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Guiles, Blais face-off in Brandon race
BRANDON — Brandon residents on Town Meeting Day will be voting on one contested race on the selectboard — the three-year position currently held by Tim Guiles. He will be challenged by Marielle Blais.
Uncontested for one-year seats on the selectboard are incumbents Seth Hopkins and Michael Markowski. Other uncontested townwide elections feature Courtney Satz for three years as Trustee of Public Funds, David Roberts for two years on the Brandon Free Public Library board, and Bill Moore for one year as Town Moderator.
Voters will also be asked to approve $3,230,130 for the FY 2023 budget year, of which $2,712,274 is to be raised by property taxes. That represents a decline of around 0.1% from the previous year’s spending and a decline of just over 1% in amount raised by taxes.
In addition to the $3.2 million in overall town spending, voters will be asked to approve raising taxes to fund:
• $7,000, Brandon Independence Day Celebration.
• $1,000, Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce.
• $82,580, Brandon Area Rescue Squad.
• $92,000, Brandon Free Public Library.
• $13,500, Brandon Senior Citizens Center.
• $1,000, Open Door Clinic, Community Health Services of Addison County, which provides access to dental and healthcare, free of charge, to those who are uninsured or underinsured.
• $550, RSVP & The Volunteer Center, for free income tax preparation and volunteer placements.
• $1,500, Rutland County Humane Society.
• $10,200, VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region.
• $5,000, Brandon Museum at the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace Community Center.
• $3,000, Community Meals and Emergency Shelter Programs of Charter House Coalition.
Brandon voters will also weigh in on a proposed Otter Valley Unified Union School District spending plan of $22,710,955, which would result in education spending of $17,048 per equalized pupil — 9.72% higher than spending for the current year.
The board representing the OVUUSD has no contested races. Derek Larsen is running for a three-year-term representing Brandon.
Two at-large seats for the OVUUSD board are on the ballot: Barbara Ebling of Brandon is running for a three-year term; there is no candidate on the ballot for the final year of another three-year term.
The Brandon selectboard will host an informational meeting remotely, via Zoom, on Monday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. Voting by Australian Ballot will take place on March 1 at the Brandon American Legion Post No. 55, 550 Franklin St., between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Proctor faces contested races, marijuana vote
PROCTOR — Residents of Proctor will meet virtually for an informational meeting on Monday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. to learn about and discuss the town budgets and articles, all of which will be voted on via Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 1 at the Proctor Junior/Senior High School Gymnasium at 4 Park Street. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Residents will vote on the following articles:
Article 1: To elect a moderator for the ensuing year.
Article 2: To elect a Selectboard member for a term of three (3) years.
Article 3: To elect a Selectboard member for a term of two (2) years.
Article 4: To elect a Selectboard member for a term of one (1) year.
Article 5: To elect a School Board member for the Quarry Valley Unified School District for a term of three (3) years.
Article 6: To elect a School Board member for the Quarry Valley Unified School District for a term of one (1) year.
Article 7: Shall the Town authorize cannabis retailers in town pursuant to V.S.A. §863?
Article 8: Shall the Town authorize retail portions of integrated licensee operations in town pursuant to 7 V.S.A. §863?
Article 9: Shall the Town vote the amount of $482,636 for the maintenance and repairing of town highways for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023?
Article 10: Shall the Town vote the amount of $926,506 for current expenses of the Town for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023?
Article 11: Shall the Town vote the amount of $67,000 for the Proctor Free Library for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023?
Article 12: Shall the Town vote to collect its taxes on real and personal property in four installments on August 20, November 10, February 10, and May 10 for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and shall each installment bear interest in the maximum rate as provided by law?
CONTESTED RACES
Residents will decide contested races for two of the selectboard seats. John Jozwiak is challenging two seats: the one-year term against incumbent Linda Raymond, who is running for re-election; and the two-year term held by incumbent Bruce Baccei, who is also running for re-election. If Jozwiak won both seats he would choose which seat he wanted, as he can only serve in one position and the other incumbent would retain that seat.
The current Town Moderator is Andrew Mass.
Under Article 5, Sarah Lohnes Watulak is running unopposed for a three-year term as a school board member for the Quarry Valley Unified School District. The one-year term for a school board member to Quarry Valley Unified School District (Article 6) remains open.
The General Fund budget saw a very modest increase of less than 1 percent compared to the prior year, and the highway budget is basically level-funded, going from $484,213 to $482,638 in Fiscal Year 2023. The amount to be raised by taxes will be less than 1 percent.
Current selectboard members are: Judith Frazier, chair, Benjamin Curtis, vice-chair, and select board members Linda Raymond, Thomas Hogan and Bruce Baccei.
At Monday’s informational meeting, Proctor residents can meet via telephone at 1-929-436-2866 and entering Meeting ID# 853 6974 1878 or residents can participate via ZOOM by downloading the software from https://zoom.us/join and entering Meeting ID# 853 6974 1878 on Monday, February 28, 2022 at 7 p.m.
