Hancock will hold a Special Town Meeting in July to vote to legalize two issues which were improperly noticed for consideration during March Town Meeting.
In March, the voters gave their OK to two bond issuances – one for up to $350,000 for the purpose of 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 the voting body deliberates on bonds at Town Meeting, the town must first hold public hearings where residents can ask questions or have concerns addressed. By law, these hearings must be noticed at least seven days in advance. While Hancock did hold bond hearings, and did notice them, the notices were issued within seven days of the hearings.
“The Hancock Selectboard has called a Special Town Meeting and prepared Town Warrant for the exclusive purpose of curing such defect,” a notice on the town website reads.
The votes taken during Special Town Meeting essentially confirm the votes taken in March as legal, curing the defect in procedure used by the town when it failed to provide proper notice.
Both issues will have to be re-voted on in a ballot vote, and requires a 2/3 majority to pass.
The Select Board will conduct a public hearing on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Town Office Building in the Barbara E. Caverly Meeting Room where the reasons for the Special Town Meeting shall be explained and questions and concerns will be heard. The Special Town Meeting will be held on July 5 at 7 p.m. at the Town Office Building in the Barbara E. Caverly Meeting Room. The warrant is posted on the town website.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.