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Date: 6/14/2022
PELHAM – Town elections on May 17 filled most of the open seats in local government. Annual Town Meeting, hosted this year on May 14, addressed challenges facing the town, reinvested authority in elected officials and gave voters the chance to weigh in on next year’s budget planning.
According to Town Clerk Sandra Burgess, voters passed every article on the warrant. Election results and Annual Town Meeting results are not yet approved by the state.
Articles 1 and 2 of the warrant granted town officials the authority to carry out their duties and borrow money for town uses. Article 3 set the rates of pay for some officials and employees, and spending amounts for each department.
The Finance Committee prepared a lengthy statement that clarified for voters the town budget will be increasing due to a variety of fiscal pressures. Article 3 contained both increases and reductions in line items. The Assessor’s Office increased the clerical and consulting budget from $700 to $2,000. Blanket insurance costs dropped $6,000.
The town’s part-time conservation agent position saw an increase in hours and corresponding $7,500 increase in salary. The Planning Board also required that amount in new clerical and consulting costs.
Spending on the schools increased $79,991. Total public safety spending increased about 3.9 percent. The public works budget for next year increased less than $20,000 while benefits and insurance costs rose $66,480.
The total budget of the town increased from $4.85 million to $5.05 million, the budget recommended by the Finance Committee and Select Board.
Article 4 set compensation for elected officials. There were no increases.
Article 5 asked voters to authorize spending on 28 initiatives and purchases totaling $287,615, including previously mentioned increases in consulting and clerical services. Funding was also authorized for replacement turnout gear for the Fire Department, a monitoring system for the HVAC system in the community building, and $5,500 to join the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control program, among others.
Articles 6 and 7 dealt with Community Preservation monies that originate from the state program. The articles authorized committee administrative expenses and the allocation of funds to open space, community housing, historic resources, and to reserve $40,200 for future uses.
Article 8 altered the regional school district agreement, the formula for calculating the levy paid by taxpayers in a town, and was required to follow language provided by the commonwealth.
Article 9 asked voters to authorize $69,525 to pay general fund indebtedness. Article 10 appropriated $30,095 for capital expenses at the regional high school. Article 11 funded the technology needs of the Select Board.
Revolving funds are accounts necessary for some departments to operate. Article 12 established spending limits for a dozen revolving funds.
Article 13 authorized the trustees of the library to spend receipts from book sales and governmental funding. Article 14 similarly authorizes the Cultural Council to spend the monies it receives from various sources. Article 15 grants the Select Board the authority to contract with the state for road improvements and take in monies from the Chapter 90 program. Article 16 also vests the Select Board with the authority to apply for and use state and federal grants, as long as community outreach steps have been followed, consistent with state policy, prior to the widening of any road.
Article 17 asked residents to change the name, Board of Selectmen, to Select Board. The new name was adopted by voters. All uses of the former name will be eliminated from the town’s bylaws.
The town’s bylaw for non-criminal dispositions, i.e. fines for violations of town ordinances, was amended in Article 18. Fines now begin at $75 and go up to $175 for subsequent violations.
Article 19 asked voters to amend the town’s bylaw regarding delinquent licenses and fees. The bylaw codifies the tax collector’s powers, as well as the options for repayment of back taxes and other indebtedness. The changes do not apply to licenses for fishing and hunting, marriage licenses and open burning permits, among others.
The town elections on May 17 saw eleven seats open, including three that did not see a winning candidate. The three year School Committee seat saw a failure to elect a candidate. The Auditor seat also did not receive a candidate, as did the three year Board of Health seat.
David Shanabrook retained his seat on the Select Board with 84 votes. Robert N. Rowell drew 14 write in votes to win a seat on the Board of Assessors. Melissa A. Nazzaro attracted 83 votes to win a one year seat on the Board of Health.
Bruce Klotz, a write-in candidate, won a seat on the Planning Board. Scott Barton won as a write-in candidate in the race for Cemetery Commission. Daniel Robb was re-elected as town moderator with 20 write-in votes while Cydnie Reiman won a three year seat on the Community Preservation Committee with 23 write-in votes.
Election results will be certified when the town clerk receives written acceptance of ballot totals from the state.