I have been attending Select Board meetings for quite a few years. The Select Board has questioned why the townspeople don’t get more involved with the meetings. Attendance is nonexistent unless there is an issue that interests the townspeople. That is normal for most small towns. I propose another reason, could it be the Select Board makes decisions outside the Select Board meetings? I have been informed by three previous Select Board members that this was a practice. Is this practice continued by the current Select Board?

What I have experienced is townspeople asking questions and some members of the Select Board being rude in their response. We all know the purpose of Select Board meetings. The Select Board meetings are for the purpose of handling town business. Also, the Select Board should be clear what information they use to make their decisions. When townspeople have to ask the Select Board to speak up so they can hear what is being discussed, does this make for a good meeting? Does the Select Board want participation from the townspeople?

At the last meeting in September several issues came up that were cause for concern. The first was Don McCauley stating how the informational meeting for the Molloy bylaw for wind turbines should be conducted. Isn’t this the responsibility of the Select Board and Planning Board? The Select Board and Planning Board should have been informing Mr. McCauley what procedures would be followed.

The property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2007 was $10.77 per thousand. Property was reassessed last year. My property increase was approximately $30,000.00. If my math is correct, my property tax bill will increase $323.10 with the $10.77 rate without the annual increase. The town is allowed an automatic annual 2.5 percent increase in each year. Why haven’t the tax bills been sent out? The property tax bills are suppose to be mailed October 1. The Select Board answered that question. There is not sufficient funds to run the town. The Select Board needs to ask for a tax increase. How do I know how I should vote when I don’t know how much the actual increase should be now? Or, is this a ploy by the Select Board to get my vote for a wind turbine bylaw? Mr. Tynan said he might not want wind turbines, but he had to do what was best for the town. Every voter is faced with the same issue. It shouldn’t be all about the money but the best bylaw that protects Savoy today and for future generations.

Since the Select Board has verbalized the need for more funds, I had to research the Massachusetts Government web site to try and understand the difference between a "debt exclusion" and "Proposition 2 1/2". "A "debt exclusion" creates a temporary increase in the levy limit to fund the payment of debt service costs for capital projects by borrowing. The additional amount for the debt service is added to the levy for the life of the debt. Exclusions do not become part of the base upon which the levy limit is calculated for future years. Exclusion questions are placed on the ballot by a two-thirds vote of the selectmen. A majority of the electorate is required to implement an exclusion." Savoy has voted for two debt exclusions since Fiscal Year 2000. Fiscal Year 2001, voters approved the purchase of a new four-wheel drive loader. Fiscal Year 2003, a modular addition to the elementary school was approved.

"Proposition 2 1/2" is a vote by a community at an election that permanently increases the levy limit. Unlike capital outlay expenditure exclusions or debt exclusions, an override vote can increase the levy limit no higher than the levy ceiling. The override ballot question must state a purpose for the override and a dollar amount.

"Proposition 2 ½ allows a community to assess taxes in excess of the automatic annual 2.5 percent increase and any increase due to new growth by passing an override. A community may take this action as long as it is below it’s levy ceiling, or 2.5 percent of full and fair cash value. An override cannot increase a community’s levy limit above the level of the community’s levy ceiling.

"When an override is passed, the levy limit for the year is calculated by including the amount of the override. The override results in a permanent increase in the levy limit of the community, which as part of the levy limit base, increase at the rate of 2.5 percent each year.

"A majority vote of a communities selectmen allows an override question to be placed on the ballot. Override questions must be presented in dollar terms and must specify the purpose of the override. Overrides require a majority vote of approval by the electorate."
If the Select Board follows through and asks for a property tax increase. Will I be able to afford a tax increase? Tough questions need to be asked, the Select Board needs to have answers, not the standard "we don’t have that information". If they don’t have the information, how can I vote to support an increase when I don’t know what my taxes should be under the Fiscal Year 2008 budget?

By the by, the Trojan Horse is at the gate filled with promises of money. After the Select Board meeting had adjourned Don McCauley and Select Board members stayed after the meeting and discussed the wind turbine project. The discussion centered around the fees Minuteman Wind would pay Savoy. Mr. McCauley was told he should be specific to the amount of money Savoy would receive, and the timeframe. Would the fees increase or decrease over the years. There was a consensus the fees would decrease each year since the wind turbines would devalue each year. What percentage would the turbines devalue? If my memory is correct, Mr. McCauley previously stated at a meeting the intent of his company was to sell the wind turbines to another company after they had been built. He made the comment he was in this business to make money. No one can blame him for wanting to make money. What is the long term expense for Savoy. Will his promise to pay the town specific amounts of money flow to the purchasing company? What if the company is an overseas company, how would Savoy be able to recoup any expenses associated with this project? What is my problem with this discussion? This discussion occurred after the Select Board meeting. Shouldn’t the townspeople attending the meeting been included in this exchange? Isn’t this town business?

Am I prepared to sell the heart and soul of Savoy for money? If my answer is ‘yes’, do I know how the Select Board will spend this money? Will the Select Board expect the taxpayers to fill the void with continued requests for higher tax increases as the fees decrease? A more serious question for me is the consideration of a proposed tax increase by the Select Board while a proposed wind turbine bylaw is being considered. The Select Board indicated they were going to be neutral. To bring up the matter of money with Mr. McCauley in attendance and the discussion after the meeting, makes this all about the money. Is this neutrality?

Savoy residents do care. I have come to the conclusion that nothing will change until we have a Select Board who is open about town business and encourages participation by the townspeople. We need to know what information they are considering when they make decisions. This is a small town and cannot have the budget of a larger town. What has happened to sensibility?
That’s my opinion. Your opinion and comments are welcome. By Brenda Smith