DOR Study Approved In Final Night Of Sherborn Annual Town Meeting

Sherborn finished their Annual Town Meeting Thursday in what seemed like record time. Moderator Corey Lincoln concluded the night saying, “I can’t believe it’s only 9:30.”

One of the key articles that passed was Article 34, a citizens’ petition by the ad hoc committee Save Our Sherborn to approve the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to analyze some of the town’s fiscal operations. The motion passed in a hand count, 85 for yes and 42 for no.

Grace Shepard, co-chair of S.O.S., said their mission is to inform the public. They understand the DOR’s study is a narrow view of the town’s finances, but the study is fully complimentary to any independent study group the town could hire, she said.

Sherborn Tax Collector Nancy Hess, asked the residents to vote no on supporting the DOR study, stating it only examines two percent of the town’s budget and never quantifies any of the information they give. “It’s not a meaningful exercise,” she said.

Sherborn Selectman Tom Twining said that indeed it is a “very small slice of our world,” however he added, “problems do arise from this two percent.” 

Twining said he believes that the DOR study will not be a “magic bullet” and the town needs to conduct a broader study themselves.

Chairman of the Sherborn Planning Board Tom Urmston, agreed with Hess and called the DOR study “cookie cutter.”

Sherborn resident Russ Pollock asked what the downside could be.  Shepard answered saying there was none but she, “can’t exaggerate the positive.”

Hess said as someone who would be involved in the study directly, “the biggest downside is that it makes it look like you’re doing something when you’re not.”

The other much-debated topic of Sherborn’s second night of Town Meeting was Article 33, a citizens’ petition written by resident Michael Barberio, which would prevent the installation of surveillance cameras throughout the town without a mass mailing and series of public hearings.

Barberio suspects that the information gathered by the cameras, which would be installed after accepting a Homeland Security grant could be used for facial recognition or license plate monitoring.

Sherborn resident Warren Wheelwright spoke in affirmation of the article, stating that most people don’t look for public hearing postings and that a mass mailing would be a good idea.

Pollock agreed saying that, “The power [to decide] should rest with us.”

However, when the residents voted, the motion was voted down, 74 for no and 52 for yes.  

Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul DeRensis and Selectmen Tom Twining called Town Meeting a great success, especially because all the articles they submitted regarding Sherborn becoming a green community were approved by the community.

DeRensis said becoming a green community would allow the town to bring in more revenue.

Click here to see the warrant and to get a description of all the articles and what the Advisory Committee recommended for each article. To see the results from the first night of Town Meeting click .

Here are the results from the second and final night from Town Meeting: