................................31 Second Session, April 29, 2009...........................................................32 PUBLIC SAFETY Third Session, June 1, 2009................................................................34 Board of Health..........................................................................141 Fourth Session, June 3, 2009..........................................................35 Animal Control Officer ...........................................................142 Warrant, Special Town Meeting, June 3, 2009....................................37 Sealer of Weights and Measures ..........................................144 Transcript, Special Town Meeting, June 3, 2009 Veterans Services .................................................................144 First Session, June 3, 2009 .............................................................38 Emergency Management Agency .............................................147 Second Session, June 3, 2009........................................................38 Fire Department.........................................................................147 Warrant, Special Town Meeting, November 16, 2009.........................40 Local Emergency Planning Committee .....................................152 Transcript, Special Town Meeting, November 16, 2009 Police Department.....................................................................152 First Session, November 16, 2009 ..................................................51 Public Safety Communications..................................................158 Second Session, November 18, 2009 .............................................52 Election Results Annual Town Election, April 6, 2009................................................54 EDUCATION Special Town Election, June 8, 2009 ..............................................58 School Committee .....................................................................159 Special Primary, December 8, 2009................................................59 Minuteman Science-Technology High School District...............175 GENERAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS Board of Registrars..............................................................................60 Department of Public Works Administration..............................179 By-Law Review Committee..................................................................60 Highway Division ...................................................................180 Contributory Retirement Board............................................................60 Tree Warden .........................................................................181 Government Structure Review Committee ..........................................61 Solid Waste Collection and Disposal.....................................181 Town Clerk...........................................................................................61 Parks and Facilities Division..................................................182 Town Historian.....................................................................................62 Water Division .......................................................................183 Position Classification and Compensation Plan ..................................63 Water Advisory Board ...........................................................184 Board of Cemetery Commissioners ......................................185 Highland Meadow Cemetery Building Committee.....................186 FINANCE Municipal Light Advisory Board .................................................186 Board of Assessors..............................................................................66 Municipal Light Department.......................................................187 Capital Budget Committee...................................................................67 MWRA Advisory Board..............................................................190 Permanent Audit Committee................................................................67 Shade Tree Committee .............................................................191 Independent Auditors Report...........................................................68 Solid Waste and Recycling Committee .....................................191 Property and Casualty Insurance Advisory Committee .......................99 Town Accountant.................................................................................99 SOCIAL SERVICES Town Treasurer, Tax Collector & Parking Clerk ................................108 Education Scholarship Committee.....................................................116 Belmont Housing Trust..............................................................192 Capital Endowment Fund ..................................................................116