CORNISH — Cornish residents moved one step closer to getting bathrooms in their library on Tuesday but voted down an addition to the highway garage that would have housed miscellaneous town equipment.
Residents by voice vote at Town Meeting also approved a $1 million operating budget that included 3 percent raises for full-time town employees and new computers for the town offices.
Some debate arose over the proposal to fund a $12,500 architectural study of an addition to the George H. Stowell Free Library that would include a handicapped accessible entrance as well as restrooms and research space, but it was approved by voters after library volunteers and patrons voiced strong support for the expenditure.
“I volunteer at the library, and I have to make sure I go to the bathroom before I go and volunteer because there’s no other option,” said Caroline Storrs, who is also on the town’s historic building committee. She said the town needs to be forward-thinking in making improvements to its most valuable resources. “The more we improve it and make it part of our community, the more it’s going to be used,” she said.
Patrick Pinkson-Burke added that compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act is mandatory and should not be put off any longer. “As an amputee, I haven’t been able to use that library in five years, and I used to go all the time,” he said.
Another historic building that will get some attention this year is the Hearse House. Despite some debate over whether to restore a building that has no current use to the town, voters agreed to take $9,000 from capital reserve funds to repair the sill, floor and clapboards of the building. The improvements are part of a broader effort to restore seven historic buildings in the town and then put them on a regular maintenance schedule, Storrs said.
The addition to the highway garage was one of two warrant articles that were voted down. The $20,000 addition was intended to put equipment under cover, but voters were not in agreement over the structure of the space. Some favored a free-standing building that would offer better access to the equipment. Ultimately, they decided to table the article in hopes of revisiting it next year with a clearer explanation of their options.
A proposal to change the highway agent’s job from an appointed position to an elected position, which was added to the warrant by petition, also failed.
Members of the Selectboard said the approved operating budget and other expenditures will have a minimal impact on the tax rate. Despite increases in recycling fees, health insurance and police and fire dispatch expenses, the overall budget reflected just a 1.7 percent increase over last year, which is expected to be offset by revenues, Selectboard Chairman John Hammond said last month.
Voters also were choosing two Selectboard members and a School Board seat. Scott Baker was running for re-election to the Selectboard unopposed, and Lyle Parry, who took over Ginny Wood’s seat after she stepped down last fall, was running against Kyle Witty, a former highway agent.
Cornish School Board member Nicole Saginor was running unopposed for re-election.
Sarah Earle can be reached at searle@vnews.com and 603-727-3268.