Randolph Voters Approve
Bond Issue for Chandler
By M. D. Drysdale

In Brookfield's Town Meeting, Suzy Zani makes a point in favor of a $3000 donation from that town to the renovation project at Randolph's historic Chandler Music Hall, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Braintree also donated, and Randolph voters Okd a $750,000 bond issue. (Herald / Bob Eddy)

About 750 voters came to the polls through bitter cold Tuesday to vote "YES" on every ballot item they could find. The votes were generally by margins of 2-1 or more.

The outpouring of voter generosity was exactly the opposite of what transpired a year ago, when the school budget and three municipal budgets were thumpingly rejected.

In the only contest for school or town government, Wally Caswell won a spot on the school board in one of the closest votes of the day, polling 323 votes to 254 for Justin Johnson.

Perhaps the result that most encapsulated Tuesday’s mood was the outpouring of support for major renovations to bring Chandler Music Hall and Gallery into its second century. By a vote of 488 to 247, voters agreed to a $750,000 bond issue, repayable over 20 years, that will bring the venerable building into full code compliance in such areas as sprinklers and handicapped accessibility, as well as addressing some interior needs like rest rooms and floor supports.

Selectboard Chair Jim Hutchinson was impressed yesterday at the strength of the bond vote as well as the lopsided support for all budgets. He was asked what made the difference between last year and this.

"Two things," he responded. "We—the selectboard—learned a lot from last year—that we have to be very frugal, and we were."

The budgets in some cases represented less than a one percent rise, he noted.

Secondly, Hutchinson said, when the vote was taken last year, the town was in the midst of a property reappraisal and many people were "uncertain and anxious about what that would mean."

Chandler Board President Janet Watton was predictably ecstatic.

"It was incredibly exciting to hear the final vote on the Chandler bond issue," she said the next morning. "We are all so grateful to the town of Randolph, as well as the towns of Braintree and Brookfield, for recognizing the importance of our wonderful old hall.

"Beyond the obvious importance of the monies for all the necessary deferred maintenance on the building, this vote of confidence gives a huge lift for our centennial expansion plans, to help make Chandler an even better cultural resource. This vote shows that folks in the area realize Chandler belongs to all of us."

(Braintree and Brookfield voters also voted smaller amounts out of this year's budgets as gestures of support for the improvements at Chandler.)

Not only the regular budgets, but also a series of 18 special appropriations were approved, including $7000 for the Clara Martin Center, a request that was at first denied last year. Two brand new requests were passed handily—the Chamber of Commerce for $2500 for the July Fourth parade, and the White River Craft Center for $3500.

The town’s general budget passed by 536-201; the highway budget by 567-114, and the capital budget (which showed a greater increase) by 496-237. Voters also agreed to take $100,000 from surplus for the final payment on the new Main Street bridge.

The police budget, which was hammered twice last year, passed by a narrower but still comfortable margin, 209-128.

"I really am thankful for the support," commented Chief James Krakoweicki. "Hopefully we can continue to keep people's trust and they will continue to support us."