DALTON — After failing to approve the police budget at Monday's annual town meeting, residents voted to approve spending for a new police cruiser for the department.
The article, an allocation of $90,000 for a police cruiser, passed 95-69; it was one of nine that were passed on Wednesday night in the continuation of Monday's meeting.
The second session drew 170 voters and 10 guests at Wahconah Regional High School, down over 100 voters from Monday’s meeting.
In a nearly three-hour meeting, residents voted on the final 12 articles, rejecting only one — a petition to rescind the Stretch Energy Code, which emphasizes energy performance and is designed to promote cost-effective construction that is more energy efficient.
Two other articles were tabled before a vote could be taken: the borrowing of $880,000 to make Town Hall improvements and to amend a noise bylaw.
Other than the noticeable difference in attendance, Select Board member Daniel Esko was not present. Town Moderator Anthony Doyle also made a change, asking residents to hold up their cards during every vote so he could better assess the majority.
Residents wasted no time going after the Police Department, taking issue with part A of Article 22, $90,000 from free cash for a police cruiser. Residents voiced their frustration, with many questioning whether the department needs another cruiser.
Police Chief Deanna Strout told residents that there are currently nine cruisers and 13 police officers and gave the mileage for each cruiser. And she insisted the department is “short one cruiser.”
One resident made a motion to have the vote be decided by secret ballot, which was passed. After a debate that lasted over 45 minutes, the secret ballot vote passed 95-69.
Dalton residents wait to cast their vote in the secret ballot for the police cruiser. The vote passed 95-69.
The department's overall budget was rejected during Monday's portion of the meeting. The town has until July 1 to hold a special town meeting to approve spending for the Police Department.
There was also a debate regarding the amount that should be allocated for a new truck with sewer flushing equipment for the Department of Public Works. Select Board Chair Robert Bishop made a motion to increase the original allocation from $250,000 to $540,000, which was rejected.
Residents then voted 78-63 in favor of the original $250,000.
Article 30, a petition to rescind the Stretch Energy Code, also referred to as the stretch code, was the lone item rejected. Residents who favored the petition were concerned about the potential costs of renovating older homes or meeting energy efficiency standards on new construction.
Green Dalton Committee Chair David Wasielewski opposed the article, highlighting that removing the stretch code would remove Dalton’s status as a green community. That designation allows towns to access grant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.
“Having a green community gives the town up to $200,000 … to increase energy efficiency in municipal buildings,” Wasielewski said.
Steven Marantz, member of the committee, also opposed the article, saying, “[We need] to continue to go forward, not backwards.”
Article 24, borrowing $880,000 to make Town Hall improvements — including the installation of an HVAC system — was tabled immediately by Bishop with little explanation.
The other item that was tabled was Article 27, amending a noise bylaw that would authorize the Board of Health to address commercial noise complaints and the Police Department to address residential noise complaints.
Members of the Dalton Select Board and Finance Committee at the head of the auditorium at Wahconah Regional High School during the annual town meeting on Wednesday. The meeting lasted nearly three hours and the town finished voting on the final 12 articles.
The town also approved two citizen petitions: to create a Capital Planning Committee and an act to provide recall elections for the town.
On Monday, 277 registered voters and 17 guests debated for nearly four hours, voting on 19 articles. Two articles did not pass, as residents rejected the police budget and the use of the former Dalton High School for any purpose other than housing.
The high school parcel was being considered as a possible location for a new town police station. The town did approve the rest of the operating budget and an allocation of $9,216,038 for the Central Berkshire Regional School District.
The town election will be held Monday at the Dalton Senior Center.
