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TOWN OF MIDDLESEX
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 6, 2007
Selectboard Present:
Peter Hood
William Callnan
Walter Kelley
Mary Just Skinner
Town Clerk
June Lakin
ARTICLE 1: To elect a Moderator for the ensuing year.
Kelly Ault moved to nominate Susan Clark as Moderator. Bill Callnan seconded. Vote was taken. Susan Clark was elected Moderator.
ARTICLE 2: To elect a Grand Juror and Town Agent for the ensuing year.
Liz Fortman moved to nominate Larry Mandell as Grand Juror and Town Agent. Mark Bushnell seconded. Motion carried. Larry Mandell was elected Grand Juror and Town Agent for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 3: To elect all necessary officers for the ensuing year. (To be voted by Australian Ballot)
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Town Clerk
Treasurer
Trustee of Public Funds
Selectperson
Selectperson
Budget Committee Member
Budget Committee Member
Auditor
Auditor
Auditor
Lister
Delinquent Tax Collector
Cemetery Commissioner
Planning Commissioner
Planning Commissioner
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1 year term
1 year term
1 year term
3 year term
2 year term
3 year term
2 year term
3 year term
2 year term
1 year term
3 year term
1 year term
3 year term
3 year term
3 year term
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The Moderator passed over Article 3.
ARTICLE 4: To receive and act upon the reports of the Town Officers.
Anita Krauth moved to approve Article 4. Bill Callnan seconded. Motion carried, Article 4 was approved.
ARTICLE 5: To see if the Town will vote a discount of 2% or a lesser amount on real taxes if paid in full within 30 days of issuance of the tax bill. (32 VSA Sec. 4773)
Heath Wilson moved to approve Article 5. Karen Brown seconded. Motion carried. Article 5 was approved.
ARTICLE 6: To see if the Town will continue to have all taxes paid to the Treasurer, set the date as ‘by the close of business on Monday, November 19, 2007’ and charge interest at the rate of .7% per month or fraction thereof on overdue taxes from the due date of the tax. (32 VSA Sec. 4773)
August Burns moved to approve Article 6. Jeff Koonz seconded. Jeff stated that he knew of an instance where a taxpayer had sent payment in plenty of time to meet the payment deadline, but that the US Postal Service had not delivered in a timely manner, thus the taxpayer had to pay penalties and interest because it was not in the office by the due date, even though it had been mailed in plenty of time.
Jeff Koonz move to amend Article 6 to read as follow:
To See if the Town will continue to have all taxes paid to the Treasurer, set the date as Nov. 20, 2007, except if post marked by the US Postal Service on or before Nov. 20, 2007 and charge interest at the rate of .7% per month or fraction thereof on overdue taxes from the due date of the tax. (32 VSA Sec. 4773) Charles Merriman seconded. Vote on the amendment was taken, Amendment passed. Vote on the amended Article was taken, Article passed. The Town of Middlesex will set the due date as November 20, 2007, and will accept US Postal Service post marks.
ARTICLE 7: To vote a budget to meet the expenses and liabilities of the Town and authorize the Selectboard to set a tax rate sufficient to provide the same. (THIS ARTICLE WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS AT 5:15 PM)
Abe Lewis moved to approve the Town budget as presented in the amount of $795,666. Sarah Seidman requested an explanation of “Equipment Purchase” under Public Works. Peter stated that in an effort to stabilize the increase in the town budget the board proposes to make a substantial down payment on our new truck purchase. Normally they would secure a note for the entire purchase and hence have no payment toward that truck in this budget year. Vote was taken on the budget. The Middlesex Town Budget in the amount of $795,666 was approved.
ARTICLE 8: Shall the Town of Middlesex have all money articles voted by Australian ballot. (By Petition)
Susan Clark, Moderator, stated that she would temporarily step down as Moderator for this Article if anyone wanted her to. John Krezinski asked that a temporary moderator be appointed. Bill Callnan, Selectboard member, stepped up as temporary Moderator for Article 8. Leroy Carlson moved to approve Article 8. Denise Cote seconded. Discussion ensued. In summary, the feeling of those in favor of Article 8 was that democracy was not being met as things are now. It was voiced that taxpayers should be allowed to vote on what their money is spent on. Not all voters can attend meetings, or have their vote heard. Those opposed to this Article were concerned that the ability to discuss the Article, to act on the Article, to amend the Article, would be taken away. They feel that if this Article is passed, town meeting would cease. Larry Sharf moved to amend the Article and to put off for one year with further planning by the Solutions committee. Larry withdrew this motion. It was moved and seconded to call the question. Vote to call question was passed. It was moved and seconded to call for a paper ballot. Result of this vote was Yes 76, No 157. Article 8 was defeated. Susan Clark returned to her position as Moderator.
ARTICLE 9: Shall the Town of Middlesex authorize an additional contribution of $5,000 to the Middlesex Conservation Fund. (By Selectboard)
Bill Callnan moved to approve Article 9. Kim Cheney seconded. Dave Shepard spoke on behalf of the Conservation Commission. Dave stated that the Conservation Commission were in the discussion stage with Cynthia Steed and Eleanor Ott regarding property on the Notch Road. Dave mentioned that this was one of the possible uses of the Conservation Fund they are trying to develop. Anita Krauth moved to call the question.
