NEW SHARON – Some residents have been circulating petitions asking selectmen to hold a special town meeting to elect a third selectman by written ballot.
The third selectman’s seat has been vacant since longtime Selectman Bill Lane, who was 61, died unexpectedly April 29. Lane had been re-elected to the position that he’d held off and on for 19 years at the March town meeting.
First Selectman James Smith and Second Selectman Maynard Webster had planned to operate the three-member board themselves until next March.
Resident Joyce McPherson, who spearheaded the petition drive, said she planned to present petitions to Town Clerk Ellen Grant on Friday.
As of Thursday, she had at least 60 signatures and hadn’t collected all the petitions yet.
She only needed 65 to 70 signatures to present the petition, she said.
Odd number needed
“I just feel very strongly that we need three selectmen,” McPherson said. “There is a purpose to have an odd number of selectmen to break ties. If we elect one more by town meeting, that person will know about budget demands and other issues.”
McPherson said she researched doing a petition and spoke to a lawyer to make sure she did it right. The board would have 60 days from the day the signatures on the petitions are certified to hold a special town meeting.
Smith said he expects that he and Webster will take up the petition request at their meeting Wednesday.
We’re not against it’
“I’m quite sure we’ll arrange for a special town meeting,” Smith said. “I think some people think we’re against having a special town meeting, but we’re not against it.”
Smith said it wouldn’t cost too much to conduct a special meeting. They’d have to pay a moderator, he said, and see if they can get the gym at the Cape Cod Hill School.
“We thought we could run the town with the two of us. We still think we can but if it’s the wish of the people, I expect we’ll do it,” Smith said.
The third selectmen receives $3,500 annually. Lane had drawn some of that, Smith said.
He estimated there is about $2,000 left to finish out 2004. The first selectman gets $5,000 for the job and the second selectman gets $4,500, Smith said.
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