HOLDEN — Residents will not see any increase in their water and sewer rates this year.
“For the second year in a row, we’re not proposing to raise rates or fees for the enterprise fund,” DPW Director John Woodsmall told selectmen March 18.
He said expenditure increases are 13%, and revenue is expected to increase 27.5%.
Among plans are about $672,000 for capital items, including two new vehicles, the next phase of the Spring Street Water Treatment Plant study, plus a long-term capital plan for pump stations — which Woodsmall said were all built in the late 1990s and early 2000s, so would start having issues at the same time — plus inflow and infiltration efforts.
A usually routine item on the Select Board’s agenda got discussion going on the appointment process.
After unanimously appointing James Lyons to the Conservation Commission, board members thanked him for stepping up to volunteer.
Turning to a proposed appointment presented by the town clerk, the board debated before failing to appoint.
Republican Nadia Kaminski was recommended as an election officer by Town Clerk Jeanne Hudson to a position to expire Aug. 31, 2024.
Selectman Geri Herlihy asked if the nomination came from the Republican Town Committee. Town Manager Peter Lukes said it had been vetted by the town clerk.
Selectman Anthony Renzoni said the usual process is that the Democratic and Republican committees send their choices to the town clerk, who sends them to the Select Board.
“We don’t interact with the two committees,” Renzoni said.
Renzoni moved to appoint Kaminski, with Selectman Richard Bates seconding.
Selectman Thomas Curran said the board had been getting requests from the town clerk in “dribs and drabs,” and asked for information from the clerk on how many positions she was looking to fill and balancing between Republicans and Democrats.
Nominations depend on the activity of the town committees, who “till the field to get the volunteers out,” Lukes said. “It’s difficult; they come and go.”
“I agree we need more information on the process,” Renzoni said. “However, that is separate from this issue, which is a citizen volunteering to fill a role in town government.”
He added that the the board has an appointment on the table and “we should be supporting them.”
“It’s a really long day and can be exhausting,” Bates said, noting he had served as an election officer. He said the town is constantly asking citizens to volunteer. We should be encouraging people to come forward.”
“Without the nominee here to ask questions, I’m a ‘no’ vote,” Curran said.
“I agree,” Herlihy said.
In previous town clerk appointment requests, the individuals did not normally appear.
“We get slates from the parties each year, and we don’t ask them to come in,” Renzoni said. “This would certainly be out of practice for the Board.
“But we can fail this vote,” he said, and could reconsider at a later date.
Town Counsel Stephen Madaus clarified that the state law requires election workers be balanced between the two parties.
“If we want to find a way to find people to not volunteer, we should continue to shoot them down when they volunteer,” Renzoni said.
The motion failed, with Renzoni and Bates in favor, Curran and Herlihy opposed, and member Stephanie Mulroy absent.
