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No excuse
not to vote
Editor of the Reformer:
I agree with Fish, fully -- there is no excuse for not voting, especially in Brattleboro. Every voter is allowed to have in say in the various issues which affect the town and that is a right that should be cherished. The same is not true in other towns, where the majority of the voters have been effectively disenfranchised.
It is said that Town Meeting is a tradition and an example of pure democracy. If you go back to the beginnings of Town Meeting, only white, male landowners were allowed to vote and, as times and society changed, Town Meeting changed to include women, people of color and any resident of the town, whether that resident owned land or not. Times and society have changed since those inclusions were made but Town Meeting has not changed to meet these times and this society. Except for a very limited Australian ballot which does not include budgets and most matters presented to the town, anyone who cannot spend the day at Town Meeting is prevented from voting on the issues most important to them and their towns. Some cannot afford to miss a day’s pay and others are excluded due to illness, disability, age or other bars to their attendance. Is this right?
This issue was presented at Town Meeting in Guilford and the results were predictable. Since giving everyone a vote was addressed as an issue to be voted on by a voice vote at Town Meeting,
If you live in Brattleboro and don’t vote, you have sacrificed your right to complain. If you live anywhere else and can’t attend Town Meeting, you are a second class citizen with no right to assent or complaint.
Catherine L. Muscat,
Guilford, March 1
Who is hiding
the pea now?
Editor of the Reformer:
Several years ago when I was the chair of the Rockingham School Board, one of the present Rockingham directors accused the administration of "hiding the pea."
At last year’s annual Town School Board meeting (Page 16 of the Town Report) Mary asked the question about the $607,000 surplus -- "What are you going to use the $607,000 for?"
Business Manager Edie responded, "It will be used to stabilize the taxes for the next couple of years."
Goodness! The present Rockingham School tax is $ 0.8051 and it is projected to increase to $0.8938 an $0.0887 increase. This is stabilization?
This is a result from the Rockingham school budget going up $550,787. This is stabilization?
And guess what? Now for the pea.
Yes, the $10,500,000 bond is not part of this 2013 budget yet!
Yes, this is same bond vote you the voters voted in on May 17, 2011.
The procedure is simple. Once you vote this $550,000 increased budget in the Rockingham Board will then borrow the $10,500,000 and you, the taxpayer, will take the hit in next years budget.
And then the pea will come out of hiding.
Russ Capron,
former Rockingham School Board chair,
Bellows Falls, Feb. 29
Cristelli seeks voters’ support
Editor of the Reformer:
I want to thank the voters of the Town of Newfane for electing me last year to the Selectboard as well as town clerk. I am asking for your support again this year.
You have a legitimate concern as some have expressed to me. Is it a conflict of interest for me to be both the town clerk and a Selectboard member? It is not a conflict of interest. In the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) Handbook for Vermont Selectboards on page 225 is a chart of incompatible offices. See the relevant portion of the Chart of Incompatible Offices 5 below. To learn about my additional responsibilities as a Selectboard member, I attended three training sessions for Selectboard members all on my personal and/or vacation time. Especially helpful was the information on open meeting laws and budget management.
Over the last couple of years, I attended Tune Up for Town Meetings, Board of Abatement and election workshops which Selectboard members are also invited to attend. A Selectboard member is supposed to assist the presiding officer (the town clerk) at elections, sit on the Board of Civil Authority for tax appeals, and on the Board of Abatement for tax abatements as well as the regularly scheduled Selectboard meetings. I have consistently been part of these processes.
I have a passion for following through on projects. As a Selectboard member this year, I volunteered to shoulder the responsibility for several projects both large and small. The largest one has been overseeing the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program since the town had to sponsor this for homeowners to be able to get the three-quarters of streambank stabilization paid for by the United States Department of Agriculture. The additional one-quarter is the homeowner’s responsibility. We have had one project completed and have eight other possible ones this spring. I have also been deeply involved in all things Irene. I continue to work closely with the Long Term Recovery committee as I have since Tropical Storm Irene. There is money out there for Newfane residents, but we have to be part of the process to get it. I delight in open and respectful dialogues that lead to solutions of problems, and I’d appreciate the chance to continue my work for the Town of Newfane as a Selectboard member for another three years.
Gloria J. Cristelli,
Newfane, March 1
Support for Williams
Editor of the Reformer:
On March 6, the voters of Newfane will have a choice to make for the three-year position of the Selectboard. The only person running for this job that qualifies is incumbent Christopher Williams.
Over the past several years he has contributed valuable knowledge and common sense to the board. Even prior to serving on the board and up to the present, he has given of his time as the road commissioner asking for no compensation for his services. He has been a true resource for the board following the devastation of Irene, working through his vacation, nights and weekends to help remedy the effects of this storm.
