Highlighting News Stories for Our Town for the week of February 13, 2002

Previous Newsbreak Archive

Politics and debate and finances are on the table of discussion as we look ahead.

And there is a residual effect from the series of debates and elections and resignations of top officials in our town from last year.

Here’s the saga for 2002.

1.                  There is a special election set for the third Saturday in March, March 16. This date was set by the selectmen after town clerk, Ron Fucile, informed them that a recall petition was certified as having sufficient signatures to force a recall election.

2.                  What is this recall petition all about?

3.                  It is the residual effect from last year. Remember that the annual town election last June had the ballot question seeking an override to proposition 2 ½. And, on June 2^nd, the question was defeated. Subsequently, the selectmen determined that it was necessary to ask the voters to rule on the question  again.

Thus, in September, at the primary election scheduled to select candidates for the congressional seat vacated upon the death of Rep. Joseph Moakley, voters chose to affirm the override question and the 3.7 million in additional revenue was added to the budget.

4.                  However, another group of citizens disagreed with this set of circumstances and asked the selectmen to hold a third vote. The selectmen said no.

5.                  Then, that group set out to gather signatures to seek a special recall election against the four selectmen who chose to stay with the September vote.

6.                  Petitions were in circulation for some months and turned in to the town clerk a few weeks ago.

7.                  Thus, an election is set to ask the voters whether four selectmen should continue in office or not.

8.                  With the change in voting precincts and the change in polling places, we should remind everyone of the following.

9.                  Voters in precincts 1 –5 will go to the high school gymnasium to vote. Those in precincts 6 – 8 will vote at the Fisher School on Gould Street.

10.               Check with the census form that was mailed out a few weeks ago. That form tells you exactly what precinct you are in and where to vote.

So, in Walpole, the annual debate on budgeting and town administration has begun in earnest.

Mark the date. March 16.

Feel free to add your comments to WALPOLEWORDS

top