Rehoboth Board of Selectmen imposes hiring freeze ahead of July override vote

REHOBOTH -- June 2, 2014, Rehoboth Board of Selectmen votes hiring freeze and approves 25-plus reappointments with $1.7 million override vote looming. The board unanimously approved a town-wide hiring freeze at its June 2 meeting, effective immediately and contingent on the outcome of a July 15 Proposition 2-1/2 override ballot question. Town Administrator Jeff Ritto confirmed a special town meeting is planned for June 30 to appropriate a 60-day budget to carry the town past July 1, with a second special meeting likely required if the override fails. Board members acknowledged that a failed vote would force cuts potentially including the library, the Council on Aging, and non-essential highway work, with one member warning that "1.7 million dollars, this town's going to be a different town." The board also appointed Tom Nerney interim building and chief zoning officer and named William McDonough as an alternate inspector of buildings, while approving $92,369 in MassDOT winter road recovery funds already deployed to road maintenance.