Mirante edges Randall in Athens
ATHENS - Incumbent Selectboard member Denise Randall lost her re-election bid to Dennis Mirante, 22-20, in Tuesday's town election.
Once elected to the Selectboard, Mirante had to give up his seat on the Board of Listers, so a replacement is now needed for the remaining year of his term.
Lynn Morgan was elected as school director, replacing Ivor Stevens, who chose not to run. Re-elected were Town Moderator David Bemis, Town Clerk and Treasurer Darlene Wyman, Road Commissioner Tom Taylor, Lister Sandi Capponcelli, Campbell Fund administrator Lois Sippel, Meetinghouse Committee member Sheryl Mahar, Cemetery Commissioner Jim Neathawk, Constable Steven Oakes, and Collector of Delinquent Taxes Elizabeth Agostini.
Stephen Fine retained the positions of Town Grand Juror, UHSD #27 Representative, and Town Agent.
Brookline takes ownership of school, former Baptist Church
BROOKLINE - Voters on Tuesday approved having the town take ownership of Brookline Baptist Church and the former Brookline Elementary School.
The school has not seen elementary students since Brookline and Newfane merged their school districts in 2009. Since 2010, it has since been rented out to a private daycare and nursery school.
Townspeople were concerned that if a proposal to create a K-12 regional school district consisting of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend, and Windham came to pass, ownership of the Brookline school might pass over to the new school district.
The Baptist Church, built in 1836, has not had an active congregation since the 1930s. The Brookline Ladies Benevolent Group has cared for the building since 1945, but its membership is dwindling and the church needs about $100,000 in repairs.
The only hitch came with the question of responsibility for $135,000 of renovations invested in the school when it was used for education. Town officials say they have not received a definitive answer from the state Department of Education as to liability for the money.
Voters ultimately attached an amendment, making the purchase of the school for $1 contingent on a waiver of liability from the state.
Together with the nearby Round Schoolhouse, the school and church buildings are the de facto center of Brookline.
Minimum wage debate dominates Dover meeting
DOVER - Voters at the early part of Tuesday's annual Town Meeting peppered Sen. Peter Galbraith, D-Windham, and Rep. John Moran, D-Wardsboro, with questions to do with raising Vermont's minimum wage.
Some audience members used the term “socialist” as if it were a four-letter word, and equated raising the minimum wage to $12 per hour with taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor. Some audience members sharply asserted Moran and Galbraith, during their presentations, were socialists as well.
Galbraith spoke and took questions for about 30 minutes. In addition to the minimum wage bill he has co-sponsored in the state Senate, Galbraith also discussed his proposed bill to fund the state's new health care system through a payroll tax of 11 percent on employers and 2 percent on employees.
He said he submitted the bill to the Legislature “so it would start a conversation,” adding that the estimated cost of the new health system is between $1.6 billion and $2 billion.
The Legislature enacted the new system in 2011 under Act 48.
“It's great to get the candy, but at some point, you have to consider how you're going to pay for it,” Galbraith said.
The discussion also turned toward education funding, earning a living in Vermont, and the state's heavy taxing of business.
“I don't think we can continue to fund education on the property tax as heavily as we do,” said Galbraith.
Moran agreed, saying, “We do need to restructure the education funding. Everybody knows that.”
Randy Capitani, publisher of the Deerfield Valley News, said about raising the minimum wage, “At some point, you will overburden the businesses in this state; that will result in job loss and extremely high inflation rates.”
Galbraith said that minimum wage is about saving taxpayers money. He added that there are also discussions about enacting a New England-wide minimum wage.
“I think we'll end up with a $10.10 minimum wage in all New England states,” said Galbraith, adding that people probably will find it stimulates the economy.
Galbraith pointed to fewer people qualifying for the earned income tax credit as one example of lower federal spending as a result of higher wages.
In response to audience comments that people would leave Vermont for states with lower tax rates and comparable quality of life, Galbraith said most of the states with low taxes also ranked low on quality of life indicators such as education and health.
Vermont will never compete with other states on low taxes, Galbraith said. Instead, it will compete with a high quality of life. Moran echoed Galbraith's sentiment, saying, “It's crucial to our viability to create a healthy, viable state for all of us.”
Moran said that income disparity between the wealthy and the growing poor was a problem, and that, as the federal government cut federal programs, Vermont had to step up and put more of its budget toward filling gaps in funding.
“We live in a valley that is a service industry valley,” said Moran. He explained that workers in a service industry “do not improve their lot by getting a better job; they're going to improve their lot by getting a better wage.”
Some audience members said that their kids left the area over a tough economy and taxes that were too high.
Dover resident Dave Cerchio took issue with Galbraith and Moran, saying that no empirical data supported the assertion that raising the minimum wage would lower federal spending.
Cerchio, a former business owner, said he lived under national health systems in Belgium and Germany, and felt they did not serve people well enough.
