[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",6461526,"mediaKeyId","5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe","parentId",5824069,"title","Millis Finance Committee reviews preliminary fall town meeting articles including tree removal, flood-map fixes and gas meters","audioSeconds",1805,"startMs",1745000,"endMs",3550000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe&start=1745&end=3550","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe/thumbnail_1745000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461526/Massachusetts/Millis-Finance-Committee-reviews-preliminary-fall-town-meeting-articles-including-tree-removal-flood-map-fixes-and-gas-meters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461526-87fc0b3c744794965a866da691542d72/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409015&Signature=Dp0swlH6CzNqOI5kjoVDFLQFy34JmuNpElfpsQwBKR~MVraKKqWOlCNIqCGwGdyWiuZeDLA4Iw3gCYV~IrfewkVR023u1LPJrcYpUgkvXJcWN02gWhCDwMb33DWIVfccg~bI3vBM86TVdUrGrbs6d20bKJi8vtYmirnznqEgsQIjcViBKCVUy-PrtST8qLVHttaM9Nax6qbCwFn~nN417cwyGkBcFWAbq5U0EMRsnYx~dObe5WsAmUiRvTB4Zb8SuipeRK5P0uo8mLhUIbsWW~Jca1w8jaRK3mHcRUhUpEq1BRViNyrU3SUBX66sljtNALvYQN~LfzeHZmKOZqS1PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Millis, MA","date","2025-09-25T01:18:58.58Z","article","Finance and town staff reviewed a draft list of articles being prepared for the fall town meeting during the Sept. 24 Finance Committee session.

Town staff said the warrant will include recurring items such as unpaid bills and FY26 budgetary transfers and a set of capital and bylaw proposals. The packet distributed to the committee included the following items staff said could appear on the warrant:

- Funds for roads and sidewalk construction (amount to be set pending free cash estimates).
- Funding for tree pruning and removal: staff told the committee they have seen a recent “spike” in resident requests to address dangerous or dying town trees and that the town typically funds this work from free cash; a committee member estimated $75,000 as a possible figure to consider, but staff said final amounts will depend on available free cash and the tree warden’s priorities.
- A school building project: schedule under review; the town will invite school officials to present details at a future meeting.
- Gas meters for the fire department (natural‑gas detectors) — staff placed a roughly $35,000 capital item on the list and said the town has an existing state earmark for the purchase; the earmark’s release remains uncertain and the town included the article as a fallback in case the earmark is not released.
- Proposed changes to general bylaws, including procurement thresholds (Article 6) and updates to animal-control fines to align with state minimums.
- A proposed local bylaw to limit commercial gas-powered leaf blower hours (focused on commercial operators, not residents) and to give enforcement authority to police for violations.
- Zoning-related articles: revision of FEMA flood map references to match federal maps (staff said a few commercial parcels and some homes were affected and that appeals of the FEMA determinations are being explored), and tweaks to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) language to conform to the state Attorney General’s guidance.
- OPEB (Other Post‑Employment Benefits) actuarial study (about $8,200) and a possible transfer into the OPEB trust (town typically budgets between $50,000 and $100,000 depending on free cash availability).
- Addition of a previously omitted town-owned parcel to the list of properties the town may authorize for disposition at a future meeting; staff noted recent property sales from the spring warrant finalized only after several months of post‑town‑meeting work.

Staff said the warrant had not been finalized; the warrant closes on Monday, Sept. 29, and the committee should expect a draft for review. Several committee members asked that the tree warden and fire chief be invited to provide scoped cost estimates for the tree‑work and gas‑meter requests, respectively, so the committee can prioritize items based on free cash availability.

The committee did not take final votes on the articles during the Sept. 24 meeting; staff and board liaisons will return with itemized cost estimates and any state confirmations needed before the warrant is posted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee 9/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Finance and town staff reviewed a draft list of possible articles for the fall town meeting during the Town of Millis Finance Committee session on Sept. 24, including capital requests, bylaw changes and zoning fixes.","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},6461530,"Planning board asks FinCom to fund $16,500 to move zoning bylaws into searchable Ecode360 system",356,944000,1300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe&start=944&end=1300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe/thumbnail_944000.jpg","/articles/6461530/Massachusetts/Planning-board-asks-FinCom-to-fund-16500-to-move-zoning-bylaws-into-searchable-Ecode360-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461530-d17b42cd232cefe87622ab8f589e966c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409015&Signature=egdNTztFo6ELF~72Tqn1l5UJCyLEYlo9jLjvv43tvY7CO4CU4R1QSyOSGVZJsG9G-BW~PcQGIutBAnocJMoP-rCc~-G1XsLQTVjoiJt2Yb7DYHvQmOdlJbmfMxbgMbwbAAHstOS3SITi697QmiKd~tuJ8asNJ7leI1-gQCRRRwcpFj5ylRByM67uLjBPNerDA4izCJGlraTy63FmDrT5MAPdN25ZObeDfwT2R1T~dhHiLVB0TvwhKwSk0aPEuk5jz3THDc8UncYMDfaXZz12LvUUVvHezkWY4l6HFVTFM4F9ApM1ccMROyxnbsu8IM8sU-GNcZSKJSbt7Qmc96MxbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Millis Planning Board asked the Finance Committee on Sept. 24 to support a contract with General Code/Ecode360 to convert the town’s bylaws and zoning code into a searchable, hosted format.

