Center School Roof Ballot Question - Officials Seeking Arguments for and Against

Hubbardston Center School Picture

NOTICE

UNDER

CHAPTER 370 OF THE ACTS OF 2010

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF HUBBARDSTON TO SEND CERTAIN INFORMATION

TO THE VOTERS RELATIVE TO BALLOT QUESTIONS

The Board of Selectmen has voted to place a Proposition 2 ½, so-called, debt exclusion for the replacement of the Center School Roof on the ballot at the June 30, 2020 Town Election.  

In accordance with Chapter 370 of the Acts of 2010, “An Act Authorizing the Town of Hubbardston to Send Certain Information to the Voters Relative to Ballot Questions”, the Board of Selectmen is required to make available to voters certain information concerning these ballot questions.  The Board will ensure that no less than 10 days prior to the date of the Town Election such information will be posted on the Town’s website, at each polling place, at the post office, and at the Town office building.

Section 2 of the Act requires the Board of Selectmen or Town Counsel to prepare a fair and concise summary of each ballot question, including one sentence statements indicating the effect of “yes” and “no” votes.  In addition, the Board must arrange for the preparation of arguments in favor or opposed to each question to be prepared by principal proponents/opponents of the question best able to present those arguments.

While there is no specific mechanism in the Act for identifying principal proponents or opponents, the Act references ballot question committees and petitioners, neither of which exists in this case.  The Act also specifically authorizes arguments to be prepared by a Town officer or committee.  Therefore, as required by the Act, the Town is seeking persons who may want to be identified as principal proponents or opponents to prepare arguments opposing or in favor of passage of the question.  

If interested, and in light of the tight schedule established by the Act, please so inform the Town Administrator no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2020.  If letters of interest are filed, those determined to be best able to present the arguments for and against the ballot questions will receive written notice that they have been selected.  The 250-word arguments will be due no later than noon on Monday, June 15th, 2020.  

If no persons identify themselves as interested in preparing arguments in favor of or in opposition of the passage of the questions, and/or if no arguments are received by the June 15th deadline, the Act requires that Town Counsel prepare the arguments.  

Please contact the Town Administrator to submit a letter of interest or with any further questions at 978-928-1400 x200, or by e-mail at: admin@hubbardstonma.us.