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2024 Spring Annual Town Meeting
Town Meeting Representatives
A list of all current Town Meeting Representatives
Town Meeting Terminology
A list of common phrases and terms used at Town Meeting
Budget Process Overview & Terms
A summary of the overall budget process calendar, who is involved, and common terms
Electronic Voting Instructions
How to cast your vote using the electronic voting devices at Town Meeting
Town Meeting Results
- May 20, 2024 Town Meeting Electronic Voting Results PDF
- AS VOTED Spring Annual Town Meeting Warrant Book
Town Meeting Recording Available!
Watch the recording of the 2024 Spring Town Meeting, courtesy of Dedham TV
Information included this page has been compiled for the upcoming Spring Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024, and will be updated as more information is available (including a digital copy of the Warrant Book).
Flip through our digital version of the Warrant Book below, and download a copy of the Supplemental Report and Recommendations for Town Meeting
May 10, 2024: Read the Finance and Warrant Committee Letter to the Dedham Times
May 13, 2024: Page 9 Reprint (Article 3), as distributed on May 13, 2024
May 14, 2024: Page 8 Reprint (Article 3) and Page 14 Reprint (Article 4), as distributed May 14, 2024
May 20, 2024: Additional Information Packet, distributed at Town Meeting on May 20, 2024
Please note: Both the Warrant Book and the Supplemental Report have been mailed to each Town Meeting Representative.As legally advertised in the Dedham Times on Friday, March 1, 2024 (or download a PDF version):
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS - NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Dedham in said County: You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town of Dedham qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at the polling places designated for several districts in said town; District One-Town Hall (Ames Building), 450 Washington Street; District Two-Riverdale School, 143 Needham Street; District Three-Mother Brook Arts & Community Center, 123 High Street; Districts Four & Six-Dedham Middle School, 70 Whiting Avenue; and Districts Five & Seven Greenlodge School, 191 Greenlodge Street, on the second Saturday in April (it being the thirteenth day of said month) AD 2024, at seven o’clock in the forenoon until eight o’clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following article namely:
ARTICLE ONE: To choose all necessary Town Officers. The following are to be chosen by the Ballot.
- One member of the Select Board for a term of three years
- One member of the Board of Assessors for a term of three years
- Town Clerk for a term of three years
- Three members of the School Committee for a term of three years
- One member of the School Committee for a term of one year
- One member of the Board of Health for a term of three years
- One member of the Planning Board for a term of five years
- One member of the Trustees of the Public Library for a term of three years
- Two members of the Commissioner of Trust Funds for a term of three years
- Two members of the Park and Recreation Commission for a term of three years
- One member of the Housing Authority for a term of five years
Town Meeting Representatives as follows:
- Precinct One - Vote for not more than thirteen for a term of three years
- Precinct One - Vote for not more than one for a term of two years
- Precinct Two - Vote for not more than thirteen for a term of three years
- Precinct Three - Vote for not more than thirteen for a term of three years
- Precinct Three - Vote for not more than one for a term of one year
- Precinct Four - Vote for not more than thirteen for a term of three years
- Precinct Five - Vote for not more than thirteen for a term of three years
- Precinct Six - Vote for not more than thirteen for a term of three years
- Precinct Seven - Vote for not more than thirteen for a term of three years
and to return to meet at the place so designated, Dedham High School Auditorium, 140 Whiting Avenue, Dedham, for the 2024 Spring Annual Town Meeting in said town on the third Monday in May (it being the twentieth day of said month) AD 2024 at 7:00 o'clock in the evening and, if needed, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, then and there to act on the following articles, namely:
ARTICLE TWO: By the Select Board: To see if the Town will vote to adopt changes in Schedule A (Classification Schedule), or Schedule B (Compensation Schedule), or Schedule C (Fringe Benefits) of the Personnel Wage and Salary Administration Plan; to act upon the recommendations of the Town Manager as to actions he deems advisable and necessary in order to maintain a fair and equitable pay level and compensation policy; to implement collective bargaining agreements listed below, the funding for which is included in the appropriate departmental budgets under Article Three:
- AFSCME, Local #362 (Library Staff Unit)
- Dedham Police Patrolman’s Association, Massachusetts Coalition of Police, Local #448, AFL-CIO
- Dedham Police Association (Lieutenants & Sergeants)
- Dedham Firefighter’s Association, Local 1735
- AFSCME, Local #362 (DPW- Unit A)
- AFSCME, Local #362 (DPW-Unit B)
- AFSCME, Local #362 (Town Hall)
- AFSCME, Local #362 (Parks)
- AFSCME, Local #362 (Civilian Dispatchers)
