Updated: The story has been corrected to reflect that the estimated cost of the purchase of the truck for the Public Works Department has not been determined yet.
WELD – Voters will gather on Saturday, March 7 at the Town Hall for the annual town meeting to decide, among other things, if a new truck should be purchased for the Public Works Department. The meeting begins at 10 a.m.
Elections will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 6 in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Town Office. Two candidates, Thomas Skolfield and Margot Joly are running for a three-year selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor term. Resident Joseph Demers is running to complete the one year left on Selectman Mike Pratt’s term. Pratt resigned due to health.
Kelly Hutchinson is seeking another three-year term as road commissioner and there are no candidates on the ballot for a five-year term on the Planning Board.
Among the 24 articles voters will be considering on Saturday will be the purchase of a new truck for the Public Works Department. The article asks “if the town wants to pay for the truck by raising, appropriating or borrowing funds. The Truck Committee and Selectmen recommend appropriating $30,000 from the Public Works Department equipment reserve fund and borrowing the remaining balance.
Selectmen are recommending slight increases in some of the town officials’ hourly pay. The animal control officer, ballot clerk, fire chief, planning board members, selectmen, are recommended positions for a raise in pay.
Other spending to be decided are in upgrading the heating system in the town hall by allocating $10,000 to do the work. Another $12,000 is recommended to continue Center Hill Cemetery’s expansion project and $10,000 to go toward the town’s bicentennial celebration next year.
Voters will also be asked “if the Town will establish the Honorary Position of Poet Laureate of Weld, and appoint, posthumously, Henry Braun of Weld [1930-2014] as the first holder of that position. Term would be for two years, or until another poet applies for the position. Braun, a poet, teacher and anti-war activist, died on Oct. 11, 2014.
