ATHOL — Shortly after Public Health Agent Deb Vondal updated the Selectboard on steps being taken to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus in Athol, the board voted unanimously to seek special legislation to allow the town to delay balloting in the 2020 annual town election.
At the same time, the board voted to approve the warrant for the election which includes contests for several town offices, as well as a proposed Proposition 2½ debt exclusion to fund repairs to the cupola and roof of Town Hall.
“Per our town charter and our town bylaws,” Town Clerk Nancy Burnham told the board, “the town election is always scheduled for the first Monday in April. We do it in conjunction with the town of Royalston, because we both vote for the Athol Royalston Regional School Committee candidates.
“Obviously, due to the coronovirus epidemic and town buildings being closed, we certainly do not want to put the voters at risk, and I certainly don’t want to put my workers at risk. So, I feel, after consultation with the town manager, that it’s in the best interest of the town of Athol to seek to postpone the election to a later date.”
Short of seeking a court order for the delay, Burnham asked the board to implore Gov. Charlie Baker to file special legislation to allow the postponement.
“It’s called a ‘Governor’s Bill,’” Burnham explained. “Normally, special legislation does have to go to Town Meeting, but a Governor’s Bill does not; it’s just a simple vote of the Board of Selectmen. Generally, these bills are emergency in nature and they usually are approved very quickly.”
“Will this then allow us,” asked board member William Chiasson, “to — assuming it passes — we would determine a date?”
“I have spoken with the Royalston town clerk,” Burnham responded. “Our plan is to have our elections the same day, as we always do. We have picked a tentative date but obviously, with everything changing on a daily basis, that date may not be extended out far enough. If you kind of read into what the legislation really does, it’s basically saying by June 30. My hope, obviously, is to have it well before then. So, yes, I would be coming back asking to schedule a date; again, with the hope that Royalston is going to do the same thing.”
In response to an inquiry from board member Lee Chauvette, Burnham said consideration of the proposed debt exclusion would not be affected. Chauvette also noted the Annual Town Meeting, scheduled for June 8, could also fall victim to the pandemic.
While the vote to seek special legislation from the governor was unanimous, Burnham also asked the panel to approve a second resolution which, should the leguislation fail to pass, would allow Town Counsel John Barrett to seek a court order allowing a delay.
This resolution was also approved without dissent.