This Week's Winchendon News
Big Decision for Voters at Monday's Annual Town Meeting
On Monday, May 19, Winchendon voters will determine whether or not to make history--for Winchendon--when they decide on a town budget based on the $1.9 million Proposition 2-1/2 override approved in a ballot vote on Monday, May 5, by a margin of 12 votes.
Winchendon has only passed two overrides since Proposition 2-1/2 was enacted, and the last, failed, attempt was in 2017. This is the first time that the Town Meeting vote has come after the ballot vote--usually, the Town Meeting vote is first. Some voters are confused as to exactly what each vote means.
Proposition 2-1/2 became law in 1980. It says that communities may not increase their total tax levy (the tax levy is the total amount of personal and property taxes collected) more than 2.5 percent per year. New construction doesn't count as part of that increase.
The tax levy is not the same as the tax rate. The Board of Selectmen set the tax rates each year. (The excise tax rate never changes.) The property tax rate can go up or down more than 2.5 percent, depending on property assessments. But the total tax levy can never increase more than 2.5 percent...
...unless the town passes an override, in which case the total tax levy can be increased by the amount that voters approve.
Approving the Proposition 2-1/2 override means that the town now has permission to collect more taxes than the current tax levy plus 2.5 percent. But those taxes can only be collected if voters also approve spending them.
The article for the town budget asks that the town be allowed to "raise and appropriate" funds. "Raise and appropriate" means collect the taxes and allocate them to the budget, exactly as the budget is approved on Town Meeting floor. Only the amount approved by voters can be "raised." So the tax levy might not be increased the full override amount if the budget is reduced below that amount on Town Meeting floor.
The override itself is permanent. If Winchendon doesn't increase its tax levy by $1.9 million (or about 13.7 percent) this year, it can request tax levy increases in following years that are more then 2.5 percent, until it reaches the ceiling voters just approved on May 5, without any more votes. If voters approve spending all the $1.9 million this year, next year's tax levy increase will have to keep within the 2.5 percent limit. If there has not been enough additional revenue from new construction, new businesses and so on, voters may be asked to approve another override.
This is the question Winchendon voters must decide on at Town Meeting on Monday. The town has raised the tax levy ceiling mandated by the state. But will voters now allow the town to actually collect those taxes and spend them?
For the town budget, Winchendon voters have five options.
- Approve Article 11, the $1.9 million override budget, which is a tight "level service" budget, as presented.
- Approve Article 11, the $1.9 million override budget, with amendments that reduce its bottom line. Whatever is not spent of the $1.9 million can be applied to next year's budget (when voters might or might not approve spending it).
- Vote down Article 11 and approve Article 12, which is a severe "level funded" austerity budget that totally defunds the Beals Memorial Library, Senior Center and Parks & Recreation, zeroes out town support to the Winchendon CAC and Clark YMCA, and makes other cuts.
- Vote down Article 11 and approve Article 12 with amendments re-funding selected line items. Budget amounts can only be increased on Town Meeting floor if there is funding available for the increase. In this case, there's over $1 million available, so voters could vote to replace the funding for the library, Senior Center and Parks & Rec, and/or just about anything else. Amendments must be made as a motion, discussed and voted on.
- Vote down both Article 11 and Article 12 and leave the town without a budget. This would be a very poor choice by voters. It would mean the town would have to rework the budget and hold an extra Special Town Meeting just to vote on it, before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
If voters pass only Article 12, the level-funded town budget, as presented, that doesn't mean that none of the override money will be raised and spent. There is still the school budget, which comes up in Article 17 and Article 18. Because the $2.9 million override did not pass, Article 17 will be passed over.
The school administration prepared, and the School Committee approved, only two budgets. Article 18 is not a level-funded school budget. It is level-service and includes an increase of $618,143, or 3.55 percent.
If voters choose option 3, above, and only pass Article 12, the town's level-funded budget, and don't authorize spending any of the override money on the town, they still need to vote on the school budget. If Article 18, the school budget, is approved, they will be voting to "raise and appropriate" the $618,143 increase from the $1.9 million override. The tax levy can then be increased by that much--about a third of the whole override amount--because voters will have authorized spending it for the schools.
