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Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, the Annual Town Election was held in the Becket Town Hall, 557 Main Street, on May 17, 2008. The polling hours were 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Prior to the polls opening, the Ballot Box was publicly opened, examined and found to be empty; the register was set at zero. A total of 183 voters participated and cast ballots for the election of candidates and questions. The results of the election are as follows:
|
Votes |
% |
For Member, Board of Selectmen (3-year term) Vote for One |
|
|
William F. Cavanaugh |
149 |
81% |
All Others (write-ins) |
8 |
|
Blanks |
26 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
|
For Member, Board of Health (3-year term) Vote for One |
|
|
William S. Fuller |
154 |
84% |
All Others (write-ins) |
3 |
|
Blanks |
26 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
|
For Cemetery Commissioner (3-year term) Vote for One |
|
|
Alfred E. Moylan Jr. |
157 |
86% |
All Others (write-ins) |
2 |
|
Blanks |
24 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
|
For Constable (1-year term) Vote for One |
|
|
William H. Elovirta |
135 |
74% |
David N. Devane |
43 |
23% |
All Others (write-ins) |
1 |
|
Blanks |
4 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
|
For Member, Finance Committee (3-year term) Vote for One |
|
|
Michael J. Falk |
157 |
86% |
All Others (write-ins) |
1 |
|
Blanks |
25 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
|
For Moderator (3-year term) Vote for One |
|
|
Bruce A. Garlow |
160 |
87% |
All Others (write-ins) |
1 |
|
Blanks |
22 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
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For Member, Planning Board (5-year term) Vote for One |
|
|
Robert T. Ronzio |
47 |
26% |
Ann Lois Krawet |
126 |
69% |
All Others (write-ins) |
1 |
|
Blanks |
9 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
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QUESTION 1 |
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|
Shall the town vote to have its elected Tax Collector become an appointed Tax Collector of the Town?
If a majority of votes cast in answer to said question is in the affirmative, said office or board shall become appointed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 41, Section 1B of Massachusetts General Laws.
Any incumbent to such office or board serving at the time of acceptance by the voters shall continue to hold said office and to perform the duties thereof until the expiration of the term for which said individual was elected or until said individual otherwise vacates such office; provided, however, that any individual elected to an office or board which becomes an appointed office or board at the same election, under the provisions of this section, shall hold said office and perform the duties thereof until the appointment to said office is otherwise made under the provisions of this section.
Such appointment shall be made by the Board of Selectmen for a term not to exceed three years, unless such mode of appointment or term is otherwise provided by law.
|
YES |
107 |
58% |
NO |
63 |
34% |
Blanks |
13 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
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QUESTION 2 |
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Shall the town vote to have its elected Treasurer become an appointed Treasurer of the Town?
If a majority of votes cast in answer to said question is in the affirmative, said office or board shall become appointed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 41, Section 1B of Massachusetts General Laws.
Any incumbent to such office or board serving at the time of acceptance by the voters shall continue to hold said office and to perform the duties thereof until the expiration of the term for which said individual was elected or until said individual otherwise vacates such office; provided, however, that any individual elected to an office or board which becomes an appointed office or board at the same election, under the provisions of this section, shall hold said office and perform the duties thereof until the appointment to said office is otherwise made under the provisions of this section.
Such appointment shall be made by the Board of Selectmen for a term not to exceed three years, unless such mode of appointment or term is otherwise provided by law. |
YES |
110 |
60% |
NO |
72 |
39% |
Blanks |
1 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
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QUESTION 3 |
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SHALL THE TOWN OF BECKET BE ALLOWED TO EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF PROPOSITION 2 1/2, SO-CALLED, THE AMOUNTS REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE BORROWING TO BE ISSUED IN ORDER TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE BRIDGE ON YOKUM POND ROAD? |
YES |
136 |
74% |
NO |
41 |
22% |
Blanks |
6 |
|
Total Votes Cast |
183 |
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QUESTION 4 |
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SHALL THE TOWN OF BECKET BE ALLOWED TO EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF PROPOSITION 2 1/2, SO CALLED, BECKET’S SHARE OF THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE BONDS ISSUED IN ORDER TO AUTHORIZE THE CENTRAL BERKSHIRE REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCUR DEBT ON THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE DISTRICT BY THE ISSUANCE AND SALE AT ONE TIME OR FROM TIME TO TIME OF BONDS OR NOTES OF THE DISTRICT UNDER AND PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 71, SECTION 6 (D) OF THE GENERAL LAWS AS AMENDED AND THE DISTRICT AGREEMENT AS AMENDED, IN THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $1,437,000.00. THE INTEREST RATE, FORM, DATE, AND OTHER DETAILS OF THE BOND ISSUE OR NOTES, SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE TREASURER, WITH
THE APPROVAL OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL BERKSHIRE REGIONAL DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE? |
YES |
122 |
67% |
NO |
54 |
30% |
Blanks |
7 |
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Total Votes Cast |
183 |
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QUESTION 5 |
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Shall the Town of Becket accept sections 3 to 7, inclusive of chapter 44B of the General Laws, as approved by its legislative body, a summary of which appears below?
Sections 3 to 7 of Chapter 44B of the General Laws of Massachusetts, also known as the Community Preservation Act (Act), establish a dedicated funding source to enable cities and towns to (1) acquire open space, which includes land for park and recreational uses and the protection of public drinking water well fields, aquifers and recharge areas, wetlands, farm land, forests, marshes, beaches, scenic areas, wildlife preserves and other conservation areas, (2) acquire and restore historic buildings and sites, and (3) create affordable housing.
In Becket, the funding source for these community preservation purposes will be a surcharge of 1.5% on the annual property tax assessed on real property and annual distributions made by the state from a trust fund created by the Act. If approved, the following will be exempt from the surcharge: ((1) property owned and occupied as a domicile by any person who qualifies for low income housing or low or moderate income senior housing in the Town of Becket, as defined in Section 2 of said Act; (2) class three, commercial, and class four, industrial, properties as defined in G.L. c. 59 § 2A; (3) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property). A taxpayer receiving a regular property tax abatement or exemption will also receive a pro rata reduction in surcharge.
A Community Preservation Committee will be established by by-law to study community preservation resources, possibilities and needs and to make annual recommendations to town meeting on spending the funds. At least 10% of the funds for each fiscal year will be spent or reserved for later spending on each of the Acts three community preservation purposes: (1) open space (excluding land for recreational use), (2) historic resources and (3) affordable housing.
|
YES |
120 |
66% |
NO |
60 |
33% |
Blanks |
3 |
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Total Votes Cast |
183 |
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|
|
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Registered voters: |
1227 |
|
Ballots cast: |
183 |
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Percent Voting |
15% |
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A total of 183 votes were cast. There were 29 absentee ballots and 2 spoiled ballots. Election Officials were Eva Bonney (Clerk), Joyce Brownhill, Beverly Gillette, Gale LaBelle (Warden), and Blanche Lennington. The Police Officer was Andrew Cavanaugh. The polls closed at 7:00 p.m. and the unofficial results were printed and posted.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne W. Pryor,
Town Clerk
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