GRANTHAM — Voters at Town Meeting approved a $1.37 million general fund budget and several articles, including one to reinstate a fifth police officer and another to purchase a utility task vehicle.
The general fund budget reflects a nearly $30,000 increase from the previous year’s budget, and includes increases to several town positions, such as $11,000 for the town clerk/tax collector position. The budget also includes a nearly $12,000 decrease to personnel administration costs, which Town Manager Melissa White credited to savings on health care costs.
Voters approved the budget unanimously with little discussion.
Residents also voted on several issues via secret ballot, including an $854,000 budget for public safety departments, which was approved on an 89-14 vote.
One key article that voters approved in a 64-39 vote was a request for $102,000 to bring a fifth full-time police officer to the department, a measure Police Chief John Parsons said was needed to cover police operations and reduce overtime costs.
But some residents, like Elizabeth Hawkett, questioned the necessity of a full-time officer. She said she’s lived in the town for nearly 30 years and rarely calls the department.
“I just think we’re over-policed,” she said at the meeting.
Along with the reinstatement proposal, residents also approved in a 73-26 vote another police-related article: whether to raise $35,000 to buy a new, unmarked police car. The existing cruiser, a 2015 Dodge Charger, would be converted into an “alternative police duty use vehicle” according to the warrant.
In a final secret ballot vote, residents considered a proposal to purchase a $50,000 utility task vehicle, which would allow police and firefighters to go off-road when responding to an emergency. Fire Chief Justin Hastings said the department currently uses ATVs and “personal equipment,” which causes a liability concern.
Voters were split on the issue, with some like Paul Nicolai, wondering whether emergency personnel would actually use the vehicle.
“How many times in the past three years have we not been able to do something that actually needed to be done?” he asked.
But others took issue with the question, like resident Peter James, a former firefighter who said the woods of Grantham are vast and dangerous and the vehicle would be useful.
“There’s a lot of land out there where we could have a lot of problems,” he said.
The utility tax proposal passed in a 71-27 vote, and the remainder of the articles passed via floor votes Tuesday evening.
The meeting was held following a day of voting, during which residents cast ballots for town and school officials. School Board Chairwoman Brittany Pye easily turned back a challenge from Tanya McIntire, 175-46. McIntire also ran and lost for a School Board position last year.
Anna Merriman can be reached at amerriman@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.