For Immediate Release

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Rockland Officials Urge Residents to Vote at Special Town Meeting Jan. 7

Quorum of 150 Residents Needed

ROCKLAND — The Rockland Board of Selectmen is urging residents to attend the Special Town Meeting in January and remind voters that a quorum of 150 residents is needed to be able to conduct the meeting.

WHEN:

Monday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m.

WHERE:

Rockland High School, 52 MacKinlay Way

WHAT:

The Town of Rockland is calling for a Special Town Meeting in January to approve the vital transferring of funds necessary to avoid a budget shortfall and keep the town government operating at its normal capacity.

Due to unforeseen personnel issues that the town has been dealing with this year, legal fees and the hiring of professional services was necessary. Articles on the warrant would pay for those expenses, along with taking care of some housekeeping financial transactions, including funding transactions for collective bargaining and replenishing the town’s reserve fund.

It should be noted that Town officials are not seeking additional funds from residents, but rather seek to transfer funds that have already been appropriated.

At the Special Town Meeting on May 7, residents approved Article 14, which appropriated $400,000 to purchase 258 Union St.

Due to a substantial increase in the asking price for the property and the cost of potential environmental studies necessary to build on the property, which go beyond the amount of funding appropriated last May, the Board of Selectmen is no longer pursuing the purchase of this property.

Instead, the Board of Selectmen seeks to transfer the $400,000 to mitigate the unforeseen costs the Town has incurred.

“Residents should know that the Town remains in good financial standing. However, due to the unforeseen issues we have dealt with this year, we need to transfer funding to cover unexpected expenses,” Selectmen Chair Larry Ryan said. “We hope to see a large turnout on January 7 so we can take the next step in moving the Town forward.”

To view the warrant for the Special Town Meeting click here.

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