Voters throughout the county will assemble on Town Meeting Day on Tuesday, March 1, unless otherwise specified. That day also marks the presidential primary election throughout the state.
Most Windham County towns are listed here with the election information that was available by press time.
For updated information, links to the warnings for all the Town Meetings listed here, and other Town Meeting–related resources for voters, visit atm2016.commonsnews.org.
Athens
Annual Town Meeting begins at 10 a.m., according to the February issue of The Athenian. Warning unavailable at press time.
Brattleboro
• Elections: Town and School District elections will take place at the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by Australian ballot.
• Representative Town Meeting takes place Saturday, March 19.
Brookline
Voters will meet in the Multipurpose Room of Brookline Elementary School at 10 a.m.
• Elections: After nominating a town moderator, voters will elect town officers, including town clerk, town treasurer, and collector of delinquent taxes.
• Taxes: Voters will be asked to approve $267,840 to be raised by taxation, then to decide what dates to collect town taxes.
• Social services: Voters will be asked to approve $6,331 to support 22 nonprofit organizations serving the town.
• New appropriations: Sought are new appropriation of $200 for Moore Free Library; an increase of $100 in appropriation for Groundworks Collaborative, which merged Brattleboro Area Drop In Center and Morningside Shelter; and an increase of $300 in appropriation for Senior Solutions.
• New salt/sand shed: Voters are asked whether to re-appropriate the $8,000 from a previous town meeting to be used for a new salt/sand shed.
• Funds for audits: Voters are asked whether to raise $2,000 in reserve per year in anticipation of an outside audit of all town financial records every four years.
• Mutual aid dues: Voters are asked whether to approve $8,734 for NewBrook Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid dues.
• Renovations for historic church community center: Voters are asked whether to approve spending “of up to $36,210 from existing reserved funds on needed renovations on the historic church community center."
• Voters should know: Of that bid for approval for $36,210 for the Brookline Baptist Church's community center, Town Clerk and Assistant Treasurer Guy Tanza notes, “That's a big thing but part of that is also already earmarked. When the town bought the church [from the Ladies Benevolent Group] they had $30,000 or so already given to them [as a savings account], so this is money already in reserve funds. It's not like we're trying to get all-new funds."
Dover
The Annual Town Meeting and Town School District Meeting are set for Dover Town Hall on the Common at 10 a.m. The polls are open for Australian ballot voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Elections: Up for election are these town and school district officers: Auditor, First Constable, Grand Juror, two library trustees, two listers, Moderator (school), Moderator (town), School Director (three-year term), School Director (two-year term), Select Board Member (three-year term), Select Board Member (two-year term), Town Agent, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and Trustee of Public Funds.
• School district: Articles ask whether the Town School District shall support the Lafter program in the amount of $23,100 (out of the Reserve Fund); approve an amount not to exceed $4,655 for the purchase of a new oven for the school kitchen (from the Building Reserve Fund); set the annual tuition rate to approved independent schools as required for students in grades 7 through 12, up to $16,250 for the 2016/2017 school year; and compensate the officers as follows: chairperson: $2,500 per year; members: $2,000 per year, and mileage reimbursement.
• District budget: The Town School District seeks $3,199,383, or $15,180.55 per equalized pupil, a 1.57-percent increase.
• Eliminate lister post? Voters will say whether to cut the Office of Lister and replace it with a professionally qualified assessor appointed by the Select Board.
• Financial: The town seeks $2,167,710.42 for the coming year, plus $1,374,030.67 in highway funds, $650,000 for the Capital Paving Fund, $250,000 for the Capital Equipment Fund, $50,000 for the Capital Building Improvement Fund, $50,000 for the town legal defense fund, and $3,372 for supporting Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) activities.
• MHCA Dover Cinema: Shall the voters raise and appropriate $5,202 for the purpose of supporting MHCA Dover Cinema (Memorial Hall Center for the Arts, Inc.)?
• Voters Need to Know: In a Town Meeting with a full agenda, Town Clerk Andy McLean singles out as interesting “the articles where we will decide whether or not to give the Selectboard the power to appoint an appraiser and a delinquent tax collector instead of electing listers and a delinquent tax collector as we always have. That and moving the lion's share of the treasurer's salary to a bookkeeper position: essentially moving that position from elected to appointed."
