PETERSHAM – Only 118 out of Petersham’s 1085 registered voters – or about 11% – turned out to cast ballots in Monday’s annual election.

The dearth of voters can be attributed to the lack of any contests for elective office. There were, however, two debt exclusions that needed voter approval. Question 1 passed by a margin of 106 to 12, while Question 2 was approved 104 to 13.

Town officials had asked that the balances remaining on a loan to demolish the Nichewaug Inn & Academy and another to pay for make-ready work on the town’s broadband system be moved from the general town budget and designated as debt exclusions.

Two previous loans passed as debt exclusions – one for work at the Petersham Center School and another for work at Mahar Regional High School – were paid off during the current fiscal year.

Petersham Selectboard Chair Susan Dougherty said the board and Finance Committee met with Town Treasurer Dana Robinson prior to the January Special Town Meeting and agreed that channeling funds into stabilization would be a top priority rather than capital expenditures.

The movement of the Nichewaug and broadband loans to debt exclusion status means they no longer need to be considered when figuring the town’s maximum levy limit under Proposition 2 ½. That could potentially free up space in the general budget for other town expenses, although much of the savings may be eaten up by a 20% hike in health insurance premiums, as explained by Advisory Finance Committee member Mark Bishop at an informational meeting held last week.

The annual payment for principal and interest on the Nichewaug loan is about $86,000, while that on the broadband loan is approximately $31,000.

All candidates unopposed in Monday’s election were seeking three-year terms to various elected offices. They included Deborah Poodry of the Selectboard; Jean Robinson of the Board of Assessors; Richard Nicoletti of the Board of Health; Jill Wessell, of the Petersham School Committee; Donna Byron of the Planning Board; and, Claudette Bishop of the Trustees of the Public Library.

There was not candidate to serve as Petersham’s representative on the Mahar Regional School Committee.

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