Mattapoisett residents voted on 12 articles at Special Town Meeting on Monday night All but one of the articles passed. See an explanation of each article and the outcome from the meeting below:

Home Rule Petition for Ratification: Health Care Insurance - PASSED

Voters ratified a policy under which the town will pay 50 percent of employees’ health insurance premiums, rather than 75 percent.

Town Administrator Mike Gagne explained that, over the past several years, town officials and departments have gradually shifted that percentage to an equal 50/50 contribution from the town and employees.

Union and nonunion employees have all approved the policy, beginning with the police on July 1, 2010, and most recently the teachers’ union on August 27 of this year. Those hired prior to the policy changes are grandfathered into the 75/25 model.

In the town’s $20 million dollar budget, $2 million was spent on insurance, he said.

“This is definitely a cost saving measure. I think all parties realize we have to control the rise of health insurance costs.”

Home Rule Petition for Appointment of Harbormaster - PASSED

A “home rule petition” would give Selectmen more authority over the harbormaster.

Massachusetts General Law states that a harbormaster, once hired, can only be removed from office “for neglect of duty, negligence or conduct unbecoming a harbormaster.”

“There’s no performance standard built into that,” said Gagne.

The petition must be approve by the state Legislature and Governor, after which it will allow Selectmen to evaluate the harbormaster’s performance and negotiate a contract every three years, as they do with other town employees, Gagne said.

For more on this issue, click here.

Tinkham Forest Trail System - PASSED

Voters approved designated trails across private property to access Tinkham Forest, a property deeded to the town in 1968 that have now been clearly defined through GPS mapping.

The town made an agreement with surrounding landowners in 2003 allowing access to the land for Mattapoisett residents; however, Gagne said, “It was somewhat nebulous on the issue as to how and which way they got to Tinkham Forest.”

The primary access route is through the Bay Club, allowing access from Route 6 by foot or non-motorized bicycle.

Purchase of land on Chapel Road - INDEFINITELY POSTPONED

Resident Brad Hathaway and other sponsors requested $110,000 from the Community Preservation Fund to purchase a 3.1-acre plot on Chapel Road. When the property was put on the open market earlier this year, the residents became concerned that it would be developed. The group wants to preserve the land, which currently acts as a buffer between Route 6 and Chapel Road.

Land Acquisition Acushnet Road - PASSED

Voters passed an article to appropriate $155,000 for a parcel of land requested by the Water and Sewer Department to protect land adjacent to a potential water well.

Facilities, Town Equipment, Town Asset Care, Upkeep, and Improvements - PASSED

This article requested a $100,000 appropriation from the town’s Free Cash Fund that gives $45,000 to replace the Police Department’s generator, which has not been functioning properly, and $7,500 to repair historic Mello Wharf.

Handicap Accessible Bathrooms at the Parks - PASSED

In a separate article, Selectmen sought $35,000 to make the bathrooms at Shipyard Park, Town Beach, and Ned’s Point handicap accessible, as required by law.

Road paving on Mattapoisett Neck Road - PASSED

Following a sewer project on Mattapoisett Neck Road, residents voted to appropriate $230,000 from Free Cash to expand a paving plan. Originally, only the parts of the road affected by the sewer project were to be repaved; the expansion would allow the majority of the road to be paved in the spring.

General Bylaw Change - Late Fee for Dog Licensing - PASSED

For those delinquent in licensing their dogs, the Animal Control Department sponsored an article to change the “final late fee” from $30 to $50. The town sends owners three notices regarding the license, which costs $7 for spayed and neutered pets and $10 for others.

Amendment to Water and Sewer Enterprise Budgets - PASSED

The Water and Sewer Department presented an article to transfer funds from salary to expense in the 2013 budget.

Expenses Associated with Tax Title Sales - PASSED

Residents voted to appropriate $15,000 from Free Cash for the purpose of covering costs associated with selling town owned land. The funds will be used to assess wetlands on land, whether or not they are buildable, and other tests.

Storm Water Drainage Easement Acquisition - PASSED

Residents voted to appropriate $15,000 from Free Cash to acquire rights to a drainage easement created several decades ago.