Special election called off

SPENCER – Selectmen decided to stop plans to hold a special election on December 9, pulling two Proposition 2 ½ override articles from the November 6 Special Town Meeting warrant.

The questions would have sought $150,000 to fund the Spencer Rescue Squad contract and $368,390 to pay for four full-time firefighters whose grant funding runs out in February 2027.

Concerned citizens brought forth a petition signed by approximately 300 residents regarding the two items and two weeks ago, the board voted to include the articles on the warrant. The matter would then proceed to a ballot vote.

Citing the timing and $8,000 to $10,000 cost for an election, board members spoke about possibly postponing action until the regular annual election next spring.

At the last meeting, concerns were also raised about the Request for Proposals (RFP) that went out for vendors to bid on providing emergency medical services. With those bids due back in November, vice chair Jonathan Viner said an article for Spencer Rescue Squad funding would

compromise the process and be a “bad faith” effort.

That being said, Viner noted he did not “diminish the importance or take away the legitimacy of the process the residents pursued with the petition(s).”

Viner said it is more a matter of timing and not substance.

On June 16, residents at the meeting questioned how selectmen could justify asking for overrides when last year’s attempt significantly failed.

However, Selectman Ralph Hicks noted last year’s override also asked for school funding as well as new personnel for the police and highway departments and this time around, they were taking a smaller “bite of the apple.”

Resident Matt Defosse took issue with “fear mongering” about cuts that would ensue if the Proposition 2 ½ override failed again. He said he objected to threats that “people are going to die,” saying it was the board’s job to figure out the budget. “The onus is on you folks.”

Citing cuts to Town Hall hours, the library and senior center, Hicks replied, “It’s not a threat. It is a reality.”

Selectman Gary Woodbury said he was around in 2014 when “devastating,” cuts were made to services in town. “It tears me apart we are going to do it again,” he said, whether the override passes or not.

Board members also talked about the lack of participation by town voters. During last year’s election, for example, 1,517 registered voters out of 9,688 (16%) turned out to decide on the Proposition 2 ½ override questions.

Hicks said not having funding in place for career firefighters cripples the department in terms or recruiting and retaining personnel.

Fire Chief Robert Parsons said the department is losing people to other states and towns. The issue is not only the grant funding running out, but also that other fire departments pay higher salaries and percentages on health insurance.

Parsons said he had 15 to 18 individuals apply to replace firefighters who left but several of them did not meet requirements.

The fire chief said he told applicants upfront that the jobs may not continue after February 2027 when grant funding runs out. That issue gives prospective employees concern, Parsons said.

The department is also losing more call firefighters, Parsons noted.