BY RYAN O’CONNOR
When roughly 140 residents and officials reconvened at Bow Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 22, there was little debate compared to the first part two weeks ago.
Article 12, which suggested placing $25,000 in capital reserve for conservation, was voted against, 3-2, by the Budget Committee, but the majority of residents sided with selectmen’s 5-0 vote and approved the article.
A motion was made to amend Article 17, which proposes $3,000 for Parks and Recreation field parking and roads to $4,190 saying her department was being short changed.
Though resident Paul Roy suggested a quick overlay to prevent continued work over the long term, Selectman Leon Kenison said there is no immediate rush to add money to the fund, as he said the town doesn’t envision any action until 2013.
“The reason we put forth the figure we did is because we don’t feel the work needs to be done now,” said Kenison.
“As with other articles we’ve been talking about, we’re trying to hold off on what we don’t need now,” he continued. “The condition of the roads and parking lots is acceptable and it may be for a few years. It really depends on what kind of wear and tear and winter weather we have.”
The motion was rejected, but the original article passed.
Other capital reserve items approved include $12,300 for Parks and Recreation equipment, $10,000 for police equipment, $10,000 for municipal building grounds, and $4,000 for the Baker Free Library computer system.
Article 18, which asked residents to approve $2,800 for the printing of additional town reports in 2008, in addition to those included in the operating budget and their delivery to residents failed by a standing count vote of 78-45.
Article 19 asked residents to approve a permanent declaration of conservation and preservation on Paul Hammond’s property, off Dunbarton Center Road, which was approved to be bonded at last year’s Town Meeting.
Residents approved this year’s article. Selectman Harry Judd also noted that the town named the road into the property Hammond Lane, and are considering naming the land itself as the Hammond Nature Preserve.
The last article was a petitioned warrant article, encouraging the town to go on record in support of effective actions by the president and Congress to address climate change by restricting greenhouse gas emissions and creating a national research initiative to rapidly develop sustainable energy technologies, which will also stimulate jobs and investment.
Resident Susan Moore, who proposed the article said it will help slow the process of global warming and suggested the town form a tax-free volunteer committee aimed at how to handle the cause.
Resident Kally Abrams then warned of the consequences of increased and drastic climate change.
“Climate change needs to be tackled at five levels: internationally nationally, statewide, local and individual,” said Abrams. “This article gives us the opportunity to address it at a local level.”
Other residents, however, argued that Town Meeting is no place for such decisions, which they said should be handled on a national and international level. Residents rejected the article, 92-45.
The meeting lasted less than an hour.