Swampscott delays votes

The Swampscott Board of Selectmen has decided not to schedule a special election on two proposed capital exclusions.

The annual Town Meeting in May appropriated $300,000 for a new fire truck and $150,000 for road improvements, subject to passage of capital exclusions - one-year tax increases - at a special election to be held prior to Sept. 15. But according to Selectman Adam Forman, the Fire Department said $300,000 would not be enough to buy a fire truck.

On the recommendation of the town's Capital Improvements Committee, selectmen opted not to seek a townwide vote for the truck, and Forman said selectmen decided against scheduling a special election on the capital exclusion for the road improvements only because it was not clear if Town Meeting would have approved.

Forman said the funding requests will likely come before a special Town Meeting this fall with a revised figure for the fire truck, followed by a special election for the capital exclusions.

-- John Laidler