ATHOL — There was barely a peep from voters at Monday’s town meeting until they rejected a proposed change to the zoning bylaws pertaining to poultry.
An article toward the end of the warrant asked if citizens wished to add multifamily residential zoning districts to the list allowed to keep chickens, with a $25 permit. The article was added to the warrant at the request of resident Ranee LaPointe, who said her family has owned 10 chickens for six years.
LaPointe explained her 13-year-old is on the autism spectrum and the chickens are his pets and have taught him about agriculture. However, there was concern the animals could stray off their intended property and the motion was rejected, 32-27. LaPointe was visibly upset by the vote and began to cry when the result was announced.
She tearfully took the podium seconds later to read a second motion she had requested. This article, calling for public input before a permit is granted to a multi-family residential property, passed by a two-thirds majority. She said she requested this article as a lifeline in case the first one was shot down.
LaPointe told The Recorder the rejection of her first article means her family will have to endure red tape and fees of up to $240 to keep its chickens.
Residents had mowed through the town meeting warrant before these articles came up, adopting a nearly $19 million budget for the next fiscal year.
The approved $18,942,316, with $4,326,570 for education, is more than 8 percent higher than the current fiscal year’s budget and includes voter-approved debt service payments of roughly $720,000 and nearly $300,000 in increases to town employee health insurance and pensions.
Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski had previously explained all other line items have increased just 2.51 percent from the current year, which ends June 30.
The approved figures include the cost of a school resource officer, made possible through a cost-sharing arrangement with the Athol-Royalston Regional School District. Suhoski told The Recorder the particulars of the program will be determined by school administration, though he believes some services will be provided to all grade levels.
The budget also includes a one-time obligation of more than $50,000 to a retiree, according to Suhoski.
He explained the 58 percent increase in Conservation Commission spending reflects the retirement of Elwin Bacon, who has served as a constable earning a $1,800 annual stipend. Suhoski said Bacon will be replaced by two people splitting a $5,000 stipend. Elections and registrations costs are up 49 percent (from $21,294 to $31,744) in anticipation of the November presidential election.
During a special town meeting that began at 6:30 p.m., voters agreed to transfer $31,935 from the accident recovery account to the stabilization fund. Suhoski told The Recorder a brand-new Athol Police Department cruiser was totaled in a rear-end accident a few months ago and the town quickly dipped into its reserve fund to replace it. He said the money recommended for the stabilization fund is coverage from town’s insurance policy.