A Planning Board member who presented the request said the firm would transcribe the current zoning and general bylaws, accept liability for transcription accuracy, and host the result in a cloud-based, searchable format. The one-time setup fee discussed at the meeting was $16,500; the presenter said the annual subscription cost would be $1,001.95 and that the town administrator believed the subscription could be absorbed in his budget.

“The best the biggest thing that we’re looking for is for any layman…that this software will have a search engine,” the presenter said, summarizing committee discussion about the need for accurate, timely access to bylaws.

Planning Board members and committee members questioned technical and liability aspects, including whether the product is the only tested option in Massachusetts, the limits of the vendor’s insurance and indemnity, and how the vendor’s collaborative-editing tools would interact with town processes. Attendees said General Code has substantial municipal experience and representation at state conferences; the Planning Board said it will route any contract through town counsel to review insurance and liability limits before signature.

Presenters said the conversion work would reduce the legal risk linked to delayed or inaccurate online bylaws and would make future bylaw amendments searchable immediately after they are posted. The committee did not take a formal vote during the meeting; presenters will provide capital committee materials and contract details for further review and town meeting scheduling.","The Millis Planning Board asked the Finance Committee on Sept. 24 to support a contract with General Code/Ecode360 to convert the town’s bylaws and zoning code into a searchable, hosted format.",{"_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},6461535,"Millis officials flag deteriorating ornamental street lights on Route 109; replacements costly",192,658000,850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe&start=658&end=850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe/thumbnail_658000.jpg","/articles/6461535/Massachusetts/Millis-officials-flag-deteriorating-ornamental-street-lights-on-Route-109-replacements-costly","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461535-4e56031c86b655c99e0807e3b38fa133/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409015&Signature=eFzNSFRMWj7Yd1Qm255zD-dUaGzXiIdj6QOFwDWIJZtUBpKYsWx~k-vGBWW7VjT9wM5Tpun8tDJatixNq2OXPG5JXwj8sJYf7jOupIx8YuL~1yAdNyVIEUINwtbCDFvEkBR3HNSU0vTmt2YUa7IboASG4EJvRy5F3-jb8y1PBLyZ8nwcqujuBC05SCms-0pVzuyBS-4cUcf9qGjWVgel-JUjsT~iIoDBUMTojAQlrgVs6B90PHiZiAH5E0yEUvR6EMK9Bw0rrSQU6~UnGoPUlkgBxfzX-KA9FsWbo08ogs8lBnKHbQxIZWdMEaP1Bqocw~PZxwPf0k3cE6ZIzT0Ylw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public works staff told the Town of Millis Finance Committee on Sept. 24 that ornamental street lights installed along Route 109 have suffered repeated damage and that several older poles now require replacement.

Jim McKay of the Department of Public Works said the town has 88 ornamental lights along Route 109 and that the DPW’s survey identified roughly 10 poles in need of replacement. “You can see it by the price of them. They’re, like, 7 to $9,000 a piece,” McKay said during the meeting.

McKay described recurring vehicle impacts as the primary cause of damage and said the town typically works with insurance carriers and the motorist’s insurer to replace poles when accidents occur. He also said three poles have exposed wiring that the department has capped but considers a safety concern because animals or members of the public could access the exposed conductors.

Committee members asked whether the poles could be moved farther from the road to reduce collisions. McKay said relocating poles would be “way too expensive” because it would require moving electrical conduit and lifting sidewalk panels. He noted the town has converted the bulbs to LED, but said repeated repairs and age drive replacement needs.

The committee did not take a formal vote on a replacement appropriation during the meeting; McKay said some replacements are handled via insurance while others — including poles failing from age and weather exposure — would require capital funding.