Being a life-long resident of the town, past road foreman and his lifetime experiences in the construction industry makes him the best candidate in the race. Please join me in supporting a known quantity. The choice is clear, vote for Christopher Williams for the three-year term.
David Berrie,
Williamsville, Feb. 21
Vernon voters should know ...
Editor of the Reformer:
Vernon voters should know that Selectboard candidates Stanley Sage, Josh Unruh and I, Howard Fairman, are running for a vacant seat for which Selectwoman Christiane Howe seems to be running as the incumbent.
Legally taking out petitions to run for her current two-year seat and a vacant two-years-remaining seat, she did not run for her current seat, which her only opponent received. Instead, she is running for the vacant seat.
On the ballot, the recipient of her current seat seems to be running unopposed, while she seems to be the incumbent of the vacant seat. What really happened is invisible to voters.
Howard Fairman,
Vernon, Feb. 29
Support for Turnas
Editor of the Reformer:
I am writing to the Brattleboro community, to ask for your consideration to elect on Tuesday, March 6, Ms. Kathryn Turnas II, for the three-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard. In my mind, Ms. Turnas II is well connected to the Brattleboro community in so many viable ways, which makes her a most worth-while candidate for this position.
Ms. Turnas II has been or is currently involved with the following locally: Town Arts Committee, the Friends of the Library Board, Development Review Board, ASC Social Action Committee Chair, the Committee (CAP) for the Community Justice Center, the Brattleboro Community Television (BCTV) Board, as well as a member and Vice Chair of the ASC Board. Ms Turnas II worked for over thirty years, before retiring in the corporate world, with IBM, Hewlett Packard, Ernest and Young in their credit, sales and finance departments.
In my mind, Ms. Turnas II understands the needs of those, who have been marginalized through these tough times economically, such as; seniors, the working poor, etc. Her work as a Town Representative for District 2 and 3 is a plus. I have known her as a person, who listens, thinks, and will consider all views to make an intelligent decision for the common good of Brattleboro.
I look forward to Ms. Turnas II serving our community in this three-year capacity.
Leah Stuart,
West Brattleboro, Feb. 24
A difference
that matters
Editor of the Reformer:
The Feb. 20 letter from Newfane Selectboard chair praising Christopher Williams for his dedication to the Irene response was pleasant to hear and drove home the difference between Newfane and Grafton.
Christopher of course is a native who loves his Town. In Grafton our emergency director requested a fee of $35 per hour and then added an assistant at $25 per hour; A new Irene clerk at $15; a Springfield FEMA writer for $15 (no results yet); and brought out of retirement another person at $35. So we had a crew of five that racked up $90,000 in wages and still going on as there are unannounced meetings with no notification to the Selectboard.
If FEMA fails to reimburse Grafton over $4,500,000 spent will be passed on to several generations.
There were dozens of Grafton town folk that worked untold hours on Irene recovery for nary $1 in payment or wages including the Selectboard.
The difference in Newfane "Love of Town" but in Grafton "Love of Money" for some who now want to manage the Town Affairs also.
Jay H Karpin,
Grafton Selectboard Clerk,
March 1
Support for Glaback
Editor of the Reformer:
I have had the privilege of knowing Steve Glabach for 29 years. He is a native of Dummerston and has a tremendous amount of knowledge about the town and cares very much as to the direction the town is heading. His knowledge of the area, in terms of environment, businesses, land and forrest use is exceptional. His level of fairness and common sense is second to no one. He is one of the most honorable and fairest persons in business that I have ever known. Steve has served on many boards throughout the town and the state and has always been able to offer very sound advice backed by an expert level of knowledge. He has even served on the board of the River Valley Credit Union for more than 15 years.
I can’t think of anyone who would serve our town in a better way than Steve Glabach. Dummerston is very lucky to have a man who cares so much for the town and has the expertise to back it up.
Please join me in voting for Steve Glabach for the Selectboard in the upcoming election. You will be very glad you did.
Jason Posternak,
Dummerston, March 1
Support for Williams, Druke
Editor of the Reformer:
We will support Christopher Williams and Christine Druke for the Newfane Selectboard.
Chris Williams has served on the Selectboard for many years. He has unlimited knowledge of our local roads as well as a real genuine interest in our town. In the aftermath of Irene, he has worked continuously with FEMAand contractors. Chris cares about all of the "needs of the people," not just the road issues.
Chris Druke has owned Druke Insurance Agency for more than 20 years. She has business experience as well as an interest in learning more about the issues facing the town. She would be a good listener, treat people with respect and, above all, work diligently for the betterment of Newfane.
We urge people to vote for these two very capable people.
Jean and Rick Wilson,
Newfane, Feb. 29
