COLRAIN — Annual town meeting voters will be asked to OK regional agreement changes to the Mohawk Trail school district, and to adopt resolutions brought by petition to move toward renewable energy, universal health care, and support anti-corruption legislation.
The annual meeting takes place Tuesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. in the Colrain Central School, at 22 Jacksonville Road.
The overall town budget request of $1,563,772 represents almost a 3 percent increase over this year’s town budget. The Mohawk school budget operating assessment request, of $1.9 million represents a 4 percent hike, of about $73,136. However, the Franklin County Technical School assessment will drop this coming year, from $309,414 to $284,642.
The town budget warrant includes salary raises for town employees, while stipends for elected town officials remain unchanged.
One-time costs to be paid for out of “free cash” include: $50,000 to pay part of debt incurred from Tropical Storm Irene in 2011; $25,000 for new fencing at the Transfer Station; $15,000 for new carpet and workstations in the Town Office; $3,000 to remove an oil tank at the library; $9,400 for a police department speed enforcement monitor; $8,000 for a building assessment of the fire station; and $22,600 for a paper compactor purchase and installation at the Transfer Station.
The town is seeking to acquire property at 3 River Street for $22,500. It also wants to add a $20 penalty fee for each written demand issued by the tax collector on delinquent bills.
The articles on the warrant coming from residents’ petitions include the following:
1. A resolution declaring that the town is a “compassionate community” whose residents respect the rights, dignity and integrity of visitors and residents, and which celebrates “diversity, honor privacy and safety, and affirm and promote equality for all.”
2. A resolution supporting state and federal legislation “to provide greater transparency in political donations and limit the influence of money in politics.” The measure supports a legislative reform bill called the “American Anti-Corruption Act.”
3. A proposal that the town explore joining a statewide coalition of towns working toward 100 percent renewable energy, with the goal of a resolution to be presented at the 2018 annual meeting.
4. Support for the House and Senate bills, known as “Improved Medicare for All” as an state alternative to the Affordable Care Act.
Colrain, like all Mohawk member towns, will also vote on regional agreement changes that would allow Rowe to become the ninth member-town, as a Grade 7 through 12 member. It will also vote on changes that will enable Heath to close its elementary school and tuition its school children to Hawlemont Regional School. In return, Mohawk will terminate its lease agreement for the Heath School, with a settlement of $240,000 to “mothball” the building for three years and for unemployment insurance of those laid off.