Wednesday March 6, 2013

WARDSBORO -- Just re-elected Town Clerk Jackie Bedard said a "very good turnout" of voters took part in Tuesday morning's two-and-a-half hour Town Meeting.

"Last year's maximum was 58 people," Bedard said. "There were times, this morning, where the count was 70-plus."

After "very little discussion," voters approved the $861,823 the budget. All allotments listed in Article 5 were also improved, which included $50,000 to the Wardsboro Volunteer Fire Department; $26,000 to the Public Library (an increase of $804 from the 2012 amount); as well as $2,275 to Visiting Nurse Association and $1,500 to the Grace Cottage Foundation. The only other increase over 2012 figures was $500 to the Community Food Pantry (which was set at $200 last year).

There were three contested races for the Selectboard.

Barbara Vinsi with hold the three-year seat, earning 38 votes to Jim Thomas' 28. Thomas, however, won a one-year seat on the board over Amy Kleppner, 38-32. And Kleppner beat Mike Fitzpatrick, 48-22, to take the other one-year seat.

The following were also voted in to town positions: Bob Backus as moderator; Bedard as town clerk, collector of delinquent taxes and as treasurer; Mike Hull will serve as lister for the next three years; Cheryl Coburn will serve as auditor for three years; Pearl Dewey as trustee of public funds (three years); Duane Thompkins beat Joe Nivick, 42-21, for the one-year first constable position; Carlene

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Davis will serve as second constable (also one year); Fred Smith will serve as town grand juror and town agent, both one-year terms; Jane Robinson will serve in the five-year cemetery commissioner seat; and Nancy Perkins will spend the next five years as library trustee.

Voters also approved $786,598 to be raised by taxes over the coming year.

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Only 31 people attended Monday night's Town School District meeting, which lasted a little over an hour.

All articles were passed, which included the authorization to spend unanticipated funds (which featured some discussion) and a rate of $14,528 per pupil to approved independent schools for students in grades 7-12 who are residents in the district. Voters also approved the $2,260,744 school budget.

The following were elected as school district directors: Mike Cusick and Rick Thorpe (one-year term), Hal Smith (three-year term) and John Moran will complete the final two-years on the other three-year term which was vacated earlier this year.

Next year's meeting will be held on March 3, 2014.