People say NO to override
Published on June 20th, 2007
People say NO to override
STONEHAM, MA - Far from echoing the voter mandate of three years ago, a $3 million override question fell just 237 ballots short of passing during Tuesday's special election on the tax increase.
In an election that drew just over 39 percent of Stoneham's voting population, 5,635 residents cast their ballots on the proposed $3 million proposition 2 and 1/2 override, with 2,699 voters in favor of the tax increase and 2,936 against.
Town Clerk John Hanright, recalling Stoneham's approximate 53 percent voting turnout during the special override election in 2004, expressed his disappointment after yesterday's results were tallied.
Hanright would later partially attribute the low numbers to a quiet lull that descended upon the town in the weeks before yesterday's election.
Compared to 2004, when over 1,600 more residents traveled to the polls, the town's streets were noticeably void of the political "Vote Yes" and "Vote No" signs that were plugged into front lawns across Stoneham three years ago.
"It's been very quiet. There have been no signs. Both campaigns have really stayed in the fog," Hanright commented on Tuesday evening, an hour before the polls closed.
"You kept everybody in the fog and that's a good thing [for you], because nobody knew what was going on," the Town Clerk would later say to the overwhelmingly pro-override audience gathered in the Town Hall hearing room Tuesday night. "Today, we had 5,635 votes. That's a little disappointing, but that's life in the real world."
Stunned, but not regretful
In an interview shortly after Hanright announced Tuesday's election results to the dismayed gathering of hopeful override proponents, Selectman Paul Rotondi, who spearheaded the effort for the $3 million tax increase, held his head high.
Rotondi, who authored the five year financial blueprint that became popularly known as the "Rotondi Plan", had insisted that the budget plan was the sign of new and responsible leadership in Stoneham.
The town's Finance Board and School Committee, as well as a majority of the Selectmen, signed an agreement earlier this spring that called upon town officials to adhere to tight spending restrictions over the next five years.
The pact also included a clause that neither of the three boards would advocate for another override or trash fee during that ensuing five year period
"I'm very disappointed in the outcome. It puts Stoneham in a very precarious situation," said Rotondi Tuesday night. "We'll obviously do what we can to preserve services, but there will be cuts."
"I was cautiously optimistic with the turnout, but I expected it to be close. I don't regret it at all. It was 237 votes short, and we did a lot of hard work," added the Selectman.
According to Randy Perillo, a local parent and the founder of Stoneham United, a pro-override advocacy group, he also had no regrets about his involvement with the "Yes Vote" camp.
Perillo, who also expected that the election results would be very close, admitted that he was surprised that the ballot measure was ultimately rejected, as he felt that the Rotondi Plan would galvanize stronger pro-override support.
"I can't look back with any regrets. I did everything I could. I think we did a great job to come this close," the Stoneham United organizer said. "It shows a major change in attitude, and I think over the past three years, people have realized that our town is slipping."
"I think we're going to have to come together as a town now more than ever, especially if all the cuts that are proposed come to fruition," Perillo continued. "You can't just lose an election and then say, 'Fine, we're done.' This is just the beginning."
According to Gilbert and Carol Feke, two of just a small handful of override opponents who held "No" signs outside of Town Hall this Tuesday, they believe that the town's leadership needs to better manage Stoneham's finances.
"I think everybody wants a better Stoneham. The yes people trusted that this plan would give them a better town, but the homework to get that done wasn't [accomplished]," said Carol.
Back to the trash fee
With the override measure defeated, the Selectmen will revisit its decision to drop the $160 trash fee at its next scheduled meeting next Tuesday.
According to Selectmen Chair George Seibold, who repeatedly advocated for reinstituting the refuse charge prior to Tuesday's special election, he will likely advocate for upping the rubbish fee, so that the town's total garbage disposal expenses are covered.
"Absolutely," responded Seibold, when asked if he would push for restoring the fee. "And I want to see what the full trash fee would be. If it costs the town $1.4 million [for trash removal] and we only raised $900,000, I'd want to look at that whole amount."
Rotondi and Selectmen John DePinto have previously insisted that they will not support any push to reinstitute a rubbish fee. Selectmen Robert Sweeney and Frank Vallarelli's stances on the charge are unknown.
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