“You two remind me of the old socialist who couldn't sleep at night because somewhere, someone wasn't being taxed enough,” said Cerchio, echoing sentiments of other audience members.
Laura Sibilia, school board member and director of economic development with Brattleboro Development Credit Corp., said that enacting a higher minimum wage could put Vermont at an economic disadvantage:
“It's a national issue we're taking a big position on, not what's in Vermont's best interest."
Resident Phil Bowen stood up from where he was checking off the voters' roster. He told the audience that he raised three kids on minimum wage through multiple jobs and hustling for extra work.
He asked for a show of hands of who in the room earned minimum wage. No one raised their hands.
“They're [out] working,” responded someone in the audience.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Bowen admonished the crowd, then added that they had nice castles to return to.
“Why do your kids leave? Because they don't want to earn minimum wage,” said Bowen.
Battaglino, Lisle elected in Grafton
GRAFTON - Sam Battaglino defeated incumbent Selectboard Chair Al Sands, 111-86, for a two-year seat in Tuesday's election, while Skip Lisle defeated incumbent Gus Plummer, 109-94, for a three-year Selectboard seat.
The vote was seen as a referendum on a proposed commercial wind project that would straddle the Windham-Grafton border. Both Battaglino and Lisle oppose siting wind turbines in Grafton.
Voters approved the use of up to $300,000 from the town's surplus to build a new town garage.
The project, estimated at $1.2 million, would be built on town-owned land on Bell Road. Voters earlier this year approved acceptance of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to move the garage.
Voters speed through Guilford meeting
GUILFORD - In one of the fastest Town Meeting sessions in recent years, voters passed the town and school budgets within three hours.
Voters approved a $2,918,250 school budget for fiscal year 2015, up 2.81 percent.
The highway budget of $801,912 passed with little discussion, as did the General Fund budget of $713,268.
Halifax approves new Town Plan
HALIFAX - Voters approved the new Town Plan, 82-42, on Tuesday.
Townspeople previously had a chance to weigh in at hearings held by the Selectboard and Planning Commission. With the Town Meeting vote, the town can update its zoning map based on the new Town Plan. Town Plans generally are updated every five years.
There were no contested races on the ballot this year.
Gibbons elected to Marlboro Selectboard
MARLBORO - Write-in candidate Tyler Gibbons won a three-year seat on the Selectboard on Tuesday. He garnered 117 votes.
There were no candidates on the ballot for the seat, which became open after Andrea Livermore chose not to run for re-election and no one had submitted petitions to run.
Wayne Kermenski ran opposed to fill a three-year term on the town School Board, succeeding outgoing, longtime member Augusta Bartlett.
Eric Matt defeated Sara Kermenski, 91-68, for a three-year seat on the Board of Listers. All other town positions were unopposed.
Putney votes to continue Rescue contract
PUTNEY - After about an hour of debate, voters on Tuesday added $22,000 to the town budget to keep Rescue Inc. as its emergency medical services provider for another year.
Golden Cross, a for-profit service based in Claremont, N.H., submitted a bid of $36,447 to serve Putney for one year. Rescue Inc., a nonprofit based in Brattleboro that has served as the town's ambulance service for nearly 50 years, says it will cost $58,768 to provide service.
The town prepared its budget to reflect the lower bid by Golden Cross, which would have served Putney from its Westminster substation.
Several local doctors testified to the quality of Rescue's service, while Fire Chief Tom Goddard spoke in support of Golden Cross.
Voters were also restive regarding the pace of bringing broadband Internet and improved cell phone coverage to Putney, and grilled their state lawmakers about the process.
The $1.89 million town budget passed with little debate, as did the $3.68 million town school budget.
There were no contested races on the town ballot this year. Town Clerk Anita Coomes reported only 221 of the town's 1,679 voters, just 13.1 percent, cast ballots.
Townshend rejects town-manager proposal
TOWNSHEND - A proposal to radically change town government here got nowhere with voters.
By a 75 to 63 margin, voters rejected a request by the Selectboard to hire a town manager.
Requests to replace the elected Lister and Town Auditor positions with professionals appointed by the Selectboard were also rejected.
Selectboard members have long complained that the job of running the day-to-day business of town government has gotten too complex for part-time volunteers.
In elections from the floor, Ryan Hockerlotz held on to his position as Auditor, while Robin O'Neil, Steve Lott, and Eugene Kuch were elected as listers. Kathlene Hege was elected to a three-year term on the Selectboard, replacing Kit Martin, who stepped down. Robert Lecours and Dale West both won one-year terms to the Selectboard, while Anita Bean was re-elected Town Clerk and Joseph Daigneault was re-elected Town Treasurer.
Cliff Passino won a three-year term on the Town School Board. Tricia Shine and Elizabeth Cutts won one-year seats. Joe Winrich and Twilla Holden both were elected to three-year seats on the Leland & Gray School Board.
