We're Live at Town Meeting

9:47 p.m.: A gentleman who is not a member (he spoke earlier as well) is speaking about the large number of positions being added to the town. He also noted that there haven't been full job descriptions for some of these new jobs. He said he has done research and looked at what other towns have done and he also asked the town government if they have made a full job description.

He said he received a response and there were several duties mentioned, but it failed to fully list the ranking and it was also not a full job description, according to the member of the town who got back to him. Because of this, he said he opposes some of these positions because there have not been full job descriptions and we need to have a full opportunity to evaluate the position and the $100,000 that is going to be spent by the town, plus the benefits. He feels that we can wait until the fall Town Meeting to make the decision because of these reasons.

There's a lot of debate about one particular position. I'm not sure which one they're talking about as there are so many and I've gotten confused, to be honest.

Josh Ostroff brings up the hot residential real estate market and how we don't want the commercial market to go down. He said if we don't keep up the commercial end of town it could ultimately lead to more property taxes.

"There's so much that we can do," said Ostroff. "We have an amazing asset in Natick Labs. There's a lot at stake in Natick. I would hate to see us take a step back because we're feeling lucky."

A few people spoke out about this position. I believe it's the position about attracting businesses to Natick. One person said we don't need someone to bring businesses to Natick; Natick attracts businesses all by itself.

We have had move to question multiple times. This means to end this debate. A gentleman from precinct 1 just moved to question and motion to adjourn, but people have hands up so the moderator Frank Foss must go to the members who have not spoken.

We're talking about community development. Patrick something who is the Community Development Director says this is an important position. He said this department is grossly understaffed and resourced. He said it has been for years. The economic development committee needs assistance, he said. He said there were 17 vacant spaces on W. Central.

"People aren't beating down the door to get to Natick the way it's being portrayed," he said.

It'll help keep the tax rates in a strong manner that'll allow residents to not carry the ball by themselves.

We finally have a move to question that passes by a majority vote. It is now 10:30 p.m. We will be having a vote in a second...

It's going to be close. There are hands up. I think the opposed has more. We will wait for the official count.

The amendment to not have the $80,000 position has failed. I think this means this position may still come to fruition. But the three people closest to me are also confused, so I'm pretty sure that's the answer, but not 100 percent so.

We will move on to the original motion... Without the amendment.

More questions... And a group of people just walked out. This has gone on long enough for some.

"We have to get up in the morning," one woman said as she walked by.

Note: my laptop battery is extremely close to going dead. I'm under 5 percent power.

"I've had it, goodnight," said another member as he walked out.

Someone just proposed an amendment to the budget adding money. $20,000 more. 4 people walked out after that.

The gentleman said he'll be quick because of the hour. It's 10:37 p.m. He's talking about zoning bylaws. He wants to allow Selectmen, if they see fit, to get review boards to look at zoning. It's not easy, thie man said. He thinks they could use this money to hire a good consultant if they feel they need it. Maybe Town Meeting will take less time if they have this, he said.

As another three people walk out.

My battery is at three percent. I'm shutting down now so we don't get interrupted.

Have a good night folks.

__________________

Dr. Sanchioni is now being asked questions.

Related to a new hire for a foreign language teacher, a member asked him what language and also what languages do students have to choose from.

Sanchioni said it's for a Spanish teacher. Students can choose Spanish (most popular), French, Latin and Mandarin. I think I might've missed one.

Question: What does Natick need to do to be ranked in the top 10 school districts?

Sanchioni said that he thinks they're on the right track with their plan. He gave a little more detail, but he pointed out how various scores and accolades have been increasing.

9:16 p.m.: A member is speaking out against user fees for sports. He asked about the amount of money the schools make from bus fees and sports fees. Sports is in the ballpark (no pun intended everyone laughs) of $150,000 each year, and this member thinks sports are an important part of a kids' education and the town and people in the town should be able to find that money and not charge them a hidden tax, as he called it. He also doesn't like the bus fees, but he said you have to take baby steps and do one thing at a time.

Dirk Coburn is speaking. He is a Town Meeting member, and also School Committee Chair. As always, he offered some good insight into the difficulty of making the budget, but also how important it is.

