Official Town Warrant 5-14-12

Remember, Town meeting will be May 14th at the Grammar School gym at 7:30PM.  Elections will be held at the Town Hall on Thursday, May 17th.  Please come out to vote.

For more info., contact Ruth Parnall at parnall@crocker.com, 489-3096, or Jim Recore at jrecore@facil.umass.edu, 768-9939.

All Conway residents are invited to come to a pre-Town Meeting dessert potluck and discussion on Monday, May 7 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Conway Grammar School. Please bring a dessert to share that can be served on a napkin, serving utensils (if needed), and your own reusable cup/mug/spoon. Beverages will be provided. Residents who have information about particular warrant articles are encouraged to bring handouts.

Like the past four years’ pre-Town Meeting gatherings, the evening is an opportunity for discussion that is informal, nonpartisan, and without the time pressure often felt at Town Meeting. Residents are encouraged to come with questions about Town Meeting warrant articles, procedures, and definitions. There will be an opportunity to meet candidates for town office. The intent of the meeting is to help people be well-informed voters and to have some time to think about what is being proposed, as a supplement to the democratic process of Town Meeting.

The official ballot is as follows:
1 seat, Selectboard
- Richard Bean
- Elizabeth Braccia
1 seat, Board of Assessors
- Russell French
2 seats, Board of Health members
- Susan Bridge
- Regina McNeely
2 seats, School Committee
- Robert Moriarity
- Christina Conklin
- Elaine Campbell  (filed papers with Town Clerk)
- Erin M. Beaudet  (filed papers with Town Clerk)
2 seats, Planning Board (3yrs)
- Michael Kurkulonis
- Diane Poland
1 seat, Planning Board (2yrs)
- Joseph Strzegowski
1 seat, Planning Board (1yr)
- Kathrine Eugine-Moore
1 seat, Moderator
- Nicholas Filler

The Conway Swimming Pool is privately owned (it is not owned by the town) and is one of the greatest examples of community involvement.  It was 63 years ago that the idea of a Conway Community Swimming Pool was conceived by a few great individuals and was built by many volunteers with the help of funding from many generous donors.  While the organization has raised funds throughout the years for minor repairs, rebuilding of the docks, maintenance, and water quality tests, the time has come once again to ask the community to “pool” their resources, both as volunteers and donors, in order to make major necessary repairs so the pool can once again be enjoyed by the residents of Conway.

The committee is off and running anticipating completing the necessary repairs and maintenance in 2012 (with any luck, in time for hot weather).  However, the biggest hurdle will be financing and donations.  The committee is working on detailed repair estimates, and while exact figures are not yet known, the necessary funding is expected to be in excess of $250,000.

Updates and information can be found on www.ConwaySwimmingPool.org as well as information on donating or volunteering.

Also…….

The Shelburne Falls Area Business Association is offering a separate award which is available now here: 2012 SF ScholarshipApp

Information regarding scholarships awarded by the Festival of the Hills Committee and Wells Trust will be available shortly.

Requirements for crew members include:
- a current EMT Mass Certification or CPR Cert **
- a CORI check
- preferred resident

** Anyone who does not have either certification will be trained if interested and encouraged.

Please contact Randall Williams, Ambulance Director or Chris Herrmann, Assistant Director at (413) 369-4325 x-7 for more information.

In 2008 the Town voted, with the recommendation of the Finance Committee and Selectboard, to establish a Capital Improvements Planning Committee (CIPC) who were asked to develop a much-needed 5-year spending plan.  This plan would help project large expenditures and identify the means from which to pay for them.  (see warrant article below)   Since this committee’s inception nearly five years ago Conway is still without a plan.

Your Town officials are now beginning the process of budget planning for the next fiscal year, and as part of this process the Finance Committee will be restructuring this committee.  We need three (3) volunteers to join this group so as to re-start the creation of the Capital Improvements Plan.   Committee members will only be asked to update the plan every few years.  Once this plan is in place taxpayers will have greater knowledge of when larger purchases will be made, and will have less surprises at Town meeting.

If you have financial background, are just interested in helping, or need more information regarding this request please contact the Finance Committee or Selectboard as soon as possible.
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ARTICLE 19: Unanimously voted that the Town establish a five (5) member Capital Improvements Planning Committee to be appointed by the Selectboard, to include one (1) member of the Finance Committee, one (1) member of the Selectboard, and three (3) members at large who will study all capital projects and improvements for the purpose of long-range financial planning, and who will develop a multi-year plan for capital improvements, which will be updated annually, approved by the Selectboard, and reported at each annual Town Meeting.

Saturday November 5 from 9 am to Noon At the Conway Elementary School

Come one, come all for:
- Hand-washing magic!
- Free bike helmets and fitting
- Free flu vaccination clinic
- Free blood pressure screening
- Free eye exams

And much, much more!   Because ….

Healthy is Happy