By Polly Mikula
Bridgewater voters successfully petitioned for a revote on whether the town should retain its listers or move to a professional assessor. The petition for a revote was submitted with 51 signatures within the 30-day window and a special vote has been schedule for Tuesday, May 13.
At the Town Meeting in March residents had voted to keep its listers 84-54 (four voters abstained), bucking a growing trend to do away with the local positions.
Locally, voters in Woodstock, Reading, Hartland, Shrewsbury and Bridgewater all authorized the elimination of the office of town listers at Town Meeting Day. Professionally qualified assessors will now be hired to assume those duties.
In Woodstock the article to eliminate listers passed by paper ballot 105 yes to 10 no.
In Reading voters approved eliminating listers 110-35 with 3 blank and eliminating auditors 114-27 with 7 blank. There were no candidates on the ballot for the positions.
In Hartland voters passed Article 9 to eliminate listers 66-32.
Shrewsbury voters also approved replacing its listers with a hired professional assessor, 146-61.
Bridgewater was the lone local outlier voting to keep its listers. The measure was decided by paper ballot vote, after residents moved to switch the vote from a floor vote. Opponents of a switch had argued that the town’s current listers are more familiar with the town and that there is no reason to get rid of the office folks are willing to do it.
