ENFIELD — Residents voted to switch to an Australian ballot style of voting for Town Meeting during the annual floor meeting Saturday.

In paper balloting, voters approved the change, 156-88, starting next year. At Saturday’s meeting, 64% of voters — slightly above the 60% that was needed pass — supported the move to an all-day voting format. The measure passed by a mere 10 votes.

It marked the third time that Enfield residents had been asked about changing the town’s style of governance, known statewide as SB2. At Town Meeting in 2022 and again last year, the proposed change lacked sufficient support. 

Enfield voters already elect town officials and decide on zoning amendments by Australian ballot, Moving forward, other town business that needs to go before voters will be conducted in the same fashion.

Residents will be able to weigh in on Town Meeting articles and make changes in proposed measures during a deliberative session held prior to ballot voting.

On Saturday, more than a dozen residents spoke about the petitioned warrant article, which was initiated by Debra Ford.

“So here we are again,” Ford said, drawing chuckles from the audience, in reference to the recent SB2 votes. She led last year’s effort that fell short by 13 votes.

Ford and other proponents argued that the voting change could make it easier for residents who work on weekends or have other engagements.

“Everyone doesn’t get a vote in this space,” said Coleman Fleming-Dumas, who added that he left a family funeral in Wyoming early to make it back for Saturday’s floor meeting.

Supporters pointed to recent turnout figures. In last Tuesday’s election of town officials, more than 450 residents — roughly 12% of voters — cast ballots. (At Saturday’s floor meeting, 244 residents voted on the proposed change to Australian balloting.)

SB2 also allows for residents to cast absentee ballots instead of going to the polls.

Like other people in town, Brendan Von Koss said his work schedule has rotating shifts, making it difficult for him to attend Town Meeting. 

“They just can’t swing it,” he said, as his 1-year-old daughter, Odette, reached for the microphone in front of him. “I’m trying to swing it.”

Longtime resident Francine Lozeau spoke in favor of keeping Town Meeting just the way it’s always been. “This is the fabric of our town. This is us,” she said when it was her turn to speak during the 4½-hour meeting. “If we’ve learned anything from COVID, we’ve learned we need community connection.”

Susan Brown also supported keeping the floor meeting. “Town Meeting is the best thing we have,” she said. “The deliberative session allows too few people to change warrant articles.”

Other residents pointed out that similar things can happen from the floor during Town Meeting. “We are a small number of people who can do the same thing as a deliberative session,” Kristin Harrington said.

In other paper ballot voting, residents approved a $9.46 million operating budget, 145-41. Voters also gave their OK to a $2.75 million water project, which will be paid for mostly by user fees and state money, and a $100,000 forgivable loan to develop a watershed management plan for Crystal Lake.

By a show of hands, residents approved putting $579,368 into the Capital Improvement Program Capital Reserve Fund. 

Voters also gave the go-ahead to create an “Enfield Local Rate” for community power, which the town adopted in 2023 in an attempt to lower utility costs for residents and businesses, and a Community  Power Energy Capital Reserve Fund.  

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.