TM will weigh in on large solar projects, dump truck

WORTHINGTON — Voters at Saturday’s annual Town Meeting will have two key decisions to make — whether to buy a dump truck for $222,000 and adoption of new bylaw for large ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations.

Voters will also head to the polls Saturday for the annual town election.

At the Town Meeting, voters will consider a total operating budget of $2,967,796 for fiscal 2018, an increase of $28,400, or .60 percent, over the towns current budget.

According to Finance Committee chairman Joe Boudreau, this includes $1,960,830 for elementary school education and $213,055 for vocational education.

Boudreau said that the only large ticket item on the warrant this year is the proposed purchase of a dump truck for the Highway Department for $222,000. He noted that, if approved, the vehicle would be funded through the towns stabilization fund and therefore would not affect the tax rate.

The purpose of the proposed photovoltaic bylaw is to promote the creation of large-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations.

Johnson, the Select Board chairman, who has served on the board for 12 years, will not seek re-election this year.

Running for that open three-year seat is Stephen Smith, of 196 Huntington Road. Smith, a retired attorney and current chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, is running unopposed.

Boudreau, chairman of the Finance Committee, is up for re-election and will face a challenge from Gretchen Eliason, of 159 River Road.

Five candidates are running for three seats on the Municipal Light Board. They are: Joseph Boudreau, 36 Ridge Road, John Dearie, 3 South Worthington Road, Brian Longley, 44 Old Main Road, Bart Niswonger, 481 Kinne Brook Road, and Charles Rose, of 193 Huntington Road.

Polls will be open at the Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Town Meeting will be held at the R.H. Conwell School beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The following candidates and incumbents are running unopposed:

Jeffrey Cranston, assessor; Diane Brenner, Board of Health; Cynthia Manley, Cemetery Commissioner; Bart Niswonger and Kevin O’Connor, Finance Committee.