Hancock Town Meeting Preview
By Martha Slater

The voters of the Town of Hancock will gather Tuesday, March 6 at 10 a.m. at the Hancock Town Hall. The school district meeting will be followed by the meeting to conduct town business. A lunch break at mid-day will feature a bountiful meal served by members of the Hancock-Granville Community Church.

After hearing reports from the school board members, voters will be asked to elect a school director for a three-year term. Dan Perera, whose term expires, indicated at press time that he plans to stand for re-election.

Since the towns of Hancock and Granville currently have a joint school district, there are two school budget articles for voters to have their say about.

Article 5 asks approval for a budget of $454,393 necessary for the support of that joint school district, in which Hancock’s apportioned amount is $227,197 for the year beginning July 1, 2007. Article 6 asks approval of a recommended amount of $780,392 (which includes the Granville-Hancock Joint District assessment) for the support of the school for the 2007-08 school year.

Town Business

When the town portion of the meeting convenes, voters will be asked to elect a moderator for a one-year term, a selectboard member for a three-year term, a lister and a cemetery commissioner, both for three-year terms; and a constable, a town agent and a grand juror, all for one-year terms. Other officers to be elected include an auditor and a budget committee member, both for three-year terms; a library trustee for a five-year term, and a road commissioner, sexton, agent to covey real estate, delinquent tax collector and representative to the board of the Valley Rescue Squad, all for one-year terms.

Article 4 asks for approval of appropriations (totaling $37,835.56) for 11 different agencies, including the Hancock-Granville Food Shelf, the Quintown Senior Center, the Valley Rescue Squad and the Center for Valley Youth.

The town budget will come up for consideration under Article 12, which asks approval for a sum of $260,232.56 to pay the current expenses for the general and highway funds for the ensuing 12 months.

Among the other items of interest to be decided upon are Article 10, which asks approval to roll over the remaining balance in the fire truck account to the planning commission account; and Article 11, which asks voters to okay changing the town’s current insurance wording of "Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance" to "a medical insurance plan that is reasonable and affordable."

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