Special Town Meeting Wrap-up

Milford Town Meeting members approved most of the articles on the warrant. Here's what happened if you missed it.

Milford Town Meeting members approved funds to dredge and restore a portion of Milford Pond, provided a raise for firefighters, and directed $1 million in town savings to offset the tax rate for 2013. Those were some of the highlights of the articles that were approved.  A recap of some approved articles: Town Finances: $1 million to offset operating, capital and debt expenses to decrease the tax rate for fiscal 2013. Public Safety: $450,000 for a new fire engine; $385,000 for a new roof at Milford Police Department, including ductwork repairs; $77,093 to meet the third year of a contract for Milford firefighters. Highway Department: $171,000 for a sidewalk tractor, to replace a 17-year-old tractor, which will allow the bike trail and …

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10 Things Coming up Tonight at Special Town Meeting

Milford town meeting voters will meet Monday to consider a 38-article warrant. Here are some highlights.

The Milford special town meeting begins at 7:30 p.m Monday. This is the meeting when projects that cost money come before Milford voters. The special town meeting warrant has 38 articles. What follows is a summary of 10 important ones, with some explanation based on Finance Committee minutes. 1. The annual Fourth of July fireworks show is provided by Milford taxpayers. This year, taxpayers will be asked to pay $18,000 for the July 3, 2013 event. 2. The Milford Fire Department is requesting $450,000 for a new engine truck, to replace Engine 5, which went into service in 1987. The truck didn't pass inspection because of body corrosion and does not meet current NFPA safety standards. 3. Milford Town Hall may get a new set of windows. The …

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Milford Strengthens Rules on Nuisance Properties

Voters at the special town meeting Monday overwhelmingly approved a new bylaw that will crack down on nuisance properties.

Voters in Milford agreed to strengthen regulations against vacated, blighted properties in town, adopting a new bylaw that officials say will help protect neighborhoods. The so-called nuisance property bylaw requires all property owners to properly maintain their properties. The article was placed on the warrant by the Milford Selectmen, who said it is needed to protect property values and ensure building, health and safety standards. Among other things, the bylaw will prevent people from putting garbage out for collection, and left in public view, for more than three days. In addition, people can't discard things such as mattresses and broken refrigerators, and leave them outside, for more than 15 days. The bylaw proposes a $300 daily …

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New Restrooms, Concession Building Approved

Town Meeting representatives, in a divided vote, approved $150,000 to help construct a new restroom and concession facility for the Milford High School athletics complex.

Special town meeting voters agreed to provide another $150,000 to construct a new restroom and concession building to complete the athletics complex at Milford High School, after 20 minutes of argument. The money was approved Monday in a divided vote — 112 in favor and 48 opposed. The additional funds, when combined with about $150,000 in savings on the $3 million athletics fields project, will provide up to $300,000 for the new concession-bathroom facility. Selectmen were divided in their recommendation to Town Meeting. William Buckley, who opposed the article, said the town needed to reach out to contractors, who could contribute their services. "I think it's time we represent our seniors and our neighbors," he said. Selectman Brian …

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Selectmen Recommend $60K for Milford Youth Center

Milford Selectmen on Monday agreed to recommend special Town Meeting voters approve $60,000 to eliminate the Milford Youth Center deficit, after receiving more information about its finances.

The Milford Selectmen agreed to recommend voters approve $60,000 for the Milford Youth Center this month at special town meeting, an amount that would be repaid over the next two years. The payment would eliminate the $48,099.54 deficit, pay $9,804.74 in unpaid bills to vendors and others, and leave almost $2,100 for the center operations. Combined with anticipated rental payments, donations and advanced United Way contributions, the center should have about $15,000 as a cushion for its operations, town officials said. Selectmen said they had received more information, and cooperation, from members of the Milford Youth Commission in the past two weeks, and Town Administrator Louis Celozzi told officials that late Monday, he learned that …

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By The Numbers

$1.2M Requested at Special Town Meeting [Poll]

Milford voters will decide several spending items at a special town meeting Oct. 24. Among the requests: $374,000 for portable classrooms at Woodland Elementary School.

More than $1 million in requests are expected to be presented to voters in a special town meeting Oct. 24. The warrant will be discussed by Milford Selectmen on Oct. 17. In addition to the financial requests, the town is expected to consider a new noise bylaw and new standards for maintaining properties. The money requests break down as follows: $18,000 for fireworks for July 4, 2012 celebration $110,000 for Town Hall repainting $26,000 for wheelchair accessible ramp at Draper Memorial Park $70,000 for environmental cleanup on town property behind Benjamin Moore Company $77,500 for collective bargaining agreement with police $34,850 to transfer funds to school department $30,000 for demolition of unsafe structure at 8 Blanchard Rd. $22,500…

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