With the coronavirus remaining the top story world-wide, rubber gloves packed in plastic wrapping and hand-sanitizer pumps, reminders that these are dangerous times, were in clear view during voting in Allenstown on Tuesday.
Fist bumps, deemed less contagious than handshakes, began to emerge and increased as the afternoon moved on. Meanwhile, budgets had to be determined, meaning this outside distraction, a big one, had to be nudged to the side, at least for a while.
Voters, mowing through 51 articles, had a lengthy break from world issues, and they took that time to approve both budgets, town and school.
The proposed town budget of $4.09 million passed by a 301-175 margin, meaning a $9.30 tax impact. On the school side, the proposed budget of $10.9 million passed, 258-210.
Sue Hebert saw election day as a chance to expand the select board, from three members to five, noting that three individuals simply can not handle all the responsibilities needed for the role.
“A five-person board would be better,” Hebert said. “There’s a lot going on in town and there are a lot of boards. That’s too much for three people.”
Hebert was initially hesitant to reveal her vote on raises for teachers, part of the new collective bargaining agreement. In the end, though, she seemed pleased that para-professionals, by a 283-198 vote, will receive raises over the life of their three-year contract.
So will the fulltime teachers, whose raises totaled $216,000 over three years, including $64,530 due next school year.
“These teachers are so important and they do so much with so little,” Hebert said. “Students’ behavior is more of a problem today due to the environment, with children living with their grandparents and things like that, so it’s hard for teachers.”
Hebert also favored approving additional money for 12 separate capital reserve funds, including $50,000 for road repairs and paving, $30,000 for Parks and Recreation projects and $25,000 for highway facilities.
She said the resources that will be given to emergency rescue departments, including $20,000 for police and $10,000 for firefighters, was necessary.
“I like the idea of having a surplus for all the capital reserve funds,” Hebert said. “It’s something that is good for the future.”
Tom Gilligan, a fiscal conservative, concurred with Hebert about surplus money moving to reserve funds, saying he was happy “that the town continues to have a surplus. That’s the smart way to do things.”
James Nadeau offered a pragmatic approach, saying that “No one wants to spend more money, but we want to make the town better.”
He displayed selflessness, revealing that he had no children, yet he’d still favor increased spending to help with education.
“They need better buildings,” Nadeau said. “The teachers need what they need for the curriculum and to help the students earn a fair wage later on.”
In contested races, Scott McDonald beat Robin Richards for select board by a 285-162 margin; Alan Turcotte beat Karen Asselin, 349-112, for sewer commissioner; and Chad Pelissier is the new road agent thanks to a 350-137 victory over Daniel Blais.