Rehoboth Board of Selectmen Warns Shutdown Looms Without Special Town Meeting Quorum

REHOBOTH -- June 23, 2014, Rehoboth Board of Selectmen warns a shutdown of all town services looms if special town meeting quorum fails June 30. Town Moderator Hill Cute told the board Monday that Article 1, a 90-day interim appropriation of roughly $3 million from the approximately $8.4 million town government budget, would be taken as a single yes-or-no permission vote with no amendments or line-item debate, and that failure to assemble a quorum of 60 residents would leave the town unable to spend any money starting July 1, closing police, fire, and all municipal offices. The board also rejected two state-prequalified bids for a highway salt shed, a $235,000 foundation bid and a $118,000 fabric structure bid, after original non-certified estimates had come in at $135,000 and under $50,000 respectively, directing staff to explore a three-part alternative designed to keep each component below the $49,999 state prequalification threshold. Harbormaster Bill Dalby won unanimous approval to proceed with the state Division of Fisheries and Boating Access on two free, state-maintained gravel boat launch ramps on town-owned river land at Route 6 and Water Street. The Proposition 2½ override ballot election is scheduled for July 15, with all three precincts open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; absentee ballots are available through the town clerk's office until noon July 14.