At a nearly empty public hearing, the Select Board outlined the procedure that will be followed for a Special Town Meeting vote on July 5, in order to correct a noticing error that affected two votes during Town Meeting.
With only one member in the audience who was not press, the Select Board held a perfunctory hearing on the issue. Select Board Chair John Jordan explained that prior to March meeting, in accordance with state statute, the town had held a public hearing to discuss two March Town Meeting votes that involved payment through a bond: one for up to $350,000 for the purpose of rebuilding Tannery Hill Road and Middle Road and the other for up to $138,900 to purchase a new loader.
The public hearing for the bond issues was originally correctly noticed more than seven days prior to the hearing, said Jordan.
However, a severe winter storm warning delayed the hearing, and when it was rescheduled, the notice appeared within the seven days required by law due to clerical error, said Jordan.
While the vote is technically to cure the noticing defect and ratify the votes taken in March, a “no” vote would ultimately mean that those votes are invalid and the money can’t be spent, said Jordan.
As the town voted 110-6 in favor of the road rebuild and 115-3 on the loader purchase, Jordan said he has confidence that the issues will not be contentious ones.
“I think the will of the voters is pretty clear on these,” said Jordan.
Each vote will require a ballot vote and two-thirds majority to pass.
The voting for each issue will stay open for one hour, explained Jordan. At the start of the meeting, the first noticing issue will be explained, there will be time for discussion, and then voting will open.
After a reasonable amount of time for members of the public to vote, the discussion of the second issue and voting on that will begin, said Jordan. Then, both ballot boxes will be counted after each has been open for an hour.
The special meeting will be held on July 5 at 7 p.m. in the meeting room at the bottom of the town office.