The Special Town Meeting held Monday evening, November 14th, was well attended. Thirty of the town's registered voters asked questions, offered suggestions, and after intelligent and probing discussion with the Select Board and Highway Superintendant Ray LaBonte about taking the proposed $100,000 from the Stabilization Fund account for the repair of the roads, voted unanimously to reduce the amount to $60,000. The amended article passed overwhelmingly. LaBonte said that FEMA would be reimbursing the town 75% of the money they spent and that the initial amount was in anticipation of what they would need to get the work done, but did not include snow and ice costs. When asked if he would be hurt by a decrease in the total amount he would have to work with, he said he could manage with the lesser amount until spring. Mazur said he needed the input of the voters to decide which way the town had to go about raising the money to get the highway work done. "This town is in trouble!", he said. He warned the only other way the town could raise the money would be to raise taxes.Two other articles on Fire Department issues also passed without oppositionl. The meeting began a few minutes after 7PM and was ended thirty minutes later. The town's two newly elected Selectmen, Chad Wagenknecht and Joe Bettis were in attendance at the meeting. From the Town Clerk

A Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 14, 2005, at the Savoy Fire Station at 7:00 PM to vote on the transfer of $100,000.00 from the Stabilization Fund Account to the Emergency Road Maintenance Account.

The town will, also, vote to transfer the sum of $1,500.00 from the Engine 1 Repair Account to the 1983 Mack Truck Repair Account. The sum of $3,288.76 will be voted to transfer from the Engine 1 Repair Account to the Fire Department Equipment and Maintenance Account.

Residents who are qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs are requested to attend this meeting. Residents who are not qualified to vote can also attend. by Brenda Smith

Interest in the Special Town Election was high as 25% of the town's 495 registered voters went to the polls on Tuesday, November 8th, to elect two selectmen to fill the vacated spots left by resigning Select Board members, Rita Pierce and Peter Kelleher. Chad Wagenknecht easily won the 1 1/2 year position with 109 of the 125 votes cast. Write-in candidate, Joe Bettis, received 89 votes to John D'Alessandro's 20, winning the 2 1/2 year term. Mr. Bettis was notified by telephone of the results and agreed to serve as the newly elected Selectman. All three candidates were notified of the outcome by telephone as soon as the votes had been counted. Mr. D'Alessandro was not available for comment, but a message was left on his voice mail. The new Selectmen will begin their duties as soon as they have been sworn in. from the Town Clerk

Savoy residents Bob Veronesi, (Agricultural Commission), Joe Bettis,(Conservation & Agricultural Commissions), and Don Phinney (Planning Board & Town Park Commission), attended a meeting sponsored by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) on Wednesday evening, November 2nd, at the BRPC offices on Fenn Street in Pittsfield. The meeting addressed the organization, benefits, and role of Agricultural Commissions currently being implemented in rural towns in the area. Savoy recently passed a 'Right To Farm' by-law at its Annual Town Meeting in June. The Savoy Agricultural Commission was created at that time to serve as a local voice advocating for farmers, farm businesses and farm interests in the community. The meeting was to introduce the newly formed organization to the role of Agricultural Commissions. Speakers included Doug Gillespie, Commissioner of the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources and representatives of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau. Co-sponsors included the American Farmland Turst, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Nathan Karns, Executive Director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, introduced the speakers and welcomed the more than thirty representatives who attended.
...from the Town Clerk

The Special Town Election will take place on Tuesday, November 8th at the Senior Center. Polls will be open from noon to 8PM. Rumors that others would be seeking one of the open Select Board seats have been floating around town for some time, but only one name, that of Joseph Bettis of Loop Road, has been confirmed as a possible candidate. Mr. Bettis has agreed to serve on the 2 1/2 year term if elected by enough write-in votes. The only two names that will appear on the ballot are those of Chad Wagenknecht and John D'Allessandro.

The current Select Board will ask voters to consider the transfer of $100,000 from the Stabilization account to the Emergency Road Maintenance account to address the damage to town roads from the recent storms. A Special Town Meeting will be held at the Fire Station on Monday, November 14th at 7PM. Two other articles will also appear on the warrant to address Fire Department expenses. ....from the Town Clerk