WENDELL — Residents approved nine of the 13 articles on the warrant at Saturday’s Special Town Meeting, including reimbursing the Highway Department for money it used to repair road damage sustained during torrential rainfall over the summer. Four articles were passed over.
More than 30 residents attended the meeting on the common in front of Town Hall, and most articles “went very quickly,” according to Selectboard Chair Dan Keller.
He said most of the meat of the meeting revolved around the first two articles, which involved the highway repair funds and totaled $126,000.
“At least two roads in Wendell were virtually destroyed,” Keller said in a phone interview Saturday afternoon. “We had no choice but to repair them with the hope of federal or state funding down the road.”
Phil Delorey, chair of the Road Commission, previously said that Farley Road alone sustained roughly $100,000 worth of damage, including loss of pavement.
Keller said Delorey delivered a “well-reasoned” presentation at the meeting and residents approved the articles unanimously.
Beyond that, Articles 3 through 5 and 11 were passed over.
Articles 3 through 5 involved funding for the Municipal Light Enterprise Fund, but Keller said the “retained earnings had not been certified by the state” so voters could not act on the article. Article 11 would have allocated $2,700 for police radio bills, but Keller said the town was able to find another funding source.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.