WENDELL — It took 28 people 12 minutes to breeze through a six-article warrant at Monday’s Special Town Meeting.
All articles passed unanimously with little discussion before Selectboard Chair Laurie DiDonato moved to adjourn the meeting inside Town Hall.
By adopting Article 5, voters agreed to new notice requirements and an alternative procedure for the town to manage abandoned funds, which are uncashed checks. Adoption of Article 5 enables the town accountant to transfer uncashed checks to a special account, allowing them to eventually return to the town’s coffers. If Article 5 had not been adopted, the money would be turned over to the state.
“We want to keep the money in town,” Town Treasurer Carolyn Manley told voters.
Residents also voted to transfer $235,137 from free cash to the General Stabilization Fund. DiDonato had previously explained that the town routinely puts its remaining free cash into the fund.
Article 3 asked voters to transfer $2,491 from free cash to Town Clerk Anna Wetherby’s salary to compensate her for the increased responsibility of monitoring and posting meetings on the municipal website. Article 4 asked if voters wished to transfer $8,736 from free cash to Town Coordinator Kelly Tyler’s salary. DiDonato had previously said this article is necessary due to the failure of two Proposition 2½ override votes, which committed the town to the non-contingent fiscal year 2026 budget that was approved at Annual Town Meeting.
Voters also adopted Article 2, transferring $3,331 to pay for a prior year’s bill for regional animal control services, and Article 1, transferring $159 to cover a prior year’s bill for the Town Building Expense line item.