The only way voters can reject authorizing the town to spend any of the $1.9 million override increase is by both approving Article 12 as is, and voting down Article 18. Voters may not amend any part of the school budget. They can refuse to authorize spending the total amount presented--we saw this happen last year. The school administration and School Committee would then have to prepare a new budget which would have to be brought back to voters in an extra Special Town Meeting before June 30.
Two other warrant articles have been discussed at great length by the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee. Article 21 asks voters to approve borrowing funds to pay for a feasibility study for repairs to school buildings. This is the first step in a long process. The intention is to have as much of the funding as possible covered, or reimbursed, by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), earmarks from the state that Winchendon's state legislators help the town get, and/or other sources. This article authorizes the first step to be taken.
Article 22 asks voters to authorize appropriating $500,000 to pay for boiler repairs at Murdock Middle High School. Part of this amount will pay for designs so a bid can go out for the actual cost of the boiler.
You are advised to arrive early...
The Town is preparing for a strong turn-out at Annual Town Meeting on May 19. Town Meeting will be held in the Murdock High School gym. Seating will be in chairs and in the bleachers. This makes it easier for voters to get to the microphones during debate than the long theater seat rows in the auditorium.
Town Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. There will be more check-in stations to avoid the slow-downs last year when there were only two stations. Have your driver's license out ahead of time to speed up the process. The town has rented 1,000 additional voting "clickers" in addition to the 400 which the town owns.
Murdock High School students will offer free babysitting to allow families to attend Town Meeting. Please register, by using the link below, to help them plan the volunteer schedule. Please register by Friday, May 16.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScswnu1kcdOgX-ebP8lS2fNKmpqIBaZc1xPdrbhgEWDETkl3A/viewform
The Community Connector is offering rides to and from Town Meeting free of charge. To reserve a ride to and from your home, call 978-297-3155 before 12:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16. Voters can also catch the Toy Town Trolley on Monday, May 19 at any of the stops below.
6:00 p.m. - Hyde Park
6:04 p.m. - Pearl Drive
6:08 p.m. - Library
6:10 p.m. - Dollar Tree
6:12 p.m. - Clark YMCA
6:14 p.m. - CVS
6:16 p.m. - Fire Station
6:18 p.m. - Ipswich Drive
6:20 p.m. - Ready Drive
6:25 p.m. - Goodrich Drive
6:30 p.m. - Murdock HS
The trolley is wheelchair-accessible. If you need any accommodations, call 978-297-3155 or email Katie@communityconnector.co
How Does Town Meeting Work? A Quickie Primer/Refresher for Winchendon Voters
What is Town Meeting?
Town Meeting is the legislative body of the town. It is, theoretically, made up of all the registered voters in town (in practice, all the registered voters who choose to attend and be signed in). It approves all financial expenditures and all changes to the General Bylaws, Zoning ByLaws and Town Charter. The Town Manager and Board of Selectmen can propose and offer advice, but only Town Meeting can make the final decisions in these areas.
From the time that a Town Meeting is called to order, until the time it adjourns, every voter present is a legislator, just as much as our representatives in the State House or in Congress. Attending Town Meeting is a serious responsibility. A voter at Town Meeting is called "a member of Town Meeting."
How Does Town Meeting Work?
Town Meetings are run by Robert's Rules of Order. This is a strict set of procedures designed to make sure members all get a chance to speak, that both sides are debated fairly, and that each question is carefully considered.
The Town Moderator is the absolute authority for Town Meeting.
Members who refuse to follow the procedures, disrespect the Moderator or are disruptive may be removed from Town Meeting.
How does Town Meeting Get Started?
Voters arrive and are checked in. The checkers, who are volunteers, make sure each person is a registered voter in Winchendon. Winchendon now has an electronic system that can read the bar code on a driver's license. This speeds up check-in, but voters can also give the checker their name and address to be looked up in the voter lists.
Each member of Town Meeting is given an electronic wireless "clicker" to use for voting.