The town’s capital planning packet included photos and a highlighted inventory of lights needing replacement; staff asked the committee to consider those needs as they finalize fall town meeting articles.","The finance committee heard from DPW about damaged ornamental light poles on Route 109, some with exposed wiring; staff said replacement poles cost $7,000–$9,000 and several have been hit repeatedly by vehicles.",{"_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},6461540,"Millis finance committee reviews $90,369 request to replace DPW unit 11",134,284000,418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe&start=284&end=418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe/thumbnail_284000.jpg","/articles/6461540/Massachusetts/Millis-finance-committee-reviews-90369-request-to-replace-DPW-unit-11","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461540-251838bc156a51194208e900482a45d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409015&Signature=olYdffBKdAI5Mlk0wQQrv76~l8~u7Ifgl8Pp5VWKQRkXd4sjFbTozj1-ZwlBnqarbIdDXeL~KbI1G7fuIPFAP6nDrlV7l733sMjC8rKNq7esvzpZrOrsgryU3B-bD2G6fwRfvElWijeFMKmdSl4bLP7aNM~8de70~16kDoX6tg2efpfZ4q8u5DB3ZY~B46j-E8b2VbjXMvylwzPZ9XJYtp-Ld4WAj0sjQh5a43Y2r7rSZ8E4SZUJi2Z2eATywLbb6Fpp97b6NCdBH8BzycieRBVoBQgTuZW5R4B-S0JsiMw9JBYiJnN9SiH2oZbhRp3EV0ANdq2AAkxaIow49XJ0lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Millis Finance Committee on Sept. 24 heard a request from public works staff to place a capital article on the November town meeting warrant to replace “unit 11,” a 2013 utility truck used across divisions.

Jim McKay, presenting on behalf of the Department of Public Works, said the vehicle is past its expected replacement age and is on the department’s capital list. “It’s a 2013 dump body…we usually put a 10 year life expectancy on most of our smaller vehicles,” McKay said, adding the proposed replacement would include a new plow and reuse an existing sander.

The replacement price in the packet was listed at $90,369. The DPW presented the committee with an updated vehicle-and-equipment inventory that staff said guided replacement timing. McKay told the committee the cost would be split across four funds; the packet materials and discussion indicated a four-way allocation but did not provide fully reconciled per-fund line items during the meeting.

Committee members asked about staffing levels and whether additional personnel would change vehicle needs. A committee member asked how many employees work for the DPW; the response given during the meeting was 14. McKay said the department could use one additional employee but did not propose new hires tied to the current replacement request.

McKay said the truck vendor is purchased under a state contract and that the current bid group of vehicles is the last set available under that contract; if the town waits until May the price would likely be higher.

If approved at November town meeting, the truck would be added to the town’s fleet; if not approved the DPW said replacement would likely be deferred to 2026. The presentation and supporting materials were provided to the committee and are available through the town’s meeting materials.

The Finance Committee did not take a final vote on the capital request during this session; McKay said it was being prepared for the November warrant.","Public works officials told the Finance Committee they will seek town meeting approval to buy a replacement utility truck (unit 11) that the department said is past its useful life; the vehicle would be split across four departmental funds.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6461522,"Finance Committee approves routine payments and minutes; motions recorded",99,3701000,3800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe&start=3701&end=3800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824069-0f0c4ec972fe5d6dc5aaf9b974fdc0fe/thumbnail_3701000.jpg","/articles/6461522/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-approves-routine-payments-and-minutes-motions-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461522-c135781004a0417c95407f285c99adc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409015&Signature=ku5~aBt3wy3y0Z2HhD4wqjBGT6cXvinEEFB1~77Cg6RMIH-CMmzR5NAZiVA8L~x1My3jP1f3l3X~EGMnPjQaDWCTEJJbU05V6FwYggZAGn9gy9R~DUk2LjSeH~4Age0-Ef~Nuqd-lCtLyKt1B9643P0BDyixLbmbALu1rCzfZV3M4ynywF9RkNm82IAlnbczs3wYlNPuQyomfxBI38N7ZfrNqTJrmi7JEoFSxJ2xXg8HnGNoYNKMqb0ACTRaJ989jgMhqm5JWLMuyI622-srvDJZrxr7Uo-9pkpdo~Wcl8yNYSnfS8xvhtNBPqVITu06N~Mh0RRbyZpIOLviLJaBYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Millis Finance Committee on Sept. 24 approved three routine payments and two sets of meeting minutes during the session.

Payments approved (motions made and seconded; committee voice votes):

- ClearGov registration (payment approved; amount not specified in discussion packet excerpt).
- Association of Town Finance Committees conference registration: $201; approval recorded for members attending in October.
- W.B. Mason office supplies: $94.71; payment approved.

The committee also approved minutes from July 9 (motion carried) and approved minutes from the Aug. 25 meeting at the select board with recorded abstentions from committee members who were not present at that meeting. Meeting attendees indicated that Pete, Ruby and Jen abstained on the Aug. 25 minutes vote because they were not present.

All payment and minutes motions were approved by voice vote; tally breakdowns were not recorded in the meeting excerpt.","At its Sept. 24 meeting the finance committee approved three vendor payments and two sets of minutes; one set of minutes carried abstentions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Millis Finance Committee reviews preliminary fall town meeting articles including tree removal, flood-map fixes and gas meters

Planning board asks FinCom to fund $16,500 to move zoning bylaws into searchable Ecode360 system

Millis officials flag deteriorating ornamental street lights on Route 109; replacements costly

Millis finance committee reviews $90,369 request to replace DPW unit 11

Finance Committee approves routine payments and minutes; motions recorded