Article 30 for the town Deliberative Session and Article 9 for the School Session proved to be two of the more consequential petition Warrant Articles. If approved, the Articles would move the date of the yearly budget election forward one month from the second Tuesday of March to the second Tuesday of April.
“Working with, maybe slightly outdated numbers, we average 3-4 thousand voters out of the 16,000 voters in Hudson that show up for the town elections,” said Mike Tranfaglia of 24 Woodcrest Drive and petitioner for both Warrant Articles. “We’re hopeful that the date change will bring an increase in voters. Some quick research has shown that voter turnout is slightly higher in warmer weather.”
Bad weather forced the town to push back March elections twice in the past.
Tranfaglia contended this delay contributed to the low turnout, though he also acknowledged that town and school elections have “historically much lower turnout” compared to state and national elections.
“The Deliberative Sessions would be at the beginning of March, instead of February like we are now,” added Town and School District Moderator, Paul Inderbitzen, pointing out that more than just the vote would move forward.
Article 30 was recommended by the Board of Selectmen, but SAU Article 9 was unanimously not recommended by the School Board.
“I am opposed to this,” said School Board Chair and Budget Committee Liaison, Gretchen Whiting. “The administration noted that by moving the voting by a month, could impact the ability to successfully recruit and hire candidates in some cases, particularly for positions that would be newly added to the proposed operating budget.”
With how salaries are negotiated and the budgeting process, she claimed the new voting date would delay the ability of the district to make final employment offers.
“The timing at which jobs are posted and associated income with those postings has to be in alignment with colleges,” added Debbie Putnam of 55 Ranger Drive. “Hudson is going to be left with employees that could not find placement with other towns. That is not the position we want to be in, we want to be in the position to hire the best candidates.”
Postponed town elections occur two weeks after the original date.
“The problem I see, and what I want to address is how, specifically, the School Board gets the word out to the 3,850 people or so who are going to vote, that aren’t here to see Whiting explain the ramifications of this and, with all good intent, say ‘Yeah, I don’t want to go out and vote in the snow!'” said Lyn Segal of 6 Beechwood Road, also speaking against the Article. “You need to educate people on the ramifications.”
Since it impacts the town and school budgets, the matter is set to appear twice on the upcoming March ballot as Warrant Article 30 and SAU Warrant Article 9, and both must pass for the change to take effect.