Budget, bylaws and beach plans: Swansea special and annual Town Meeting slated for May 16

SWANSEA — Presenting a balanced budget, updating bylaws, utilizing Community Preservation Act funds and approving a new Diman Regional Voc-Tech building are among the items at the annual Town Meeting on Monday.

The town will hold a special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. followed by the 42-article annual Town Meeting at 7:30 p.m. The meetings will take place at Joseph Case High School.

Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein said at the special Town Meeting, officials are requesting funds to establish a sitting area and parking lot at the town’s Sandy Beach.

“This is another way in which we are revitalizing our waterfront property in Ocean Grove and providing more amenities for residents to enjoy and access the coastline of Swansea,” Aronstein said recently. “This comes in response to many complaints about parking tickets at the Boat Ramp, where parking is restricted to only allow boaters regardless of the season. This has been the cause of significant frustration of residents and visitors who simply want to enjoy the water in this area.”

The annual Town Meeting will set the next fiscal year budget, which starts July 1.

Aronstein said this budget will allow Swansea to set aside funds to accomplish long-range goals, as well as “preventative maintenance” — all while keeping the “interests of the tax base in mind.”

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“We have space remaining on the levy and are not taxing to the max as they say. We are also able to once again continue our annual tradition of setting aside funds in two stabilization accounts,” Aronstein said. “Combined, these accounts amount to nearly 8 percent of our total omnibus budget, which is an excellent indicator of financial health.”

Aronstein noted that there are requests for public safety vehicles on the warrant, as well as an article that combines certified free cash — or available funds — with CPA funds to build a new playground at Swansea Memorial Park.

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Aronstein says the current playground was first built in 1997 and recent inspections indicate the need for repairs. The Parks Commission has been discussing a new American with Disabilities Act compliant playground and is requesting that voters support the replacement.

Other community projects officials hope are approved including initiatives to preserve historic buildings such as the Martin House and the Luther Store Museum.

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The Martin House and farm, located on Stoney Hill Road, dates back to 1728 and captures the area’s rural New England past, according to web reports.

The Luther Museum building’s roof was replaced but repairs are still needed to the exterior of the building, including the chimney – according to the Swansea Historical Society website.

Another preservation initiative on the warrant will ask voters to approve a conservation restriction on a mile of wetlands along the Palmer River, adjacent to the Swansea Country Club golf course.

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“This preservation restriction utilizes a grant opportunity as well as working with local conservationists and the owners of the County Club to focus efforts on protections of this special area that is home to amazing wildlife and also significant in terms of flood control over the next decade,” Aronstein said.

Aronstein said that there are also articles seeking to modernize the town’s soil removal bylaws.

A new Diman school building has won unanimous support from selectmen.

Swansea voters at the annual election approved it and the Town Meeting vote would ratify it.

Westport Town Meeting voters recently approved a new Diman building and approval on Monday from Swansea voters would represent one of the final steps toward the state School Building Authority project.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Swansea will hold annual Town Meeting May 16