WALDEN — Town meeting day began with the nomination of a new moderator, Carolyn Greaves. After twenty-nine years, Roger Fox has stepped down from the position. The town thanked him for his years of service.
Both the general and highway budgets passed, with an amendment to the general budget. Highway fund expenditures of $582,830 were approved, representing a 0.4% overall increase and a 4.2% increase in taxes over the previous fiscal year. The proposed general fund budget totals were amended to incorporate a $20,682.37 truck loan payment which had been omitted.
The town adopted its first town plan, after some discussion.
A non-binding agreement was sent to Governor Scott formally requesting he publicly reaffirm his commitment to upholding the rule of law, and protecting the rights of Vermonters and the Vermont Constitution amidst federal overreach, even if confronted with federal threats related to funding or other matters was passed.
Moving on, there were no contests for town officer candidates on the ballot. No one received enough write-in votes to be elected to offices, with no candidate on the ballot. Write-in candidate for school director Dana Maxfield received 16 votes, sufficient to be elected.
Debbie Messier was reelected for Town Clerk and Town Treasurer. Brenda Huntoon was reelected for a three-year term as select board member. Willhelm Woelfle was reelected for a three-year term for auditor. Dia Michaud was reelected to a one-year term for delinquent tax collector. Tammy Hall was elected to a five-year term as Library Trustee.
The remaining seats are a three-year term for lister, a one-year term for constable, a four- and five-year term for cemetery commissioner. Dana Maxfield was elected for a two-year term as director on the school board, leaving one-year and three-year director positions open.
Seth O’brien, the Town’s representative to Northeast Kingdom Broadband gave an update on the company’s progress to bring high speed internet to residents.
The Town of Walden voted no to the Caledonia Cooperative School District budget for the district that includes Walden, Barnet and Waterford. Fifty yes votes were tallied to 62 voting no. This margin is smaller compared to last year’s 42-83 revote loss. Despite Walden’s votes, the budget passed in the larger towns of Barnet and Waterford, thus passing the budget overall 265 to 193.
With no one on the ballot to fill the moderator’s position, 37 write-in votes elected Dennis McLam. District Treasurer Fredrick Saar was reelected, but the district clerk position, with no one on the ballot, is unfilled.
Dana Maxfield was reelected as a write-in candidate to fill a two-year term as Walden School Director, but the vacant one- and three-year terms went unfilled. Jason Miller will return to the board from Waterford and Brittany “Brit” Korsch will join from Barnet.
Articles 10 and 11, authorizing the board to borrow to meet expenses, if necessary, and to retain any end-of-year balance for future use, passed with 100 or more voters (roughly 25%) objecting to each item.
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.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
