CHESHIRE, Mass. — Voters will decide Tuesday on whether to exclude a $195,000 borrowing for a road grader from Proposition 2 1/2. 

 

A special town meeting in October approved the five-year borrowing but Tuesday's vote also is required to prevent the payments from pushing the town close to or over the levy limit. Instead, the borrowing would be separate from the levy and not permanently affect the town's Prop 2 1/2 calculations. It would, however, be included in the tax rate.

 

Cheshire is already paying on another debt exclusion for the renovation of Hoosac Valley High School.

 

The October meeting passed the exclusion with a two-thirds vote; a simple majority is required for the election.

 

Town officials have been grappling with the need for a new road grader for some time. Town meeting rejected a request for $95,000 toward a grader at the annual town meeting in June, asking officials to find another solution such as renting. 

 

But Highway Superintendent Bob Navin has advocated strongly since then to replace the town's defunct 1986 Dresser grader, arguing that renting has not worked out well because that machine, too, has frequently been out of service and, during the spring, will be difficult to obtain. 

 

In October, town meeting was provided with information that estimated that the $195,000 debt plus expected operating and maintenance costs over the next 20 years would come in at around $450,000; continuing to rent at the current rate would be slightly over $500,000. 

 

The special election is being held Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Community/Senior Center. Because of the election, the Board of Selectmen not meet on Tuesday as usual; the next meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 14, beginning at 6:30 p.m.