Spencer voters get second chance at services override
By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
SPENCER — Voters will have a chance to restore town services with an override of Proposition 2½, but they won't get to pick and choose which services they'll save, because selectmen decided to take an all-or-nothing approach to the ballot question residents will vote on.
After a lengthy discussion and a 3-2 vote at their meeting Monday, selectmen said they'd seek the entire $484,000 needed to bring back hours at Town Hall and the library, reinstate firefighter training, move forward with plans to relocate the Senior Center and fund the Parks and Recreation Department, among others.
Initially there was talk of a menu-style override in which voters could fund the departments by voting specifically for each one, but some selectmen thought that might pit departments against one another.
"People want a chance to vote for what they want," former Finance Committee member Albert Shedyak said, urging selectmen to approve a menu-style override ballot.
But Selectman Christopher L. Woodbury said each department would argue that the funding is important and that he would not want to create that sort of situation.
The board's chairman, Anthony D. Pepe, and member John F. Stevens voted against the $484,000 figure and against an all-inclusive override that will most likely be added to the November state election ballot.
The men wanted a sense of what's important to voters; something a menu might have provided.
Mr. Pepe said he favored the vote being the same day as the state election because it will offer more hours during which residents can cast ballots. The town's typical polling hours are noon to 8 p.m.
The board only decided to ask a second time for the money for town services because additional state funding negated the need for an override for the schools.
Voters now will be asked to approve the lower school budget at a town meeting.
After the meeting former Selectman Jennifer Gaucher said townspeople should be aware that while the override funds, if approved, would be earmarked for certain town departments, those same departments could face cuts next year when the money becomes part of the general fund.
"Next year the parks could close down again if the schools rape the budget," Ms. Gaucher said.
Contact Kim Ring at kim.ring@telegram.com.
Seems like within this newspaper article, there is a quote very much the same as a statement about school budgets and those who try to ever increase them at the expense of everything else. So it just may be that some people, and the number may be growing, are getting fed up with this process and the frustration continues to grow. In Spencer, they have rapist and in Templeton, we have gang rapist. I hope sooner rather than later, people see and understand that all expenses need to be controlled and that the schools cannot continue to take & take at the expense of everything else.
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DeleteI agree with albert for a menu style overide ballot to send a clear choice and answer for the question of support or not!
ReplyDeletePuffy, nice try!! Try using your name if you have such a strong opinion about anything that goes on in this town. It is the people who read the blog for information that had become more and more disgusted with comments from people who choose to hide behind false names. Our readers , count more than you and others who discredited this blog. As I see it, you are left with two choices, suck it up and use your name or sit back and keep your opinions to yourself. It is your choice. Bev.
DeleteAs most of the readers know, my friend lives in Spencer. Her mother taught many of our residents to read, a true gift. My friend is hurting because she uses their library all of the time, but because of the budget not being funded, the hours were cut, and the library cannot borrow from other libraries, if they have a book she would like to read. How this override will be accepted by the people of Spencer, is something we will learn after the election. The School administration in Spencer as well as our town and others in Massachusetts, need to come down to earth and realize there is only so much money in the pockets of the people in these little towns. Winter is coming, and I would not be surprised if a number of our residents are trying to figure out where the money for oil is going to come from. It is my belief that until oil and gas prices come down, the people in our area will continue to find their pockets empty. I do believe all of the town's departments need to live within their means, and we know our town workers have given up plenty. The school superintendent is going to come looking for support for her new school, and how the people will feel about that is anyones guess. I was always told not to bite the hand that feeds you, but I guess that is a lesson she was never taught. Yes it will come out in the wash !! Bev.
Deletewe the people do not live or want the earning to be then enforce by town taxes , to provide services , service which forefull employee meeting which they call town meeting The town does not come to said :> ( this is why the same old hags and dags get voted in
DeleteSeems like a "concerned citizen" felt they should call the State Building Inspector about the Town moving their offices to our new town hall. It is true that things are not finished, but they are going to be completed very soon. Holly and Julie were discussing the schedule for heating people and electrical people just this afternoon. I have to give so much credit to Templeton's own Rembrandt, Mrs. Farrell and her husband Pete. The paint job they have done is quite professional, so it seems Julie is not only a pro at the computer, she can handle a paint brush as well. As for the State inspector, all is well after our situation was explained. It is too bad that some people would still find the need to stir up trouble, where there is none. Tough luck, but who ever made the call struck out big time. At least we know our state workers are doing their job, so we are not paying them for nothing. It is a good thing to see the Town Office Building move closer to a Grand Opening. I am just so excited to have the people in Templeton visit to see what a few people can accomplish. I just can't wait !! Bev.
ReplyDeleteI surprize , that jeff B didn't pick upon the fact , there asking for over ride without distinguishing the money jeff said that was not legal I would agree its not This is another BOS forcefully in argument for the funding for there past government to end the ban . The editorial should compare this failed policy of the past, and wake voters to new way cited our country’s massive, racially disproportionate numbers in the odious debt . trillions have been wasted and ruling you all are those who want to forefill employment roles so called services in which cost are derived in form of taxes and fees
ReplyDeleteI think to asked the question of over ride over and over is disrespectful , and fool the public that its over ? well you should all resign NOW
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DeleteHuff smart@nii.net do you comprehend?
ReplyDeleteJudgement = identification smart@nii.net
ReplyDeletePuff, I hope you have enjoyed your brief stay. As for massvocals, let me try to explain something to you. Since roughly 2011 our selectmen have been trying to clean the mess left behind by the man who was the accountant for the town. This person had held the job for a number of years, and as a result nothing was done so that another person could pick up where he had left off. Yes we have had a number of overrides, some passed while others did not. Getting rid of any of the BOS would not change a thing, as the need to fund some of the departments to get the job done would stay the same. I know you would have preferred the town to file for bankruptcy, but don't you think our reputation is bad enough already, even though the things that got us where we are were caused by just a small number of people ?? In reality, the history of the people in this town and their refusal to pass overrides, is one reason that we are in the mess we are in today. I am sorry to tell you this but this is our new reality. When there is a need to run the town and it's departments, in order to get things done, the taxpayers will be asked to pass a override or debt exclusion. There is simply no place to get money from any longer. Paul is broke and so is Peter, so that leaves it to the people in our town to decide what services we want to pay for. Simple as that !! I do hope people have learned a lesson, and will ask questions when someone stands up to tell you, "only 135,000. a year" !! At the very least, ask for how many years ?? Not one person asked that question last October when the Echo Hill people tried to push 252 down our throats for one last time !! Another 40 year loan we cannot afford ever !! I do not care who asks us, not one other town does business like that. When we are asked to vote on a override, it is up to the BOS to tell the voter what it is for and it up to you to decide what you can afford and what you will support. Bev.
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