HEATH — The town’s annual election is Friday from noon to 7 p.m. at the Heath Senior Center.
The election has three candidates, three vacancies, one contest and one ballot question.
The ballot question asks voters to exempt Heath from Proposition 2 ½, a state law that limits towns from raising taxes by more than 2½ percent. The exemption would help the town to fund Broadband installation, the question says.
Heath’s Assistant Assessor Alice Wozniak is challenging the incumbent Paul Dabrody for a position on the Finance Committee. Both have been involved in researching the impacts of selling the former Heath School, in separate groups to examine various consequences of its sale.
Dabrody has served on the Finance Committee since his appointment in the fall when the position became vacant. He decided to accept the role because he sought to become more involved in the community, he said.
“I felt kind of disconnected from the town,” Dabrody said.
As a former finance executive, Dabrody said his experience has well-equipped him for the Finance Committee position.
“I’m hoping that I can do something for them,” Dabrody said.
So far, Dabrody has enjoyed working on the committee as he has “connected with a lot of people.” He said he has gotten along with his fellow members, describing them as “thoughtful and cost-conscious.”
Wozniak has experience in government work, having served as a town assessor in Colrain for 12 years and Heath for 11 years. Wozniak is also president of the Franklin County Assessors Association, which meets quarterly to gather information and solve issues together.
“I work in municipal government five days a week, so I kind of understand how all the pieces work together,” Wozniak said.
The Greenfield native has also served on a town board before, as a Heath Board of Assessors member more than a decade ago before becoming assistant assessor in the town.
Wozniak, who is 48 and has two young-adult children, says she will bring a different perspective to a board usually occupied by retirees.
Two other townspeople are running for various boards, both as incumbents. Robyn Provost-Carlson is running for a three-year Selectboard seat, while Jo Travis is running for a five-year Planning Board seat.
The following positions are vacant: Town assessor, library trustee and Mohawk Trail Regional District School Committee member.
Heath’s Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for the day after the election — Saturday, May 11 at 9 a.m. at the former Heath Elementary School.
Reach Grace Bird at gbird@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 280.