ATHOL – Whether it was the rain or the MLB playoffs that kept people at home, no one knows, but the annual Fall Town Meeting, scheduled to take place this past Monday night, failed to attract the number of voters required under the Town Charter.

As a result, officials are hoping the requisite number of voters will show up at Town Hall at 7 p.m. this coming Monday, Oct. 23, in order to dispense with the town’s business. This marked the first time in many years, according to Town Clerk Nancy Burnham, that a Town Meeting has failed to attract a quorum, defined as 1% of Athol’s registered voters.

Monday’s meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m., fell nine voters short of the minimum requirement of 87. Town Moderator Lawrence McLaughlin adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. after waiting for more people to arrive.

While the meeting warrant consists of only 12 articles, there are a number of important issues to be addressed. Among them are funding for the reconfiguration of the confluence of several roads at what is known as the Five Points, several proposed amendments to the charter and zoning bylaws, funding for testing and environmental remediation at 100 Main St.—the site of the Millers River Environmental Center—and payment of costs associated with “conducting the Special Election on July 31…”

The Five Points project, which has been on the wish list of town officials for many years, will increase overall safety at the intersection, reduce the grade of Chestnut Hill Avenue where it meets Crescent Street, and shore up retaining walls vital to the stabilization of Crescent Street. It is hoped that the approximately $5 million project can get underway sometime next year.

The $160,000 being sought for Five Points would come from the repurposing of funds previously set aside for the demolition of the municipal parking garage off of South and Exchange streets. The monies would be used for engineering and administrative costs and acquisition of “land, temporary or permanent construction, maintenance or other easements.”

Most of the language changes proposed for the Town Charter would bring several sections and paragraphs up to date and would alter the phrase “board of selectmen” to “select board.” However, one proposed change would completely eliminate Section 4 of the current charter, which gives Athol voters the right to request a referendum to reconsider any appropriation or borrowing of funds “in anticipation of revenue” approved at a Town Meeting. Under the present language, voters have 10 days to gather the signatures of at least 5% of Athol’s registered voters and submit those signatures to the Town Clerk. At least 20% of the town’s registered voters must show up to cast ballots on each question submitted. Voters would no longer have the option of requesting a referendum if the amendment is approved.

Article 1 of the warrant asks voters to approve the proposed charter amendments in their entirety, rather than considering each suggested change separately.

Articles 11 and 12 would provide more flexibility in zoning bylaws related to downtown development and clarify regulations governing “battery energy storage systems.”

Voters are also being asked for $9,400 to undertake an assessment of the Bidwell Barn, located on the 100-acre town-owned Bidwell property on South Athol Road. The assessment will weigh the feasibility of various possible uses for the barn and the cost of potential renovations.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.