When a quorum of members is checked in--that means 75 people--the Moderator may call the meeting to order. From that moment on, everything that happens must be recorded in the minutes and is part of the official record. The meeting begins with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Moderator may delay if there are many voters still waiting to be checked in. That is the Moderator's prerogative.
How Do Members Debate an Article?
Articles are printed in the warrant, but this is not what Town Meeting members vote on. For each article a motion must be made. Often the motion is the same as the printed article, but it may differ slightly (for example, a different dollar amount). Usually this is explained. Motions are made by members of town boards. For articles placed by citizen petition, a citizen may make the motion.
The motion must then be seconded. If a motion is not seconded, it dies without further action--although this rarely happens at Town Meeting. Now the article is "moved and seconded" and is part of the official record. It is also live for debate on the floor. Debate is called "speaking to the motion."
The Moderator decides who can speak to the motion and in what order. Usually the person who made the motion, or another town board member, will start with a basic explanation of the article.
After this, members can raise their hands, or go to a microphone, to be recognized by the Moderator to speak. The Moderator will explain what members should do in order to be recognized. Members who simply shout out from their seats will not be recognized, and can be removed from Town Meeting.
Debate continues until everyone who wants to has spoken, or until debate is stopped (see "Move the Question," below). The Moderator then calls for the vote on the motion.
What are the rules for debating a motion?
Members debating a motion can only talk about that specific motion. If it's an amendment, they can't talk about the main article, only the amendment.
Members address only the Moderator--not anyone else sitting up front. The Moderator will invite someone (say, the Town Manager, or Town Counsel or the Chair of the FinCom) to answer a question. Members may say, "I have a question for..." They may not address anyone but the Moderator directly or make a speech to the room.
Member comments should be brief and concise.
Members should not whoop, cheer and applaud speakers. Town Meeting is not a pep rally. Besides, it just makes the meeting run longer.
How Do Members Vote on a Motion?
The Moderator explains what a "yes" or "no" vote means for this motion. On the clicker, only two buttons count: 1/A and 2/B, in the top left of the number pad. 1/A votes "Yes" and 2/B votes "No". When the Moderator tells members to vote, a little 10-second countdown timer will appear on the projected screen at the front of the room. Wait until you see this countdown timer. Press the button for your vote firmly. You only need to press once. The computer software will display the vote results, as percentages, within a few seconds.
Can Votes be Challenged?
Yes, but there needs to be a valid reason for questioning the result.
How do Members Amend a Motion?
Amendments are made as motions. They must be written or printed exactly as made, signed, and handed to the Moderator to be included in the recorded minutes of the meeting. They can be hand-written on the spot (and often are). They should be simple and concise. Here is a sample:
"I move that Article 65 be amended to change the amount of $2,310 to $2,000."
The motion to amend must then be seconded. When it is "moved and seconded", all debate is then for the amendment only.
When debate on the amendment ends, the Moderator calls for a vote on the motion to amend.
After the vote is taken, if the motion to amend passes, debate continues on the original motion, but now it's "the motion as amended." When that debate ends, the Moderator will call for a vote on "Article XX as amended" (or "the motion as amended").
Multiple amendments can be made to an article, and amendments can be made to amendments. All of this goes into the minutes.
How do Members Make Amendments to Just Part of the Town Budget?
In Winchendon, the Moderator will read through the budget as printed in the warrant, one department at a time. If a member wants to discuss, question or make an amendment to any one department, the member calls out "Hold" from the floor. (This is the only time, besides seconding a motion, that it's okay to yell out from the floor. Be sure you yell loudly.)
When the entire budget has been read, the Moderator will go back to any department that has a "hold" on it and recognize members to debate and/or amend that department only.
If a subtotal or line item in the budget is amended, the final vote will be made "for the article as amended." Members can request that the new final total be read each time a subtotal is amended, and before the final vote on the amended article.
When Does Town Meeting End?
Town Meeting is considered to be in session until it is adjourned. When all articles have been taken up and voted on, or passed over, the Moderator asks for a motion to adjourn. The motion to adjourn is seconded but never debated, simply voted on.
