ASHFIELD — Among the five questions on this year’s town election ballot are a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion to pay to repair a retaining wall on Bronson Avenue, as well as a series of advisory questions asking if residents would approve of using herbicides at Ashfield Lake and closing Sanderson Academy.

While the election will be Saturday, May 3, with polls open at Town Hall from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., additional early voting hours will be offered on April 28, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on April 23, 24 and 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the five ballot questions, Ashfield voters will consider candidates running for 17 positions on the town’s various boards and committees.

Question 1 asks voters to approve a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion that would fund the repair of the Bronson Avenue retaining wall. Per Massachusetts General Law, municipalities can only increase their tax levy each year by a maximum of 2.5%, plus any new growth that occurred in the year, unless voters approve going over that limit. With voter approval, the town would be able to exceed that limit to take out a loan for the construction work.

Contingent upon the debt exclusion being approved at the polls, Annual Town Meeting voters will be asked if the town may take out a loan of up to $500,000 to repair the retaining wall, which is in poor condition and is beginning to fail in some sections. During a review of the Town Meeting warrant last week, Selectboard and Finance Committee members said the plan is to seek as much grant funding as possible. However, state and federal agencies prefer to see that the town is willing to put some of its own money toward a project.

“While the intent is not to borrow money if possible, funding may be needed very quickly as a match for possible state/federal grants and grant funding might only be available if the town shows that it is willing to contribute funds toward the project,” Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III wrote in the warrant article. “The lake dam project was only funded after the town authorized a debt exclusion, and ultimately never needed to borrow money.”

Question 2 asks voters if the tree warden should become an appointed role instead of an elected one. In recent months, the Selectboard has discussed the possibility of rolling the tree warden’s responsibilities into the highway superintendent’s job description.

As of now, Tree Warden Tom Poissant also holds the position of highway superintendent, but Poissant announced earlier this year that he intends to retire from the Highway Department in the fall, raising concerns among board members that he would also wish to step down from the tree warden role. However, Poissant told the board he plans to continue his work as tree warden and is seeking reelection to retain his position.

Poissant will have an opponent in this year’s election. Plainfield Road resident Lucas LaFleur is running for tree warden as well. LaFleur is also challenging incumbent Elizabeth Lesure for the position of town constable.

The ballot will also include three non-binding advisory questions where voters will be asked to offer guidance for the town’s elected officials. Questions 3 and 4 ask for voter input on invasive species growing in Ashfield Lake, with one question asking whether the Selectboard should take action to remove them and another asking if that action can include using herbicides.

Question 5 asks if voters would support the school district’s efforts to restructure to create fiscal sustainability, even if it means closing Sanderson Academy. On Wednesday, the 2 District, 8 Town Steering Committee, or 2D8T, voted to recommend further exploration of a model that would bring all staff members and students in preschool through 12th grade in the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional school districts together on a single Mohawk Trail Campus. The steering committee plans to spend the next year drafting a new regional agreement for consideration at a potential Special Town Meeting in fall 2026.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.