[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6566647,"mediaKeyId","3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712","parentId",3203826,"title","Votes at a glance: Millis Town Meeting actions — budget, capital, charter, zoning and trust funds","audioSeconds",9754,"startMs",773000,"endMs",10527000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712&start=773&end=10527","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712/thumbnail_773000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566647/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Millis-Town-Meeting-actions-budget-capital-charter-zoning-and-trust-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566647-cb6076f32e162bbbf643fa4ed87d3880/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427191&Signature=JJ2EKQi2waL0uIGHlgVlMEBLWzuWY7hJXBf-DKUfDswmhJYoqjf9gSn7D-FfT3noBERYwi44LsTctZ2mPSP2NvYZp2fP1fo24p7juYwZRHyuMJXeZHBZP6Cf61PnH-QHvCAc-FFQHBaM7PI87yzYv~V4RCEblzNwbKv-d~JUk79g~uZjguEvtLR7gStuKl4zpmGvRl~ots~-6S5iCWqJhwVryQZxjm-b02WN3lX0SHkYqy18Y6ikDLkxZDmPLNdp84Y18OBk62ueJHFbgiUt2Qk5mi5mDYiso7Pv-dvzWdHkycfoRMVjr~3OV9d7sv4RUEC6P41Ohpmptc2~a63cuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Millis, MA","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Town Meeting considered and voted on 21 articles. Below is a concise list of the motions taken on the record, with outcomes as announced by the moderator or counted on the floor.

- Article 1: Transfer from free cash $15,396.63 to pay prior unpaid bills (building, recreation, select board, fire). Outcome: carried (voice vote).

- Article 2: Motion to dismiss (select-board placeholder for overages). Outcome: dismissal carried (voice vote).

- Article 3: FY2026 operating budget, $47,269,970.30 (includes indirect-cost transfers from sewer, water and stormwater funds). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Finance committee recommended approval 8–1.

- Article 4: Sewer enterprise fund appropriation (salaries/wages and expenses totaling $1,702,501.60). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 5: Water enterprise fund appropriation (salaries/wages and expenses totaling $2,621,574). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 6: Stormwater enterprise fund appropriation ($774,328.91). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 7: Consent agenda (personnel plan amendments, revolving funds, community preservation items). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 8: Transfer from free cash and enterprise reserves $437,183 for capital items (animal control vehicle, DPW dump truck, fire UTV & trailer, fire radio console, library HVAC repairs, school van). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Finance committee recommended 9–0.

- Article 9: Borrow $137,632 (MGL Ch. 44) to lease/purchase two police cruisers (3-year lease-purchase). Outcome: approved (two-thirds vote declared by moderator).

- Article 10: Transfer from free cash $250,000 for Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School debt obligation (reduction from originally circulated amount). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 11: Transfer from free cash $300,000 for unanticipated municipal and school building repairs (establish special fund). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 12: Senior exemption targeted to qualifying long-term low-income homeowners for future school-override debt. Outcome: approved (affirmative motion carried after floor debate).

- Article 13: Amend Millis Home Rule Charter to make town clerk an appointed position. Outcome: approved by standing count, 147–13 (moderator announced result).

- Article 14: Add a permanent tri‑board (scribe board) committee (select board, school committee, finance committee) meeting at least four times per year. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 15: Declare and dispose of surplus town-owned parcels (various small, landlocked parcels) as permitted by state law. Outcome: approved (two‑thirds vote declared by moderator).

- Article 16: Zoning — Special Flood Hazard District amendments to align with FEMA 2023 maps. Outcome: approved (two‑thirds vote declared by moderator).

- Article 17: Zoning — Replace accessory family unit with accessory dwelling unit and associated edits (ADU bylaw). Outcome: approved; on-floor amendment to allow ADUs as short-term rentals (<31 days) failed.

- Article 18: Transfer from free cash $40,736.55 to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (town is self-insured). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 19: Transfer from free cash $300,000 to the MGL Ch. 41 §111F injury leave indemnity fund (for police and fire line-of-duty injury leave). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 20: Transfer from free cash $50,000 to the OPEB (other post-employment benefits) fund. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Article 21: Transfer from free cash $100,000 to the stabilization fund. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Moderator reported stabilization balance ($2,857,000 as of 03/31/2025).

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn carried by voice vote.

