HOLDEN — Voters took care of business at the annual town meeting May 15, passing the town’s $62.4 million budget for the coming year.
That included funding the town’s assessment for the Wachusett Regional School District.
With the school budget up substantially, voters dipped, perhaps temporarily if all goes to plan, into the town’s stabilization funds to purchase “Spring Ledge Farm,” a 112-acre farm property off Chapin Road that will be under the control of the Conservation Commission.
Taking $1.18 million from the general Stabilization Fund and $100,000 from the Open Space Stabilization Fund, the town could see grants that would cover the entire amount that voters allowed from the town savings funds.
“The town of Holden has an opportunity to inexpensively purchase undeveloped land off Chapin Road for conservation and passive recreation use,” Finance Committee Chairman Paul Challenger said. “Our net investment will be only $100,000 for over 100 acres of land.”
At the closing, the other entities will contribute funds, returning funds to the general stabilization fund.
Colin Novick of the Great Worcester Land Trust had been working on the land deal for several years, Challenger said.
The former Christmas tree farm has been a priority for conservation for decades.
“It is remarkable that we are looking at protecting a $2.28 million property with a $100,000 contribution from Holden,” Novick said, noting Spring Ledge Farm will link multiple conservation properties, creating more trails, and that it has historic links as well.
A citizens petition seeking to prohibit use of thin-film plastic bags in retail and grocery stores, also encouraging the use of reusable bags, was withdrawn by the petitioner.
The remainder of the 33-article warrant was met with approvals over the twohour meeting.
The legislative meeting, which needed 152 voters to conduct business, drew 225 voters, 1.48% of the town’s 15,170 registered voters.