Dummerston
The School Board meeting begins at 10 a.m. at Dummerston's Elementary School; the Town Meeting portion begins after. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Property-tax exemptions: Voters will decide to grant one-year tax exemptions to the Evening Star Grange and the Green Mountain Camp.
• Money matters: Voters will decide whether to raise $150,000 through taxes for the Capital Fund and to authorize expenditures of $135,000 from the Capital Fund. Voters will also consider total general fund expenditures of $411,746 - a bit more than half from taxes and the remaining from non-tax revenues.
For the highway budget, voters will decide to approve $495,390 - about two-thirds coming from taxes and the rest from non-tax revenues. Voters will also decide whether to raise $15,000 for the Highway Structures Replacement Fund.
• Voters need to know: The only contested race on the ballot is for the two-year seat on the Selectboard; newcomer Theresa “Terry” Chapman is challenging incumbent Joe Cook. Treasurer Laurie Frechette characterized this year's town meeting as “pretty quiet,” calling out the Selectboard race and the presidential primaries as the big highlights.
Grafton
Meeting begins at Grafton Elementary School at 10 a.m. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• School budget: Voters will be asked to consider $1,473,400 for Athens/Grafton K–6 expenses and $903,928. Spending per equalized pupil ($12,880) represents a 4.13-percent decrease.
• Town expenses: Voters will consider $141,000 for capital expenses, $523,150 for highways, $273,340 for Selectboard budget, $41,000 for emergency services, $9,741 for social-service agencies.
• Tax exemption: Voters will decide whether to grant a tax exemption to the Grafton Historical Society for property at 147 Main St.
Guilford
Meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Guilford Central School gymnasium. Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Town budget: Voters will consider a Highway Fund budget of $991,290 and a General Fund of $789,072.59.
Other budgetary items include decisions on appropriating $4,200 for Guilford Cares, $219,458 for the volunteer fire department, $30,000 for the library, and $6,300 for visiting nurse and hospice services.
Voters will also decide whether the town should continue its membership in the Windham Regional Commission, and to raise and appropriate $3,957 for the town's share of its expense.
• Social-service organizations: Voters will consider funding $13,080. The largest portions of this line item would go to Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), Youth Services, and the Women's Freedom Center.
• Recreation Commission: Some residents are trying to form this commission to offer year-round sports and recreation for children and adults, including maintaining hiking trails. Voters will decide whether to fund it for $4,000.
• Annual town report: Voters will decide if the town can announce the availability of the town report in a newspaper public notice at least 30 days before the annual meeting, instead of automatically mailing a copy to every resident.
• Voters need to know: Town Clerk Penny Marine said Town Meeting “is pretty simple this year.” She said she was surprised Act 46, the new education legislation, was not on the agenda this year but expects it will be next year.
Marine noted there are no contested races. Anne Rider, who stepped down as Selectboard chair last autumn, is not seeking re-election this year. Incumbent Gabrielle Ciufredda is running for the three-year term; newcomer Gordon Little seeks the two-year seat.
Halifax
Voters will meet at 10 a.m. at Halifax Elementary School.
• Elections: Up for vote are town moderator, two selectmen, two listers, auditor, first constable, second constable, collector of delinquent taxes, trustee of public funds, town agent, town grand juror, and cemetery commissioner. Voters also will elect, by Australian ballot, the candidate for President of United States in the statewide presidential primary. (The polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Zoning: Voters will decide by Australian ballot whether to approve the proposed revised zoning regulations.
• Town expenses: Voters will decide whether to approve Selectboard and highway expenditures of $1,391,682, of which $1,205,682 shall be raised by taxes.
Voters will decide whether to raise and appropriate funds for the first and/or second constable and basic operating expenses, and to appoint these positions.
Voters will say whether the town will provide $4,000 to continue support of the Whitingham Free Public Library.
• Social services: Seventeen local social service agencies and organizations request a combined $15,830.
