Town Budget Reduced by $71, 661, Trails Unfunded, Affordable Housing and Fire & Rescue Supported
March 2, 2010

In one of the longest Town Meetings in recent memory, voters directed the Selectboard to make the hard decisions and took the School Board to task for decisions already made.

On a motion by Clark Hinsdale designed to level fund the Town budget, it was reduced by $71,661. The Selectboard claimed that it could not reduce certain parts of the budget (Cemetery and Library) without specific direction from the voters, because these are independent entities. This led to lengthy discussion and several amendments that failed, and was disputed by Hinsdale (as a former Selectboard member) and Town Clerk & Treasurer Mary Mead. The final vote for the reduced budget was by voice, with no count required.

The 1.5 cent appropriation to the Fire & Rescue Capital Fund was supported with requests for information but little controversy. Speaking for Fire & Rescue, Josh Flore volunteered to reduce their appropriation from the general fund budget by $12,000, with the caveat that volunteers are needed to help staff the department.

The $40,000 for the Affordable Housing Fund received a closer look, and the article was amended to reduce it from five years to one year. It passed as amended 153 to 46 with a division of the house.

The meeting was interrupted by lunch and the CCS School Board Meeting at 1 pm. When reconvened after 3 p.m. the economic concerns that colored the morning session continued to influence the debate, leading to the defeat of the $25,000 for the Trails Fund. The creation of the fund was passed, however, after lengthy debate, by a vote of 69 to 56 with a division of the house. The Selectboard and Trail Committee advocated for the fund as being needed to receive and hold funds from year to year, such as from grants as well as hoped for town appropriations.

In the final action of the day the Article to investigate locating a CSWD drop-off center in Charlotte was passed, after an amendment to require a vote of the Town.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:14 p.m.

The School Board meeting was marked with sharp questioning about why two principals are needed in a school of only 450 students, and about the change in direction made after the bond vote for renovation of the 1949 building. The School Board has now decided to raze that portion of the school and replace it with a smaller, more efficient building.

Australian Ballot Results:

Charlotte voters said a resounding "no" to the purchase of the LeBoeuf property with a vote of 187-912; and with a much smaller margin of 524-568 they also nixed the CCS budget.

Marilyn Richardson edged out Dick Hess 493 to 460 to win the 3-year term on the CVU Board.

Contentious, emotional, frustrated, conservative, combative, vocal and ornery are some of the words used by observors and participants to describe the mood of this year's Town Meeting.