Some more questions asked, some very specific and in the very fine print of the 500+ page book from the Finance Committee. They have all the answers- talking about school administration.

The motion is passed by a huge majority. Maybe half a dozen people voted against it.

______________________

8:44 p.m.: Dr. Peter Sanchioni, Superintendent of Natick Public Schools, is presenting the FY14 for the schools. He begins by listing several goals before showing the total budget.

This year the budget is about $46.5 million, and he is asking for an increase of about $2 million. About half a million is for the 11.1 new personnel. Sanchioni says this is needed because of a rising student population.

Sanchioni said that the additional staff that is at the high school helps keep the class sizes below 30, which he said does happen in some classes at NHS.

He said they need a new nurse to meet guidelines. A school psychologist is needed.

Significant increase: online-text and resources. Transportation. Professional development. There were a few others as well. Sanchioni moves fast. He's trying to keep it under the recommended 10 minutes that Moderator Foss gave.

Sanchioni shows some accomplishments that Natick Public Schools have made the past few years. There's a writing program K-12. Improved test scores. One of the most technology advanced schools (Natick High). Kennedy was honored for excellent educational and social environment. Premier bullying prevention and intervention. DA's office gave them a leadership award for anti-bullying.

Sanchioni is now pointing out several awards that students and faculty have achieved recently. The list is long.

He says that budgets give the students opportunities. Sanchioni thanks everyone.

___________________

8:34 p.m.: Article 10 Fiscal 2014 Bacon Free Library

The article passes by a majority vote.

___________________

Article 3, Capital Stabilization Fund passes by a two-thirds vote with no debate.

Article 4, operational/rainy day stabilization fund: the motion is no action- it passes by a majority vote. I think I only saw two people vote against it.

Article 9, Fiscal 2014 Morse Institute Library.

They are currently discussing making the young adult librarian at the Morse Institute Library a full-time position. There were some questions about salary.

It passes by a majority vote. There will be a full-time young adult librarian.

_____________________

7:36 p.m.: Moderator Frank Foss calls the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance is being said, followed by a moment of silence for soldiers serving around the world.

7:42 p.m.: Town Administrator Martha White is now doing a budget overview. She mentions some highlights: new high school and community-senior center; consolidated facility management;

Traffic improvement to Route 27.

Intersection Improvement at Rt. 9 and N. Main St.

Received GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- top 2 percent of budget presentations.

Overall energy use has reduced by 26 percent in 4 years. 10 percent of energy is supplied by solar.

Immediately after White's presentation Ms. Coughlin makes a motion to move the next Town Meeting after we adjourn tonight to May 14 because of a Catholic Holiday on Thursday.

Josh Ostroff, who says he is not against this motion, says that he wishes people who had this religious conflict would've brought this up at the beginning of Town Meeting so planning could've been done.

Interestingly, Ostroff also pointed out some historical context where there were some meetings in the past that were moved for religious reasons, while other meetings met on religious occasions.

Another member, who identified herself as a Catholic (I missed her name) said that there are several Masses on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Several other people chimed in with their opinions about this matter.

Ultimately it went to a vote, and the motion failed. There will be Town Meeting on May 9.

_____________________

White mentions program for residents with Next Step Living for solar energy.

Tax levy is stable.

Local receipts increased- $678,860, or 6.78 percent.

White's Highlights for FY2014:

• 11.1 new FTE positions as well as additional funding for professional development and online textbooks
• Restoration  of some positions that had been lost, including a librarian

There are many other "cost efficiencies" and "enhancing operations" things on a list up on the screen. Hard to keep up- lots of information.

White completes her presentation at 8:00 p.m.

__________________

Foss is introducing the people up front so everyone knows who they are.

Foss is going over the rules. Members must be in the correct seats for their votes to count. He mentions he knows of some members who are sitting in different seats but those are the exception.

Cell phones must be turned off.

If you have a financial interest, you must disclose it before speaking.

He mentions that motions are in the book.

On May 16, if Town Meeting is still in session, it will be held at Wilson Middle School. They will continue to mention that as time goes by.

__________________

Once again, we will be live blogging from Town Meeting. It starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight. For all the information as it happens, simply bookmark this article.