10 Things Coming up at Annual Town Meeting

Editor's Note: will begin at 7:30 tonight at Milford Town Hall. Only elected Town Meeting members can vote on the articles. Viewers can watch at home on cable access TV. Milford Patch is planning to cover the meeting through our Cover it Live feature, which allows readers to view a live blog. The warrant is attached to this post as a PDF. If you don't plan to watch, or attend, the town meeting, here are some of the most important issues on the warrant:

1. The town's fiscal 2013 operating budget is contained in Article 4, and proposes $81 million in spending through June of 2013. This is a 2.2 percent increase over the current year. [Editor's note: see attached PDF]

2. The smallest percentage increase in the town's budget is for the proposed budget of $40.1 million is a 1.7 percent increase.

3. The largest percentage increase in the budget is for a category called Human Services, which includes programs for the elderly, youth and specific requests including the Visiting Nurses Association. This budget increased by nearly 6 percent to $750,299.

4. Voters will be asked to approve the appointment of a School Building Committee, which would determine the feasibility of new construction or a renovation for The 15-member panel would include representatives of the school system, including a teacher, and town appointees, as well as at least one person with experience in architecture, engineering or construction.

5. To begin the process of determining whether should be built, or a renovation of the existing facility, voters will be asked to approve $1 million for a feasibility study. The town's Finance Committee initially recommended half of that amount, but has now recommended the full request.

6. Voters will consider whether to , which would authorize local police to make decisions as to whether a noise is excessive and overly intrusive for neighbors. The proposed bylaw includes fines of up to $300 and is recommended by the Milford Selectmen.

7. The General Draper statue in will have its 100th anniversary this year, and the town wants to spend $2,000 for expenses relating to the celebration.

8. is seeking a new Tax Increment Financing agreement to cover its. The proposal would give the company a discount on property taxes for 10 years.

9. Town Meeting voters in 2011 approved $40,000 for the Fire Department to install new at the but the estimates from contractors came in higher than expected. Voters this year will be asked to supplement the initial funds to allow the work to proceed.

10. hopes to receive $500,000 from Town Meeting to complete major street repairs.