GREENSBORO – The January 14 regular select board meeting began with a revised agenda and debate regarding the minutes of the December 16 budget meeting, with the upcoming election of town officers via Australian ballot dominating discussion for some time.
Beth Meacham of the Communications Working Group was present, expressing to the board that many are busy and thus unengaged with town votes. Asking residents if they’d consider running for a select board seat, Meacham reported there has been an overwhelmingly negative response from those contacted about volunteering for positions. Moreover, Meacham said reaching out via Front Porch Forum or advertising in local newspapers may better serve community members that want to participate in the coming elections for town officials.
She suggested advertising the town administrator position upon approval, to which the board said they were planning to do so.
Meacham also said spreading the word about absentee ballots is important, as mail-in ballots are not available. The board informed her that the usual places like Front Porch Forum and the town website will be used.
Board member Ellen Celnik said, “I think this Australian ballot process has complicated things, has added an enormous amount of work to our town staff, and it’s not as if we expanded the staff. It’s added an enormous amount to the budget, and at some point or another, we need to rethink it.”
photo from Greensboro Select Board recording
Celnik said in the past the process was much simpler, if someone wanted to run or nominate someone, they did so at town meetings.
Board member Mike Metcalf spoke, saying Meacham’s concerns about nobody running for the open select board seats are valid. He said the collecting of signatures may be another factor holding people back, based on a recent conversation with someone considering running.
Metcalf also said a third of voters typically attend town meetings, to which Meacham replied, “We’re in new times. We have a community that is sometimes reluctant, sometimes lethargic, sometimes too busy to stay tuned in. As a result, we need to do more about being transparent about what’s going on. The community voted to have an Australian ballot, and for some people that is confusing. And for some people it’s a change where getting seven signatures is just too much for them. I can’t believe that someone who is interested in running doesn’t have seven neighbors or friends in town that they could ask to sign on a line.”
Meacham reiterated that she does not seek to attack or ridicule anyone, she just wants to encourage figuring out new ways to engage the community.
Attendee Janet Long said “I was concerned about the pricing of mailing a ballot to everybody at 75 cents a whack and who [ever] established this communication system seems to be making more muck than we need in a small town. If you need to know stuff, go to the select board and ask them, or go to the meetings all the time and listen.”
Attendee Liz Steel spoke up, “Mike made the comment that it is a change, and people are confused, partly how the process works and how they get to vote . . . I just think that it’s a really good idea to be as open as possible about things in as many forums as you can. So yes, Front Porch Forum is one of them, but I think an in-person opportunity, we have a community meal that’s happening next week, and I think it would be great if members of the select board were able to come and talk about town meeting a little bit, and the Australian ballot. But if you don’t, possibly the Communications Working Group will do that, because I just think the town needs more information to participate.
“Encouragement as well, because it is different, people are like, ‘well I don’t understand so I’m not going to bother,’ so it’s nice to be as inclusive as possible.
Davis Barnett asked if petitions have been submitted for open roles, to which town clerk Kim Greaves said yes. She has submitted one for herself, as she is running again, as has current board member Ellen Celnik, one for the cemetery commission, collector of delinquent taxes and one library trustee.
Discussion continued for some time, then Celnik spoke again, saying “Regarding Australian ballots, it seems like people knew how to do Australian ballots when they were voting for Australian ballots, so I don’t understand why all of a sudden people don’t know how to do that. I find, personally, anyone that doesn’t want to bother getting seven signatures probably wouldn’t want to be doing all the work that’s involved, as either as a select board member or as a staff member, nor would I want anybody that won’t bother to get seven signatures.
“So again, this an opportunity that we’re learning what comes with Australian ballots as well as learning what people’s interests are or aren’t. I don’t think you can force people to do something. I don’t know, if they can’t find seven signatures I’m at a loss.”
Metcalf posed a question about advertising prices, with MacNeal suggesting the Communication Working Group write letters to the editor to area publications to remove the cost. Beth Meacham was in agreement, as well as the rest of the board.
Town Clerk Kim Greaves added, “Our town report will have all the voting instructions, absolutely, on there. It says on the front page that polls are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and inside it says that you can request your absentee ballot at the town clerk’s office. That will go out in force, which should be in the middle of February. All that voting information is on there, and has been for years. It gets sent to registered voters’ households.”
Liz Steel asked if it will explain the Australian ballot process, to which Greaves said, “It will tell you how you can right on the cover, when the polls will open,” before Steel interrupted, “With Australian ballots, it’s not just the polls being open. Greaves continued, “No, because the polls are being opened, that’s where the ballots are.”
MacNeal interjected, “Every year, there is an Australian ballot at this meeting. This is not actually a new process in town meetings at all. We’ve always had an Australian ballot. It’s just this year, the change is that town officers will be voted on by Australian ballot.”
Greaves added that this is stated right on the cover.
Concluding the almost thirty minute discussion, the board moved on to action items.
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.