This roundup lists the on-the-record motions and outcomes as announced at Town Meeting; voters and staff will follow up on implementation steps (positions, hires, administrative rules, and bylaw filings) as required by the town charter and state law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Millis, MA - Spring Town Meeting 5/5/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A consolidated list of motions and results from Millis Town Meeting, including budget adoption, capital purchases, charter change, zoning amendments, and a series of transfers to reserve and trust funds.","taxTitle","Town of Millis, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54409,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6566652,"Millis updates floodplain zoning and adopts new state ADU rules; short‑term‑rental ban proposal fails",204,8424000,8628000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712&start=8424&end=8628","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712/thumbnail_8424000.jpg","/articles/6566652/Massachusetts/Millis-updates-floodplain-zoning-and-adopts-new-state-ADU-rules-shorttermrental-ban-proposal-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566652-22e2bf8b415534633cf74fcee00b36ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427191&Signature=J4qw72c3w6ydn0K4hzMAPH6jFxgA~T4PuQ~nIi1VOFyHTKWO7ADQE8GZGnXl4SRhILjsSTX9~Pa3pjIp0WV~rmKrHDiCp357IKwn6mOftjENo5pkP8ulyP1gxMKGzBQzAawOHXI3a24ix3j-FUHc3903p26F3cDvNWnLk1H3VC6c-E9RiWYNDdZ3EldRVZ0qF6~MqgB2Rvll8b4OzL7jS9-3gy2TOi5Zx9p~MLCx1ZdW-CWUBmHN~acdaZWRe~iR3biezmVzQLzfEqkXl9eBaQP~67W4Ub1Qr7IMX5o5rOmfcbM2IXS88IOlutH9F6a7vkH5APijuZ9k1r4AlhpPqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Meeting approved two zoning-related warrant articles: an update to the special flood hazard district to align with FEMA’s 2023 map changes, and a new accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) bylaw written to implement the state’s Affordable Homes Act.

The flood-hazard amendment—intended to bring the town’s bylaws into conformance with the National Flood Insurance Program and the 2023 FEMA rate maps—passed by the two‑thirds majority required for zoning changes. Planning-board members told the meeting the revisions adjust flood-zone delineations and update construction standards and criteria for floodplain development.

Separately, the planning board proposed repealing the older \"accessory family unit\" rules and replacing them with an ADU section to conform to the Affordable Homes Act (August 2024). The new ADU bylaw allows ADUs up to 900 square feet (or 50% of a primary dwelling, whichever is less) by right in single-family districts, while preserving local controls permitted by state law including setbacks, parking and architectural standards. The planning board and town counsel advised that if local bylaws are silent the state rules would still allow ADUs by right; the proposed local bylaw creates local requirements and procedures to govern them.

Voters defeated an on-the-floor amendment to strike the provision that would prohibit ADUs being used as short-term rentals (less than 31 days). Opponents of the amendment argued regulating short-term rentals is a separate policy discussion that should be handled by a townwide short‑term‑rental ordinance rather than ad-hoc changes to the ADU text; proponents of striking the ban argued owners should have flexibility. The motion to eliminate the short‑term‑rental restriction failed.

The ADU bylaw passed by simple majority. Town counsel and planning board members told the meeting that existing accessory-family-unit (AFU) approvals that predate the change would be treated as preexisting nonconforming uses and not subject to forced removal.","Town Meeting amended zoning to incorporate FEMA’s 2023 flood-mapping changes and adopted state-authorized accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules with local restrictions. A proposed amendment to delete the ADU short‑term rental ban failed.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6566657,"Millis voters approve charter change to make town clerk an appointed position, 147–13",2349,5830000,8179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712&start=5830&end=8179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712/thumbnail_5830000.jpg","/articles/6566657/Massachusetts/Millis-voters-approve-charter-change-to-make-town-clerk-an-appointed-position-14713","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566657-731c0dab165af1fe65e3e75241844b12/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427191&Signature=BN0SN0ph6NfVdVCrFOWdrVOavouNBIILPsORG4WW8dsSlnYm9XMTZ879PZ7L7b5jaT81J0S5mI-glCSfX844En4s7Hws3PfdzcOqog6B6Cb0GUXX2ORxaFK0EJeaG77O~BG3cnpaXDd8H6-jlCgqmd8mJo5KH2R6~sPIgV9XYzIVsWrXeXk41ZCjq3MNcVzEwJ1-VKDKUEXEsKWdFkwQ~TmdFnj53-wR5rmj2ASok4N06ppd8QBcS4BzdlqYc6RSpSuHEYBGAxiY0ORZL3ccqlPo0s~dEZNk8Ne-nMmWEjKrIHkwTPKuu00MweWpKClxzahA58Q9TVfnZF3GUzBprA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Meeting voted to amend the Millis Home Rule Charter to change the town clerk position from an elected office to one appointed by the select board (as reflected in the charter language printed in the warrant). The change passed after a standing tally: 147 in favor, 13 opposed.

