The Fall Town Meeting approved or passed over all agenda items but one on Monday, Oct. 23. 

Among other items, it set policy for the placement of solar farm battery systems, it granted a half million dollars in funding for preservation projects and approved a $36 million sewer-plant spending plan that was rejected by Town Meeting this past summer. 

It denied only an article removing the lottery system from Town Meeting procedure.

Sewer’s second attempt

The Sewer Commission’s request for a $36 million borrowing authorization for repairs to the sewer plant's “headworks” and “clarifier” was approved by Town Meeting.

The request failed at the Special Town Meeting held this past summer. Initially, both town officials and residents had concerns about the request and called for more information about the project's cost and what future repairs would be needed to bring the sewer plant up to date. 

With a more thorough presentation and plenty of discussion, the request passed with few “nays.”

Persevering with preservation

The Community Preservation Committee made four requests for funding at Town Meeting. The funding comes out of Wareham's Community Preservation Act monies. 

A request to purchase 3.5 acres at Marks Cove and a request for improvements to the Douglas S. Westgate Conservation and River Walk property both passed unanimously. 

Two requests for affordable housing funding — one to support a development project on Chapel Lane, one to fund the Affordable Housing Trust — both passed by slimmer margins, accompanied by some skepticism about how that money will be spent. 

Lottery change denied

Voters denied the request to remove the Town Meeting’s lottery process, in which articles are drawn at random.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan submitted the request because the reason the process was put in place — to ensure the meeting met its quorum requirements — no longer applies.

Sullivan said In 2017, Town Meeting eliminated the quorum requirements, so now the lottery serves as more of a nuisance with voters flipping back and forth through the warrant article handout — causing confusion and disorganization.

However, those who spoke against the removal said the system was still necessary to encourage residents to continue to be a part of the full governmental process. The request failed with 46 residents in favor of the removal and 130 against.

Citizens' choice

Town Meeting approved the citizen’s petition request for the town to accept the gift of a granite bench at Swifts Beach from Ciro Tenaglia. However, because the Town Administrator has authority over Wareham property, the request will be deferred to him.

If the Town Administrator accepts the gift, Tenaglia will pay to restore the foundation of the existing bench at Swifts Beach as well as add his own bench in memory of his late wife, Antonietta, who loved spending her time at Swifts Beach.

Resident Jean Welch said she lives at Swifts Beach and has seen the benefit of the existing bench for people who are not physically able to walk on the sand, but still enjoy the beach.

The residents of Candle Paper Lane have petitioned for the town to accept the lane as a public way. In order for this road to become a public way, the layout must be accepted by the Select Board. 

However, the Select Board determined that further study is necessary for the town to accept the lane, as the Planning Board has made requests of the residents that they have not met. The residents are reluctant to accept the requirements, including forming a Homeowners Association and taking responsibility for the drainage. 

Therefore, although the majority of residents voted in favor of the lane becoming a public way, it was only considered an advisory vote.

Zoning rules and regulations

Several zoning regulations were approved by Town Meeting. Most of the articles clarified existing regulations or corrected errors, while some added new requirements. 

One article created a new section in the town's zoning code controlling the where and how of the large scale battery systems used in major solar projects. The batteries have been identified as a potential fire risk, which the new regulations seek to address. 

The Finance Committee said in support of the regulations, "This amendment creates a comprehensive framework governing installation of battery storage systems based on current knowledge of this emerging technology, which will also balance the need to provide for the safety and protection of the Wareham community and its sensitive resources." 

Another zoning change added to the town's cell tower regulations. The addition will require co-location of multiple antennas on the same tower and will help avoid the construction of additional towers. 

Director of Natural Resources Garry Buckminster requested changes to the town's waterways rules. The changes cleaned up the waterway rules that were passed last year, based on comments from the state Attorney General, Buckminster said. 

Town Meeting also passed two articles to streamline and improve the town's regulations on the granting of land use permits.

And in other business...

Town Meeting voted to eliminate two institutions from town government: one elected constable position and the body of the road commissioners. 

The elected constable can finish out the rest of her term and apply to be an appointed constable, according to Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside. The change from elected to appointed brings all the constables under the same rules and regulations, including knowing open meeting law and completing an ethics course. 

Members of the Road Commission have shared the difficulty of dedicating time to the role in addition to their regular positions with the town, according to Select Board Member Alan Slavin. The duties of the Road Commission will fall to the Select Board.