RUTLAND — The town’s voters have three contests to decide as well as a Proposition IVi override question in the annual town election on May 8.
Leading the ballot for many, a question will decide if the town can raise additional tax revenue for the town’s expenses. Although the question would allow a $2 million override, the voters at town meeting, where the override would also have to pass, will actually approve the appropriations that use the funds.
In addition, the town could become the latest town to change the town clerk position from elected to appointed. The ballot question is no longer needed, however, according to Town Clerk Anita Carlson, who said the town meeting vote will instead seek a Special Act of the State Legislature to make the change, which would be effective after she retires.
Voters will also decide seats on the Select Board that constitute a majority of the members. They will pick two of the three candidates for the two 3-year seats and one of the two seeking a 1-year seat. The one-year seat is the balance of a three-year term available once current Select Board member Carol Benoit resigns effective the day of the election.
Ballot contests: Select Board: two seats for three years, Jennifer A. Leger, Paul T. Mattson and incumbent Leroy C. “Skip” Clark.
Select Board: one seat for one year, to fill the remaining year of a three-year term, Jason E. Taylor and Harry E. Sechman.
Planning Board: one seat for five years, Keith M. Tuttle and Britton James Bradford.
Other positions on the ballot without contests are: Moderator: one position for one year, Randy E. Jordan; Board of Health: one seat for three years, Elliott L. Nadeau Jr.; and Library Trustees: two seats for three years, incumbent Tressa J. Santillo and Anita I. Byron.
There is no candidate for Assessor, one seat for three years. Interested individuals can run a write-in effort; contact the town clerk for information on the process.
Voters may send in an application to vote by mail. See information on the town website. One form may be used by all members of a household, but each voter’s signature must be on the form.
The deadline to request mail-in ballots is May 1 at 5 p.m. The large Town Clerk Ballot Drop Box in front of Community Hall may be used to drop off the application form and to return voted ballots. There will be no in-person Early Voting for Rutland’s municipal elections, Carlson said.
The last day to register to vote prior to the Annual Town Meeting and Town Election was April 26.
The election will be held May 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 will vote at the Naquag School, 285 Main St.; Precinct 2 will vote at the Rutland Library in the lower level, 280 Main St.
