Bolton referendum will be held in church hall

Austin Mirmina, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Jun. 20—BOLTON — Some members of the Board of Selectmen say they're uncomfortable with the town's ongoing budget referendum being held on church grounds.

BOLTON VOTE

WHEN: Tuesday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE: Ryba Hall, St. Maurice Parish Hall, 32 Hebron Road.

HOW MUCH: Proposed budget of $23.52 million and proposed tax rate of 40.17 mills.

At least one resident has also objected to the location at Ryba Hall, located on the grounds of St. Maurice Church, officials say. But the decision to hold the budget referendum there was due to limited options that comply with federal and state guidelines.

The town's last two budget referendums at Ryba Hall both failed. The third referendum will be held again at the hall at 32 Hebron Road on Tuesday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The proposed budget now stands at $23,517,598, or about a half-million dollars less than the previous budget that failed in the last referendum. The new budget proposal increases spending by about 3% and requires 40.17 mills to fund it. All four of last year's budget referendums were held in the same spot.

There is no federal or state law that prevents municipalities from holding an election or referendum on church property. Town governments, though, generally aim to separate political and religious affairs.

But the Registrar of Voters, whose purview includes choosing the location of elections and referendums, said the selection was based upon necessity.

Besides Bolton Congregational Church, school buildings are the only other suitable options that comply with myriad election regulations. But Bolton Public Schools were still in session when the registrar made the choice, officials say.

Bolton Town Hall, where town meetings and referendums are traditional held, does not comply with the American Disabilities Act. It also fails to provide a separate entrance and exit, another necessary component.

While schools have since dismissed students for the summer, one election official said switching the referendum location would be bad business for the town.

"This referendum is basically a continuation of a town meeting, and you can't get up in the middle of a town meeting and change locations," Republican Registrar of Voters Bernice Dixon said. "You don't, in the middle of a continuation like that, start changing places. That's poor business for your voters."

Dixon said her office has received only one resident complaint regarding the location.

First Selectwoman Pamela Sawyer said that she and some other elected officials were uncomfortable with the referendum being held on church grounds, and board members had previously objected to using Bolton Congregational Church land as temporary office space for town employees, citing a desire to separate church and town functions.

But Sawyer added that the registrars felt they had "no other opportunity in such a small town."

Sawyer said it would behoove the town to keep the referendum vote at Ryba Hall, as changing sites would require a depleted town staff to haul heavy equipment around.

Selectmen Robert Morra said he did not have an issue with the referendum location because voters are not casting ballots in the church's sanctuary. But he said he understands the concerns, and absentee voting is available for those who do object.

Morra called the use of Ryba Hall temporary and said he is hopeful Selectmen can identify an alternative referendum location next year, or else work out an agreement with BPS to use their facilities.

"Hopefully we can get this thing resolved so that we don't have an issue with it," Morra said. "I am the optimist that this is the last budget referendum we'll need this coming Tuesday."