Cheshire Special Election Voters Pass Both Ballot Questions
CHESHIRE, Mass.— Both questions on the special election ballot passed on Monday night.
Some 165 of the town's 2,584 registered voters, or 6 percent, cast ballots.
The voters narrowly approved a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion for a three-year borrowing of $67,150 for a police cruiser approved by a special town meeting last year.
The question passed 88-77 against.
The oldest vehicle in the department's fleet is a 2017 Ford Interceptor, which, with this purchase, will be replaced with a 2025 Ford Interceptor, Town Administrator Jennifer Morse said.
"The Police Department Revolving Account has an accumulated total of more than $11,000 which will offset the total cost of the new cruiser. The 2017 cruiser will be retained and added to the fleet as a third cruiser," she said.
The department has had an increase in requests to provide a cruiser on details to increase safety on the jobsite and to provide a visual aspect to the work area to help reduce speed and draw attention to the work area, Morse said.
"A fee is added to cover the additional costs of the vehicle and that is paid for by the requesting company. As the 2017 Cruiser continues to get older the maintenance costs continue to rise, in Fiscal Year 2025 repairs were made costly nearly $4,000," she said.
The purchase of a cruiser had been approved by the 2024 annual town meeting but the debt exclusion for the borrowing had failed a special election a few months later.
Also approved was the question to separate the treasurer and collector positions into two part-time positions, which passed 93-72.
The office had one full-time employee and a part-time employee; the approval authorizes it to be changed to two part-time employees.
Treasurer/Collector Ben Gelb, who started in the position part time in March, explained that he will be working 19 1/2 hours and will be in the office on Tuesdays and Fridays, as needed. His salary will be $40,000 and any balance leftover will go into free cash.
Gelb said he is confident he will be able to complete his responsibilities within the allotted time because he is doing "half the job." He said in the six other towns he works for, he has been able to offset his salary by increasing revenue and cutting costs.
The town also dusted off its old crank voting machine and invited the Cheshire Youth Center's prekindergarteners to vote on their favorite cartoon character.
Of the 32 "registered children," 30 cast their votes, overwhelmingly electing Stitch, who received 13 votes.
The remaining characters on the ballot included Bluey, with eight votes, Peppa Pig, with three, Mickey Mouse and Baby Shark with two, Dora the Explorer, with one, and one blank.
"It was a wonderful opportunity to get children involved in the election process. All of them receiving ‘future voter’ stickers. Hopefully this experience will leave a lasting impression for these children," Town Clerk Whitney Flynn said.
Tags: debt exclusion, special election,
