New London rejects article on police station location

Published: 03-14-2024 2:39 PM

Modified: 03-14-2024 2:46 PM


NEW LONDON — At Wednesday night’s floor meeting, a petitioned warrant article that would have required that the town keep its police station in its current location inspired the most discussion.

Ultimately, voters rejected the proposal, 215-169, Town Clerk Will Kidder said in a Thursday phone interview.

The rejection will allow the Selectboard to continue to explore options including leaving the station in the same location or moving it elsewhere, Kidder said. The idea is to get to some consensus in time for next year’s Town Meeting, he said.

Voters tabled another petitioned article that would have authorized a $900,000 bond to purchase the McEnrue Trust property, which abuts Whipple Hall and the Town Green. As a result of that, they sliced $85,500 from the $769,000 in an article including the town’s principal and interest of long-term debt.

They also added $30,000 to a $1 million article for capital and non-capital reserve funds for land conservation.

Otherwise, voters approved money articles as warned, including a general operating budget of $1.87 million, a public safety budget is $2.94 million, highway budget of $3.29 million, a health and welfare budget of $301,000, and a recreation, culture and conservation budget of $1.03 million.

Voters also authorized the Selectboard to sell a 2.1-acre lot of town-owned land that is landlocked and abuts Interstate 89 and the Sutton, N.H., town line and supported renewing the lease of the Elkins Post Office to the U.S. Postal Service for five years beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

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