Through fluctuating times, town halls stand tall
Epsom and Chichester are neighbors, less than four miles apart in the Suncook Valley.
Their schools both funnel students to Pembroke Academy. Their residents share parks and conversation, and many outsiders consider the two towns to be synonymous with Pembroke, the big-boy on the Suncook Valley’s six-town roster.
When it comes to rules in town offices, however, Epsom and Chichester reflect the pattern and national single-mindedness that has emerged since COVID hit the state 13 months ago. That is to say there is no pattern or single-mindedness and there never has been, and that has made mask wearing more complex than calculus.
In Epsom, the school district will receive $53,000 less by default
Voters make their marks at the polls at Epsom Bible Church in Epsom on Tuesday. Melissa Curran / Monitor staff
Published: 3/10/2021 6:11:36 PM
Despite support from the Epsom School Board and Budget Committee, the district’s proposed operating budget of $12.28 million was rejected on Election Day, with voters preferring a default budget that was $53,000 less.
Official vote totals were not available by press time, but School Board Chair Michael Wiggett said the school budget was the lone article among three on the ballot to fail.
Passage of the operating budget would have meant a tax rate of $18.61 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which would have resulted in a $3.22 increase over the previous year.
Folks in Epsom say more snow plows than usual are taking out their mailboxes
Ryan Pelissier (left), JJ Curcio and Chase Ranfos of the Allenstown Highway Department stand next to the town plow with a mailbox they keep around as a measuring stick on Thursday. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff
GEOFF FORESTER/ Monitor staff GEOFF FORESTER/ Monitor staff
Ryan Pelissier (left) J J Curcio and Chase Ranfos of the Allenstown Highway Department stand in back of the town plow with a mailbox they keep around as a reminder on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Driver Dave Bufourd sits in the town plow in the backround. GEOFF FORESTER Monitor staff