Danvers Town Meeting members approved Monday the establishment of a citizens committee, a ban on Styrofoam for food businesses, and a request for an environmental impact report for Beverly Airport.
A demolition neglect bylaw was passed during the meeting, creating a new bylaw that prevents owners of homes on the National Register deemed the “most nationally significant structures” from allowing the property to reach a state of deterioration.
The bylaw would apply to 104 parcels in the town’s historic districts and eight homes outside of them – 1.19% of the town’s total properties. One such property is the historic Ingersoll’s Tavern that’s in dire disrepair and has stood empty since being bought in 2011.
Danvers residents considered 43 warrant items during the annual town meeting at Danvers High School.
Article 7, which sought to establish a “Citizens Committee,” was passed unanimously. The committee will be made up of seven town meeting members, appointed by the town moderator to review and update the “Danvers Town Meeting Act” and “Danvers Town Manager Act” that dictate how Town Meeting decisions are enacted and the authority of the town manager.
Article 38, which Town Meeting member Michael Trainor submitted a similar version of at the last annual Town Meeting, sought to implement a recall process for elected officials in Danvers. Instead of receiving another vote of no action, this year the vote referred the matter to the citizens committee established by Article 7.
Article 8, a vote to amend town bylaws to ban the use of Styrofoam in food establishments was approved by town meeting members.
Article 40, introduced by resident Mark Zubreck, sought to send a letter of support to legislators to expedite the process of improving the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) from Beverly Airport to maximize tax receipts from the 170 acres of the property within Danvers.
Article 41, also introduced by Zubreck, was a vote to ask airport commissioners to explore and perform an environmental impact report to protect resident’s health and quality of life. Both articles were passed by town meeting members.
Article 42, submitted by Zuberek, sought to reverse the imposition of the $200 annual trash fee enacted last year during a Special Town Meeting. Zuberek argued that the authorization of the fee was introduced without legislative body consultation or approval.
Town meeting members voted to support the Finance Committee’s recommendation of no action.