Will Also Build Firehouse
Hancock Votes 2 Ways
On School Budgets
By Martha Slater

Hancock voters on Tuesday defeated one of the two school budgets up for consideration, but later at the town meeting, voted to authorize the selectboard to borrow money to construct a new firehouse.

When the school meeting got underway, Robert Walker Sr. was re-elected moderator and Hancock and Village School Board member Dan Perera made a presentation noting issues the board had to consider in formulating the proposed budget, including declining student enrollment andcost increases.

Asked if there would be a significant savings to the town if the Village School were closed and the 21 students in grades K-6 tuitioned out, Perera said there would be a very small cost savings, since the estimated homestead tax rate would be the same. This is because the school gets some grants as a small school, which it would lose if the school closed.

A contest between Paula Roth and Rob Deering for a three-year term on the school board resulted in Deering being elected by a paper ballot vote of 41-25.

The budget of $420,816 for the Granville-Hancock Joint School District, with Hancock’s share of that figure set at $256,486, passed by a close paper ballot vote of 34-31.

However, the article authorizing the total school budget of $821,195 (including the town’s joint district assessment) had to be voted on twice since the first paper ballot resulted in a tie. Moderator Walker announced that he had cast the tie vote, so that the town could have the chance to re-vote the issue decisively that same day. The second balloting ended with the budget being defeated 35-28.

Also during the school meeting, State Rep. Willem Jewett rose to speak about state budget news. He noted that revenues from the state were "very flat" and said he’d been told to expect "a tight budget," illustrating this point by saying, "the problem we have is how to fit a bigger foot into the same size shoe."

He also explained how the CLA works, spoke about the broadband issue up for a vote on the warning for the town portion of the meeting, and advised the formation of a local group to work on economic development in the valley. He answered questions about health insurance costs, and discussed the use of property values vs. an income tax as a way to fund education.

Town Meeting

Following a break for lunch, the town portion of the meeting got underway with the election of town officers.

Robert Walker, Sr. was re-elected moderator. Others elected included Jack Ross, selectboard member for a three-year term; Adam Wood, selectboard member for a one-year term; Christine Farr, town clerk and treasurer; Elaine Roth, lister; June Eaton, cemetery commissioner; Steve Kittredge, town agent; Jack Ross, grand juror; Geraldine Twitchell, auditor; Richard Andrews, road commissioner; Joanne Lanpher, library trustee; Joe Shaw, sexton; Cathy Curtis, budget committee member; James Leno, agent to convey real estate; Christine Farr, delinquent tax collector; and Larry Olsen, representative to the board of the Valley Rescue Squad.

Article 4, in which 13 agencies and organizations requested appropriations totaling $40,015, (with the largest item $33,535 for the Valley Rescue Squad) passed on a voice vote.

Voters also approved $3,500 toward a new Honor Roll sign, and $2000 for hiring a clerk for the selectboard.

They then took up the biggest new expenditure proposal of the day, authorizing the selectboard to borrow up to $300,000 for a new fire station. The article generated a lot of discussion, but passed 30-16 on a paper ballot vote.

Voters then decided by a voice vote to give both $10,000 acquired from the Union Bank and proceeds from logging the Green Lot towards the firehouse.

The town budget of $280,180.60 was approved by a voice vote.

The ECFibernet project generated a lot of discussion, then passed by a voice vote.

At the end of the meeting, Tom Fabbioli, the new owner of the building that had previously housed the plywood mill on Route 100, spoke about his plans for renovating the building, which he called "a long steady process."

Jim Leno and Christine Farr thanked the many people who volunteer to help out in so many ways around town, and the meeting adjourned just after 2 p.m.