CHARLEMONT — Long time Town Moderator Charlotte Dewey is not seeking re-election to her position, and nomination papers for town moderator are now available from Town Clerk Kathy Reynolds. Any candidate who wants to be on the Aug. 23 special town meeting ballot must file nomination papers by July 19 at 5 p.m. in the Town Hall.
Dewey recalls that the first time she moderated an annual town meeting was the year that the Mohawk Trail Regional School District was seeking to transition from a high school district to a K-12 school district, in the early 1990s.
The town moderator is elected annually, but this year Dewey got 17 write-in votes for the job, while Robert Handsacker got 20 write-in votes. Both residents turned down the job.
Besides electing a new town moderator, voters on Aug. 23 will determine whether the town will accept a $376,150 temporary tax hike to pay for a new highway truck, police cruiser, a used rescue truck for the Fire Department and other firefighting equipment.
If approved, the debt exclusion would add about $291 to the average annual tax bill for about three years, when the debt would be paid off. Annual town meeting voters approved the debt exclusion, but it also needs to succeed at the ballot box.
The last day to register to vote in this special election will be Aug. 3.