ONSET FIRE DISTRICTANNUAL MEETINGMay 18, 2026WARRANT Plymouth County, SS.TO: Mary E. McCoy – Clerk TreasurerIn the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Onset Fire District, qualified to vote in the District Affairs, to meet in the Onset Fire Station, 8 Sand Pond Road, Onset, Massachusetts, on Monday evening May 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. to act on the following articles:ARTICLE: 1To hear reports of Officers and Committees, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 2To see if the District will vote to authorize the Clerk-Treasurer, with the approval of the Prudential Committee, to enter into Compensating Balance Agreements, as permitted by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53F, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending on June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 3To see if the District will vote to authorize the Clerk-Treasurer, with the approval of the Prudential Committee, to borrow in anticipation of revenue for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, in accordance with the Massachusetts General laws, Chapter 44, section 4 and the Acts in amendment thereof, and including in addition thereto, Chapter 849 of the Acts of 1969, as amended, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 4To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the salaries of the following officers for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2026 and ending on June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto:Clerk-Treasurer $121,500.00 Prudential Committee $ 7,500.00Moderator $ 200.00 Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 5To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the following: All District Insurance, Meetings and Elections, All Other Expenses, Contingent Reserve, Ply. County Retirement, Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc., FICA/Medicare, Legal Fees, Audit, Clerk-Treasurer’s General Expenses, Unemployment Comp., Deferred Compensation, Debt & Interest, Clerical & Books -TO Wareham, and Indemnification, for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto. FY26 FY27 DifferenceMeetings & Elections 10,000.00 10,000.00 -All Other Expenses 12,500.00 12,500.00 -Medicare/FICA 31,000.00 31,000.00 -District Insurance 120,000.00 120,000.00 -Contingent Reserve 15,000.00 15,000.00 -Plymouth County Retirement 278,500.00 306,000.00 27,500.00BC/Blue Shield 609,000.00 670,000.00 61,000.00Deferred Compensation 5,000.00 2,500.00 (2,500.00)Legal Fees 60,000.00 50,000.00 (10,000.00)Debt & Interest 385,000.00 385,000.00 -Audit 50,000.00 55,000.00 5,000.00Indemnification 15,000.00 15,000.00 -Clerk-Treasurer Gen Expense 123,700.00 123,700.00 -Unemployment 2,000.00 2,000.00 -Clerical & Book - TOWAREHAM 62,500.00 62,500.00 -Totals $1,779,200.00 $1,860,200.00 $81,000.00Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0 ARTICLE: 6To see if the District will vote to transfer from the following accounts:FROM: TO: AMOUNT:104.5409 Blue Cross 104.5421 Debt & Interest $100,000.00104.5409 Blue Cross FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPEB $100,000.00 OPEB: “Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund” or OPEB Trust fund as defined in Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Statements 43 and 45 for the purpose of funding future financial obligations of the District for health insurance benefits of retirees. The District Treasurer shall be the custodian of the OPEB Trust fund for the period ending June 30, 2026.Or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 7 Reduction of District Meeting QuorumTo see if the District will vote to amend Article IV of the By-Laws of the Onset Fire District by deleting the current text of Article IV, Section 4, and inserting in place thereof the following: “Zero (0) qualified voters shall constitute a quorum at any District Meeting, except a meeting called for the purpose of electing District officers by ballot.” Or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 8: Selection of ModeratorTo see if the District will vote to discontinue the electing of moderators for a term and amend Article III of the By-Laws of the Onset Fire District by deleting the current text of Article III and inserting in place thereof the following, or act anything thereon or thereunto:Section 1: The officers of the Onset Fire District shall consist of an elected Prudential committee of three persons, and elected Board of Water Commissioners of three persons, an appointed Chief of the Fire Department (Fire Chief), and an appointed Clerk-Treasurer. The aforementioned persons shall hold no other District office. The above appointed officers shall be residents of the District or shall establish and maintain residency withing the District within one year of appointment. One member of the Prudential Committee and one member of the Board of Water Commissioners shall be elected to serve for a term of three (3) years at each annual meeting.The above mentioned officers shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, and all candidates for District offices shall be on one ballot. All officers of the District, except the Fire Chief, maybe call members of the Fire Department.Section 2: Any vacancies occurring in any elected office, except Moderator, shall be filled by written ballot at any legal meeting call for that purpose.The Prudential Committee may appoint a temporary Clerk-Treasurer in the case of a vacancy or in the case of the Clerk-Treasurer’s disability.The Prudential Committee may appoint an Acting Fire Chief in the case of vacancy or in the case of the Fire Chief’s disability.Section 3: The officers of the District shall receive respectively for the service such compensation as the District may determine at its Annual Meeting.Section 4: At every District Meeting, a Moderator will be chosen by ballot. The Moderator need not be a resident of the District.Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 9 To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $307,281.34 for the salaries of the Board of Engineers, who shall act as permanent firefighters of the Fire Department and shall be paid as follows or as set by any collective bargaining agreements:Personnel Payroll FY27Chief Engineer - 5201 $143,461.21Chief Engineer Holiday Pay-5206 $8,276.40Assistant Engineer - 5202 $108,567.44Assistant Engineer Overtime - $46,976.29Assistant Engineer - Total $137,594.53For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, or act anything or thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Fire ChiefApproved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 10 To see if the district will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,545,481.70 for the payroll account of the Fire Department, which shall cover the hourly wages for emergencies, drills, details, shift coverage, stipends, and longevity pay for Career and Call members as set by the Chief Engineer for each hour or half-hour thereof, at the following rates or as specified by collective bargaining agreements.CALL DEPARTMENT FY26 FY27 Diff.(%)CAPTAINS $25.05 $25.55 2LIEUTENANTS $23.86 $24.34 2FIREFIGHTERS $22.64 $23.09 2SUB FIREFIGHTERS $21.41 $21.84 2DISPATCHERS/AER $22.64 $23.09 2RECRUITS $15.00 $15.00 0INTERNS $15.00 $15.00 0Longevity Pay, Permanent personnel: 05 years – 10 years = $175.00, 11 years – 15 years = $200.00, 16 years – 20 years = $300.00 21 years – 25 years = $400.00, 25 + years = $500.00Driver / Operator stipends: $50.00 per major piece of apparatus, not to exceed $350.00 per driver/ operator, before December 31st and 100 paid incidents.Stipends: Permanent personnel, $400.00 per contractual qualification; Call personnel, $250.00 per qualification, before December 31st, and 100 paid incidents. Stipends categories: Emergency Medical Technician (All Levels), Hazardous Materials Technician, Technical Team Member (All Disciplines), Department of Fire Services Instructor, Fire Alarm Technician, Emergency Vehicle Technician Certifications, Certified Fire Alarm Technician, Chief Fire Officer, Fire Inspector, and Executive Fire Officer or as set by any Collective Bargaining Agreements for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Fire ChiefComment: This budget includes the hiring of an additional day person, who shall act as a permanent firefighter as well as assist with fire inspections/fire prevention.ARTICLE: 11To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $404,000.00 for the following existing and new Fire Department accounts:Operating Budget FY26 FY27 Difference ($)102.5209 Maintenance & Operation New $210,000.00 $230,000.00 $ 20,000.00102.5210 Human Resources $20,000.00 $0,000.00 $ -20,000.00103.2022 Matching Funds $0.00 $0.00 $0.00103.5210 Fire Hose Maintenance $10,000.00 $20,000.00 $10,000.00103.5212 PPE Purchase & Maintenance $15,000.00 $40,000.00 $25,000.00103.5215 Apparatus Repair $25,000.00 $40,000.00 $15,000.00103.5217 Generator $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $0.00103.5222 Radios Maintenance $30,000.00 $20,000.00 $ -10,000.00103.5225 Haz-Mat $0.00 $0.00 $0.00103.5231 Rescue Tools $0.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00103.5238 Computers/Phones/Electronics $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $0.00103.5239 Fire Alarm $0.00 $0.00 $0.00103.5240 Rescue Boat $2,000.00 $20,000.00 $18,000.00103.5245 Training Programs $5,000.00 $10,000.00 $ 5,000.00103.5251 Air Pack/Comp Maintenance $65,000.00 $10,000.00 -$55,000.00103.5252 Defibrillator/CPR $2,000.00 $2,000.00 $0.00103.5256 New Equipment $0.00 $0.00 $0.00103.5258 New Vehicle $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 103.5261 Cran Hwy Expansion $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 103.5263 Thermal Imager $0.00 $0.00 $0.00103.5266 Health & Wellness $3,000.00 $5,000.00 $2,000.00103.5267 Contractual Benefits & Liabilities $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 103.5269 Gear Washer $0.00 $0.00 $0.00103.5270 Fire Station $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 TOTALS $393,000.00 $404,000.00 $11,000.00Special appropriation funds are to be added to monies now available for the described purposes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Fire ChiefARTICLE: 12 To see if the district will vote to authorize and direct the Clerk-Treasurer to make the following transfers:Transfer the remaining balance from the Cranberry Hwy Project account, 103.5261, to the Radios account, 103.5222;Transfer the following amounts from the Payroll account, 102.5207 to:Fire Alarm account, 103.5239, $107,030.05(FOR REQUIRED FIRE ALARM EQUIPMENT UPGRADES);Radios account, 103.5222, $50,000.00 (FOR REQUIRED DISPATCH EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE UPGRADES); and transfer any remaining funds in the Payroll account, 102.5207 at the close of the fiscal year 2026, after the above transfers, into a new account District’s Stabilization Fund, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Fire ChiefARTICLE: 13To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate, from Water Department Revenue, the sum of $645,800.00 into the Water Department’s “Payroll” account for the Water Department personnel and the Water Superintendent, for fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners 3-0-0ARTICLE: 14To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate from Water Department Revenue the sum of $1,202,500.00 for following: M&O, Medical Insurance, Property Insurance & Workers