WOODSTOCK — Residents unanimously voted Tuesday evening to raise and appropriate $20,000 to cover anticipated overdrafts in the Equipment Account.

Prior to the special town meeting at the Woodstock Town Office, Town Manager Vern Maxfield said two Public Works department trucks need major repairs because of the harsh winter.

The sum of $12,500 will be taken from the fund balance and $7,500 raised from taxes.

An article to appropriate $30,000 from the Excise Tax Account to cover anticipated overdrafts in the winter roads Account was unanimously approved.

One resident asked Maxfield what caused the overdrafts.

“It was because of that terrible winter we had, particularly in January and February,” Maxfield said. “We had to buy a lot of extra sand and salt to deal with the ice storms.”

Selectmen Chairman Victor Young said the town had to purchase an extra 1,300 yards of sand and 90 tons of salt.

“We barely made it through the winter, even with that,” Selectman Ron Deegan said.

“We try to do the best we can every year, but it was a difficult winter,” Maxfield said.

Selectman Stephen Bies said the $30,000 would not increase the town’s taxes, though the $7,500 would affect taxes.

Residents also voted to appropriate $20,000 from the Spruce Mountain Wind Farm Tangible Funds Account to reduce the 2014 tax commitment.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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