Groveland Goes to the Polls Today to Choose Selectman

Groveland Municipal Complex. (File photograph.)

Groveland Town Hall.

Polls in the town of Groveland are open Monday as local voters decide, among other things, a two-way race for a seat on the board of selectmen and whether to approve funding a proposed, new $750,000 fire department ladder truck.

On the ballot, candidates William G. O’Neil and current Groveland Zoning Board of Appeals member Mark M. McCabe are vying for a selectman seat held by Joseph R. D’Amore, who is not seeking re-election to a three-year term. In the only other contested race, incumbent Groveland Road Commissioner Robert P. Arakelian is being challenged in his bid for another three-year term by resident William M. Daley. No candidates appear on the ballot for either a board of assessors’ seat held by incumbent Town Moderator William H. Darke, or for a vacant seat each on the board of health and planning board. In two ballot questions, Groveland voters are also asked to decide whether to fund a proposed new fire ladder truck by either debt exclusion or a one-time “capital exclusion” assessment on real estate and personal property taxes.

“There is no guarantee of a fire truck. If people do not believe we need a fire truck, they can vote ‘no’ on both questions,” according to a statement on the town website, intended to “address some confusion or misconceptions” on the two questions. “If people believe we need a truck, and do care how to pay for it, voters should be selecting ‘yes’ for the method they prefer and ‘no’ on the other method. If both questions pass, the one with the most ‘yes’ wins. In the event of an exact tie, with both questions passing with the same exact vote count, the board of selectmen would choose which method to purchase with.”

Turnout at the polls this morning, in Groveland Town Hall, was reported as “slow,” according to Groveland Town Clerk Anne Brodie.  Polls there will remain open until 8 p.m., tonight.