The Town of Danvers warrant review (night 2) advanced multiple capital and enterprise warrant articles. Committee members discussed and voted to move a package of articles that fund school transportation, public‑works paving and sidewalk work, road acceptances and layouts, coastal dredging and marina maintenance, sewer and water enterprise projects, and a planned fire pumper replacement.

Votes at a glance (motions, brief details, outcome):

- Article 10 — School transportation (one 77‑passenger bus): request $150,000 from free cash for purchase of one 77‑passenger school bus; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 11 — Pavement management / sidewalk improvements: annual appropriation to supplement Chapter 90 paving and ADA work; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 12 — Roadway layout acceptance (Chadwick Lane, Collins County Drive, Crane St., Franklin St., Hunt St., Wildwood Road) and discontinuance of a portion of Toomey Street to correct historic layout: explained by town engineer; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 13 — Street layout survey program: annual appropriation (estimated annual work on remaining private ways); motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 14 — Annual maintenance dredging feasibility: $20,000 for permitting/licensing/engineering and feasibility work to plan a future dredge (aimed for winter 2027–28 on a ~20‑year cycle); motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 26 — Town marina and pier replacement / maintenance: federal Seaport Council grant awarded $350,000; article requested $100,000 local match for a project slightly under $500,000; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 15 — Fire pumper replacement: request $1,100,000 from free cash to replace Engine 2. Fire department described grant pursuit (competitive grant, reimbursement uncertainties), market pressures on apparatus pricing, and a dealer‑allocated stock option that could reduce cost (~$950,000–$980,000 quoted) and shorten delivery. Motion to appropriate $1,100,000 moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 16 — Acceptance of drainage liability for MassDOT drainage improvements: routine annual article; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Articles 19 & 20 — Modifications to utility easements (Cemetery Road, 13 Fourth Street): allow additional utility crossings and a water service crossing a sewer easement; motions moved and seconded; articles passed.

Sewer enterprise fund (retained earnings) — combined requests ~ $1,633,000:

- Article 17 — Drainage maintenance: $50,000 for annual maintenance and materials; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 18 — High‑pressure flushing and vacuum truck replacement: requested replacement of 2013 unit; quoted cost ~ $683,000 (full price); trade‑in value estimated in the $50,000 range; the department noted rising repair and rental costs while the unit ages; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 21 — Comprehensive sewer lining and spot repairs: ongoing program to reduce infiltration and inflow using cured‑in‑place lining; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

Water enterprise fund (retained earnings) — combined requests ~ $1,000,000+:

- Article 22 — Booster station maintenance and repairs: approx. $140,000 for mechanical, controls and generator work; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 23 — Emergency interconnections (Beverly/Peabody): funds to complete construction drawings and interconnection work to allow emergency water from neighboring systems; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 24 — State hospital reservoir valve replacement / rehabilitation: work on a 5.4 million gallon finished water tank and associated vault work; motion moved and seconded; article passed.

Building, grounds and other capital articles:

- Article 27 — Building improvements across municipal buildings and schools (various funding sources listed in warrant): motion moved and seconded; article passed.

- Article 28 — Ground improvements (parks, fields, water bubblers and related work): motion moved and seconded; article passed.

Minutes and procedural items: the committee approved minutes for April 14, 16 and 17 and confirmed plans for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting (May 19). Several items in the warrant review included staff explanations of funding sources (free cash, retained earnings, Chapter 90 supplement, grant matches) and practical details about procurement, vendor lead times and maintenance planning.

Why it matters: the combined slate represents multi‑year capital and infrastructure planning and will move to Town Meeting for final appropriation. Large ticket items such as the proposed fire pumper, future dredging and comprehensive sewer lining tie into longer procurement lead times, grant opportunities and recurring maintenance costs.

What committee members asked and emphasized: members pressed on grant timing and reimbursement delays (fire and federal grants), the trade‑in and rental costs for aging sewer equipment, the state match on dredging (roughly 50%), and the practical details of interconnecting to neighboring water systems for emergency supply. Staff described conservative approaches where possible (seeking dealer‑allocated stock unit for a pumper, exploring grants) and noted some projects would require future borrowing or matched funding.

Next steps: most warrant articles were approved at the warrant review and will go before Town Meeting; several articles depend on later grant decisions or construction scheduling.