BY DALE CHRISTIE AND STEVEN JUPITER
PROCTOR—Approximately 120 people crowded into the gymnasium at the Proctor Junior-Senior High School for Proctor’s 2023 Town Meeting on Monday evening. It was a mix of longtime residents and new faces, all prepared to vote from the floor on the 11 Articles that had been warned.
Before the Moderator, Andrew Maass, proceeded to the Articles, however, newly elected State Senator David Weeks addressed the room to discuss legislation pending in Montpelier that he believed would be of particular interest.
Article 1: to hear the reports of the Town Officers. There was no discussion. All approved.
Article 2: to provide $67,000 for the operation of the Proctor Free Library. There was no discussion. All approved.
Article 3: to allocate $17,500 for the Otter Creek Watershed Insect Control District, for the management of mosquito and biting flies. There was some discussion about whether it was better to focus on eradicating adults or eggs. But in the end, the Article was approved, with only a handful of nays.
Article 4: to become a member of the Otter Creek Watershed Insect Control District. Concerns about costs and mechanisms by which Proctor could leave the District were raised. It was also suggested that a seat on the District’s Board would give Proctor more control over whether and how the District controlled the local insect population. After a count of hands, the article was approved, with 50+ ayes and 10 nays.
Article 5: to allocate $499,692 for the maintenance of town roads and highways. After brief discussion about plans for paving this year, the Article passed unanimously.
Article 6: to allocate $994,281 for the town’s general expenses. There was a discussion about how the amount might change if other Articles (9 & 10) were voted down, but the Article passed unanimously.
Article 7: to collect property taxes on August 10, November 10, February 10, and May 10. There was no discussion. The Article passed with almost complete support.
Article 8: to establish a Forest Management reserve fund to be used to construct logging roads. There was a discussion about how this plan would be implemented, where the roads would be made (Chittenden Town Forest), and whether failure to log this year would affect tax rates. Though there were several nays, the Article passed with support of the vast majority present.
Article 9: to transfer $107,312 from the general fund to the newly established Forest Management fund. Concerns were raised whether the money was needed in the fund where it currently sits, about who would do the logging, and how much the logging would cost. Most of those questions were still undetermined. The Article passed easily, though there were several nays.
Article 10: to establish a Capital Improvements and Planning reserve fund. There was little discussion and the Article passed unanimously.
Article 11: to transfer management of the town burial grounds from the Board of Cemetery Commissioners to the Selectboard. Questions were asked as to the rationale. The Selectboard explained that no volunteers had come forward to do the work, unlike in past years, so the Selectboard had to assume responsibility. The Article passed unanimously.
The meeting was then recessed until Tuesday morning, when residents would vote by Australian ballot for members of the Selectboard and other town officers.
