HERMON – It took residents about 25 minutes to set the tax due date for the coming year and about five minutes to approve the $4.56 million budget during Thursday’s annual town meeting.

In 2009, the tax due date for Hermon residents will be moved from April 30 to the first Friday in May, which next year happens to be May 1. The first motion to change the due date, made by Councilor Donald Shepley, would have switched the collection date to June 1 and reduced the interest rate for delinquent taxes from 11 to 5 percent.

“April is right in the middle of the heating season, and by June 1 you’re starting to come out of the April heating crunch,” Shepley told the audience. “The amendment is to give taxpayers a break.”

Nearly 25 residents turned out to the town meeting, which was held in the high school auditorium. After Shepley’s motion failed 9-8, Councilor-elect Jeanne Jacques suggested the town revert to the first Friday in May, like it had done in the past. This motion passed with the original interest rate of 11 percent.

In the special council meeting held before the annual town meeting, councilors discussed a potential construction problem regarding the public safety building, which is being built behind the town office. Bowman Brothers Inc., the general contractor for the job, informed the town that the site may have inadequate soils.

While the foundation has been poured for half of the building, the other half will be put on hold until Tuesday when a test boring can be conducted, Town Manager Clint Deschene said. S.W. Cole will complete the test, and results will be back within 48 hours, Deschene said. Councilors scheduled a council meeting for next Thursday to discuss the results and their options. Different methods could be used to stabilize the site for a foundation, or they could consider relocating the building.

At this point, Deschene said this is only a potential problem and if the tests come back fine, then the meeting will not be necessary.

If additional stability measures or a site relocation is needed, “This could be in the tens of thousands of dollars range,” Deschene said.

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