IMPORTANT UPDATE Regional School District Election and Local Election

This Saturday, October 6, 2018, the Ayer Shirley Regional School District will be conducting a district-wide election in the Towns of Ayer and Shirley in connection with a proposed new athletic complex. 

The Town of Ayer had also planned to hold a local election on Saturday to consider a ballot question proposing a debt exclusion for the Town’s allocable share of the costs of the Regional School District project.  This would have resulted in the Town running two separate elections on Saturday, the Regional School District election and a special Town election, with two separate ballots.

Be aware, however, that concerns were recently raised with respect to whether the Town strictly complied with the state law establishing deadlines for placement of a local question on the ballot.  While the Town discussed the issue of the local debt exclusion election in various forums and knows that voters are generally aware of the same, review of the Town’s records does not affirmatively demonstrate strict compliance with the applicable law. 

After a full discussion of the issues at its October 2, 2018 meeting, the Board of Selectmen decided, out of an abundance of caution and with due respect for the election process generally, that the local debt exclusion election will not proceed on Saturday.   The Regional School District Election will still be held.  The Town has made efforts to contact any voters that have returned or requested an absentee ballot for the local election to explain the circumstances.  Attached you will find the memorandum that was mailed by the Clerk to absentee voters.

Importantly, the Board’s vote on the local election has no impact on or relevance to the Regional School District election, which election was called for by the Ayer Shirley Regional School District School Committee.  The Regional School District election will proceed as scheduled.  The polls will be open in Ayer on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the Town Hall, 1 Main Street from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Depending on the outcome of the vote on Saturday at the Regional School District election, and on the result of the October 22, 2018 Special Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen will review at a posted meeting whether and when to schedule the local debt exclusion election.

The Town is grateful for the civic engagement of its residents and encourages participation at the October 6, 2018 Regional School District election.  Attached you will find the sample ballot for the Regional School District Election on Saturday, October 6, 2018.  The October 22, 2018 Special Town Meeting warrant will be mailed and uploaded to the website shortly.