Jeff Farber seconded. Vote to call question was passed. No’s were heard in the room. Vote on the Article was done by a show of hands. Outcome was Yes 42, No 63. Article 9 was defeated.
ARTICLE 10: Shall the Town of Middlesex authorize an additional contribution of $25,000 to the Middlesex Building Fund. (By Selectboard)
Bill Callnan moved to approve Article 10. Sandy Callnan seconded. Peter Hood answered questions and spoke to this Article. Fred McCullough moved to call the question. Motion was seconded. Vote to call question passed. Vote on the Article was taken by voice vote. Article 10 passed.
ARTICLE 11: Shall the Town of Middlesex appropriate the sum of $2,000 for the support of Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice. (By Petition)
Mary Just Skinner moved to approve Article Wendy Farber seconded. Mary spoke in support of Article 11. Wendy Farber moved to call the question. John Krezinski seconded. Vote to call question passed. Vote on Article 11 was taken and passed.
ARTICLE 12: Shall the Town of Middlesex appropriate the sum of $500 for the support of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. (By Petition)
Mary Just Skinner moved to approve Article 12. Dave Shepard seconded. Mary Skinner spoke in favor of Article 12. Vote on Article 12 was approved.
ARTICLE 13: Shall the Town Voters authorize expenditures of $1500 for student scholarships and to support student and community participation in Middlesex Community Connections programs. (By Petition)
Heath Wilson moved to approve Article 13. Jeff Farber seconded. Several voices in favor of the Article were heard. Vote on Article 13 was passed.
ARTICLE 14: Shall the Town of Middlesex appropriate the sum of $20,027 for the support of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. (By Petition)
Chris McVeigh moved to approve Article 14. Jeff Koonz seconded. Mary Neville Hood spoke in favor of this Article. Discussion ensued. Leroy Carlson moved to call the question. Motion was seconded. Vote on the question was defeated. Discussion continued. Randy Brown moved to amend the amount to a flat $16,000. Anita Krauth seconded. More discussion ensued. Mary Jo Lamell moved to call the question. Motion was seconded. Vote on the question passed. Discussion ceased. Vote on the amendment passed. Vote on the amended Article passed. The Town of Middlesex authorized a sum of $16,000 to the Kellogg Hubbard Town Library.
ARTICLE 15: Shall the Town of Middlesex appropriate the sum of $500 to support Central Vermont Economic Development Corp. (By Petition)
Abe Lewis moved to approve Article 15. Kim Hagen seconded. Vote was taken and passed.
ARTICLE 16: Shall the Town of Middlesex authorize expenditures for the Green Mountain Transit Agency in the amount of $953 .(By Petition)
Dave Shepard moved to approve Article 16. Jeff Koonz seconded. Deanna Jones spoke in support of Article 16. Ray Hickory moved to call the question. Motion was seconded. Vote on the question passed. Nos were heard in the room. Vote on Article 16 passed.
ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town of Middlesex will appropriate a sum not to exceed $2,652 to support the following organizations:
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Battered Women
Central Vermont Crime Stoppers
CV Community Action Council
CV Council on Aging
Montpelier Senior Center
Montpelier Vermont Veterans Council
Northern Vt. Resource Conservation and Development Corp
People’s Health & Wellness Clinic
Sexual Assault Crisis Team
U32 Project Graduation
Vermont Cares
Vermont Center for Independent Living
Vt. Green Up
Washington County Diversion Program
Washington County Youth Service Bureau
Vt. Trails and Greenways Council
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$ 199.00
$ 199.00
$ 199.00
$ 199.00
$ 199.00
$ 190.00
$ 75.00
$ 100.00
$ 195.00
$ 199.00
$ 199.00
$ 195.00
$ 100.00
$ 199.00
$ 175.00
$ 30.00
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Jeff Koonz moved to approve Article 17. Motion was seconded. Karen Brown spoke in support of the above agencies. Anita Krauth moved to call the question. Motion was seconded. Question was called. Vote on Article 17 was affirmative. Nos were heard in the room.
To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
Sandra Bettis introduced the following Impeachment Resolution.
IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION
Whereas George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney have:
1. deliberately misled the nation about the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war,
2. condoned the torture of prisoners in violation of the Geneva Convention and US law,
3. approved illegal electronic surveillance of American citizens without a warrant, and,
Whereas these actions have undermined our Constitutional system of
government, damaged the reputation of America, and threatened our national security,
Therefore, the voters of the town of Middlesex Vermont call upon the U.S. House of Representatives to investigate these charges, and if the investigation supports the charges, vote to impeach George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney as provided in the Constitution of the United States of America.
Martin Pincus seconded. Very brief discussion ensued. Gordon Grunder moved to call the question. John Krezsinski seconded. Question was called. Vote on the Article was taken. Article was defeated.
Meeting adjourned at 10:35
THE MIDDLESEX SELECTBOARD:
Peter Hood, Chair
Mary Alexander
William Callnan
Walter Kelley
Mary Just Skinner
Minutes APPROVED at March 13, 2007 Selectboard Meeting.
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