The Stoughton Select Board finalized the warrants for the May 4 Annual and Special Town Meetings on Tuesday night, but the procedural step was overshadowed by a sharp debate regarding the redistribution of school construction funds. Tensions flared over a proposal to transfer $3 million from the High School project to the South School project, an article intended to streamline capital funding through the Special Town Meeting. Member Scott Carrara voiced strong opposition to the move, citing deferred maintenance at the town’s secondary school. I'm against that $3 million going across over there, Carrara said. The High School needs almost a million dollars for the auditorium and ADA problems. We shouldn't throw money to the new school when the High School has needs.

Town Manager Tom Coulter defended the strategy, explaining that placing capital items on the Special Town Meeting warrant allows for quicker procurement using town free cash. It's in our best interest to do capital projects at the special meeting so the money is available immediately for procurement, rather than waiting until July 1st, Coulter noted. Chair Stephen Cavey pointed out that the board’s hands were partially tied by the lack of a formal request from school officials for the high school repairs. The limitation is that we have to receive an article from the schools requesting that, and we haven't, Cavey explained. We can't allocate money to a project no one has asked for.

The board moved through the Annual Town Meeting warrant, which includes 38 articles ranging from routine budgets to technical zoning adjustments. Engineering Director Mark Tisdale noted that several articles aim to align zoning lines with property lines to provide clarity for residents. Motion Made by D. Roberts to insert articles 1 through 38 into the Annual Town Meeting warrant. Motion Passed 5-0-0. Additionally, the board set the date and time for the meeting. Motion Made by D. Roberts to set the Annual Town Meeting for May 4 at 7 p.m. Motion Passed 5-0-0. The Special Town Meeting warrant, which includes the controversial school fund transfer and a roundabout design for Turnpike Street, saw a divided final vote. Member Louis Gitto echoed concerns seen in previous sessions regarding the use of free cash for capital purchases rather than long-term savings. Motion Made by D. Roberts to close and post the Special Town Meeting warrant. Motion Passed 4-1-0, with L. Gitto dissenting.

Traffic safety dominated a significant portion of the evening as Deputy Chief O'Connor presented data on Elm Street, where a week-long study recorded over 11,000 vehicles. O'Connor noted that truck traffic averaged 6.7 percent, exceeding the 5 percent threshold for exclusion. He recommended redesigning intersections at School Street and West Street into T-shapes to improve sightlines. I recommend redesigning the intersections to a T-shape to allow vehicles to make an actual right-hand turn and slow down, O'Connor said. While the Deputy also suggested extending sidewalks toward the youth baseball fields, Member Carrara argued that the $500,000 estimated cost was not justified by pedestrian volume. Those kids aren't walking up Elm Street only during baseball time, Carrara said. Most of the time, those kids are being shipped in there by their parents. I think that sidewalk is a waste of money. Member Joseph Mokrisky urged the board to avoid reactive planning based solely on resident complaints, stating, I think we deserve to show the residents we have a plan and prioritize these projects instead of just coming up out of the blue. The board ultimately referred the Elm Street safety plan to the Engineering Department for further study.

The board took more immediate action on Page Street, where trucks frequenting a new gas station and bagel shop have been blocking travel lanes. O'Connor recommended a 300-foot no-parking zone to prevent accidents on the bend. Trucks are pulling onto Page Street and parking, taking up the whole lane of traffic going toward Canton, O'Connor reported. Member Carrara agreed, noting, somebody's going to get killed. Motion Made by S. Carrara to accept the recommendations from the Deputy regarding Page Street. Motion Passed 5-0-0. For the troubled intersection of Pearl and School Streets, the board opted for a comprehensive consultant review that will weigh the Deputy’s signage recommendations against resident requests for speed tables. One resident argued that speed tables will wake people up, a sentiment Carrara supported. Motion Made by S. Carrara to engage the engineering department to have a traffic consultant review the options for speed humps and signage at the Pearl and School Street intersection. Motion Passed 5-0-0.

In other business, the board held a public hearing for BHUMI Inc., doing business as Neighborhood Variety at 257 School Street. Attorney Pearlman, representing the applicant, noted the business has a 13-year history in town and was seeking a simple change of corporate officers. The current operating hours will remain the same, and the applicant is familiar with the laws relative to the sale of alcohol, Pearlman said. Motion Made by S. Carrara to approve the change of officer, director, and stockholder for BHUMI Inc. Motion Passed 5-0-0. The board also processed two utility petitions, including a Verizon pole location on Central Street. Verizon representative Jarrett explained that the pole was needed to back up the service into the public right-of-way at the request of the resident. Motion Made by S. Carrara to approve the pole location as written. Motion Passed 5-0-0. A National Grid underground conduit petition for Silver Glen Road also received the green light after Mark Tisdale confirmed the project would not interfere with existing water or sewer lines. Motion Made by S. Carrara to approve the underground petition for Silver Glen Road. Motion Passed 5-0-0.

The meeting opened with a moment of silence for Jerry Goulston, a former board member and local businessman. Member Mokrisky praised Goulston’s brilliant financial mind and love for Stoughton. Member Carrara recalled his time serving with him, noting that people would be afraid of him because he was a man of stature and a businessman you had to respect. During public comment, one resident took the podium to retract previous criticisms of the Stoughton Police Department following a life-threatening emergency. Officers responded... they were extremely kind and patient, the resident said. It is clear to me that the remarks that I heard were inaccurate. Chair Cavey also took a moment to congratulate Vice Chair Debra Roberts on her re-election as President of the Massachusetts Select Board Association, calling it a huge honor for the town.