We went to the special town meeting in Cabot this evening, and Diane Rossi went with us.   We've had spring-like weather today, temperature in the high 40s and even now at 9:15 p.m., my thermometer is registering 45 degrees.  We've had off and on showers and dense fog.  Diane's driveway was icy, so she told us not to drive in and met us at the top of her driveway.  She was wise to wear her creepers. We could barely make out the road on the way to Cabot because of the fog, and it was nearly as bad coming home, although there seemed to be some wind that was moving the fog a bit - but with the snowbanks and the fog close to the ground, everything was just white in the headlights.   We made it ok, in spite of the road being slippery in places.  Diane and I were glad Fred was driving.  Tomorrow the forecast is for a high of 29 and a low of -5!  Hard to believe things can change that quickly.  

There was a large attendance at the meeting - nearly 200 people.  The meeting was brief and to the point.  R.D. Eno gave a lengthy and impassioned plea in favor of rescinding the previous vote taken in October.  As soon as he finished, there was a motion to call the vote.  It was necessary to have 2/3 of those attending in favor in order to vote without further discussion.  Voters were asked to stand, first those in favor of calling the vote and then those opposed.  The count showed more than 2/3 of the voters wanted the vote immediately. Voting was by paper ballot.  The result was 102 to not rescind the vote; 79 voted to rescind.  The October vote stands and articles regarding Town, Highway and Special Service Appropriations will be by Australian ballot.  These articles will now also be on absentee ballots.  

As far as I know, there has been no opposition to having the school budget voted by Australian ballot as was decided in October.  That was not an issue at this special meeting.  

The meeting was very congenial - and very short.  Apparently there are a lot of people who want to at least try making it easier for more people to have a say in how the town's money is spent.  I'm sure those who can will still go to town meeting - it is a worthy institution and I doubt anyone wants to give it up entirely.  It will be interesting to see how it all works out in March.