NORFOLK - The fall annual town meeting kicks off Tuesday night, with residents being asked to fund the design of a new public safety building through a form of an override of the state's tax-limiting law, Proposition
2 , called a debt exclusion.

Residents also will be asked to purchase open space, sell the old town hall and make the town clerk position appointed instead of elected.

Voters also will be asked to whether they want to accept a revised master plan, which outlines recommendations on how the town should grow.

The session begins at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of King Philip Middle School off King Street. An expected second night is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.

"I think it is going to be an interesting town meeting," Advisory Board Chairman James Tomaszewski said. The police and fire departments for years have been looking to new quarters to replace the outdated and cramped building off Main Street. Plans are to build a new facility on the site and adjacent land the town hopes to buy from the Federated Church.

"It would be a complete tear-down, and build a new building," Town Administrator Jack Hathaway said. "It may be done in phases to be able to maintain operations in the building."

Requests on the 52-article warrant ask for $1.2 million for architectural expenses, and money for the land acquisition.

The request for design fees is a Proposition 2 debt exclusion requiring a two-thirds vote, and would have to go before voters in an election. The advisory board supports the measure.

A public safety building could run about $15 million, which is what Foxboro's new facility costs. Voters would be asked at a later date to fund the project.

It is hoped costs for the church parcel will be available at town meeting.

Voters will face a request to dip into the Community Preservation Act fund for $550,000 to acquire 44 acres around and including Highland Lake in the eastern part of town for open space and passive recreation.

Advisory board members back the Community Preservation Committee request.

"It seemed to be a very good deal, and it is under the appraised value," Tomaszewski said.

With Marie Chiofolo leaving as town clerk this past summer, selectmen decided it would be a good time to change the position from elected to appointed to better ensure a qualified person fills the job. A change in the position - which is being temporarily filled by Gail Bernardo, who had been assistant town clerk, would also have to go on the spring town election ballot.

Related to the public safety building and hopes for a new elementary school to replace Freeman-Centennial School is a request for $50,000 to study the feasibility of constructing a wastewater treatment plant downtown. Such a plant also would encourage economic development in the center of town.

The article for the old town hall off Main Street would allow selectmen to look into selling it, with an eye toward affordable housing.

Another article asks residents to support accepting a state law that would make the fire chief's position a "strong chief," which would mean he and not selectmen would have more say running the department.

"This officially recognizes the authority we have given him," Hathaway said of Fire Chief Coleman Bushnell. "That is the way we have unofficially been running."

School committee members have proposed an article that calls for each member to get paid $200 a year.

"Many town boards do get paid around that neighborhood. Many school committees do," school board Chairwoman Kim Williams said.

"It really is just a token amount. It is our hope it would make the position of school committee member more attractive. An enormous amount of time is involved. There is also a financial commitment, with traveling, baby-sitting, phone bills."

Advisory board members recommend holding off. "We recommend reviewing at the spring town meeting compensation for all town boards. We shouldn't pick and chose," Tomaszewski said.

Yet another article proposes individual building committees for town projects. The permanent building committee would remain.

"There are several projects coming up in the next few years, the school, public safety, potential recreation building," Hathaway said.

"We felt we need to have a customized group for each."

There are also requests for funds for the water system and to tear down dilapidated buildings on the former Buckley Mann property and seek compensation from the owners, and several zoning bylaw changes.

STEPHEN PETERSON can be reached at 508-236-0377 or at speterson@thesunchronicle.com.