WENDELL — An article on this year’s town warrant aims to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections and town meetings as well as establish this year’s town budget.
Adoption of the article commands the town to petition the Massachusetts General Court for permission to adopt a town bylaw redefining “qualified voter” as “Any citizen 16 years of age or older, so long as they are a resident of Wendell at the time they register to vote and are otherwise eligible under all provisions beside age set for voters” by state law. Anyone wishing to serve in elected positions would still have to be a registered voter and at least 18 years old.
Town meeting is slated for 10 a.m. in Wendell Town Hall on Saturday.
The proposed budget is $2,450,798, with $1,334,260 for schools and education. Town Coordinator Nancy Aldrich said the education figure is up $138,856 from this year. Most of the difference, she said, can be attributed to the proposed $166,227 increase (from $605,786 to $772,013) in Swift River School’s budget. Aldrich said this increase is due to spiked enrollment at the school that serves student from Wendell and New Salem and also accepts School Choice students from Orange, Athol and Petersham.
A separate warrant article asks if residents will vote to “raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds” $28,127 to pay for Wendell’s share of capital projects at Swift River School.
Voters will also be asked if they wish to adopt an article appropriating $33,090 for health insurance for town employees. Aldrich said this constitutes a 9 percent increase from this year.
Reach Domenic Poli at:
dpoli@recorder.com or
413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli