The state’s Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing about the city’s request last week, but the process moved too slowly to make a difference.
GREENFIELD – Despite the city’s appeal to the state Legislature, Greenfield’s April 19 preliminary election will take place.
There are three candidates for Town Councilor-At-Large, the only race. The preliminary election will narrow the field to two. There will be 11 positions on the general election ballot on June 14.
On March 7, the Town Council voted 10-2 to request special legislation from the state that would allow the preliminary election to be canceled. Considering the $15,000 price tag and voter turnout historically below 10 percent in non-mayoral elections, council president Timothy F. Farrell said he supported the measure.
“Spending $15,000 on an election where 400 people show up doesn’t make sense to me,” Farrell said. “Now that we’re having it, I urge everyone to show up and vote because your tax dollars are paying for it.”
The state’s Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing about the city’s request last week, but the process moved too slowly to make a difference. Gov. Deval Patrick had to have signed the legislation by Friday, the “drop dead date” for ordering the ballots, Farrell said.
Gumming up the works was a referendum petition signed by 10 voters asking the council to reconsider its March 7 vote. To force a re-vote, the petitioners would have had to follow a lengthy, multi-step process, including having their petition published in a newspaper and getting signatures from more voters, according to the city’s charter.
But town clerk Maureen T. Winseck said the state halted the request when they heard about the petition.
“The smell of the petition really slowed the Legislature down,” said city councilor Thomas C. McLellan. “We were pushed to a deadline.”
Farrell said the petition made no impact on the decision to hold the election.
“It was our choice not to call Boston on Friday morning and say, ‘Continue this request,’” said Farrell. “(The state was) just waiting to see how we proceeded.”
On Friday, the ballots were purchased and the election was set in stone. Farrell said that was the safest move because if they waited and the legislation wasn’t passed, the election would be mandatory, but there would be no ballots.
“We determined there were too many variables that could cause a fiscal issue for the town,” he said.
Rose Adams, chief of staff for state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said that, considering the latest developments, “The senator will no longer be pushing for passage” of the city’s request.
The money for the preliminary election has not been budgeted. It will be paid out of the election fund and any deficits will probably be covered by a reserve fund transfer at the end of the year, Farrell said.
“The mayor will come forward with some kind of payment mechanism,” he said.
The Charter Review Commission will meet Tuesday at 6:30 at 114 Main St. to discuss the elections section of the city’s charter. The public is welcome to attend and offer comments.
“I still believe we need to find a better way to do preliminary elections,” said Farrell.