CRAFTSBURY – On the morning of January 20, Craftsbury held a town meeting preview to prepare for town meeting. Articles to be presented to voters on Town Meeting Day were the subject. Draft minutes captured some of the comments below.
Select board member Jim Jones called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m., asking members of the Freedom and Unity Task Force to stand up. He acknowledged and thanked them for assisting with the meeting and providing complimentary breakfast foods and beverages.
Standard Articles drew little attention. Town officers to be elected this year include a select board member, two listers, an auditor, trustee of public funds, and WWII Memorial Fund trustee, all for three year terms, then a cemetery commissioner for five year term.
John Zaber suggested that the town have people interested in filling an open position send a write-up about themselves. Board Chair Bruce Urie said that if the Australian Ballot method for electing officers is approved, candidates would need to fill out a consent form ahead of time. Carol Ceraldi suggested that the select board post what each of the positions entails on Front Porch Forum (FPF) between now and town meeting.
Article 4, authorizing operating expenses of $960,863.00, $648,292.17 of which shall be raised by taxes and $312,570.83 by non-tax revenues led to comments. Bruce Urie mentioned that the town received two extra state road aid payments in 2023 and will only get two state road aid payments instead of four for 2024. The extra payments sent to towns early last year were to help with flood recovery. Penelope Doherty said that the state may pay more state relief to help towns. Jim Jones noted that the extra state payments for roads in 2023 meant that the town did not need to borrow funds for repairs. Urie said that the town has spent $214,462 out of pocket so far. Road crew time and equipment will add between $300,000 and $350,000. The town garage bridge will probably add $500,000 to one million, three years out. Doherty said that FEMA will pay 75% of that. The remaining 25% will be split between the town and state. Additional state reimbursements could bring total funded by the federal and state governments to 90%.
Many articles were level funded and drew little discussion. Jeannine Young explained that any of the appropriations articles can be amended on the floor.
There was no comment on Article 8, that states, “shall the town vote the sum of $7,000 for the Craftsbury Conservation Fund, money set aside for future conservation projects?”
Article 11 states, “Shall the Town vote the sum of $13,700 for the following appropriations? $4,500 Greensboro Nursing Home; $ 4,200 Orleans Essex V.N.A. & Hospice for providing services to the elderly, homebound and chronically ill; and $5,000 Hardwick Area Food Pantry and the expanded Craftsbury Food Share.” Town Clerk, Michelle Warren noted that Greensboro Nursing Home was up $2,000 from last year and the Hardwick Food Pantry was up $2,500.
Urie noted that Hardwick Rescue Squad’s request for $25,880 Urie sis based based on the number of Craftsbury calls.
The Craftsbury Public Library request for $47,700 is up “just a hair” this year according to Urie
Urie commented that Article 16, to elect town officers by Australian ballot is proposed in the hope that people feel they have a voice. Carole Ceraldi said that with the Australian Ballot approach, details can’t be changed as they can with a floor vote. Brian McChesney asked for a written statement from each candidate that outlines what the person running for office hopes to accomplish. Town Clerk Warren said that that cannot be required legally. Doherty said that the town can ask, and any candidate who does not want to reply can leave the section blank.
The last article, Article 17: Shall the town vote that taxes be payable in installments, with due dates being July 15, September 15 and November 15 (§32 V.S.A.4871), will bear interest at a rate of 1% percent per month or fraction thereof for the first three months and thereafter 1½% percent per month or fraction thereof, from November 15, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 4873, received no comment.
