WILTON – Voters at town meeting on Thursday evening, March 10, made changes to two articles, but otherwise approved everything on a lengthy warrant, except one.

The vote to adopt the Official Ballot Law, or SB2, failed 133 to 6. Next year Wilton will hold its 261st traditional town meeting.

An operating budget totaling $5,869,559, presented by Budget Committee Chairman Cary Hughes, passed with little discussion.

The budget, presented by means of pie charts, is about a 9 percent increase over last year. It contains a 5 percent wage increase for employees.

Hughes said ambulance costs have risen, and there will be a new director of Public Works.

“The pandemic hit two years ago, and things were put off. Now they are back in the budget.”

Asked about the use of American Recovery Plan Act funds to offset the budget, Selectman Kermit Williams said that was a federal program with specific guidelines. “It will go mostly to water, sewer, and a dedicated waterline to the library to install a required sprinkler system.” About half of the funds, about $200,000, have not yet been allocated.

Article 13, to establish a capital reserve fund to provide money for matching grants with $100,000 from unexpended fund balance, was amended to add a requirement for a public hearing. While there are many grants available for various projects, Williams said, “they usually require a match, up to 50 percent.”

Economic Development Committee Chairman Jennifer Beck added, “We have lost grants because we couldn’t compete with larger towns..”

Article 24, to raise the Veteran’s Tax Credit from $300 to $500, was amended to the maximum allowed, $750. Should all 145 veterans in town qualify for the credit, the cost would be $105.000.

Eliminating town meeting produced an emotional response from many voters. Williams spoke of the 260-year history of town meetings and why the community needed them. He was supported by numerous residents, with only one advocating a change to ballot voting.

Historical lack of attendance at the ‘deliberative session,’ the ability of a few voters to determine the wording on the ballot, and further loss of communication in town were cited.

While voters approved payments on a pickup truck ($17,000), fire engine ($62,000), dump truck ($29,000), and police cruiser ($39,000) with little discussion, $12,000 for a new lawnmower for the cemetery and parks and recreation produced a discussion.

Would it go out to bid, and why so an expensive machine. It will get a lot us use, officials said, and $12,000 is the maximum that can be spent.

Asked about a million dollars held by the cemetery trustees, Williams said that is an old fund, dating to the early 1900s that can only be used for maintenance of graves, not the, roads, new areas, etc., which are paid through taxes.

Article 10 asked that $100,000 be placed in New Reservoir Dam Trust Fund.

The fund was created in 2018 when it was determined that the dam needs to be repaired or removed.

“A ‘500-year flood’ could breach the dam and cause major damage all the way to Milford,” Williams said. What will be done and what it will cost has not yet been determined, “but it could be a million dollars.”

Voters changed the name of the fund to cover work on any of the town’s dams, including the Frog Pond which is also under discussion with the state.

Fire Chief Don Nourse explained the need for $100,000 for “procuring and installing new repeater communications equipment at the Dram Cup/Crown Castle tower site,” which includes new radios for highway and emergency services.

The new site will provide “excellent coverage” for about 75 percent of the town. “It will be the first step toward keeping coverage regardless of what happens with Milford Area Communications Center, the current dispatcher which is in need of repairs. “We need infrastructure to communicate,” Nourse said. “Milford owns (all of the current equipment) and we will own this.”

Both $34,000 for updating g fire protection systems at the Town Hall and $85,000 for Town Hall Repair passed with no discussion. The Town Hall cupola has to be repaired, probably by lowering it with a crane.

Also approved was $75,000 toward a new public works garage, $25,000 for work on restoring fire ponds, $4,699 for the town clerk/tax collector (the same 5 percent as employees will receive), and $10,000 for revaluation

The Community Space Pilot Program ($16,443 for six months) was supported by many as the start toward establishing a real Community Center, a project under discussion for many years. Currently housed at the Second Congregational Church Parish Hall, public support is needed to find a permanent home. A wide variety of programs and entertainment is offered.

The Conservation Commission asked that 50 percent of the Land Use Change Tax be placed in the conservation fund for land acquisition, up to $60,000.

“We need the money in hand if a property comes up,” Beck said. Keeping space open is considered essential” and there are currently 90 approved building lots.

In other business, Sandy Lafleur was named Citizen of the Year and retiring Selectwoman Kellie-Sue Boissonnault was extended thanks for her service.

Asked in a “straw poll” if voters would like to move town meeting, many said yes.

Asked if the New Reservoir should be reserved for Wilton residents only, many voters said “Wilton and Lyndeborough.”

The meeting at the high school adjourned at 10:15 p.m.