MIDDLEBORO – Residents will be asked to vote on 14 items at Middleboro’s Special Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 16.

Voters will be able to weigh in on a number of money transfers including ones that will allow for the replacement of water mains and an upgraded public safety radio system and  for updated town-wide accounting software.

Residents will be asked to vote on appropriating funds to replace the water main on Wareham Street. According to Town Manager James McGrail, the project will be funded by $7,493,622 in funds borrowed from the water enterprise funds and $934,378 being funded through an American Rescue Plan Act grant.

Similarly, the town is looking to borrow funds through the water enterprise fund to complete the water main replacement project on Center Ave, Anderson Ave, and North Main Street. 

According to McGrail, this project will include the paving of roads and the amount borrowed will be $8,663,000 with debt services being paid through water rates. 

An updated public safety radio system will be up for vote.

According to McGrail, the town is asking to appropriate $275,000 to the Fire Department for the installation of radio transmitting and receiving equipment and $425,000 for upgrades to the public radio safety radio system. 

Fire Chief Owen Thompson said that the current equipment is 25 years old and is unreliable in certain areas of town.

“I totally support this project,” said Select Board member Thomas White. “We have to protect those that protect us.”

Voters will be asked to decide if the town should appropriate $365,000 to purchase new accounting software to be used throughout the town and schools according to McGrail.

Residents will be asked to vote on appropriating $469,976 in supplementary funds for the fiscal year 2024 general fund budget. 

These funds include $75,000 appropriated to the Town Manager’s budget for the creation of a contract negotiation line item to allow for salary negotiations that come up through the year according to McGrail.

Select Board Vice Chair Brian Giovanoni did not vote to approve of the supplementary funds during a joint Select Board and Finance Committee meeting on Monday, Sept.2. 

“I find it hard to put $75,000 in a slush fund, I think it would be better for [those asking for negotiations]  to come to us and the finance committee and dare I say beg for it,” said Giovanoni. “It just seems like it is easy to give it away and before we blink we will be asking for another $75,000 at Spring Town Meeting.”

Additionally, these supplementary funds include $211,476 to fund network upgrades for the town’s computer system. 

“It is necessary to ensure that equipment is refreshed according to schedule,” said IT Director Tarra Pirraglia. 

Voters will be asked to decide if the town should protect 280.6 acres of fields, forest and wetlands located in northern Middleboro off Vernon, Pleasant and Plymouth streets.

According to McGrail, the protection of this land will further protect the drinking water of the newly established Mizaras well site.

Special Town Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Middleboro High School auditorium.