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I'll leave the analysis for tomorrow. The responsibility for this override vote rests squarely on the shoulders of the Finance Committee, which could have recommended taking the money for the feasibility study out of the stabilization fund. But decided to ask for an override, which, in spite of a lot of communication on my part and theirs, still makes no sense to me.
What does the override mean? Does it mean no school project, no way, no how? Are they confused about the cost? Does it mean people didn't know what exactly the feasibility study actually meant? Does it mean they would have preferred we take the money out of savings rather than going for an override? Ask the Finance Committee. The ovrerride vote was their idea.
This count is unofficial, but probably correct.
Number of voters: 910.
Yes: 403. 44%
No: 507. 56%
4 responses so far ↓
1 Mike Ribeiro
// Jun 30, 2009 at 5:50 am
Pretty simple. 403 voters wanted to build the new school addition.
And 507 didn't want to build the new school addition.
This is what happens when everyone gets to vote at the poles. As apposed to sitting through a boring town meeting without a secret ballot.
Thanks to the finance committee for given us all a fair chance to vote our wishes.
Suck it up people. We don't need it and we can't afford it.
Thank You all that voted NO
2 Cindy Dec-Gaspari
// Jun 30, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Mark, Can the Finance Comm. now use the money from the stabilization fund to pay for a feasability study or is it too late ??
3 Lisa Petraglia
// Jul 1, 2009 at 12:37 am
I did not attend the 6/17 informational mtg but I did catch it on CH.15. Someone in the audience astutely asked the question regarding "what a failed over-ride would mean". It does not mean "No study" it just means the study would have to be paid for by existing funds (if the Town chooses) & presumably some of those $$$ taxpayers have already provided.
4 admin
// Jul 2, 2009 at 4:24 am
Hi Lisa,
The guy who mentioned existing funds was the GHS cross country coach.
Paying for the feasibility study out of existing funds isn't quite that simple. Citizens will have to put together a petition of at least 100 signatures to get it on the town ballot. It will take 2/3 of town meeting to appropriate money from the stabilization fund for the feasibility study.
The select board can put any article on a town meeting warrant, but I'm personally opposed to the select board just putting an article on the warrant, at least in this case. For better or worse, 500 voters said they didn't want an override. It should be other voters who decide to carry on the conversation about a feasibility study.
One Granby citizen has already told me he will pursue the use of stabilization funds at town meeting. I'll post news when I get it.
Mark