ASHFIELD — Voters passed all articles on the warrant during Monday’s special Town Meeting, including making $12,000 of highway facility improvements, moving money to stabilization funds and transfers to cover employee health insurance increases.
The seven-article meeting drew 34 voters to Town Hall for an hour-long discussion, during which they passed all but one article unanimously. Article 7, appropriating $12,000 for repairs to the highway garage barn, passed with a single no vote.
Voters approved transferring the $25,000 proceeds from the sale of a tax title property on Old Stage Road to cover a mid-year 20% increase to the health insurance premiums for town employees. Earlier this year member units of the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust voted to increase rates by 20% to cover increased pharmaceutical and medical claims and the growing popularity of weight-loss drugs.
Voters also unanimously approved transferring $150,000 of free cash to the town’s general stabilization fund, and transfer an additional $150,000 of free cash to a highway bridge account. Voters agreed to supplement the free cash transfer to the highway bridge account with a $300,000 appropriation.
Other articles approved were:
- Paying a $132 Verizon bill from 2020 that was missed at the time.
- Paying a $5,260 Whip City Fiber bill from last spring that was not paid before the close of the fiscal year for work done on the broadband network.
- Appropriating $12,000 for improvements and repairs to the old highway garage barn, which is rented by the Ashfield Water District, to bring the building in compliance with building code.