Sharon residents passed all warrant articles except for one at their Town Meeting on Wednesday, situated in the ConVal gym to allow for social distancing.
The article that failed would have developed a new website and funded its maintenance. Only about 20 residents attended the meeting, Town Administrator Debra Harling said.
On Tuesday, Sharon voters reelected Diane Callahan as Select Board member, casting 67 votes to challenger Carl Newton’s 22. Susan Bowles was reelected as Treasurer with 90 votes, Town Clerk Jane Murray was reelected with 89 votes (one vote went to Tracy Craig), and Tax Collector Karen Dufresne received 89 votes. Chester Bowles received 41 votes for a Trustee of the Trust Funds position, with eight write-in candidates also named, and Jaimee Rondeau received seven votes for an Audit Board seat among 15 other write-in candidates.
The 2021 budget is set at $370,812, a 1.37 percent decrease from the $375,955 voted in at last year’s meeting.
Article 2 asks voters to approve the amounts paid to town officers. PASSED
Article 3 asks voters to pass the budget. PASSED
Article 4 asks voters to spend $7,000 for developing a new website and entering a web maintenance contract. If approved, annual contract fees would become part of the annual budget. FAILED
Article 5 asks voters to add $500 to the Legal Expense capital reserve fund. PASSED
Article 6 asks voters to add $5,000 to the Town Bridge capital reserve fund. PASSED
Article 7 asks voters to add $3,000 to the Assessing Reserve capital reserve fund. PASSED
Article 8 asks voters to add $2,000 to the Welfare Services non-capital reserve fund. PASSED
Article 9 asks voters to add $75,000 to the Town Highway Repairs capital reserve fund. PASSED