If Town Meeting has run so long that for practical reasons, it needs to continue at a future date, the Moderator calls for a motion to "adjourn to...[specific date, time and place]." Then the members vote on that motion.
Winchendon has not had a multi-day Town Meeting for several decades.
Some phrases to know:
"Point of Order." If a member questions whether the Moderator has followed Robert's Rules in a decision or action, they may challenge the decision by saying "Point of Order." Then everyone is looking up Robert's Rules. The Moderator may concede, or stand by her decision.
"Move the Question." (also Call the Question or Move the Vote or Call the Vote). A member who thinks debate has gone on long enough can be recognized and say "Move the Question." The Moderator must stop debate and call a vote on whether to end debate and call a vote on the motion, or continue debating. Members may vote to continue debate. Members may not yell "Move the Question" from Town Meeting floor, they have to be recognized.
Taste of Winchendon Merges with Senior Center Open House as Festivities are "Rained In"
Taste of Winchendon volunteers line up for a group photo.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
The 5th Annual Taste of Winchendon was planned to take place in conjunction with the Old Murdock Senior Center's Open House on Saturday, May 10. This was the first time Taste of Winchendon had not been held on the lawns around Beals Memorial Library. The decision turned out to be serendipitous. After five years, this was the first time Taste of Winchendon was hit by seriously inclement weather--and they had a place to go. Kit'n'kaboodle, Taste of Winchendon moved into the Old Murdock, which was bustling with activity from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The full schedule of events was held on the Old Murdock Auditorium stage rather than an outdoor platform.
The colorful Lickity Splitz ice cream truck greeted visitors, and offered a range of hard-serve cones and dishes throughout the day--and yes, you could bring your ice cream inside, although Lickity Splitz set up a canopy tent next to the truck for those waiting in line for their orders. Next to the ice cream truck was a van with Fresh Boxes from Growing Places, filled with fresh local produce and free for anyone to take home.
The front doors to the building were open. The Winchendon Garden Club set up its plant sale on the front porch along with a free sunflower-seed planting activity (for all ages!). Visitors could fill a cup with damp potting soil, plant three seeds, cover it with a plastic bag and take it home to sprout for their garden.
Inside the main hall, the Garden Club had a table, and a welcome table was set up for the Old Murdock Open House, now doing double-duty for Taste of Winchendon. In the first floor Community Room, GALA was running art activities and raffles.
On the second floor the annual tie-dye table and face-painting, run with the assistance of volunteers from Cornerstone Church, were accommodated by heavy plastic tarps protecting the floors of the former classrooms. Ikiaremy Sweets had a table in the hall, along with the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library, distributing information about library events and the upcoming Town Meeting vote on the override town budget.
The core attraction of Taste of Winchendon, the food, was set up in the Old Murdock dining hall. Visitors could get their free ticket for food at the welcome desk. Beef empanadillas, Ka Lia's hand-made egg rolls, rice, Ian Plourde's amazing sourdough bread, chicken, and even that all-American icon, hot dogs, were all in the offing. As visitors entered the dining room, the Senior Center's David Alexander, dressed as Winchendon town father Morton E. Converse in weskit, cravat, top hat and tails, offered them map pins. Visitors could place pins on two large maps to show where their ancestors came from, and interesting places they'd visited.
There was only space for a few chairs left in the dining room, so most visitors took their food upstairs. The Old Murdock Auditorium, so often doing yeoman's duty as the town polls and a pickleball court, was set up with tablecloth-covered round tables and the international decorations traditional for Taste of Winchendon. Paper lanterns printed like globes of the world accompanied small flags, and streamers of flags were stretched across the proscenium of the stage. Around the room were tables for the Sunshine Cafe (with a bake sale), the Transportation initiative, the Winchendon Cultural Council, the HINT (Hate Is Not Tolerated) initiative, TKO Laser and United Native American Cultural Center. The traditional Taste of Winchendon raffle baskets were displayed, with chances to win swag from local businesses, a vintage Star Wars board game and more. Visitors with stamped Taste of Winchendon Passports from local businesses earned free raffle tickets.
