It's that time of year again: the Special Town Meeting. On the warrant this year are your boring, run of the mill articles, but this year the Selectmen and the Planning Board have thrown in a little something to prevent you from dozing off during the rousing discussions of special mitigation funds and line item transfers: sex.
Yes, folks, sex. Tucked away into the dry little warrant dealing with the sign code and dumpsters is a change to the zoning by laws creating a new smut district conveniently located off of Rt 128. Neighbors - commercial and residential - of the proposed Allied Drive location, and one in particular, are none too pleased with the thought of sex toys and videos being peddled steps away from their doorsteps. I think when all is said and done the two boards offering the amendment have found the best of the few available options, and I plan to support it - with a couple minor amendments.
To help you make a more informed decision I've included after the jump some resources for your review. You can always find this diary by clicking on the picture of the Town Crier in the left hand column. (Random fact: There is an American Guild of Town Criers. They still ring bells and everything.)
First off, the warrant. This lays out the 13 items we have on the agenda for the evening of November 17th.
Next, here is what the sex offender by law will look like should the amendments in Article Nine pass. The changes are highlighted.
Those of you fortunate enough to have Peter Zhaka as your attorney, or friend, have probably already received this, but here is his summary of zoning and sign articles that appear. Nothing like a lawyer to break things down and make them simpler for you.
Here is a link to the Town's by laws. They are still somewhat out of date, but the sex offender by law was finally added to it in the last week, so thank you to whomever was responsible for that.
These are all the posts that have been written here dealing with this Very Special Town Meeting.
