Pittsfield Voters Okay Tax Hike, Keep School Mtg. Date the Same

When Pittsfield voters gathered Tuesday, March 6 for their annual town and school district meetings, they only rejected one of the warned articles, deciding to keep their school meeting in March.

Ron Coughenour was re-elected moderator, overseeing both meetings.

The recommended budget of $768,172 for the 2007-08 school year was amended upward to $772,354; an increase of 19% over last year.

A.J. Ruben was elected a school board member for a three-year term. The board also appointed Kristin Sperber to a two-year term on that board.

During the town portion of the meeting voters elected 14 town officers. There was a three-way race between Suana Bicek, Scott Warren and Terry Manley for a three-year term on the selectboard, with Bicek getting the nod by a wide margin.

Also elected were Martha Beyersdorf, lister; Louella Giddings, auditor; Sandy Begin, trustee of public funds: Chuck Colton, Richard Stevens and Robert Colton, cemetery commissioners; Sandy Begin and Marion Abrams, library trustees; Tim Hunt, first constable; Doug Mianulli, second constable; Robert Colton, grand juror; Sarah Gray, town agent; and Eunice MacDonald-Rice, collector of delinquent taxes.

Voters agreed to place $20,000 in the office building reserve fund for renovations, expansion or building of a town clerk’s office to meet ADA requirements. They also okayed $10,000 for the highway equipment reserve fund, and $8,600 for the purchase of a new town mower.

Due to a change in the county tax, the proposed town budget of $395,844.35 was amended upward to $399,748.87 and approved.

Since both the town and school business was wrapped up in about two and a half hours, the meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m. so everyone could enjoy the meal organized by members of the Pittsfield Federated Church.

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