BCAT News

September Town Meeting met for its second (and final) session the evening of October 6, with the majority of the warrant left to discuss.

Last week discussion on Article 3, which was the approval of funds for the potential Burlington High School Construction Project, took up the bulk of the evening’s discussion. Picking up where they left off, Monday evening began with Article 4, which is the approval of funds for a special election for a debt exclusion on said project. Originally the amount was set for $30,000 but Town Administrator John Danizio explained that estimate was based on the cost to run a regular town election, and that the increase to $45,000 was due to the cost of printing additional ballots as well as mailers. Danizio explained a higher turnout is expected for “the biggest dollar-amount election [the town’s] ever had.”

Article 4 passed, and the special election will take place on Saturday November 15. Town Clerk Jennifer Priest explained that early and mail-in voting will be available for residents.

The first big presentation of the evening came with Article 12 (Taken out of order), which proposed an amendment to the Zoning Bylaws, adding an additional subdistrict to the MBTA Communities Multi-Family Overlay District, requested by Nordblom and put forth by the Select Board. Todd Fremont-Smith presented Nordblom’s plan, pending Town Meeting’s approval, to demolish two out-of-use office buildings on Middlesex Turnpike, and construct a 188-Unit, Multi-Family Dwelling across from 3rd Ave. Many Town Meeting members expressed concerns about a potential increase in traffic, and a higher population density in the area would shift the character of the town. Others spoke in favor of the project, saying it would increase the walkability and residential-feel of the area, while also expanding the number of options for housing in town. The body voted in favor of Article 12.

Following a brief recess was a lengthy discussion on Article 9, which would see an amendment to Article XIII of the Town of Burlington General Bylaws. The amendment would see the implementation of a fee for services of the Burlington Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services when responding to a non-emergency lift assist to long-term health care facilities within the town. Select Board Member emphasized that this article is not for money, but to promote change within the three for-profit assisted-living facilities in Burlington, and to have them take action when a resident takes a fall. Burlington Fire Department Chief Andrew Connerty clarified that these proposed fees would go to the facilities and not the residents. Many members wanted to hear more from the facilities and the Council on Aging, and moved to postpone the article, but ultimately the motion to postpone failed. The question was then moved, and Article 9 was voted in favor.

Article 10, a move to amend and rename the Stormwater & Erosion & Sedimentation Control Bylaw, was put forth by the Conservation Commission. This article first went before the body in May 2025, but was defeated with only a single-vote difference. Conservation Commission Member Larry Cohen presented on the article, addressing the concerns previously put forth by Town Meeting Members, mainly a lack of clarity on the amendment, and the removal of oversight by Town Meeting.

History repeated itself when the initial vote was too close to call, so Town Moderator Bill Beyer called for a standing count. The article failed with 45-47 opposed, and thus a roll call was then requested. Once again the article failed, with the final count being 44-48 opposed.

Article 13, a Resolution Concerning Violations at the ICE Detention Facility in Burlington, was put forth and presented by Town Meeting Precinct 5 Member Phyllis Neufeld. Following Neufeld’s presentation, Select Board Chair Mike Espejo spoke on the article, and the situation regarding ICE in Burlington, which has been the center of attention for many months. A few members spoke highly in favor of the article before the questioned was moved. Only five members voted against the article, but a roll call vote was still requested. However, members of the body started filing out, and a challenge of a quorum was put on the floor. The roll call was rescinded, and Town Meeting concluded without an official adjournment.

You can jump to a specific article below. Town Meeting is scheduled to meet again in January.

September 29 2025:

Article 1 – Reports of Town Officers & Committees
Town Administrator John Danizio
Assistant Administrator Patrick Lawlor on on Capital Improvement Program
Betsey Hughes on Government Review Committee
Carl Foss on Human Services Committee

Article 2 – Annual Town Elections

Article 3 – Burlington High School Construction Project

October 6 2025:

Article 4 – Fund Election Costs For Debt Exclusion
Article 5 – Will Of Marshall Simonds (2nd Reading)
Article 6 & 7 – Fund Burlington Police Command Officers’ Contract, and Fund Police Patrolman’s Association Contract 
Article 8 – Article 8, Fund Burlington’s International Firefighters Association Contract (Withdrawn)
Article 12 – Amend Article VIII, Section 8.6.0 MBTA Communities Multi-Family Overlay District

Article 9 – Article 9, Amend Article XIII Section 10 to Add Non-Emergency Lift Assist Fee
Article 11 – Capital Plan Report
Article 13 – Resolution Concerning Violations at the ICE Facility in Burlington