Plainville override squeaks through by 10 votes

Anyone who thinks that their single little vote doesn't count come election time should look no further than Plainville for reassurance that it does.

Ten Plainville residents who refused to think that way ended up swinging a $650,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override to the "Yes" side. The measure passed by a vote of 724 in favor to 714 against.

Town officials were relieved and pleased by the way things turned out.

"That was a very pleasant outcome," Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes said. "It maintains most of the services that we had feared we were going to lose."

Without the override, officials had warned that the town’s elementary schools would receive no budget increase, and workers would be laid off in many town departments. The override will add about $209 to the annual tax bill for the average home, which is assessed at $383,000, Fernandes said.

-- Calvin Hennick