GREENE – Deputy Town Clerk Sally Ann Hebert is counting on a large turnout at the annual town meeting Saturday, March 5, at the Greene Central School.
The reason is two articles on acceptance and maintenance of roads in the Deer Run subdivision.
“People will come out to vote on Articles 30 and 31,” she said, referring to the housing development issue. “There are a lot of people who want these to pass.”
The majority of the last few selectmen’s meetings have been taken up by discussion of the town’s taking over ownership and maintenance of the roads. The issue has faded and resurfaced several times in the last 16 years.
Other hot items, according to selectmen Chairman Ron Grant, are whether voters want to keep the 5 percent discount on real estate and personal property taxes paid in full 30 days before the tax commitment, and whether to give officials the authority to raise the money needed for the discount.
Grant said the articles can exist separately, but if the town votes against raising the money then it will come down to giving the town permission to fund the discount from surplus.
“I hope it doesn’t come down to that though,” Grant said. “It would throw off the entire budget.”
According to Grant, not many municipalities still give a tax discount. “The intent originally was so the town would receive some tax money in August and give those in need a tax break,” he said. “However it doesn’t always work out that way. The ones who usually need the break can’t make the early tax payments and thus don’t receive the discount.”
Another issue is the town’s grader.
The town has spent a lot of money on maintenance, and now, as Town Manager Charlie Noonan said, “We are halfway down that slippery slope and need to make a decision.”
He will lay out the options and the cost of each.
A new highway truck is also on the warrant. “We have had that highway truck for more than 20 years,” Grant said. Last year voters rejected buying one; this year they’re being asked to appropriate $90,000 for one.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. There will be tours of the school at 8:15 a.m. and noon. Lunches of homemade beef stew, chicken noodle soup, sandwiches and chips will be sold by the Women’s Club of Greene.
Annual reports and absentee ballots for Friday’s voting can be picked up at the town building.
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