Whitingham rejects tax-exempt status for Deerfield Valley Sportsmen's Club
WHITINGHAM - Whitingham voters on Tuesday defeated an article requesting a 10-year property tax exemption for the Deerfield Valley Sportsmen's Club.
Club representatives said that property taxes cost the volunteer-run nonprofit organization about $3,000 annually, some 25 percent of the club's operating expenses.
The club offers many youth programs free of charge. Members also teach gun safety, and host events such as the Harriman Reservoir Ice Fishing Derby.
Audience members observed that the club serves multiple towns, so the club should submit funding requests to those other towns.
Selectboard member Gregory Brown said he felt granting the club tax-exempt status set a bad precedent: that other nonprofits ― and here no one in the audience could identify another nonprofit in town ― would seek property tax exemptions.
Resident Ed Metcalfe said it was proper for Whitingham to support a nonprofit that served multiple towns, continued Vermont's outdoors traditions, and provided education to children and adults.
Voters approved $692,788 to fund general operating expenses. Voters also approved appropriating $7,509 for upkeep of the Town Hill Common, $70,000 for the Fire Department, and $20,000 for the Equipment Fund.
The $1.3 million Town Highway budget passed, as did a $75,000 request for road equipment.
Voters approved the Whitingham Free Public Library's budget of $73,531, $14,500 to support the Deerfield Valley Rescue, and just over $2,000 to support economic development activities. Voters approved all other budgetary items.
In elections, Leon Corse won his race for town moderator. By a wide margin, Almira Aekus remained town treasurer and collector of taxes in a three-way race. Selectboard chair Keith Bronson was elected to a three-year term. Incumbent Gregory Brown also won a two-year seat. Incumbent Robin Kingsley was elected to a one-year seat.
Dwight Williams ran for three-, two-, and one-year Selectboard terms but was not elected to the board.
Incumbents Seth Boyd and Aimee Reed were re-elected to the school board over challengers Peter Bernard, Vanda Warner, Sherry Adams, and Tanya Bernard.
Twin Valley School District voters decline school resource officer idea
WHITINGHAM - Voters in the Twin Valley School District defeated an article authorizing the school board to hire a police officer for the new middle/high school located in Whitingham.
The budget article requested $41,100 annually to hire a school resource officer for added security at the new facility, now under renovation and construction on Route 100 in Whitingham.
Whitingham voters defeated the request, 112-55, through a vote by Australian ballot, and did not discuss the issue from the floor during town meeting.
Wilmington voters defeated the funding request 253-140.
In defending the request, Wilmington School Board member Phil Taylor observed that, statistically, most school shootings unfold over eight minutes. Even a 10-minute delay in emergency services arriving on scene could worsen the outcome.
From the floor, Wilmington voters questioned the Twin Valley School Directors. One man told the board he had grown up in Russia and known threats by state security. He cautioned the board about feeding fear and contributing to the creation of a police state.
“I think Vermont is a beautiful place; that's why I moved here,” he said. “Let's not be a part of [the police state].”
A second voter said he valued the presence of a “formidable force” in the schools to keep away school shooters or other forms of violence. He added that he once restrained someone attempting suicide in Whitingham, and it was a long 45 minutes until state troopers arrived from Brattleboro to lend assistance.
According to its town report, Whitingham does not have any form of police force, such as a constable or a police department, and does not contract with the Windham County Sheriff's Department.
Other voters said they would feel better about hiring an SRO if the person did not overtly represent law enforcement - by wearing a uniform, for example - as it can send students the message that the adults in town expect them to behave violently.
Voters in the two towns approved the Twin Valley School District budget of $9.8 million.
Wilmington voters elect new Selectboard member through write-in campaign
WILMINGTON - Write-in candidate Tom Fitzgerald won a two-year Selectboard seat Tuesday, defeating Tom Manton by a wide margin.
Fitzgerald supporters had stood outside the high school building in Wilmington to ask passers-by for their vote. Of the 1,546 registered voters in Wilmington, 434 cast ballots on Town Meeting Day.
The town's other contested race, for the remainder of a Library Trustee term ending in 2017, was won by Karina Martin.
In votes from the floor, voters approved raising $1.2 million for the General Fund. Voters raised the budget line item by $4,500 to fund marketing for the Memorial Hall, which hosts cultural events.
The voters also approved an increase of $75,000 to the Highway Town Road Equipment Account for a budget total of $225,000.
Two articles aimed to establish and fund an Emergency/Disaster Capital Reserve Fund failed. The emergency account would fund emergency or disaster events within the town. The town also requested seeding the new fund with $100,000 from the fiscal year 2013 surplus.
All other articles on the meeting warning passed as written, including the the town road budget line item of $1.3 million. Voters approved $150,000 for the fire department capital reserve fund.
Voters approved creating a tax stabilization policy for new or expanding businesses. The intent of the policy would be to encourage business growth in Wilmington, and would pertain to municipal property taxes.