Town Meeting Ends

Arlington’s 2012 Town Meeting came to a close Wednesday night, as members got through the remaining 24 articles during the meeting’s eighth, and now final, session.

Most of the articles were either routine appropriations (which all passed) or recommended votes of no action by the Board of Selectmen (which were all upheld).

Of the appropriation articles, Article 52 got the most attention but, like the rest, passed easily. The article asked members to put $20,000 toward signage for Arlington’s four historic sites – The , the , the and the Uncle Sam Memorial Statue – through the Arlington Committee on Tourism and Economic Development (A-TED).

On Wednesday, these 15 articles received positive votes: Articles 27, 38, 47, 52, 55, 56, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 73.

These nine received votes of no action: Articles 14, 57, 58, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72.

The full 2012 Town Meeting Warrant has a list of the specific articles.

Under Article 58, Stephen Harrington, of Precinct 13, put forth a substitute motion, which asked members to appropriate $25,000 for new football helmets, shoulder pads and baseline testing software in order to help prevent concussions. The town’s schools have already designated money for this very thing, according to Finance Committee chairman Allan Tosti. Harrington’s motion wasn’t substituted in a 53-121 vote.

Later, under Articles 69 and 70, Mark Kaepplein, of Precinct 7, put forth two substitute motions aimed at stopping the Mass Ave Corridor Project. However, both failed to gain enough support.

Past Coverage of Town Meeting 2012