Selectmen urge two yes votes on Sept. 29 ballots

Other Committee · Meeting of August 24, 2026

Dudley selectmen set a September 14 session to explain a confusing dual-ballot special election. Town Administrator Reuter told the board Dudley's $5,018,583 share of a $11,183,734 regional school borrowing package becomes binding even if Dudley votes no, since the district-wide question passes on Dudley and Charlton's combined tally. He urged residents to vote yes on both of Dudley's municipal questions regardless: a debt exclusion adding $0.19 to the tax rate in year one ($3.39 cumulative over 14 years) and a $717,047 Proposition 2½ override adding $0.39 permanently to fund two police and two firefighter-paramedic positions plus highway costs.

"I think that should be the overall strategy: two yeses on the second, no matter how they vote on the first," Chairman Chris Darcheski said. Selectmen also approved the special election warrant with hours changed to noon-8 p.m., appointed Margaret "Peg" Kennedy to the Recreation Commission, and tabled the town administrator's evaluation for a member's absence.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of August 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.