WORTHINGTON – Voters in Worthington on Saturday approved $179,000 to bring cable service to the last 13 homes that had been left out of the original coverage area in the town’s agreement with Comcast.
Only 98 percent of the town was going to be wired by Comcast in a project that is expected to be completed by 2020.
Prior to the vote, several parents spoke of the difficulties their children currently have doing homework without internet access. Other residents said that they feared they would not only miss out on cable service but that their homes would be devalued without it, unfairly hurting them should they ever wish to sell.
Voters approved the funding 95 to 4, which means that homes located on Bashan Hill Road, Fisk Road, Parish Road, Rida Road, River Road and Sam Hill Road will have access to broadband internet service.
A majority of also voters approved $44,000 for the purchase of a Ford F350 flatbed truck and plow package for the highway department. The new vehicle will replace the departments current 2010 Ford F350.
Requiring a two-thirds majority, voters also approved the purchase of a 2019 Chevy Tahoe police cruiser by 84 to 14. The new vehicle will replace the town’s current 2009 cruiser of the same model.
Select Board Chairman Charlie Rose said the town had considered repairing the 2009 cruiser.
“We thought, can we fix this one? But when we looked into it, it was close to being completely rusted out and it was not worth saving,” Rose said.
The approved fiscal year 2020 operating budget was $3,222,358, $142,646 over fiscal year 2019 budget of $3,079,714.
In the annual town election, Amy Wang, of Parish Road, was elected the newest member of the Select Board, replacing Hattie Plehn who decided not to run at the end of her term.
Wong, who ran unopposed, is currently a member of the Planning Board and said that she has enjoyed serving the town but thought she could do even more.
“Hatti actually approached me to see if I would be interested in running,” Wang said. “She thought it was important to have a woman on the Select Board.”
Wang, a first-generation Chinese American, is semi-retired and owns her own bookkeeping business. She and her partner Ruth Lehrer have lived in Worthington since 2000.
“I think this is a first for Worthington,” she said with a smile. “I think I am the only Chinese lesbian to ever be on the Select Board, probably the only Chinese person.”
Wang said she is looking forward to serving the town as a Select Board member.