Jamaica
Meeting begins at 10 a.m. at Jamaica Town Hall. Polls are open for Australian ballot from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Elections: Voters will elect a moderator, hear the report of the professional auditors, and elect a selectperson for a term of three years (by ballot); selectperson for a term of one year (by ballot); selectperson for a term of one year (by ballot); lister for a term of three years (by ballot); first constable; second constable; town grand juror; town agent; trustee of public funds; agent to deed land; and library trustee.
• Financing for public works building: Australian ballot vote to finance up to $750,000 for public works building construction.
• Budget: Articles ask voters to authorize a transfer of the prior year revenue surplus of $31,410 to the Highway Reserve Fund; see what sum of money they'll vote to pay the town's running expenses and how it'll be collected; authorize the Selectboard to borrow money in anticipation of taxes; and authorize the Selectboard to spend “unanticipated funds such as grants, gifts and/or interest.”
• Fire, Rescue Tax Exemption: Shall the voters exempt the Jamaica Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. land and building from taxation for five years?
• Voters should know: A site visit and informational meeting were held at the Town Garage on Feb. 23 to explain he proposed improvements for the public works building construction.
Londonderry
Voters will meet at the Town Hall at 9:30 a.m.
• Elections: Voters will elect town officials, including a Parks Board member, two RED Board members, a Trustee of Public Funds, and a Memorial Park Trustee.
• Infrastructure: Voters are asked whether to raise $60,000 for the Town Infrastructure Improvement Fund.
• Policing: Voters are asked whether to fund $86,000 for contracting with the Vermont State Police for policing the town.
• Highway Equipment: Voters are asked whether to approve raising $100,000 for the Highway Equipment Reserve Fund.
• Land Purchase: Voters are asked whether to approve the purchase and financing of a parcel of land at approximately 6600-6950 Route 100, at a cost of $150,000.
• Grand List: Shall the Town vote to raise $20,000 on the Grand List of 2016 for Champion Fire Company No. 5, $1,000 for the Londonderry Conservation Fund, and $6,000 for the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad?
• Organizations and Associations: Shall the town vote to raise $26,000 for the Mountain Valley Medical Center? $10,000 for the South Londonderry Library Association? $2,000 for the West River Montessori School (to be used toward their new toddler program?) A combined $32,700 for 23 other social service organizations?
• Economic Development: Voters will consider $4,800 for The Partnership and $5,300 for Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS).
Marlboro
Meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Town House, with the school district meeting set for 9:10 a.m. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town Office.
• Town expenses: The town seeks almost $600,000. Total includes $225,000 for the general fund, $300,000 for highways and their maintenance, almost $25,000 for emergency services, $3,000 for the Marlboro Mixer newsletter, and $3,234 for SeVEDS.
• School expenses: The town seeks $2,734,921 for the next fiscal year, or $16,676 per equalized pupil. This figure represents a 3.7-percent increase.
• Social services: Voters will consider almost $10,000 in spending for 12 agencies.
• Elections: No positions are contested.
Newfane
Meeting begins at 9 a.m. at Union Hall. The School District meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Town Budget: Voters will consider authorizing Capital Fund expenditures of $503,312; raising $203,112 for capital needs; borrowing up to $180,000; and raising $100,000 to add to the Capital Reserve Fund. Voters will also decide whether to approve $1,328,587 for Town and Highway operational expenditures.
• Property Tax Exemptions: Four articles ask voters to decide to exempt from taxation all real property of the following: South Newfane Community Association, NewBrook Volunteer Fire Association, South Newfane/Williamsville Fire Department, and the Williamsville School Preservation Society.
• Voters Need to Know: There are no contested races in Newfane this year. Town Clerk Gloria Cristelli predicts “it will be kind of a calm year.” Dennis Wiswall, who is not seeking election to the board, ends his appointed term, in which he replaced Rosalind Fritz, who resigned last year. Board Chair Todd Lawley's three-year term is up, and he seeks a one-year position. Newcomer Gary W. Delius seeks the three-year seat.
Although renovating the Town Offices has been a hot topic at Selectboard meetings, Administrative Assistant Shannon Meckle says that item is not on the warning this year because there is still so much work to do on it and the board needs to schedule public hearings before any decisions can be made. Meckle said she plans to have a pamphlet about the renovations available at Town Meeting.