or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE THREE: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds such sums of money needed to defray departmental and incidental expenses of the Town for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2024, not otherwise provided for, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE FOUR: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or borrow to implement capital improvements and capital projects, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE FIVE: By the Director of Finance: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds for payment of outstanding bills of prior fiscal years, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE SIX: By the Finance Committee: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds to meet additional expenses of the current fiscal year not adequately funded under Article Three of the 2023 Spring Annual Town Meeting (FY'24) or any other article thereof, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE SEVEN: By the Director of Finance. To see what sum or sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds to one or more special purpose stabilization funds, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE EIGHT: By the Director of Finance. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate from any special purpose fund, or from one or more special purpose stabilization funds, to one or more of the stated purposes for such funds to be expended at the direction of a specified officer or multiple member body of the Town, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE NINE: By the Finance and Warrant Committee. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds for deposit in the General Stabilization Fund, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE TEN: By the Town Manager. To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to G.L. c.44, §53E½, to amend Section 39-40(b) of the General Bylaws, Revolving Funds, to alter any of the expenditure limits set forth therein, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to By Law Review Committee and Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE ELEVEN: By the Director of Finance. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds to operate the Sewer & Stormwater Enterprise Funds for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2024, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE TWELVE: By Town Meeting Vote: To hear and act upon the reports of the various Town Committees, as required by vote of prior Town Meetings; to see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or borrow to carry out the recommendations of said committees, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN: By the Director of Finance. To see if the Town will vote in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2023 to rescind the vote taken under Article 23 of the May 22, 2023 Annual Town Meeting creating a Special Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund and dedicating 100% of the opioid litigation settlement funds received by the Town to such fund pursuant to G.L. c. 40, §5B, such funds henceforth to be placed in a special revenue fund to be expended without further appropriation for all of the purposes allowed by law, including those outlined in applicable opioid litigation settlement documents; or take any other action related thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN: By the Director of Finance. To see if the Town will vote to amend the funding sources for certain capital projects for which borrowing has been authorized, but not yet issued, and, in turn, to rescind such borrowing authorization, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN: By the Board of Library Trustees and the Library Director. To see if the Town will vote to apply for, accept, and expend Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (“MPLCP”) grant funds, if approved, and, further, to take from Library Trust Funds the sum of $150,000, as approved by the Board of Library Trustees, said sums to be expended by the Town for library assessment, planning, feasibility and design, and any other incidental and related expenses, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE SIXTEEN: By the Town Manager. To see if the Town will vote to establish an annual expenditure limit for the Renewable Energy Fund, which fund was established by Chapter 198 of the Acts of 2016, with such limit to be applicable from fiscal year to fiscal year unless sooner changed by Town Meeting before July 1 in any fiscal year, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE SEVENTEEN: By the School Committee. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, an additional amount of money to be expended under the direction of the School Building Rehabilitation Committee for the development of a Feasibility Study and schematic design for the purpose of studying options for the Oakdale Elementary School, 147 Cedar Street, while also studying possible consolidation with another elementary school, for which feasibility study the Town may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, such additional amount to supplement the amount appropriated for such purposes by the Town under Article 9 of November 15, 2021 Annual Town Meeting; the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any costs the Town incurs in connection with the feasibility study in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town, or take any other action relative thereto. Referred to Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
ARTICLE EIGHTEEN: By the Sustainability Advisory Committee. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Energy Code (“Specialized Code”) for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of certain new residential and commercial buildings for the effective use of energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby providing a more energy-efficient and low greenhouse gas emissions alternative to the state’s Stretch Energy Code or its baseline Massachusetts Energy Code, pursuant to the relevant sections of the State Building Code for new construction, 225 CMR 22 and 23 including Appendices RC and CC; and, further, for such purposes, to amend the General By-laws of the Town of Dedham by deleting the text and title of Article 1 of Chapter 122 and inserting in place thereof the following, with such bylaw amendment to be effective on January 1, 2025, or take any other action relative thereto:
Article I. Specialized Energy Code
§ 122-1. Purpose.
