Town Meeting preview: Charlestown

Published: 03-03-2024 12:03 PM

Article of note: One petitioned article asks whether voters support a $3.5 million bond for the construction of a new fire station. Neither the Selectboard, nor the Finance Committee recommend the article. Another article asks whether voters support the town’s community power plan, an opt-out program to offer more flexibly electricity procurement. Another would allow the Selectboard to acquire or sell land, buildings or both, as long as transactions get reviewed by the Planning Board and Conservation Commission. An article on the school warrant asks if voters support permanently closing and relinquishing ownership of the North Charlestown Community School.

Contested races: William Rescsanski and Charles E. Baraly are vying for a one-year term on the Selectboard. 

Budgets and spending articles: The proposed budget is $6.66 million, which includes a $5.6 million town operating budget, $605,000 for the water fund and $441,000 for sewer. The default budget would be $6.44 million, which is the same as last year. The proposed budget for the Fall Mountain Regional School District, which includes Charlestown, is $36.7 million, which is up from $35.1 million last year. An article on the school warrant would fund $115,000 in capital projects at Charlestown Community schools through a reserve fund.

When, where and how to vote: Ballot voting will take place on Tuesday, March 12 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Charlestown Senior Center, 233 Old Springfield Rd.

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