Putney
Meeting begins at 10 a.m. at Putney Central School, 182 Westminster Road. Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Auditor's Report: Voters will decide whether to cease mailing the auditor's annual report to every resident and instead provide notice of its availability by printing a notice in the newspaper, putting a notice in all public posting locations, and announcing it on the municipal website at least 30 days before the annual meeting.
• Library: Voters will elect three trustees to the Putney Public Library.
• Budget: Voters will consider the Sewer Fund budget as outlined in the 2015 Town Report and whether to authorize the Selectboard to spend up to $25,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund for repairs to Town Hall.
Voters will consider a General Fund amount of $1,179,953, and a Highway Fund amount of $825,950.
Voters will decide whether to authorize the Selectboard to borrow up to $30,000 to buy a fire chief vehicle for the fire department, and no more than $100,000 to purchase a dump truck for the Highway Department.
The Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies team seeks $8,106 for economic development in the Windham County region. Voters will decide whether to give it to them.
• School spending: The school budget is up for vote. Projected spending per equalized pupil is up 0.4 percent over last year; the total budget is $3,752,734.
• Voters Need to Know: “We're kind of boring this year,” says Town Manager Cynthia Stoddard. The only contested race is for a three-year lister position; Geordie Heller is challenging incumbent Kathleen O'Reilly-Lawrence. Stephen Hed is the only Selectboard member up for re-election - and he is running unopposed.
Last year's town meeting lasted nearly eight hours - much of that time spent arguing over whether to grant property tax exemptions to three Landmark College properties - but Stoddard says no tax exemptions are on the agenda this year. The Tax-Exemption Committee, formed from that meeting, has been very active this year, Stoddard says, and will give an update on their findings under “Other Business” at Tuesday's Town Meeting.
Rockingham
Town Meeting begins Monday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium (Bellows Falls Opera House) to act upon all articles to be voted on the floor. Voters go to the polls on March 1 at the Masonic Temple (61 Westminster St.) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to decide multiple school, local municipal, and presidential primary candidates, and town meeting articles by Australian ballot.
• Detention Center Referendum: Voters will weigh in on a nonbinding question of whether to “allow placement of a detention center within the legal boundaries of Bellows Falls.”
• TLR Building Demolition: Under consideration is $100,000 to demolish the TLR buildings (see story, this issue).
• Budget: Voters will consider a budget of $5,142,414, of which $4,359,519 will be raised by taxes.
Voters are asked to authorize a loan not to exceed $500,000 to upgrade the elevator and electric service, to maintain windows, and to remove underground fuel storage tanks. The loan would cover repairs to the Rockingham Recreation Building.
Voters will decide a $1 million loan to replace fire apparatus for the Rockingham and Saxtons River volunteer fire departments.
Rockingham Free Public Library seeks $347,070 for operating expenses.
• PACE Designation: Voters will consider designating the town as a Property Assessed Clean Energy District, which would enable participating property owner to access funding for eligible energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
• Social Services: Voters will consider a number of social services funding requests.
• Schools: Rockingham will have three school-related meetings and votes that include Union High School No. 27 (Feb. 24, Mar. 1), which includes the school districts of Grafton, Athens, and Westminster; River Valley Technical Center (RVTC) school district, which includes Bellows Falls Union High School, Green Mountain Union High School, Black River Union High School, and Springfield High School (Feb. 25, March 1); and Rockingham town school district (Feb. 29, March 1).
Rockingham Town School District Australian ballots are cast at the Masonic Temple on Westminster St. in Bellows Falls, Mar. 1, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Rockingham school district voters will be asked to approve $10,988,830 in expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year, of which $14,687.24 is forecast to be spent per equalized student: a 0.26 percent increase in spending over the current year.
Union High School district No. 27 holds its annual meeting at the BFUHS auditorium on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. for the purpose of explaining next year's school budget.
The RVTC School District meeting is Thursday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. in Room B118 at the Howard Dean Educational Center in Springfield.
