MINUTES
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
TOWN OF BARNET, VERMONT
MARCH 6, 2007
The meeting was called to order by Moderator Dennis McLam at 10:00 A.M.
Sue Perssons led the
salute to the flag and the Barnet School Band in playing the
National Anthem. The Articles were then acted upon as follows:
ARTICLE 1. To elect a Moderator.
Term of Dennis McLam expiring-one year term.
Nominations-Dennis McLam nominated by Kathy Zita. Motion made
that nominations cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Town Clerk
instructed to cast one ballot for Dennis McLam. Elected.
ARTICLE 2. To elect all other Town Officers required by law.
Selectman-three year term of Gary Bunnell expiring.
Nominations-Gary Bunnell-declined. Jeremy Roberts nominated by
Gary Bunnell. Seconded. Motion made that nominations cease. Seconded.
Passed by voice vote. Town Clerk instructed to cast one ballot for Jeremy
Roberts. Elected. Roberts also spoke briefly.
Lister-three year term of Robert Sager expiring.
Nominations-Andrew Mosedale by Marvin Bailey. Motion made that
nominations cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Town Clerk
instructed to cast one ballot for Andrew Mosedale. Elected.
Mosedale spoke briefly.
Auditor-three year term of Jeffrey Riley expiring.
Nominations-Jeffrey Riley by Ron Langley. Motion made that nominations
cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Town Clerk instructed to cast one
ballot for Jeffrey Riley. Elected. Riley spoke briefly.
Tax Collector-one year term of Donald Nelson expiring.
Nominations-Donald Nelson by William Graves. Motion made that
nominations cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Donald Nelson
elected by voice vote.
1st Constable-two year term of Clement Houde expiring.
Nominations-Clement Houde by Ted Faris. Motion made that nominations
cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Clement Houde elected by voice
vote.
2nd Constable-two year term of David Stevenson expiring.
Nominations-David Stevenson by Mona Marceau. Motion made that
nominations cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. David Stevenson
elected by voice vote.
Grand Juror-one year term of David Willis expiring.
Nominations-David Willis by Mona Marceau. Motion made that
nominations cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. David Willis elected
by voice vote.
Town Agent-one year term of David Willis expiring.
Nominations-David Willis by Mona Marceau. Motion made that
nominations cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. David Willis elected
by voice vote.
Trustee of Public Funds-three year term of William Graves expiring.
Nominations-William Graves. Motion made that nominations cease.
Seconded. Passed by voice vote. William Graves elected by voice vote.
Trustee of Public Funds-two years remaining on term of Joseph Roy
(resigned). Nominations-Kenneth Hammer by William Graves. Motion
made that nominations cease. Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Kenneth
Hammer elected by voice vote. Hammer spoke briefly.
Library Trustee-five year term of Susan Quart expiring.
Nominations-Mary (Beth) Mallon. Motion made that nominations cease.
Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Mary Mallon elected by voice vote.
Mallon spoke briefly.
ARTICLE 3. To consider and act upon the report of the Town Auditors.
Motion made by Shirley Warden to except the report of the Auditors.
Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 4. Shall the Town of Barnet vote to appropriate the sum of Two
Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($2300.00) to Caledonia
Home Health Care and Hospice to be used in providing health
care services.
Motion made by Shirley Warden to so move the article. Seconded. Passed
by voice vote.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Thousand
Seven Hundred Seventy Four Dollars ($1774.00) to Northeast
Kingdom Human Service, Inc., to assist in maintaining services in
Mental retardation, family counseling, services to children and the
Elderly, substance treatment, and 24 hour emergency services.
Motion by Sherry Tolle to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice
vote.
ARTICLE 6. Shall the Town vote to appropriate the sum of One Thousand
Dollars ($1000.00) toward the expense of operating the Northeast
Kingdom Youth Services.
Motion to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Two Thousand
Dollars ($2000.00) to the Independent Senior Meal Site at
West Barnet.
Motion by Shirley Warden to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by
voice vote.
ARTICLE 8. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of Seven Thousand Five
Hundred Thirty One Dollars ($7531.00) towards the support of
the CALEX Ambulance Service.
Motion to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 9. Shall the town vote to appropriate the sum of Eight Hundred
Dollars ($800.00) to assist the Northeastern Vermont Area Agency on
Aging in providing services to Senior citizens in the ensuing year.
Motion to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Eighty
Dollars ($280.00) to help support the work of the Vermont Center for
Independent Living in assisting Vermonters live as fully, productively
and independently as possible.