Dennis Cormier and Cailte Kelley performed live music on the stage, while DJ Jeremy Diaz spun a hip hop dance party and filled in the breaks between acts. Daniel Narcisse of Simplytiva taught a salsa dance lesson. The United Native American Cultural Center performed a drum circle of traditional Indigenous American drumming and songs. The Kashibahagua dancers, Guaribono Nakan and Diego Barahona, performed traditional Indigenous dance, and then led visitors in a free-form dance circle.
Ms. Jennings told the Courier that over 450 people passed through the Murdock halls, and Mr. Alexander's bowl of food tickets was piled high. Despite the uncooperative weather, Taste of Winchendon and the Old Murdock Open House seemed very successful, and a great time appeared to be had by all.
The Lickity Splitz ice cream truck served dishes and cones
Photo by Inanna Arthen
The Winchendon Garden Club offered a sunflower-seed planting activity on the front porch
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Gail greets visitors at the info desk inside
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Lynn shows off her original Murdock High School Band cap
Photo by Inanna Arthen
The Senior Center Auditorium was bustling and full.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
This gateway to TOW was set up in the Senior Center dining room
Photo by Inanna Arthen
United Native American Cultural Center drum circle
Photo by Inanna Arthen
The Kashibahagua Dancers perform
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Murdock School's 1st Annual Arts Fest Celebrates Music, Art, Seniors
Photo by Jill Nicholson Sackett
Photo by Jill Nicholson Sackett
Photo by Jill Nicholson Sackett
The Murdock Middle High School capped off its academic year with its first-ever Arts Fest on May 14, 2025. The inaugural event was the brainchild of Murdock Music Director Alison Manion and Art Teacher Katie Walsh, aiming to present an event unifying both the art and music departments. The Festival was attended by about 80-100 parents, students and others throughout the evening, including Superintendent Dr. Marc Gosselin.
The Festival kicked off with an art exhibit set up throughout the second floor of the high school. Numerous forms of student art, ranging from paintings, sketches, papier-mâché and block prints adorned the hallways. Some of the art was painted directly on the walls of the school in mural fashion. The area was alive with color and animated conversation from students and visitors alike. Art teacher Katie Walsh spoke enthusiastically about the project. Speaking of arts in the schools, she emphasized "It's just so important for
The Festival wrapped up with a music concert held in the auditorium. Music Director Alison Manion led the eight-member Murdock High School (MHS) Chorus in a variety of songs utilizing pop, folk, spiritual and traditional styles and featuring solo turns from Cody Michaud, Doris Huggins and Quinne Richard. Ms. Manion then brought nine members of the MHS Concert Band to the stage to perform the military classic "American Patrol," a riff on Van Morrison's "Moondance," and the Spanish March "Zia Zia." They closed with the feature theme from Pictures at an Exihibition featuring UMass Honors band member Bradley Wightman on trumpet.
An added highlight was the school's collaboration with guest artists Winchendon Winds. "Win Winds," a 40-piece professional concert band under the direction of Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant, performed a John Williams medley and Gustav Holst's band classic Jupiter. The pieces showcased the variety of instruments in the group including the lesser-heard piccolo, oboe, bassoon, French horn and euphonium. The MHS Concert Band then joined Win Winds for two combined numbers. Senior vocalist Quinne Richard performed the torch ballad "Someone to Watch Over Me" with full band accompaniment. The concert closed with a lively medley from West Side Story. The Festival closed on a "high note" with outgoing seniors receiving flowers and best wishes.
The Festival was funded by a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant that Music Director Manion pursued last fall. The funding provided for small group lessons for clarinet, trombone and saxophone students leading up to the Festival, and collaboration with Win Winds and Artist Lynda McCann Olson.
The Murdock High School Choir
Photo by Jill Nicholson Sackett
The Murdock High School Band
Photo by Jill Nicholson Sackett
Winchendon Winds, conducted by Dr. Bronnenkant
Photo by Jill Nicholson Sackett
Winchendon Winds with MHS Band students (in black shirts)
Photo by Inanna Arthen