Newfane to explore Town Meeting changes; condemns ICE, Iran conflict
NEWFANE - Voters gathered at Union Hall on March 3 to approve spending about $1.9 million for general and highway operations, put $497,000 in the Capital Reserve Fund, and provide $42,435 for 30 nonprofit and community organizations.
Other spending approved included $25,467 for annual payments on the town's excavator and $6,750 for the Reappraisal Reserve Fund.
Voters approved a pair of non-binding resolutions.
The first, proposed by Dan DeWalt, was a condemnation of "the terror and killing being perpetuated by ICE operatives" and called on the U.S. Congress "to defund and dismantle the agency as it now exists."
The other resolution condemned "the unprovoked attack and start of an illegal and immoral war against Iran," and urged Congress to invoke the War Powers Act and call on the president to immediately bring home the troops.
Voters also approved an article to direct the Selectboard to create an ad hoc committee to get public input on the location, time, and day of the week when Town Meeting will be held.
Marlboro votes to close its elementary school
MARLBORO - By a 311-65 vote, the Marlboro Elementary School will close its doors at the end of the current school year, and tuition out its students to one or more elementary schools in accordance with Vermont law.
Also during March 3 balloting, voters approved a $3.37 million school budget for fiscal year 2027, resulting in per-pupil education spending of $15,224, which is 7.06% lower than the current year's per-pupil spending.
Voters also approved a $838,275 General Fund budget and a $1.11 million Highway Fund budget. They also OK'd $42,000 for the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Company Inc. to help defray operating expenses and $48,000 for protective wear, breathing apparatus (SCBA), equipment, and firehouse upgrades, as well as $21,525 to Rescue Inc. and $7,000 to Deerfield Valley Rescue.
Putney ups its funding for Putney Food Shelf
PUTNEY - Citing increased need for its services, Town Meeting voters on March 3 approved increasing the town's appropriation for the Putney Food Shelf from about $7,500 to $20,219 - or 1% of the town budget - for the coming fiscal year.
According to Food Shelf Executive Director Hannah Pick, last year the organization served 7,282 people from 185 families in Putney, Dummerston, Westminster, and Brattleboro, with 3,250 visits to the shelf from Putney.
Changes to eligibility for federal food assistance programs have increased demand in recent months.
Westminster voters also increased funding for the food shelf, from $5,000 to $7,000, at its Feb. 28 Town Meeting.
Putney voters approved a $2 million general fund (an increase of 6.6%), and $1.2 million for the highway fund (a decrease of 10.3%).
Town Moderator Meg Mott was honored at the meeting. She is retiring after eight years of service.
Stratton discusses impact of school consolidation
STRATTON - What usually is Windham County's fastest Town Meeting took a little longer this year, as voters spent about 80 minutes on school matters and about 50 minutes on town business.
While voters quickly approved a tuition budget of about $1 million, there was more concern about how the town will be affected by Act 73, the state plan to consolidate school district and alter school-choice options.
The town currently tuitions its students to neighboring schools, including independent schools such as Burr & Burton, Long Trail, and Stratton Mountain School. There is concern Stratton is vulnerable to being merged into a district that would require students to attend Leland & Gray in Townshend, eliminating school choice.
Voters then approved $1.28 million for the General Fund budget, $1.62 million for the Highway Fund, and $51,885 for 25 nonprofit, emergency service, and community organizations.
Just 25 of the town's 247 registered voters were in attendance.
Athens changes town clerk, treasurer posts to appointed positions
ATHENS - Town Meeting voters on March 2 approved changing the town clerk and treasurer positions to being appointed, rather than elected.
The Selectboard requested the change after experiencing trouble filling the positions via the ballot. Amber Stevens of Athens is serving in both roles for the rest of this year.
However, voters rejected by voice vote two petitioned articles that would have reduced the size of the Selectboard from five to three, and to switch the town to a fiscal year from than a calendar year.
Voters approved the town budget of $734,355, with $633,380 to be raised by taxes.
The budget is lower than last year's, but the town did not have a surplus available to offset a small tax increase.
Westminster approves non-binding article to remove Trump, Vance from office
WESTMINSTER - While residents on Feb. 28 approved town and school budgets during the annual Town Meeting at the Bellows Falls Union High School auditorium, it was a non-binding article on the warning that generated the most attention.
An article calling for the removal of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance for crimes against the U.S. Constitution, passed overwhelmingly, but it took some maneuvering to so.
Organizer Bari Shamas said 144 citizens signed a petition asking for the issue to be put on the warning.
"We believe in democracy," she said. "A small group of people can make a difference."
Westminster West resident John Todd headed off a potentially lengthy discussion when he asked to call the question and end debate right after the article was introduced.
The article was overwhelmingly approved on a voice vote, but Shamas then requested a paper ballot. After some debate, ballots were cast and it passed a second time on a 121-6 vote.
Voters rejected another article to abandon the town manager form of government. While the town has used that system for years, the article was seen as a referendum on the one-year tenure of Town Manager Louis Bordeaux, whose contract won't be renewed at the end of June, according to Selectboard Chair Craig Allen.
The town's $5.1 million school budget passed on a voice vote. That budget is down 3%, but per-pupil costs are up 2%, and the tax rate is expected to increase by 4 cents.
The town's general fund budget of $1.4 million and the highway budget of $1.7 million were also approved.
Guilford approves budgets, honors Porche
GUILFORD - Town Meeting voters on Feb. 28 approved a General Fund budget of $1.41 million, a highway budget of $1.41 million, and $339,550 for the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department.
The General Fund vote took place after a separate vote was needed to amend the article. According to Town Administrator Erika Elder, town officials discovered that the budget as printed in the meeting warning mistakenly included two appropriations that were already warned as separate special articles: $339,550 for the Fire Department and $17,731 for Human Services organizations.
After voters approved the amendment removing those two items, resident Tammy Sargent offered another amendment to reduce the General Fund by $248,914. It was rejected by Australian ballot. Voters then approved the amended budget.
Residents also honored Veranda Porche for her nine years of service on the Selectboard. She did not run for re-election this year.
This News item was submitted to The Commons.