Webster Fall Town Meeting topics:

stormwater management, private parking at IR concerts,
all-liquor license for Price Chopper.

by Patriot Staff

WEBSTER – Voters at Webster's Fall Town Meeting on Monday will have 23 warrant articles to consider.

Articles dealing with financial matters include funding for the demolition of nuisance properties, Parks and Recreation expenses, the lease for the police chief's vehicle, and repairs to the Civil War Monument in front to the Town Hall.

The town administrator has proposed an article that will allow veterans to participate in a property tax work-off program similar to the seniors work-off program.

The town administrator is also the sponsor of an article amending the bylaw and specifying new license requirements for hawkers, peddlers, and transient vendors. It's primarily directed at vendors on public property such as the town beach and parks, to help insure public safety by ensuring that all vendors are licensed. The new regulations also allow the town to charge rent for the use of the public space.

The warrant contains several property transfers, including acquisition of parcels of land in connection with the police station construction project.

By far the longest and most far reaching item on the warrant is Article 19, which deals with stormwater management and erosion control. The Department of Public Works proposed the new bylaw to manage land development for the benefit of public health, public safety, and the environment. It will establish requirements and procedures to control runoff and prevent soil erosion and sedimentation that result from stormwater runoff at new construction sites as well as from redevelopment.

The regulations are intended to protect the water quality of Webster's lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands.

If passed, the action will make Webster one of the first communities in the state to implement the regulations, which have been mandated by the EPA and will be required for all municipalities. The DPW has posted an explanation of stormwater management and requirements on the town's website.

The Board of Selectmen has recommended approval of all the above articles.

 The last three items on the warrant are citizen petitions.

 Article 21 is a request for the town to grant the Price Chopper grocery store a new license to sell all alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and liquor.  The license would be for the new store under construction at East Village Square. The existing store sells only beer and wine. This request might impact nearby liquor stores and selectmen did not vote on the issue, instead referring it to the sponsor.

Article 22 concerns the parking of cars on private property during Indian Ranch concerts. The sponsor of this item suggests that homeowners who charge a parking fee to concert-goers should have to obtain a license from the town's parking official, and proposes the fee be $20 per year for each parking space. The private parking reduces the number of cars parked along Rt. 16 during concerts.

The last warrant item, Article 23, is a request for Jimmy's Convenience Store to convert its existing beer and wine license to an all alcoholic beverage license.

Selectmen referred these last two items to their sponsor as well.

The meeting will be held in the Bartlett Jr./Sr. High School auditorium at 52 Lake Parkway, beginning at 7:00 p.m.