The RVTC School District will decide whether to approve a proposed budget of $2,777,827. The informational meeting on this article is Thursday, Feb. 25, in Room B118 at the Howard Dean Education Center, to be immediately followed by the School District's Annual Meeting.
Union High School No. 27 holds its annual meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., at the BFUHS auditorium, to provide background information about the school budget question.
Among the Australian ballot questions on March 1: whether to create a $125,000 Reserve Fund to be used for capital improvements at BFUHS and whether to approve next year's school budget of $7,444,027 ($15,230.77 per equalized student, a 72 percent increase).
Polling on those articles requiring Australian balloting takes place in Athens, Grafton, Westminster, and Rockingham polling locations on March 1.
• School District Polls: Votes are cast on March 1 at various locations:
BFUHS District #27: Athens Elementary School, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Grafton Elementary School, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Rockingham, Masonic Temple 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Westminster Institute 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Black River Union High School District #39: Ludlow Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Mount Holly Town Office, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Green Mountain Union High School District #35: Andover Town Hall, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Chester Town Hall, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Cavendish Elementary School, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Springfield School District: Riverside Middle School, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Stratton
The Annual Town Meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall. The Annual School District meeting follows at 11.
• Elections: Voters will decide elections for selectmen (one three-year term, two one-year terms); Planning Commission (two four-year terms); the lister, an auditor, the cemetery commissioner, a delinquent-tax collector, trustee of public funds, constable, grand juror, and the town agent.
• Budget: Voters are asked to raise and appropriate $946,490.11 for the FY17 General Fund and $1,048,500 for the FY17 Highway Fund.
Town officials seek $32,885 to support 21 local service organizations, $47,150 for the Stratton Mountain Volunteer Fire Company,
• Reserve Funds: Voters will say whether the Selectboard shall maintain reserve funds for outside audit, Town Hall maintenance, Recreation Area equipment, Recreation Area Pavilion, reappraisal, listers' education, computer and office equipment, School House and Meetinghouse in the General Fund.
• Tuition: Articles set the annual 2016-2017 tuition rate to The Mountain School at Winhall up to $15,000 per pupil for resident students in K-8; the annual 2016-2017 K-6 tuition rate to all other private or approved independent schools up to the announced Vermont Union Elementary School tuition rate, excluding residents; the Annual 2016-2017 tuition rate to Burr & Burton Academy up to $16,250 per district-resident pupil for grades 9-12; the annual 2016-2017 tuition rate to all other private or approved independent schools up to the announced Vermont Union High School tuition rate for students in grades 7-12, excluding those students covered in other articles, who are residents of the school district.
• Expenditures: District voters are asked to approve the School Board expending $570,759, “which is the amount the School Board has determined to be necessary for the ensuing fiscal year.”
• Voters Should Know: It is estimated that the proposed school budget, if approved, will result in education spending of $14,342 per equalized pupil. This projected spending per equalized pupil is 2.3 percent lower than spending for the current year.
Townshend
Voters are asked to meet at Town Hall at 9 a.m. The School District Annual Meeting is at 9:05.
• Budget: Voters are asked whether Townshend shall appropriate $524,989 to pay for the running expenses and liabilities of the town, with taxpayers paying $436,893.
Voters will consider highway funds: $674,345 for the running expenses and liabilities of maintaining the town's roads, with taxpayers paying $220,814 of the cost.
Voters will also consider raising $46,420 to support the town library; $10,000 for Capital Expenditure Fund Fire Department Reserve toward a pumper; and $1,500 for the Old Cemetery Fund.
• Social Services: Voters will decide whether to raise $14,625 to support social services.
• Sound Forestry: Will voters authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire, by gift or purchase, land for municipal forest, to promote reforestation, water conservation, and good forestry practices?
• Proposed School Budget: Voters are asked whether to back a $1,556,825 budget, an estimated$16,441 per equalized pupil, a 2.2 percent decrease.