Compensation, Plymouth County Retirement, FICA/Medicare, Meter Revitalization, and Debt & Interest, for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2026 and ending on June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto. FY 2026 FY 2027 DIFERENCEM&O $250,000.00 $250,000.00 -MEDICAL INSURANCE $417,000.00 $459,000.00 $42,000.00PROPERTY INSURANCE $110,000.00 $120,000.00 $10,000.00PLYMOUTH COUNTY RETIREMENT $172,500.00 $189,000.00 $16,500.00MEDICARE/FICA $9,500.00 $9,500.00 -METER REVITALIZATION PROGRAM - - -DEBT AND INTEREST $175,000.00 $175,000.00 -TOTALS $1,134,000.00 $1,202,500.00 $68,500.00Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners 3-0-0ARTICLE: 15To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate, from Water Department Revenue, the sum of $7,500.00 into the Water Department’s “Board of Water Commissioners” account #5509 for salaries of the Board of Water Commissioners, to be disbursed equally, for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2026 and ending on June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 16To see if the District will vote to authorize and direct the Clerk-Treasurer to transfer the balance of monies from the following accounts into the specified accounts at the close of fiscal year 2026 or act anything thereon or thereunto:FROM TO AMOUNT6005.5529 - BCBS 6006.5503 - WATER MAINS $41,500.006005.5529 - BCBS 6006.5519 - WELL RENOVATIONS $41,500.006005.5529 - BCBS 6006.5520 - WATER SER TRUCK $43,000.006005.5529 - BCBS 6006.5545 - FUTURE STANDPIPE Balance After All Transfers6005.5001 - PAYROLL 6006.5503 - WATER MAINS $50,000.006005.5001 - PAYROLL 6006.5513 - COMP SOFTWARE $15,000.006005.5001 - PAYROLL 6006.5519 - WELL RENOVATIONS $50,000.006005.5001 - PAYROLL 6006.5547 - METER PROGRAM Balance After All TransfersSubmitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0ARTICTLE: 17To see if the District will vote to transfer from Solar Panel Funds the sum of $50,132.43 into the Future Standpipe Account #6006.5545 for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 18To see if the District will vote to transfer from the Solar Panel Funds the sum of $16,710.81 to “Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund” or OPEB Trust Fund as defined in Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Statements 43 and 45 for the purpose of funding future financial obligations of the District for health insurance benefits of retirees. The District Treasurer shall be the custodian of the OPEB Trust Fund, for Fiscal Year 2026 or to act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 19To see if the District will vote to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the Onset Water Department and the Teamsters Union Local 59, Affiliated with I.B. of Teamsters, for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 20: Well Station ImprovementsTo see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate from water revenue or borrow or transfer from available funds the sum of $2,500,000.00 for Well Station Improvements. Well Station Improvements include rehabilitating, upgrading and modifying Well Stations 3, 4, 5 and 6. The work to be done includes the repair and replacement of the roofs; rehabilitation of coatings of flooring and exterior and interior walls; electrical and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) upgrades; and acquisition and installation of emergency power generator equipment, propane tanks, variable frequency drives and appurtenances necessary to provide emergency backup power for use at Well Stations 3, 4, 5 and 6; including all cost incidental. This work will enhance the functionality and reliability of the water supply infrastructure. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 21: Water Distribution System ImprovementsTo see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, and/or transfer from available funds the sum of $2,500,000.00 for Water Distribution System Improvements. The work to be done replaces and rehabilitates unlined, inadequate, aged and vulnerable water mains, deteriorated service connections, eliminates dead ends in the water mains, and replaces hydrants, valves, and other associated appurtenances. This work will address areas of vulnerability, water main aging, and those areas with low volumes and pressures. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 22: Water Storage ImprovementsTo see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate from water revenue or borrow or transfer from available funds the sum of $5,000,000.00 for Water Storage Improvements. The work to be done removes and replaces the existing drinking water storage tank and includes valves, water mains, fencing, and associated infrastructure necessary to secure, maintain, and operate the new tank. This work will protect the public by providing water for firefighting needs and provide required drinking water storage to meet peak water demands. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, or act anything thereon or thereunto.Submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners: 3-0-0Approved by Prudential Committee: 3-0-0ARTICLE: 23To choose the following officers, all to be on one ballot, one (1) member of the Prudential Committee for a 3-year term, and one (1) Water Commissioner for a 3-year term.Submitted and approved by the Prudential Committee: 3-0-0You are hereby directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies of the same in two (2) public places, seven (7) days at least, before the time of said meeting.Given under our hands at Onset, this 16th Day of April; in the year 2026.PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE:Pamela Pike ChairMarcine Fernandes, ClerkKarl Baptiste, MemberMary E. McCoy, ClerkAttest: True Copy
