Last modified: Sunday, January 4, 2009 1:48 AM EST NA to decide motel tax BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTH ATTLEBORO - In a proposal that will increase the town's revenue by about $117,000 each year, Representative Town Meeting members will be asked to implement a hotel and motel tax at Monday's special town meeting. The special town meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the North Attleboro Middle School cafetorium. Any resident can speak about the issues up for consideration, but only RTM members can cast votes at the town meeting. The concept of a local hospitality tax of up to 4 percent has been considered at least twice before - most recently in 2001 when the proposal was rejected because of concerns the tax would drive motel customers to rooms in other communities. Town Administrator Mark Fisher said most of the surrounding communities have already adopted the tax and are reaping the benefit of the additional revenue. Selectmen voted to put the proposal up for consideration at the January town meeting and the finance committee has recommended approval of a 4 percent tax. If approved, the tax will go into effect on July 1. Lawsuit settlement While the hotel and motel tax will not affect the budget this fiscal year, the town will get a boost from another article that asks RTM members to accept almost $560,000 in proceeds received through the settlement of lawsuit against major oil companies. North Attleboro is among 80 communities that joined the class-action lawsuit, which alleged a gasoline additive has caused problems because it can seep into drinking water supplies. The chemical is methyl tertiary butyl ether - known as MTBE - an additive first put in gasoline during the 1980s in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's program to reduce air pollution. North Attleboro's wells tested for small amounts of the gasoline additive in 2001. However, the amount detected was far below the levels listed for concern in water safety guidelines. RTM members will be asked to place the money in the water enterprise fund, which is used to pay for all costs related to the town's water system. The money will be used by the department of public works for an inspection, monitoring and remediation program, as well as a new water source development program to preserve the quality of the town's drinking water. Also to be decided ... In other business, RTM members will be asked: To spend $15,000 to secure the old Webster Mill building at 262 Broadway. The money will be used to clear brush, board windows and erect a security fence to protect passersby from broken glass and prevent further vandalism of the property. The town will be able to recoup the money - eventually- because it can place a lien on the property for the clean-up costs. To spend $14,000 to pay for repairs to several traffic signals. Repairs will be done to the signals on Elm Street at Richards Avenue, Landry Avenue at Kelley Boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue at North Avenue, plus police detail officers to provide traffic control while the work is being completed. Also on tap is a request for $255,000 from the sewer enterprise account for upgrades to building upgrades and vehicle replacements and $225,000 from the water enterprise account for the replacement of water filter media. The town meeting warrant has a total of 15 articles, including requests for funding for unpaid bills from prior years and a few increases to this fiscal year's budget, including $35,000 to the veteran's department to offset a higher demand for veterans' services. AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.