UPTON — Residents will have a chance this week to decide whether to change the date of annual town meeting from March to June.

The opportunity comes at a special town meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at the old schoolhouse.

Selectman Bob Brown said Monday that a group of residents presented the board with a petition requesting the change because some of the 60 or so residents are away during the winter months.

He said the annual town meeting has been held in March ever since the town was incorporated in 1860.

Brown said he’d like to retain the traditional date because of the hassle that would be needed to change. The town plans to continue with a calendar year budget.

If a majority of voters decide to move the town meeting to June, Brown said a special town meeting may need to be called in December to act on a budget to carry the town through to the June meeting. Then, a new budget would be devised for the next 12 months.

In a related matter, Brown said the tax rate for the current year will likely be set in early September. The current rate is $7.50 per $1,000 of valuation.

Those attending Thursday’s special town meeting will also decide whether to amend the current building ordinance to require a building permit for the construction of a foundation. If approved, the applicant would receive a permit to build both the foundation and the structure.

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