Vernon
Vernon School Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 29, at the Vernon Elementary School cafeteria. According to Assistant Town Clerk Nancy Gassett, they usually recess at about 10 p.m.; this year, the second night of Town Meeting, if needed, will be Wednesday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Voting takes place on Tuesday, March 1, in the downstairs of the Town Office building, and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Elections: Joshua Unruh, who holds a two-year Selectboard seat, is running against newcomer Bronna M. Zlochiver for the three-year unexpired position. Zlochiver is also up against incumbent Sandra Harris for a regular three-year Selectboard term. Assistant Town Clerk Nancy Gassett explained that one person may run for multiple Selectboard seats, but if they win more than one, “you have to pick one.”
Gassett mentioned three contested races: two Selectboard seats, and the position of Town Clerk, which has three people running for it - Tim Arsenault, Melissa Ferriss, and Nancy Gassett. She also noted the “non-binding, unofficial question” on the proposed gas plant. “That's pretty important,” Gassett said.
Another topic Gassett said voters need to pay close attention to is the budget. “In light of Vermont Yankee's value decreasing significantly, people's tax bills could increase,” she said.
• School Budget: Voters will decide whether to approve a proposed school budget of $4,355,334, down by 8.9 percent per equalized pupil from last year.
• Town Budget: Voters will choose whether to approve the $2,140,393 total general fund expenditure. Also on the agenda is whether to appropriate $177,675.56 from Emergency Capital Reserve Fund to fund the Capital Plan; and if $15,000 in tax money should fund the Emergency Management Office.
Voters will also decide if the town should spend $41,900 on items approved for purchase in the Capital Plan and if $20,000 in taxes should fund the “Reappraisal Fund."
Voters will weigh in on whether $40,000 in tax money should go into “The Town of Vernon, James Cusick Scholarship Fund,” and if $20,000 in taxes should fund the “Elderly Assistance Fund.”
Voters will decide whether to appropriate $26,962 in tax money for the Solid Waste Fund, to be paid toward the Windham Solid Waste District Assessment.
Voters will decide if the town should spend $100,000 in money raised by taxes for the Town Road Upgrading Fund, and whether $2,500 in taxes should support the Town Parking Lots Maintenance Fund.
Voters will decide whether to establish a Culvert Reserve Fund for the purpose of buying culverts. If so, voters may also decide to appropriate $10,000 in tax money for the fund.
Voters will decide if the town should spend $5,000 in tax monies to repair cemetery headstones. Individual plots are also on the agenda. Voters will decide whether to charge residents $150 plus the cost of corner markers, and non-residents $300 plus the cost of corner markers.
• Town and Auditor's Reports: Voters will decide whether the town can mail a postcard to all registered voters 30 days before Town Meeting, announcing the availability of the Town Report and Auditor's Report, instead of mailing the entire report to all residents.
• Library: Voters will elect two library trustees: one for a three-year term, and one to fill the remainder of the unexpired one-year term. Voters will also decide whether to approve the library fund of $121,656.
• Social-service organizations and other nonprofits: Seven social service organizations seek a combined $17,420 in funding via tax revenue to aid area residents. The largest amounts are sought by SeVEDS ($6,600), Visiting Nurses and Hospice of VT & NH ($6,500), and SEVCA ($2,100).
Wardsboro
The Town School District's Annual Meeting is Monday, Feb. 29, 6:30 p.m., at Town Hall. The 231st Annual Town Meeting is set for Tuesday, March 1, at 9 a.m. at Town Hall.
• Town Elections: Voters will elect a moderator and elect the following officers as required by law: town clerk; town treasurer; one Selectboard member for three years (by ballot); two Selectboard members for one year; lister for three years (by ballot); auditor for three years (by ballot); trustee of public funds; first constable; second constable; collector of delinquent taxes; town agent; cemetery commissioner; and library trustee.
• Town Report: Voters will hear and act on the Town Report.
• Budget: Voters will determine if the town will approve the Selectboard budget as published.
• Social-service organizations and other nonprofits: Voters will determine how much the town will spend in support of 17 requesting local organizations, from the Volunteer Fire Department to the Community Food Pantry to Friends of the Wardsboro Library and more than a dozen others, The total request is $99,509, down $400 over the current year.
• Gilfeather Bridge: The sum of $42,600 for Gilfeather Bridge (two of five) anchors an article leaving space blank for the Selectmen's request and the allocations for Article 5.
