Sharon: Budgets Go, Resolutions, No
By Sandy Vondrasek Cooch

At Town Meeting Tuesday, Sharon voters rejected two non-binding resolutions—one on repealing the state’s education funding system and one calling for President Bush’s impeachment—but approved other articles in a three-hour session.

The education funding resolution was defeated on a voice vote and the impeachment article went down in a 24-32 vote, Town Clerk Debra St. Peter reported.

Despite these potentially divisive issues, it was a "very mellow" meeting, St. Peter said.

Selectman Kevin Blakeman explained his reasons for supporting the education funding resolution, but could not find broad support among voters. St. Peter said the impeachment issue was not a warned article, but was raised from the floor.

During discussion on the proposed $926,719 town budget, Stephanie Carson from the Sharon Recreation Committee asked that the town consider adding $6700 to the $11,000 allocated for the recreation committee. The extra funds would be used to resurface the skating rink, which is unusable as it, and to repair the fence adjacent to the ballfield, she said.

Voters amended the budget to include this one-time allocation. The revised budget of $933,419 was subsequently approved in a voice vote.

Voters also okayed a separate $7600 article for emergency tree removal and maintenance at Pine Hill Cemetery as a result of storm damage.

In a pair of related articles, voters agreed first to establish an emergency preparedness fund, and then to appropriate $1000 for the new fund.

Article 11, asking for an increase in a veterans’ property tax exemption from $10,000 to $40,000, was also approved. The lengthy article stipulates the conditions under which a veteran’s residence would be eligible for an exemption of up to $40,000 of its appraised value.

Most town officers were selected in all-day Australian balloting Tuesday, with no contested races.

Results included: Selectman for three years, Paul Haskell; auditor for three years, Doris Howe; collector of delinquent taxes, Mona Foster; first and second constable, Roland Potter; and lister, Ken Wright.

Long-time Treasurer Margaret Raymond and Moderator Mike Hillinger were also returned to office.

Officers voted in at Tuesday’s meeting included library trustee Laurie Campbell, and Downer Fund trustee Calvin Keyler.

School Meeting

At their Monday night school meeting, voters approved a $3.4-million school budget on a voice vote. The budget is up 7%, or $224,000, over the current year’s budget.

The elementary budget was slightly down, with the increase due primarily to tuition costs for middle and high school students.

There was little discussion on the budget, however, prior to the vote, school board members and OWSU Supt. Stephen Metcalf gave a detailed "school report" presentation to voters.

The 55 or so voters at the two-hour meeting also backed the school directors’ request to reallocate $25,000 previously set aside for construction of a shed into a new capital reserve fund.

Town Clerk St. Peter said that an energy audit had been done at the school, and school officials wanted to use the funds to improve energy efficiency.

Jay McPhetres was reëlected to the school board, which will remain at three members.

Voters narrowly rejected an article, 27-25, to go to a five-member board.

St. Peter said opinion on the school board was divided, as well, with one director in favor, one opposed, and one "ambivalent."