READSBORO- If the first message wasn’t loud enough, then the second one was.

On Town Meeting day, residents were serious about keeping spending low. They approved $66,285 in budget cuts and pledged that any future spending would be scrutinized. On Tuesday, the town held a special Town Meeting to decide whether to fund a bridge project. Once again, the voters said “no” to additional spending. The article asked voters to raise and appropriate funds for the Howe Pond Road bridge (Billy Goat bridge) restoration efforts. The estimated cost to restore Billy Goat bridge is $1.18 million and Readsboro’s share is 10% or $118,000.

Approximately 70 residents attended the special Town Meeting. Proponents of the bridge believe the town should help restore the bridge because it serves a purpose in the town. They claim it offers a shorter commute for residents; provides easy access for emergency medical services; and offers snowmobile access to the Heartwellville area.

Opponents believe the project is too costly. They claim it is rarely used by motor vehicles, difficult to maintain in the winter, and the town does not have the money to cover the costs. The town already approved two other bridge projects that would be paid out of the town’s bridge fund. Billy Goat bridge would be funded by taxpayers.

At the special Town Meeting, selectboard member Craig Bartosewcz proposed an amended article where the voters could restructure the amount from $118,000 to $25,000 annually over four years. The amended article was defeated 36-26. Critics of the proposal urged the town to abide by fiscal responsibility. Others were worried that the bridge may not be completed because the town could still defeat the $25,000 annual payments at Town Meeting over the next three years. Moderator Bob Tool called the original article into question and voters defeated it, 37-24.

Larry Hopkins, who opposed funding the Billy Goat bridge project, said he was “satisfied” with the results. Betty Bolognani, a proponent of the bridge, was disappointed. “Things are not going to stay the same in town. People are building up on the hills now and it was a wonderful opportunity to fix it,” said Bolognani. “The state would have paid 90% of the project. I think we’re being shortsighted on the development of our town.”

The Billy Goat bridge will be taken off the national bridge register and the town will no longer be eligible for state funding of the project.