LEYDEN — Voters will be asked to consider a nearly $1.9 million operating budget for fiscal year 2023 and to make the town clerk an appointed position at Tuesday’s Annual and Special Town Meetings.
Both meetings will be outside the Leyden Town Hall, 16 West Leyden Road, with the Special Town Meeting beginning at 6 p.m. and Annual Town Meeting following immediately afterward. Residents are encouraged to bring folding chairs, hats, bug spray and masks if they wish.
Special Town Meeting will ask voters to make several free cash transfers. Article 1 involves transferring $45,000 of free cash for fire and emergency medical equipment.
Selectboard Chair Bill Glabach said the appropriation will go toward upgrading and replacing equipment.
“There’s some equipment that’s becoming out of date,” Glabach said. “I know they had some self-contained breathing apparatuses that need to be renewed and there may be other things that come along that need updating.”
Articles 2 and 3 ask residents to appropriate $45,000 of free cash to the Fire Department Stabilization Account and $50,000 of free cash to the Highway Department Stabilization Account. And Article 5 would approve the transfer of $86,753 of free cash to the general stabilization fund.
Glabach noted the town is adding a little more to the Fire Department’s stabilization fund because there is a possibility that emergency medical services will fall under the department’s umbrella.
The Special Town Meeting warrant can be viewed at bit.ly/3xYd53Z
Voters are asked to approve a nearly $1.9 million budget, which is $97,678 or a 5.5% increase from the current budget. Notable increases include $9,000 for the Selectboard’s diesel account, a $10,000 increase for town utilities and a $20,377 increase for education, most of which is from an increased Pioneer Valley Regional School assessment.
Glabach said the increased cost of diesel fuel for Highway Department vehicles and fire trucks is driving the Selectboard’s diesel account up and oil prices are the force behind the increase in the utilities budget.
Article 15 asks residents to change the town clerk from an elected position to one appointed by the Selectboard for one-year terms. If approved, the change would take effect in fiscal year 2024.
Over the last few years the town has been gradually switching certain positions to involve appointments because Glabach said it gives more people a chance to take a job.
“That’s a trend today to widen your pool of candidates,” he said. “We have a great town clerk right now, but we’ve had problems before finding someone to run for the position.”
He added that the town has also made points to increase its stipends over the years to make the jobs more “attractive” to people.
Article 14 asks voters to appropriate $63,000 to pay down broadband debt, which Glabach said is a start on paying back the loan.
“Eventually, our hope is that the broadband will take care of the loan,” he said, “but it’s too early in the game to put that much of a burden on it.”
The Annual Town Meeting warrant can be viewed at bit.ly/3Hv25hM
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.