Warrant Article Title:
HOME RULE LEGISLATION/SENIOR WATER DISCOUNT

Discussion:
*This articles returns to the Warrant from the 2020 Annual Town Meeting. The Select Board urges Town Meeting’s positive action on this effort to extend the availability of water discounts to a broader set of qualifying Arlington seniors.  At present, the Town is only afforded discretion to offer water and sewer discounts to seniors who meet the qualifications for 17D and 41C property tax exemption criteria.  Successful action on this Home Rule Petition will provide discounts on the water and sewer fees could be extended to a wider set of seniors who, for example, participate in the Arlington’s Tax Deferral program and/or Senior Tax Work-off Exemption programs.  As Town Meeting may recall, under those programs, to be eligible, residents must be 65 years old, a resident of Massachusetts for 10 years, and homeowner for 5 years, and income eligible. The Select Board stresses that it would still retain year of water rates.

Vote Language:

That the Town does hereby request and authorize the Select Board to file Home Rule Legislation to provide substantially as follows:

“AN ACT AUTHORIZING SENIOR WATER & SEWER DISCOUNTS 
IN THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Select Board of the Town of Arlington may discount fees charged to income eligible residents aged 65 and over for the use of the town's water and sewer system. 

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. 

(5 – 0)

 

Select Board Report