Wrentham Holds Town Meeting, but Postpones Most Major Issues

Wrentham breezed through its Annual and Special Town Meetings in less than 45 minutes Monday night, pushing back consideration on major town issues to June.

The town voted to table articles two, three, four, seven, eight, nine and 10 of the nine-article Annual Town Meeting Warrant. The townspeople also indefinitely postponed action on articles three, four, nine, 12 and 13 on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.

The major action taken at the meeting was appropriating $331,000 to snow and ice expenditures. The town went over budget as a result of the sever winter weather.

"The budgeted amount was about $150,000, said Finance Committee member Sue Kost. "We spent about $481,000 this year on snow and ice."

The townspeople voted unanimously to appropriate that amount.

Finance Committee Chairman Jerry McGovern pointed out that the town is running low on free cash.

"The town has $630,000 of free cash," he said. "The total recommendation for funding tonight is $379,000. If they're all approved, it will leave us with about $250,000."

The town also approved an article that would move the Annual Town Meeting to the second Monday in June.

"As you can see tonight, when we have tabled articles, it makes sense to not have another evening when everyone has to come out to vote," Selectman Stephen Langley said. "In the event we need a Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen can call one. The residents in town can also call a Special Town Meeting."

The measure was approved unanimously.