RICHMOND â Town voters easily approved the second and final step to finance a new town hall, community center and library off State Road (Route 41). The project, costing up to $6.8 million, is on town-owned land adjoining the Richmond Consolidated School.
The âyesâ vote on a debt-exclusion ballot question at Saturdayâs annual town election was a landslide 260 to 22, said Town Accountant/Town Clerk Angela Garrity. The turnout was nearly 23 percent of Richmondâs 1,245 registered voters.
As was the case in most years, there were no contested races for town positions. Last year, with all candidates unopposed, only 51 registered voters turned out, about 4 percent.
RICHMOND â Prolonged applause and cheers erupted Wednesday night as a huge turnout of annual town meeting voters approved the largest building project since the expansion and renovation of the Richmond Consolidated School 20 years ago.
A near-record crowd overwhelmingly endorsed a new Town Hall, Library and Community Center project costing up to $6.8 million, financed primarily by a low-interest bond. The margin, 270 in favor, 34 against, was far above the required two-thirds supermajority of 203.
Turnout was about 25 percent of the 1,239 registered voters. The thumping victory margin surprised and gratified town leaders who had expected a tighter tally.
The third try turned out to be the charm, following close-call rejections by voters for Town Hall and library projects in 2002 and 2005.
LENOX â The School Committee has voted unanimously to adopt Gov, Charlie Bakerâs new guidance eliminating mask-wearing for all students when outdoors, even if social distancing cannot be maintained.
The relaxed guidelines that took effect Tuesday include recess, physical ed, youth sports and outdoor learning environments, interim schools Superintendent William Cameron said. For now, students and adults must continue to wear masks indoors.
Adults on school grounds must continue to wear masks outdoors if distancing cannot be maintained.
Until Bakerâs recommendations were released on Monday, health and safety rules required students to be masked at all times when on school property.
RICHMOND Wedding bells will chime from time to time at the 163-year-old Ice House Hill Farm, now that the Select Board has given final approval for seasonal nuptials at
Where: Richmond Consolidated School, 1831 State Road (Route 41), gymnasium.
A large turnout is expected this year as voters consider whether to approve a major investment with a massive payoff, promising to create what this rural community lacks: The semblance of a centrally located âdowntownâ to replace a century-old, deteriorated and hazardous Town Hall and a cramped, rented library in a former garage.
Town Center project: Enthusiastically recommended by the Finance Committee, the proposed town offices, community center and library complex would be the largest building project since the renovation and expansion of the Richmond Consolidated School 20 years ago. Requiring financing toward an estimated cost of up to $6.8 million, a two-thirds supermajority is required for approval. A $1.9 million town hall/library proposal came up eight votes short in 2002, and a revised plan failed in 2005 by a handful of votes. Selectman Roger Manzolini, a strong advocate of the project,