East Bridgewater: Nervous to increase taxes, voters turn down school request at town meeting

East Bridgewater’s annual and special town meeting wrapped up in one session Monday, but the night started with 40-year resident and Library Trustee Jim Weidenfeller speaking to the audience, with the permission of the Moderator, urging residents to question how approved money will be spent.

“There’s maybe 200 people here; that’s less than 1%. You got an awesome responsibility tonight. The town budget is in the hands of a few people, use them wisely,” said Weidenfeller.

And his fellow East Bridgewater taxpayers didn’t disappoint, with voters battling town officials over nearly every money article and they continuously referenced the jump in their tax bill this year due to the new junior/senior high school which broke ground last fall.

One resident challenged a $54,000 request for plumbing and installation of about 32 bathroom sinks at the Middle School, “It’s not rocket science to fix that valve. $54,000 to replace boys room sinks is an assault in my sensibilities and should be an assault to the sensibilities of this body. Fix’em!”

The East Bridgewater School Committee explained replacement parts for the bathroom sinks, which are a 1960’s model, are not available.

However the school request failed at town meeting.

(Superintendent of Schools Susan Cote)