QVUUSD VOTES
On Quarry Valley Unified Union School District matters, Poultney, Proctor and West Rutland voters will cast votes for moderator, clerk and treasurer (all one-year terms). There are no contested races. Michael Moser is the sole candidate for moderator; Betsy J. Wescott is the sole candidate for clerk; and Patricia Kulig is the sole candidate for treasurer. School district residents will also vote to approve $19,096,029.63 for the QVUUSD budget, which will result in education spending of $16,870.49 per equalized student — an increase of 1.85% more than last year.
Pittsford eyes 3% budget hikes, marijuana vote
PITTSFORD — Like most area residents, Pittsford citizens are encouraged to meet virtually next Monday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. to learn about the town issues and discuss town matters ahead of Town Meeting Day. Voting by Australian ballot will occur on Tuesday, March 1 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the town fire station.
At Monday’s informational meeting, residents will hear and discuss the reports of town officers, followed by discussion of the General Fund and Highway budgets, and the much smaller budget dealing with the Village District’s expenses.
Residents will be asked to vote on the General Fund expenses in an amount of $1,715,740 of which $1,322,350 would be raised by property taxes, along with a highway budget of $1,187,100, of which $1,045,650 is to be raised by property taxes. The budget amounts represent about a 3% increase over last year’s budgets.
Residents are similarly asked to consider approval of village district expenses in the amount of $16,000, to be raised by property taxes and payable by village property owners.
The town will also discuss and vote on Article 5, which asks residents if they choose to allow the sale of cannabis within the town.
Among other routine matters, residents will also vote to elect representation to the following offices: town moderator for a term of one year; selectman for a term of three years and selectman for a term of two years; trustee of public funds for a term of three years; and a one-year term as a MacLure Library Trustee.
There were no contested races in Pittsford. Incumbent selectboard members Alicia Malay and Joe Gagnon are running for re-election for their respective seats. Thomas “Hank” Pelkey is also running for re-election for Trustee of Public Funds. The current selectboard is comprised of Alicia Malay, chair; David Mills, vice-chair; and selectmen Thomas Pelkey, Thomas Hooker and Joseph Gagnon.
Judi Tompkins is running unopposed for the one-year term as MacLure Library Trustee.
For audio access to the Feb. 28 informational meeting by telephone, dial 929-205-6099 and then confirm by hitting the pound (#) key. Then, when prompted to enter “participant ID,” just hit pound (#) key again to enter the meeting.
For video access to the informational meeting, use the Zoom application and go to https://www.Zoom.us and enter Meeting ID (652 103 6395).
West Rutland sees no contested races, modest budget hike
WEST RUTLAND — At Town Meeting this year, voters in West Rutland have a full slate of candidates to fill several town and school posts, but no contested races and a town budget with a modest 3.2% increase. Voters will meet virtually on Monday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. for a virtual informational hearing and to act on Articles 1,2 and 3, which act on the reports of town officers, and discuss the town’s general and highway proposed budgets for fiscal year 2023.
On Tuesday, March 1, residents will vote via Australian ballot at the West Rutland Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will elect the following town officers: town clerk (3 years), town treasurer (3 years), town moderator (1 year), selectperson for a three-year term and a selectperson for a one-year term, lister (3 years), library trustee (3 years) and town law agent.
Running for those positions are: Christine Werner for town clerk; Patricia Kulig for town treasurer; Michael Moser for town moderator; Richard Daley selectman for the three-year term; John Center and Nick Notte for two one-year terms as selectman; Adan Garcia for lister; Michael Moser for town law agent; Tom Callahan for Quarry Valley School Director (3-year term); and Shelly Williams for library trustee for a three-year term.
Residents will also be asked to approve the selectboard’s proposed budget of $1,737,602 of which $1,529,952 will be raised by taxes, and which represents a 3.2% increase over the prior year’s budget. Residents will be asked to continue funding for repaving and sidewalk improvements in the amount of $100,000. The municipal tax rate per $100 value is expected to increase from 0.751 in 2022 to 0.785 in fiscal year 2023. On a home valued at $100,000, that an increase of about $35.
West Rutland residents also vote on separate articles from about 16 individual social service agency requests, including $4,800 for the Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice; $3,400 to support Rutland Mental Health Services, and $1,000 to support the services of the West Rutland Food Shelf.
QVUUSD VOTES
On Quarry Valley Unified Union School District matters, Poultney, Proctor and West Rutland voters will cast votes for moderator, clerk and treasurer (all one-year terms). There are no contested races. Michael Moser is the sole candidate for moderator; Betsy J. Wescott is the sole candidate for clerk; and Patricia Kulig is the sole candidate for treasurer. School district residents will also vote to approve $19,096,029.63 for the QVUUSD budget, which will result in education spending of $16,870.49 per equalized student — an increase of 1.85% more than last year.
Goshen holds in-person Town Meeting
GOSHEN — After holding an annual town meeting online via Zoom last year, Addison County’s smallest town, Goshen, will hold an in-person town meeting on Monday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. at the town hall.
