Though turnout at Hancock’s Special Town Meeting was small, the will of the people was clear – unanimously, voters agreed to cure a noticing defect that rendered two March Town Meeting votes illegal.
In March, the voters gave their OK to two bond issuances – one for up to $350,000 for rebuilding Tannery Hill Road and Middle Road between Vatcher Road and the Peterborough town line, and the other for up to $138,900 to purchase a new loader.
However, before voters deliberate on bonds at Town Meeting, the town must first hold public hearings where residents can ask questions or have concerns addressed. By law, notice of these hearings must be posted at least seven days in advance. Hancock did hold bond hearings, and did notice them correctly initially. But a weather warning delayed the hearing and when it was re-noticed, the notices were not posted seven days prior to the rescheduled date.
Twenty-three voters came out to Wednesday’s Special Town Meeting to vote to cure the noticing defect, which would allow the votes taken in March to stand.
“We are not voting on the bond,” said Select Board Chair John Jordan. “We are voting to cure the defect, which is that the notice did not appear within the proper length of time.”
Because both votes originally involved bonds, the votes on Tuesday required a 2/3 ballot vote and for the polls to stay open for an hour. After a perfunctory hearing the voters present handed in their ballots – unanimously agreeing to cure the defect.
Only one resident offered an opinion on the proceedings.
“I encourage everyone to vote yes,” said resident Neal Cass. “Procedural errors happen.”
However, Cass added, he also encouraged the Select Board to be as communicative with the public as possible in these circumstances.
“The public hearing prior to this meeting was held at 7 p.m. on a Friday night. This meeting was held the day after the Fourth of July. I looked on the website for the time of this meeting, and I couldn’t find it. It would be in your interest to be transparent on this,” said Cass.
While Moderator Richard Haskins affirmed that the meeting and the prior public hearing had been noticed properly at public places around town, in the newspaper and on the website, he acknowledged Cass’s point that the notice of the Special Town Meeting was not currently displayed on the town’s home page.