Supporters said the change aims to professionalize an office that has grown more complex and time-consuming, moving the role toward a full-time, salaried department head who would be supervised within the municipal management structure. Proponents noted the expanding statutory requirements for elections, records and compliance and said the town needs continuity and full-time availability in that position.

Opponents urged preserving the clerk as a locally elected, independent official and warned that appointment could reduce electoral accountability. Several longtime residents and former town clerks spoke against the measure, citing the office’s historical role and statutory duties under state law.

The moderator called for a standing count after the voice vote was not sufficiently clear. The tellers and town constable oversaw the count; the moderator announced the result as 147–13 and declared the motion carried. The petition language will also appear on a ballot question at a forthcoming municipal election, per the warrant and state rules requiring ratification steps for a charter amendment.","Town Meeting voted to amend the Millis Home Rule Charter to change the town-clerk position from elected to appointed; the voice call led to a standing count of 147–13 in favor.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6566662,"Millis approves limited senior exemption for future school building overrides after contested debate",1433,4315000,5748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712&start=4315&end=5748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712/thumbnail_4315000.jpg","/articles/6566662/Massachusetts/Millis-approves-limited-senior-exemption-for-future-school-building-overrides-after-contested-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566662-d8dc08f77d6a8b7dac08ed5567d1c103/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427191&Signature=I81~r1VhxwRleCxjbrAYv2Qxj~54deXnkVg-TBZ0F49iOF0Mllu87tlQC-gyoHwyARuanOFc9NO0bCsAHDgFyIHp40s-1QHTWnkSUi~lqrN76R6yBYbtywAqCfWR~yxRgTjnQeYZ2ZeBvubjgGh8MEcMSLMigtXtRQRSgNEKxdRaJ8pMjcJi5Wz5EJr5m8X3ospTM6~NsqdvpiOHLx9ih0rFmGQk~NabAxjohTaUfKJ8G0u8x8MRc3uDgx1hGVysjwESQItVOI6b01ODpPfQqKrfDMZem3G4XkhILki7cB~1Z9j5msGZCpBdcCkex8EBL0HRjj9MYThSyFSZDrDw4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Millis voters approved an article creating a narrowly targeted property-tax exemption for qualifying long-term, low‑income senior homeowners specifically related to any future school-building override. The measure drew lengthy debate at Town Meeting about financial impact, legal precedent and fairness.

The article was modeled on a special act used by a neighboring community; select-board representatives said the town copied and adapted the language used by that town. Finance committee members presented both a majority and a minority report to the meeting. The finance committee’s majority recommended dismissal, citing fiscal precedent and the potential for an open-ended long-term cost to the town; four members filed a minority report supporting the article as a way to protect vulnerable homeowners who qualify for the state senior circuit-breaker exemption and have long residency in Millis.

Supporters said the exemption would help an estimated small handful of homeowners (the board’s rough estimate during discussion was on the order of 100 residents who meet the circuit-breaker and residency tests) stay in town if a school override advances. Opponents raised concerns that the exemption sets a precedent for carving out budget line items and could be exploited unless carefully limited.

After procedural motions and extended floor discussion, the meeting first considered a motion \"not to approve\" (a procedural motion equivalent to dismissal). That motion did not end consideration; a later affirmative motion to approve the article as written was made and passed by voice vote. The floor vote approving the article was carried after the meeting voted to proceed, and the article survived the procedural hurdles. Voters were told the measure will require additional steps (possible special‑act approvals and administrative rules) to implement and that the town assessor and board of assessors would play a role in certifying eligibility each year.

The final motion approved the article as drafted at Town Meeting. Town counsel and staff said the text is patterned on an existing special act used in another municipality and is intended to apply only to narrowly defined school-override debt, with qualifying criteria that include age, income limits, years of residency and approval by the board of assessors.