According to a new town of Goshen website, selectboard members are encouraging participants to wear masks, but not requiring them. “If people are uncomfortable due to COVID, they can stay outside and someone will relay information (on) what was discussed,” the website says.
Roadwork is the big ticket item on the Goshen Town Meeting warning. To cover highway expenses, voters will be asked to OK $214,700 — a decrease of $2,500 from last year. But, on top of that, Goshen voters will be asked to spend $621,068 to improve and pave Town Hill Road
The other notable money question on the Goshen ballot requests residents’ approval for $244,351 for general fund expenses, which represents an increase of $9,082, or 3.9%, from the amount approved last March. On top of that, Article 3 asks to raise $4,000 a year in tax money to build up a fund for Town Hall renovations. Plus, the selectboard is asking to use $2,000 in interest in the town forest timber sales account to put toward those renovations.
Veteran Selectman David McKinnon is up for re-election to a three-year term. Terms for Town Clerk Rosemary McKinnon and Treasurer Vickee Whiting also expire, and both positions will be up for three-year stints.
Also up for election in Goshen are: town moderator (1 year), auditor (3 years), second constable, second (2 years), delinquent tax collector (1 year), lister (3 years) and trustee of public funds (3 years).
Goshen voters will also weigh in on a proposed Otter Valley Unified Union School District spending plan of $22,710,955, which would result in education spending of $17,048 per equalized pupil — 9.72% higher than spending for the current year.
The board representing the OVUUSD has no contested races. Two at-large seats for the OVUUSD board are on the ballot: Barbara Ebling of Brandon is running for a three-year term; there is no candidate on the ballot for the final year of another three-year term; Goshen residents are welcome to wage a write-in campaign for that seat.
Polls will be open for Australian ballot voting on the OVUUSD budget and board seats at Goshen Town Hall on March 1, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Leicester considers 4.8% budget hike
LEICESTER — Again this year the Leicester selectboard is inviting residents to an online informational meeting on the evening before Town Meeting Day and to vote on town matters — including a budget, municipal offices and pot sales — the next day.
The informational meeting is slated for Monday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. via Zoom and telephone. Log-in and dial-in information is on page 4 of the this year’s town report, which was mailed to residents and can be viewed online at tinyurl.com/LeicesterTM.
Voters will be asked to OK municipal spending of $325,676 (with $247,684 raised by taxes), which represents an increase of $14,830, or 4.8%, from the current year. The highway spending proposal up for vote is $436,590 (with $347,913 to be raised by taxes); that is $1,000 more than the figure OK’d last year.
There are no contested races on this year’s ballot, but two new faces are likely to land in town government. Diane Randall is running for the two-year seat on the Leicester selectboard currently held by Ron Fiske; and Rolande Morrison is running for the remaining year of a auditor’s position that is currently vacant. Also on the ballot are incumbents Richard Reed for town moderator (1 year), Diane Benware for selectboard (3 years)m Donna Pidgeon for auditor (3 years) and Beth Swinington Ripley for delinquent tax collector (1 year).
Article 3 asks Leicester voters to authorize cannabis retailers and integrated licensees in town. As with similar to questions in four other Addison County towns — Bristol, Ferrisburgh, New Haven and Weybridge — this comes as Vermont law legalizes the regulated sale of cannabis later this year.
The town is also asking for volunteers to step forward to be alternates for the planning commission, development review board and Otter Creek Watershed Insect Control District (formerly known as the BLSG). Those interested should contact Town Clerk Julie Delphia at 802-247-5961 ext. 3.
Voting can done by absentee ballot if requested by Feb. 28 or in person at the town office on Tuesday, March 1, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Whiting to vote on five open seats
WHITING — After postponing its annual town meeting until May last year to thwart the pandemic, Whiting is back to holding its meeting in person on the first Tuesday in March this year. But there is a change; town meeting will take place in the fire station instead of town hall, which has been closed since last fall. The meeting will take place on March 1 beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Proposed town spending in Whiting for the coming year is $411,218 (with $291,088). Voters can discuss and amend this number at the meeting.
Five town offices will be up for election. Those positions and the incumbents are: selectboard member, three years, Marcia King; lister, three years, Peg Allen; auditor, three years, Alison Remy; collector of delinquent taxes, one year, Rani Fallon; library trustee, three years, Heather Mattison; and first constable, one year, Rusty Brigham.
Article 4 on the warning asks voters if they will give the collector of delinquent taxes the power to collect delinquent taxes.
Whiting voters will also weigh in on a proposed Otter Valley Unified Union School District spending plan of $22,710,955, which would result in education spending of $17,048 per equalized pupil — 9.72% higher than spending for the current year.
The board representing the OVUUSD has no contested races. Two at-large seats for the OVUUSD board are on the ballot: Barbara Ebling of Brandon is running for a three-year term; there is no candidate on the ballot for the final year of another three-year term, Whiting residents are welcome to wage a write-in campaign for that seat.
Polls will be open for Australian ballot voting on the OVUUSD budget and board seats at the town clerk’s office on March 1, until 7 p.m.