Motion made by Shirley Warden to so move the article. Seconded. Passed
by voice vote.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of money, not to exceed
Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) to the Northeast Kingdom Adult
Education and Literacy Program for the support of basic education.
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 12. Shall the Town vote to appropriate the sum of Eight Hundred Ten
Dollars ($810.00) for the operation of the Fairbanks Museum and
Planetarium during the ensuing year, in exchange for free unlimited
general admission to the Museum for all Barnet residents.
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 13. Shall the Town vote to appropriate Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00)
to Umbrella Inc. to serve victims of domestic and sexual violence and
their children, families seeking childcare and child care providers?
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 14. Shall the Town vote to appropriate Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00)
to Catamount Arts to be used to enhance Catamount’s arts
education programs and programs for young people.
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Fifty
Dollars ($250.00) to the American Red Cross to assist them in their
delivery of services to the local communities. (by petition)
Motion made by Ronald Morse to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 16. Shall the town vote to appropriate One Thousand One Hundred Dollars
(1100.00) to Rural Community Transportation to assist in
providing transportation to the elderly, handicapped and disabled.
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 17. Shall the Town vote to appropriate the sum of $500.00 to the Barnet
Historical Society to be used for maintaining the Goodwillie House?
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Ted Faris spoke for the
Historical Society. Sherry Tolle also spoke for the Society. The Society is
asking for the appropriation to offset increasing costs. In the past the
Society has relied on dues, volunteers, donations, ect.
Mona Marceau asked if this would be a one time request. Sherry Tolle did
not know if the Society would be needing help in the future. Passed by
voice vote.
ARTICLE 18. Shall the Town , pursuant to 23 V.S.A. Section 2804 establish a
Reserve fund under the control of the Selectmen for the maintenance,
repair and replacement of municipal buildings and facilities and if so
how much shall be appropriated to said fund.
Motion made by Marvin Bailey to appropriate Fifty Thousand dollars
($50,000). Seconded. Question on how much of this will go towards
maintaining the Town Hall. Ted Faris replied that only minimum
maintainence is being done on Town Hall until the Town decides what to do
with the building. William Warden asked for an update on a new town
garage. Ted Faris replied that the Town is looking at site and St.Johnsbury
Academy has already expressed interest in putting the building up when the
Town is ready to build. Gail Warnaar wanted to know what the Town will
do with the old library space in the Town Clerk’s building and the Town
Hall. Ted Faris said that the Town will look into this more when Town
Garage plans are done. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 19. Shall the Town vote to appropriate a sum not to exceed $25,000.00 to
purchase and install a compactor at the Barnet Transfer Station?
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Gail Warnaar spoke of the
hazards at the Transfer Station. Ted Faris spoke about how occasionally the
transfer station can be a source of frustration, the compactor should help to
address some of the safety issues and the others will also be addressed.
Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to borrow money in
anticipation of taxes or current expenses during the ensuing year.
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will elect two members of the Budget Committee
for three years, and if so to provide for their election.
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
Nominations-Gary Bunnell, Mona Marceau-declined, Richard Roosa and
Gail Warnaar.
Results by a show of hands-Gary Bunnell 98, Richard Roosa 70 and Gail
Warnaar 26.
Gary Bunnell and Richard Roosa elected.
ARTICLE 22. To see what arrangements the Town and Town School District will
vote for the collection of its taxes and by what lawful official for the
ensuing year.
Motion made by Donald Nelson as follows:
Taxes be due and payable to the Town Treasurer during business hours on
or before October 13, 2007 with said taxes to be actually received by the
said Treasurer on or before the due date without regard to postmark; and
thereafter said taxes shall be payable to the Town Tax Collector with interest
at the rate of 1% per month or fraction thereof for the first three months and
thereafter at the rate of 11/2% per month or fraction thereof, plus collector’s
fees as provided by law.
Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 23. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise to defray the
expenses and liabilities of the Town for the current year.
Motion made by Ted Faris that we raise $903,175 in taxes for the current
year. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
Meaning to appropriate the following amounts:
Selectmen’s budget $520,075 (added $25,000 for increase of Art. #19)
Highway budget $383,100
Total $903,175
ARTICLE 24. To transact any other business that may legally come before the
meeting.
Ted Faris spoke on the building committees work to date. Brock house is
recommended to be removed. The Selectmen want to make sure that is the
overall feeling of the Town before the building is removed, replacement
would be very difficult. Marybeth Vereline spoke in favor of removing the
building. Mona Marceau spoke on the recent history of the buildings use
maybe another group would like to use the building.
