WHATELY — Four warrant articles will come before residents at Tuesday’s special Town Meeting as town officials look to take care of some housekeeping items ahead of the larger annual meeting.
The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m., following the evening’s Select Board meeting at the Town Offices.
Of the four articles, 3 and 4 are the most important. The articles ask voters to repurpose $20,000 of unexpended funds from two previous Town Meeting votes toward fiscal 2023 operating expenses for the Water Department, and to authorize the Select Board to enter into contract negotiations for the operation and maintenance of a solar array at the Town Offices.
Town Administrator Brian Domina wrote in email that the $20,000 for the Water Department was originally set aside for a generator purpose. Instead, the department hopes to use the money to offset expenses, most of which have come from state Department of Environmental Protection requirements.
The other two articles pertain to unpaid bills for the prior fiscal year. Article 1 asks voters to transfer $4,232 from available funds to pay Morton Salt Inc. for road salt, while Article 2 asks residents to transfer $99 to pay WB Mason Co. for office supplies. Domina said the town needs to hold the special Town Meeting due to these invoices as they must be paid in the near future.