While most of the town’s warrant passed with little contention on the floor, one of the most divisive of the year was a request to extend the veterans tax credit.
Article 10 this year asked that the tax credit be extended to all veterans who had served at least 90 days in the military and were honorably discharged. Currently, the tax is only available to veterans who served in qualifying wars.
Resident Patty Winebrenner, herself a long-serving veteran, said she had qualms about the short length of time allowed by the statute.
“Someone who barely made it out of basic training is going to get the same benefit as someone who served for years?” she said. “I don’t feel good about that.”
Residents requested a ballot vote, and ultimately, the tax credit was approved by a 90-34 vote.
The rest of the warrant was approved in fairly quick order. The town approved its $1.3 million budget after a brief explanation of the changes.
Voters approved a $12,300 article to construct a storage addition to the Mansfield Library.
Voters elected a new selectman, Bill Ezell, at the polls Thursday. He narrowly defeated incumbent George Willard 216 to 205 despite being described by voters as “an unknown.”
“This is how Town Meetings should be, friendly no matter what,” he said while standing with Willard on election day. “I’m new school, and I’m still for Town Meeting.”
Mary Amsden, a resident and voter, supported him: “I’ve seen the way he interacts with people, and he would be a great addition for the town.”
The Town Meeting comment came as residents voted on whether to switch to Senate Bill 2, eliminating Town Meeting in favor of a deliberative session and ballot vote. That measure failed by a vote of 230 to 190.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com.