PLAINFIELD — The town’s government kicks into high gear on Saturday when residents tackle a 25-article warrant at annual Town Meeting and cast their votes for town election.
Town Meeting begins at 1 p.m. at the Dennis A. Thatcher Public Safety Complex, while polls will be open at the same location from 12 to 6 p.m. There are 10 uncontested candidates on the ballot.
Voters at Town Meeting will consider whether to fund a geothermal system for town hall, which has aroused some nervousness among residents in past months.
Voters will also be asked to approve a $3.8 million budget for fiscal year 2026, an increase of 8.5% from the current year’s $3.5 million budget.
Finance Committee Chair Robert Baker notes that the vast chunk of that increase is driven by expenditures for education; MLP Hilltown Power, the town-owned broadband network; and a handful of so-called “special articles” on the town’s proposed budget. Together, these make up 7.3% of the budget increase.
Education expenses are expected to rise by $63,162, or 4.6%, from 2025’s $1.37 million to $1.43 million in 2026.
MLP is experiencing a 3% bump, up to $342,000 after fiscal year 2025’s total of $331,000.
And special articles come in at $208,000 next year, up 200% from this year’s $68,000. Baker said there’s a good chance not all of that money will be needed.
Among the special articles is a $60,000 request toward a geothermal pump for town hall. The town had agreed to upgrade the system in hopes that the federal government would provide a rebate in exchange for the investment. With funding uncertainty at the federal level, this project may not occur, and the funds may not be used.
“We must be certain we get what’s promised, otherwise it’s not economically feasible,” said Baker.
A similar article was recently struck down in March during a special Town Meeting, failing to receive a two-thirds majority, with some residents expressing concern that the system would use all the groundwater in the area.
“There were real concerns people’s water could be impacted,” said Baker, which is why the issue is coming to the town for another vote.
The request on Saturday will also require a two-thirds supermajority to pass.
Another special line item includes a $112,567 request to pay off the highway department’s current vehicle, a 2021 Chevy Silverado.
Plans call for the town to sell the truck, which the highway department says is insufficient for its needs, after its paid off and replace it with a used truck. Proceeds from the sale would come back to the town, Baker said.
Operating expenses, however, were a minute part of the budget increase. In fact, only 1.35% of the town’s 8% budget increase is due to town operating expenses, including fire, police and services.
In Baker’s words, “We did a halfway decent job keeping our operating expenses down.”
A big help in keeping town operating expenses low was a $15,000 decrease in retirement costs, from $119,000 in 2025 to $104,607 next year. Baker is unsure why this is, but presumed someone stopped collecting, or less people are enrolled. But regardless, he said, “That’s really what kept us in good shape.”
The candidates on the ballot for Saturday’s election include:
■Assessor: Ron Weeks
■Board of Health: Ellen Dupont
■Select Board: Ben Gillett
■Library Trustee: Linda Mason
■Town Clerk: Ruth Osgood
■Moderator: Brian Hawthorne
■School Committee: Nadya Camilini (Kara Kitchen was nominated also but declined to run.)
■Tree Warden: Erik Burcoff
■1st Constable: Merton Taylor Sr.
■2nd Constable: Ed Morann
Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.