Airie Lindsay spoke about Green Up day for 2007.
Mona Marceau thanked the various organizations that we donate to for all
their efforts.
Gary Bunnell was thanked for all his services as Selectman.
Shirley Warden reminded residents of the sewerage regulation changes as of
July 1, 2007.
State Rep. Leigh Larocque spoke about Legislative activities.
Wendy Fearon of the Barnet Historical Society spoke about the cover of the
Town report and the individuals who had worked with the kids, Thomas &
Sherry Tolle. A standing thanks was given.
Motion made to adjourn the meeting. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
Meeting ended at 11:36 A.M.
A true record. Attest: William E. Hoar
Town Clerk
MINUTES
ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING
OF THE TOWN OF BARNET
MARCH 6, 2007
Meeting was called to order at 1:00 P.M. by Moderator Dennis McLam. The articles
were then acted upon as follows:
1. To elect a Moderator.
Term of Dennis McLam expiring-one year term.
Nominations-Dennis McLam by Kathy Zita. Motion made that nominations cease.
Seconded. Passed by voice vote. Dennis McLam elected by voice vote.
Nancy Frank, chair read a prepared statement on the issue with Principal Kerry
Keenan’s resignation. The Board will not address personnel issues at this meeting.
See copy of statement at the end of these minutes.
2. To elect a School Director for a term of 3 years.
Term of William Marshall expiring-three year term.
Nominations-William Marshall by Kathy Zita. Shannon Larocque by Stanley
Robinson. Motion made that nominations cease. Seconded. Both candidates spoke
briefly.
Results-William Marshall 51, Shannon Larocque 130, Blank 4, spoiled 1, write in 1.
Total votes cast-187, needed to elect 94. Shannon Larocque declared elected.
To elect a School Director for a term of 2 years.
Term of Robert Zita expiring-two year term.
Nominations-Jeffrey Riley by Sherry Tolle. Richard Roosa by Sue Perssons. Robert
Zita-declined. William Marshall. Motion made that nominations cease. Seconded.
Passed by voice vote. David Willis stated that Jeffrey Riley is an Auditor, this
conflicts with being on the school board. Riley stated he would resign as Auditor if
elected to school board. The candidates spoke briefly. Sue Perssons spoke on Roosa’s
behalf and read a letter signed by 38 members of the school staff expressing their
appreciation for Kerry Keenan’s 4 years of service. Sherry Tolle spoke for Riley.
Robert Zita spoke about why he is not running.
Results-Jeffrey Riley 16, Richard Roosa 125, William Marshall 43, Blank 4. Total
votes cast-188, needed to elect 95. Richard Roosa declared elected.
3. To see if the school district will authorize its Board of Directors to borrow
money to pay its lawful debts, and expenses for the fiscal year which ends
June 30, 2008 in an amount not to exceed 90% of the anticipated collection
of taxes and receipts of other funds to be used for those purposes.
Motion made to so move the article. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
4. Shall the school district vote to adopt an expenditure budget as presented
for the school year ending June 30, 2008, including an appropriation of a
sum for the support of schools with provisions for current expenses, capital
improvements, a deficit if any, and for other lawful purposes?
Motion made to approve the budget of $ 4,172,859 by Robert Zita. Seconded.
Nancy Frank stated that 2 additional teacher positions have been included in this
budget. (1 Kindergarten and First-Second teacher). Mona Marceau asked about
Peacham school closing in the future-has the board taken this into decisions on
planning ahead for our school. The Board stated that Peacham is not at the point yet
but they have been thinking about this situation.
Motion made by David Warden for vote by paper ballot. Seconded. Paper ballot vote
requires at least 7 voters to request this, more than 7 voters requested vote by paper
ballot.
Results-Yes 108, No 46. Budget of $4,172,859 passed.
5. To transact any other non-binding business that may legally come before
the meeting.
Airie Lindsay wished to thank William Marshall for his years of service to the
Board.
Mona Marceau wanted more clarification on the opening statement made by the
Board. Nancy Frank stated again that the decision the Board made about accepting
Kerry Keenan’s resignation involves personnel confidentiality. Mr. Keenan indicated
that he will not make a statement.
Barbara Warden asked the Board three questions regarding Mr. Keenan.
Motion made that meeting close. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.
Meeting ended at 2:43 P.M.
A true record. Attest: _____________
Town Clerk
Attest:______________
School Director