Because the article is narrowly targeted to future school-building overrides, it does not affect general town revenue or other non-school-related overrides. The finance committee had split recommendations; the motion that approved the article followed on-floor debate and a subsequent affirmative motion to pass the article.","Town Meeting approved a narrowly drawn exemption for low‑income seniors from taxes tied specifically to future school-building override costs, after extended public debate and a split finance-committee recommendation.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":44,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":50,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6566666,"Millis approves $47.27 million FY2026 budget after heated debate over new human-resources positions",754,1527000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203826-02d23c1d625066233ed20191f7ffb712&start=773&end=1527","/articles/6566666/Massachusetts/Millis-approves-4727-million-FY2026-budget-after-heated-debate-over-new-human-resources-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566666-abf8d07a246a50497b244fb766c5fb6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427191&Signature=MfVtF7k2TO7870lwIr0ZhoS3ucmbRcSDpz3zrOjl-8OJ6sF93oZbz59Ewi4ouR3puNtxkK9qiS9BMRVbmHohbVG~YXveTbRHIUlMiYzy8pG8wZTye96qg2PXz-NkWkebEE4nB6VuspLLPniXx62Ur4SPsIbbApR9M9kq6QOsbmF1P-1yiIaneL9d3QYP-N1XRtrFShBvekQT44D1HV2rBs9FDZu0y3Z3D3rzzD7cLKD~UPllc-qMAfhNvHnXg7bczHX~Y6zMo3AdmNvR9uRtucBX7KC03gj2fhSvPAdBjbyTPFmQUXSReoaM9yC71viGYeb7pAy1X8A1k8Um4bfn7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Millis voters approved the town of Millis’ fiscal year 2026 operating budget, $47,269,970.30, after more than an hour of discussion that focused on a newly proposed human-resources department and competing calls to reallocate that money into public safety positions.

The budget, presented by the finance committee and moved at the meeting by Peter Underhill, passed at a voice vote after floor debate. John Lauren, chair of the finance committee, told voters the FY2026 budget represents a 6% increase over FY2025 and is balanced. \"The town has a balanced budget,\" Lauren said during his presentation, outlining new hires and an organizational change that would create a human-resources function for municipal and school employees.

The most contested element of the budget was a newly created human-resources line item of $189,500. Resident Cathy McGinnis moved an amendment to remove that line and instead add $98,000 to the police salaries line (to fund one new officer), $79,000 to the fire/rescue salaries line (to fund one new firefighter-paramedic), and return $12,500 to the stabilization fund. McGinnis framed her amendment around public-safety staffing levels and rising call volumes: \"A whopping 67% increase in logged calls and no increase in staffing,\" she said, urging voters to prioritize police and fire positions over the new HR unit.

Town officials and other residents pushed back. Select board members and the town administrator described the HR package as a cost-saving and risk-reduction measure that, they said, would pay for itself by reducing health-insurance costs, improving benefits administration and avoiding litigation costs. The town administrator explained how the $189,500 breaks down: an estimated $100,000 for a human-resources director, a roughly $6,000–$8,000 upgrade to an existing benefits administrator, approximately $60,000 for a new school benefits coordinator, and about $20,000 for part-time administrative support. The town administrator argued a dedicated HR team would be able to research insurance and staffing models and find savings that could offset the new positions' costs.

Supporters of the HR plan emphasized the size of Millis’ workforce and regulatory complexity. \"We're a $47 million town with 400 unionized employees and no full-time HR staff,\" Selectman Schultz told the meeting, arguing the town lacks the capacity to handle benefit administration and labor compliance without a full-time HR function.

After extended discussion and procedural confusion on the floor, the amendment offered by McGinnis was put to a vote and—per the moderator’s announcement—was carried. The main budget motion then proceeded to a final up-or-down voice vote and was approved by the meeting as presented, $47,269,970.30.

What voters approved is the operating-level appropriation for FY2026; the budget includes modest staff additions (one DPW position, one fire position) and the changes described above. The finance committee recommended approval 8–1. The moderator reminded voters the town budget line items and technical details remain subject to the limitations and accounting in the warrant book and supporting documents.

The vote resolves the town’s principal annual fiscal decision for the coming year. Debate tonight showed the competing priorities Millis residents weigh: bolstering emergency-services headcount now versus investing in an in-house HR capacity municipal leaders say will reduce long-term costs and risks.","Town Meeting approved a $47,269,970.30 fiscal 2026 operating budget after residents debated a newly proposed human-resources unit and competing requests to shift that funding into police and fire staffing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Millis Town Meeting actions — budget, capital, charter, zoning and trust funds

Millis updates floodplain zoning and adopts new state ADU rules; short‑term‑rental ban proposal fails

Millis voters approve charter change to make town clerk an appointed position, 147–13

Millis approves limited senior exemption for future school building overrides after contested debate

Millis approves $47.27 million FY2026 budget after heated debate over new human-resources positions