• School district: Voters are asked to set the annual 2016-17 tuition rate for middle and high school students at an amount not to exceed the average published tuition of Vermont union high schools for the 2016-17 school year for the students of the Wardsboro School District enrolled in an approved independent school.
• Budget: The School Board proposes voters approve a $2,273,575 budget, which works out to education spending of $15,357 per equalized pupil - that's 4.23 percent higher than spending for the current year.
Westminster
Annual Town Meeting takes place Saturday, Feb. 27 at Bellows Falls Union High School.
Elections take place by Australian ballot Tuesday, March 1 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Westminster Institute, East Parish.
• Budget: Voters will consider $130,000 for the Town Equipment Reserve Fund.
Voters will be asked to spend $360,000 toward a new town grader, with the balance to be financed up to $175,000; $15,000 for the Bridge Reserve Fund; $5,000 for the monthly Westminster Gazette; $9,534 for SeVEDS workforce and economic development coordination.
• Land purchase: Voters will consider whether to purchase the land and house next to the Town Hall for additional parking, storage space, and office space. The total is $224,200, to be financed in a five-year promissory note.
If that article is approved, voters will be asked to authorize the town to sell the post office building and its land.
• Schools: Voters will consider $5.034 million in spending, or $16,099 per equalized pupil, a 1.33-percent increase.
Whitingham
Town Meeting starts at 10 a.m. at the Twin Valley Middle/High School, followed by the School District meeting to discuss any business other than two ballot questions.
Polls are open for elections and school district Australian ballot questions (on school district officers and the school budget) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• School budget: Voters will consider a $10.19 million school budget, or $17,867 per equalized pupil. That spending represents an 0.8-percent increase.
• Town election: No contested positions this year.
• Financial matters: Voters will consider $562,592 for general use, $110,000 for the Town Use of School Property, $7,093 for upkeep of the Town Hill Common, $78,058 for the Town Fire Department, $20,000 for the Fire Department Equipment Fund, $1.25 million for highways, $85,000 for the Highway Equipment Fund, $76,355 for the library, $10,000 for the Municipal Facilities Fund, and $10,000 for Deerfield Valley Rescue.
Voters will also consider $16,900 for cemeteries and $10,000 for Old Home Week Activities.
• Social services and nonprofits: Voters will consider $4,700 for the new Twin Valley Youth Sports Program program, “in an effort to provide quality opportunities for all children to participate and develop the skills necessary to become successful players, while building each student/athlete's social, physical, and psychological well-being,” according to the Town Meeting warning.
Voters will consider almost $19,000 of additional funding for a number of other social service organizations.
Wilmington
The floor meeting for the Annual Town and Town School District Meeting begins at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1 at Twin Valley Elementary. School District Meeting will be followed by Annual Town Meeting.
• Elections - both the Australian ballot portion of Annual Town Meeting and the presidential primary - take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Informational meeting: The second of two Twin Valley School Board informational meetings takes place Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. at Twin Valley Middle/High School in Whitingham.
• Schools: Voters will debate a budget that trims 1.3 percent from the previous year's. Total: $10.1 million, or $17,092 per equalized pupil.
• Police: Voters will decide whether to approve $63,838 to support a sixth full-time police officer.
• Town finances: Voters will consider a $1.7 million general fund budget and a $1.3 million road budget.
Other articles will address capital fund needs for bridge rehabilitation, roads, fire department, Memorial Hall, the library, the playground, and the Town Hall.
Windham
Begins 10 a.m. in the Town Hall.
• Elections. Contested positions this year are a three-year Selectboard term (Maureen Bell and Paul Wyman) and a three-year Town Clerk term (Terry Sarace and Jo-Jo Chlebogiannis).
• Schools. Voters will consider a $388,957 budget for the Windham Elementary School District.
• Budget Items. Voters will debate $186,105 for the General Fund, a 16-percent increase; $402,970 for road spending, a 6-percent decrease; and $95,000 for repaving and bridge repair, a 45-percent increase.
• Weatherization. The town is considering a fund to implement the recommendations of energy-efficiency audits of town-owned buildings, according to Selectboard member Mary Boyer, who is stepping down from the board after nine years.