There is one seat on the Board of Selectmen to be filled.
STONEHAM – Money will be the main issue at the March 6 annual town meeting, Treasurer Mary Fox said.
“We’re not in fiscal crisis,” Town Clerk Midge Silvio said, “but money is a big issue and there are no proposed ordinance changes to deal with.”
Voters will decide whether to accept the state’s mandate that Stoneham charge up to but no more than 6.5 percent interest on unpaid taxes.
Last year they voted to accept the state’s limit of 7 percent interest on unpaid taxes.
Fox said people will notice a change in the wording of articles dealing with money in the warrant this year.
The term “not to expend more than” a specified amount is used, she explained, to comply with generally accepted accounting standards recommended by state auditor Wayne Smith.
For example, last year Article 20 stated: “To see what sum the town will vote to grant or raise for printing the town reports. Recommended $275.”
The article dealing with that issue this year ends with: “Recommend not to exceed $300.” The changes represent an effort to help the town keep spending within the planned limits, she said.
There is one seat on the Board of Selectmen to be filled. Terry Mickols-Nunes, whose term ends this year, is not seeking re-election.
The only requested increase in stipends is for $750 each for Town Clerk and Treasurer to help defray the cost of health insurance. Having the town contribute toward health insurance is not a precedent, Silvio explained, because until 1997, the town had been contributing up to $1,200.
In 2003, Stoneham made the last $7,200 annual mortgage payment for the Community Room adjoining the Fire Station, thereby freeing up some money for other uses without adding to the tax burden, Silvio said.
Voters will decide whether to spend $1,000 for two signs to be erected at the entrances to the town and for “16 sets of American flags to be erected on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, et cetera.” Fox said the plan is to attach them to Stoneham’s 16 street light posts.
Last year about 60 of Stoneham’s 224 residents acted on all 70 articles before the lunch break, the shortest town meeting in 40 years, Fox said.
This year’s meeting opens at 10 a.m. March 6.
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