GRANVILLE — A few years ago Granville discarded the old tradition of the office of the auditor as it became more difficult to populate the office, but at Tuesday evening’s town meeting residents reinstated the office. They also elected three auditors to take over the job of checking the town’s bookkeeping: Roger Straus for a 1-year-term; Cheryl Sargeant, 2 years; and Nancy Beattie, 3 years. Town Clerk Kathy Werner said the selectboard members explained at the meeting that having the job done locally would save the town money.
Residents also approved a town budget, but only after adding money to the spending figure. One amendment to the budget added $9,000 earmarked for the local match to a FEMA project on West Hill Road. Werner explained that the work orders had come in and that additional money should mean that the project will be completed. On a smaller scale, folks at town meeting added $350 to the Buildings and Grounds budget to pay for moving the Granville Common.
After that, residents OK’d a town spending plan of $407,345 by voice vote.
A separate spending article asked for $20,000 to help the install water and septic to the Granville fire station. Last year residents put $5,000 toward the project, and this year they amended the article to again appropriate $5,000. Other spending articles passed as warned.
Granville elected a new selectman — Steve Twitchell. He replaces Dick Poole, who decided not to run again when his term expired.
The only voting Granville did at the polls was in the Presidential primaries. The White River Valley town saw a record turnout with 100 votes cast, which represents 41 percent of registered voters. In the Democratic primary Bernie Sanders was the runaway favorite, with 70 votes; trailing were Elizabeth Warren and Joe Bidden with 8 votes apiece, Michael Bloomberg with 6, and Amy Klobuchar with 1. All seven of the votes cast in the Republican primary went to President Trump.