ASHFIELD — With no contests on Saturday’s election ballot, voter turnout was low — just 216 out of 1,364 registered voters (15 percent) came out. But those that did, approved a Proposition 2½ tax levy limit override by a vote of 140 to 75. They also approved a debt exclusion of around $60,000 to be used to partially pay for a highway department backhoe. A debt exclusion vote temporarily allows towns to raise taxes beyond its state levy limit to pay for something, such as a backhoe. But a Proposition 2½ levy limit override permanently raises the town’s tax levy limit. The approved levy limit override will raise the $16.44/$1,000 valuation tax rate by about 53 cents.
The following candidates were elected to three-year terms, unless otherwise noted: Moderator Stewart “Buz” Eisenberg (one year); Selectboard Thomas S. Carter; Assessor George Stephan; Finance Commitee, Edwin “Ted” Murray, Melinda Gougeon (three year terms), and Carol Lebold (one-year unexpired term); School Committee Helen “Poppy” Doyle; Board of Health Karen Lavallee; Constable Elizabeth Lesure (three-year term) and John LaBelle (one-year); Park Commission Judith Haupt and Sewer Commission Daniel Lovett.
Elected to five-year terms were Planning Board member Kenneth Miller and Library Trustee Esther Coler.