WOLCOTT – Town Meeting Day typically falls on the first Tuesday of March. A unique feature of Vermont municipalities, the day serves many functions such as elections for local entities, the approval or rejection of budgets, and the voting of ballot items. Some towns utilize an Australian ballot, whereas others use floor votes.
Wolcott began their proceedings with the local Girl Scouts of America chapter leading the pledge of allegiance, followed by Representatives Dan Noyes and Richard Bailey providing legislative updates for the community.
This year the Wolcott school budget was voted by Australian ballot, with 187 residents voting no, and 95 voting yes. The proposed per pupil spending has increased 23%, apparently due in large part to a hike in secondary tuition. District voters however, approved transferring $200,000 in surplus funds to a building maintenance fund. This will be paired with grant money to purchase a new pellet boiler system for the elementary school.
School district elections all passed unanimously: Belinda Clegg was appointed district clerk, Joe Hester-Ingram was elected school district meeting moderator for a term of one year, Sheena Davey and Roger LaChance were elected school directors. Lastly, Laura Kaiser was nominated for a three year term as school director.
Town Clerk Belinda Clegg was nominated district treasurer, but declined the position. Clegg said OSSU did not fully disclose all pertinent information this year. She later elaborated that she was not made aware of two bank accounts that have her name on them. Similarly, Edith Duff declined the nomination to serve again as alternate treasurer. Both positions will be appointed at the next school board meeting. Until then, no one is authorized to sign Wolcott School paychecks.
Moving on, the first three articles passed unanimously. Voters approved $21,560 in social service appropriations, to pay the town clerk a salary and agreed to place a conservation easement on a nine-acre town-owned parcel leading into Bear Swamp. Voters authorized a $1,827,774.21 select board budget. $274,140 passed on a floor vote to pay Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department for police service.
In other business, there was a motion to dump the town’s Starlink service, however Clegg said it couldn’t be done because the regular internet service in the village is not fast enough to support having select board and other meetings on Youtube, as per the open meeting requirement.
Amy Noyes
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
