Swampscott’s next Town Meeting will be held on Monday, December 1, and there are 10 articles up for vote. Here’s a deeper look into each one.

Article No. 1

The first article of the night will be focused on prior fiscal years’ bills. The vote will authorize the payment of the bills or to transfer available funds to do so. The 13 invoices up for vote total $11,735.54.

The oldest amount is due to Essex Media Group for a legal notice from the Planning Department. The invoice for $150 is from September 30, 2023. The department also owes Essex Media Group $150 from March 2, 2024.

The Fire Department spent $4,042 for a fire hose from Bergeron Protective Clothing. The invoice is from October 5, 2023.

Gallagher Risk Management billed on May 13, 2025 for $1,147 in auto insurance.

Kelley & Ryan Associates invoiced for a total of $3,017 for a deputy collector between May 23 and June 20, 2025. 

In April, Fire Equipment Inc. reset fire alarms for $1,311.09.

UTEC Inc. charged $1,426 in May for mattress recycling. The Registry of Deeds invoiced for $105 the same month.

The most recent invoice, on June 30, was by Crown Trophy for July 4 trophies by the Select Board, at $387.45.

The Select Board and Finance Committee will both report on this article on December 1.

The article requires a 9/10th vote to pass, per Massachusetts General Law. 

Article No. 2

The Select Board is sponsoring an article to amend various line items in the fiscal year 2026 budget and transfer funds or borrow money as needed.

The transfers are based on previously voted employment contracts, contractually obligated costs or other known adjustments needed for the fiscal year.

The amendment would decrease the compensation line for the now-vacant director of finance and administration position by $50,000. That money would be allocated to the consultant line by the same amount to cover the work until a replacement is hired.

At the same time, there would be an increase to the property and casualty insurance expense line by $43,000, which would be offset by a decrease in the same amount in workers compensation.

Article No. 3

This article will fund the cost of items contained in the provisions of the first year of the collective bargaining agreement between the town and union collective bargaining units for the fire department, police department, and library. The money will cover the period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028.

Article No. 4

Article No. 4 is about transferring $26,292 reimbursement funds the town received from the state to the school department. The funds will be moved from free cash to the 2026 fiscal year school operating budget to be used to offset costs in the school budget for homeless and foster care transportation. 

In the 2025 fiscal year, the school operating budget incurred $88,970 in costs for homeless and foster care transportation. The town received a $26,292 reimbursement from the state for a portion of the expenses, which was paid into the town’s general fund.

The law requires that homeless and youth program children that attend school assigned to them by their local district are entitled to the same transportation offered to others in the district.

Article No. 5 

The vote would be to rescind the previous May vote taken on then-Article No. 6.

Article No. 6 from the May Town Meeting approved the transfer of an additional $400,000 from the free cash to the special education reserve fund, which was established at the 2023 annual Town Meeting to fund unanticipated or unbudgeted costs for the program. 

The free cash funds are accessible after the school department’s own special education circuit breaker funds drop below $600,000. 

The Select Board had recommended favorable action.

Now the Select Board is sponsoring the December Article No. 5 because the transfer previously approved combined with limited usage and ongoing Medicaid receipts dedicated to the funds would create a balance in the reserve that exceeds the statutory limit. The reserve fund cannot exceed 2% of the annual net school spending of the district.

Article No. 6

This article would transfer $94,864 of free cash to the special education reserve fund “in accordance with an agreement in place between the Select Board and the School Committee.”

Article No. 7

Article No. 7 is a vote to take some of the surplus money resulting from the town general fund operation as of the end of the 2025 fiscal year and use it to offset the tax levy for the 2026 fiscal year. 

Article No. 8

The vote would appropriate the transfer of a $350,000 grant from the general fund for the new side entrance to the Children’s Room at the Swampscott Public Library. The work would coincide with the improvements to the front entrance of the library that are already underway.

There is a $250,000 grant opportunity that will be able to defray some of the $350,000 costs. The grant application has been submitted but an award has not been made yet. Should the library receive the grant, the local cost for these improvements would be reduced to $100,000.

The first phase of construction at the front entrance of the library started on Wednesday, November 12. 

Article No. 9

Town Meeting Members will vote to appropriate $205,810, “or any greater amount,” ton pay for the improvement, renovation and equipment of Abbott Park with new rubber safety surfacing.

Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announced in October that $12 million in state grants were set aside for community projects, including $100,000 for Abbott Park. The grant will go to remove the existing surface material and install new, accessible safety surfacing to ensure a safer play area for children and families.

The Select Board and/or its designee will also be approved to apply for grants under the PARC Grant Program. 

The article requires a ⅔ vote, per Massachusetts General Law.

Article No. 10

Article No. 10 will vote to extend the right of the Select Board to extend the use of and/or authorize the Select Board to lease all or a portion of the town-owned property at 149-169 Humphrey St. for an additional period that should not extend beyond December 31, 2028. 

In June 2022, a Special Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved the purchase of several properties, including the Hawthorne parcel and the Archer Street project. The article authorized the Select Board to acquire 149–169 Humphrey Street by gift, purchase, or eminent domain for municipal use, passing 214–3.

A January 2023 community brainstorming session identified public space as the top priority. In January of 2023, there was a half-day community brainstorming session. Community space was seen as the most important priority. The strongest support was for “park/open space/green space,” with multi-use space coming in second. When it came to “iconic” concepts, open space ideas overwhelmingly led the way.

The Select Board formed the Hawthorne Re-Use Advisory Committee in February 2025. The committee presented to the Select Board on Wednesday, November 19 that it selected Plan G1, which includes two rows of buildings – totaling roughly 25,000 square feet if constructed as two stories – set perpendicular to the road, with an about 40-foot “gap” with an archway or building stories above, if the buildings are more than one floor, so there is a clear view into the courtyard and open space area. The model includes approximately 28 parking spaces.

The committee also previously discussed whether to retain the Hawthorne-by-the-Sea restaurant building. Chair Brian Watson said the group concluded that retaining the restaurant structure would not best support goals such as ocean views and revenue generation. He added that public sentiment also leaned away from preserving it.

Town Administrator Nick Connors announced at the November 6 Select Board meeting that he learned of the Athanas family’s decision on October 23. That same weekend, he discovered some of the family’s personal items inside the building were being auctioned.

The Athanas family said the property was sold three years ago and that they are “ready to move on” as the town advances its plans.