Voters in Richmond, Massachusetts rejected borrowing $1.5 million to buy and improve a Girl Scout camp for recreational use during a town meeting Wednesday night. The loan would have meant an initial average tax increase of $195.By an unofficial count of 160 opposed to 133 in favor, Richmond voters rejected the measure to purchase Camp Marion White from the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. A two-thirds majority was needed. A special election Saturday requiring a simple majority determines whether to exclude borrowing from the town’s levy limit. Town Administrator Matt Kerwood says that result can be used if the town continues to pursue the project.
“There were some that clearly said we didn’t need the property,” Kerwood said. “There were others that were concerned about the financial aspect of it. There were others that were concerned about how we were going to deal with the long-term maintenance of it. Those are all points that we as the working group and Selectmen will have to consider as we think about what a Plan B may be.”
Polls are open from 11 to 7 Saturday at Richmond Town Hall.
