-NORTH BROOKFIELD –
By Ruth M. Lyon
Turley Publications Reporter
In just shy of two hours, 414 of this town’s 2,965 registered voted by a majority of more than six to one to reject a petition article seeking a $460,464 override for the purposes of funding the operating budget of the public schools for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2011. Thirteen voters, having sat through two hours of mostly polite bickering, abstained.
Moderator Eugene Caille, opening the meeting at 7 p.m. at the elementary school, reminded the audience that town meetings are “the purest form of democracy.” He asked those present to refrain from applause, and to respect the opinions of others.
As voters continued to file in, Caille insisted that all in attendance be seated, commenting that, in past years, voters at town meeting had reported feeling intimidated by people standing at the rear and along the sides of the room. “No voter should ever feel intimidated,” he said. By the time the meeting re-convened at 7:12, Town Clerk Sheila Buzzell said, 414 of the town’s 2965 registered voters had been checked in.
Following some discussion of parliamentary proceedings, the article having been read, finance committee chairman Robert Smith recounted, in brief, the deliberations of his committee regarding the school committee’s budget as submitted, and the school committee’s request in June for an override article on the June 17 warrant.
He continued, outlining his committee’s concerns for the town’s financial condition, and for further burdening taxpayers with an override “that will last forever”. He declared, as he had in the past, that a yes vote will add an additional $247.13 to the tax bills of owners of an average home. “$211,488 is the assessed value of an average property in North Brookfield according to the Department of Revenue,” he said.
He recounted the Monday night meeting between his board, the School committee and selectmen, moderated by Caille and held at the suggestion of school superintendent John Provost. After viewing a power point presentation by Provost and discussion by the officials and members of a parent association, all of the officials voted to support Provost’s proposal” he said. (See Quaboag Current, Thursday, August 18, 2011.)
That proposal would allow the town to continue the art, music, and athletic programs as in FY11, and re-hire an elementary librarian, contingent upon a vote of the teachers’ association to take one furlough day, at a cost of $17,300, with a matching amount from the town. “Dr. Provost has, in this plan saved the curriculum at a cost to the town of $17,300; an amount less than the potential cost of unemployment insurance for laid-off teachers.”
Acknowledging that the proposal, which included using $300,000 in FY 2013 school choice funds in FY 12, would allow no room for contingencies, he said his committee recommended the voters, reject the override petition vote. It is to our benefit and to the benefit of our children,” he said.
If the voters approved the override now, he said, the measure would require approved at another town meeting.
School committee chairman Brent Hildick, arguing against the use of the school choice funds, argued that the school is beginning the year with a 350,000 debt, with no assurance that the teachers will vote to accept a furlough day.
One speaker suggested that his trombone lessons and art instructions in school “never did me any good, if parents want their children to learn these things, let them take private lessons.”
Joseph Hollway asked to hear from the superintendent, who is not a registered voter in town, but who was present. He’s the boss at the school; I’d like to hear what he has to say,” he questioned.
Provost, asked to speak, spoke briefly and quietly. “This plan is not my ideal, but it is the best at this point. I’m not saying that what the school committee asks is not needed. My wish is for the best school opening possible under present circumstances, and I believe this plan is the best at this point.”
As the crowd grew restive and rhetoric flourished, Caille, saying, “Let’s not get a circus here, responded to numerous “move the question” demands, and asked that ballots be handed out and voting take place.
The meeting ended at 8:45; the final vote was 359 to 55.
