In a special town meeting tonight, over 50 brave souls made it through the snow and rain to approve five warrant articles and table the sixth. The appropriated funds will pay for an interim police chief, police department consulting services, technical school expenses, legal fees, and retirement expenses.
The sixth article, to move $13,000 from the Belding Park Restoration Fund to the stabilization fund was tabled. Selectboard member Dave DeHerdt said the town has no special need for the money at this time, and he didn’t want to take away funds at a special town meeting that were approved by the annual town meeting.
At the beginning of the evening, Bill Perlman motioned to postpone the meeting to a date certain because the bad weather had lowered attendance, but the motion was defeated.
DeHerdt said after the meeting that a contract is being prepared to offer to John Cotton, the candidate for interim chief chosen at last night’s selectboard meeting. If all goes well, the new chief may begin as early as next Monday.
He said the board will be meeting again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and will be joined by the Finance Committee to work on the budget.
Ruth Julian
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I felt that the meeting was, overall, a very positive step in beginning the process of moving forward. Many of us see that years of neglect from some members of the select board and the police dept. took this town to a dark and negative place with some feeling we had groups pitted one against the other. There are many of us that are still fighting for the integrity and transparent government that we all deserve. This is Ashfield, our home and community. We need to demystify some of the propaganda and rumors. Please, if there is something you have heard or been told that is detrimental to someone's character, ask. I feel that one who has no intentions to cause harm would be grateful for the conversation. Thank you to all of you who are standing up for the whole of the community and are not serving a "self interest". Let's keep rolling.....Our Select Board and Finance Committees did a great job last night. Thank them when you get the opportunity for their hard work and commitment to the town. They have been working very hard and now that we have the appropriations for Mr. Cotton, perhaps they will get a break.
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