The purpose of 225 CMR 22.00 and 23.00 including Appendices RC and CC, also known as the “Specialized Code”, is to provide a more energy efficient and low greenhouse gas emissions alternative to the Stretch Energy Code, 225 CMR 22.00 and 23.00 but not including the referenced appendices, or the baseline Massachusetts Energy Code, applicable to the relevant sections of the building code for both new construction and existing buildings.
§ 122-2. Applicability.
The Specialized Code applies to residential and commercial buildings.
§ 122-3. Specialized Code.
The Specialized Code, as codified by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards as 225 CMR 22 and 23 including Appendices RC and CC, to include any future editions, amendments or modifications, is herein incorporated by reference into the Town of Dedham General Bylaws.
The Specialized Code shall be enforced by the building commissioner or any assistant inspector of buildings.
Referred to Bylaw Review Committee and Finance and Warrant Committee for study and report.
Given under our hands and seal of the Town of Dedham this 1st day of March AD 2024.
SELECT BOARD
James A. MacDonald, Chair
Dennis J. Teehan, Jr., Vice Chair
Dimitria Sullivan
Erin Boles Welsh
Josh Donati
A true copy, attest:
Anthony F. Zollo, Jr.
Constable, Town of Dedham
TOWN OF DEDHAM - NORFOLK, SS.
By virtue of this Warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Dedham aforesaid to meet at the time and place and for the purposes specified in said Warrant by posting true and attested copies thereof in one or more public places not less than fourteen days at least before the date of the said meeting, and by causing a true and attested copy thereof to be published once, not less than fourteen days before the said meeting in the Dedham Times, a newspaper having a general circulation in said Town of Dedham.
Anthony F. Zollo, Jr.
Constable, Town of Dedham
Dated at Dedham, Massachusetts, the 1st day of March, AD 2024
Please use the links below to download a copy of the FY25 Town Manager Budget Message Memo and Presentation, as shared at the February 29, 2024 Select Board Meeting:
Dedham Public Schools
- FY25 Budget Presentation (January 17, 2024)
- FY25 Budget Book (March 2024)
- FY25 School Budget Community Forum (April 4, 2024)
Blue Hills Regional Technical School
Below are the proposed meeting dates (hearings and deliberations) for the Finance and Warrant Committee*, and recordings (as available), courtesy of Dedham TV:
- Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. (All day budget hearings at Town Hall)
- Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. (date moved from April 4)
- Monday, April 8, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. (added on 3/25/24)
- Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
*These meeting dates are proposed and may not be necessary. Agendas will be recorded with the Town Clerk and posted for each scheduled meeting no less than 48 hours before the date/time.
The Bylaw Review Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to review Articles 10, 16, and 18 for the 2024 Spring Annual Town Meeting. Please use the link below to access the posted agenda:
- Bylaw Review Committee Agenda for March 19, 2024 - Hybrid Meeting (Town Hall and via Zoom)
- Bylaw Review Committee Agenda for March 26, 2024 - Hybrid Meeting (Town Hall and Zoom)
Community Forums for Opt-In Specialized Code:
- April 24, 2024:
- February 26, 2024:
Additional Resources:
The Sustainability Advisory Committee has created an online library of resources about the Opt-In Specialized Code that are available on the SAC page of the Town website.
Materials at Town Meeting
Download a PDF copy of the Sustainability Advisory Committee presentation at Town Meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024 using the link below:
Article 18 Town Meeting Presentation PDF
Materials at Mini-Town Meeting
Download a PDF copy of the Sustainability Advisory Committee presentation at the Warrant Review Meeting (Mini Town Meeting) on Monday, May 13, 2024 using the link below:
Included below are informational resources to help Town Meeting Representatives and members of the public learn more about Electronic Voting, how to use the devices, examples of them in use, and a copy of Article 11 from the 2021 Fall Annual Town Meeting where the bylaw was amended to include electronic voting:
Town Moderator:
Dan Driscoll
Email: djdriscoll29@gmail.com
Phone: 617-510-1797
Town Clerk:
Paul Munchbach
Email: pmunchbach@dedham-ma.gov
Phone: 781-751-9201
About Town Meeting Video Series
Click on the thumbnail image above to watch Town Moderator Dan Driscoll explain the role of Town Meeting, processes, roles of Town Officials and Staff, and discuss more about the Warrant Book
Click on the thumbnail image above to watch Deputy Town Moderator Cherylann Sheehan review the budget process leading up to Town Meeting, what is voted on, and what is included in the Warrant Book
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