Most of the items discussed did not seem particularly divisive...but we managed to ask enough questions that we stayed until 10:00 anyway. All articles passed.
The big one was the proposal to acquire property on Lincoln Street to create a parking lot. On the one hand, Needham's downtown *does* need more parking, and for that reason I had intended to vote for it. On the other hand, multiple affordable housing advocates raised concerns about Needham going in the wrong direction by tearing down housing to make more room for parking - there were other concerns raised too, but that was the one which stuck with me. Had the town been doing more elsewhere in that regard I wouldn't have minded, but as it was I voted no.
Other proposals involved a new fire truck (one member raised a question about whether the information on lifespans was accurate; a similar truck, which did not include a ladder, lasted 22 years - but it's a different kind, only included a pumper, and this type lasts 15-20 - voted yes), garage bays for the department of public works vehicles (lots of questions... but it was just a feasibility study, and frankly I think a study can answer them effectively - voted yes), appropriations for this fiscal year to two funds we had debated in the special town meeting for last fiscal year (voted the same way I did in the special meeting; one yes, one no), and a fund to set up replacement and repairs for athletic fields, usually artificial turf. That had a lot of discussion on various issues; one of the most interesting was the propensity of turf to cause injuries, which as a baseball purist I'm certainly well aware of. But the fields were already installed by a generous donation to the town and there had been no complaints, so I couldn't justify opposing a fund to maintain them; I voted yes. Then various people were honored for their service to town meeting and civic life and town meeting dissolved.
Overall, this was a fascinating experience - I can't say I accomplished much, but I certainly learned a lot and I voted my conscience and I'm proud of how I served. I'm going to continue getting into involvement with municipal affairs - not everything is done at town meeting, after all, and I have plenty of time on my hands.
And I'll be back for the next special town meeting, and again next year - I won a two year term, after all.
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