Town of Westmore Annual Meeting

March 6, 2007

The legal voters of the Town of Westmore met at the Fellowship Hall in said town on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 10 o’clock a.m. to transact the following business.

Greg Gallagher called the meeting to order.

The town stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Article 1. To elect a Moderator for the ensuing year. Gerald Saindon nominated Vincent Dotoli , seconded by Pat Cole.

Anne Alexander moved to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one vote for Vincent Dotoli, seconded by Paul Moffat. Motion passed and Vincent Dotoli was elected Moderator for one year.

Next Bill Johnson, our local legislature, spoke about the bills at the Statehouse.

Article 2. To elect a Clerk for 3 years. Greg Gallagher was nominated by Bob Decker, seconded by Gerald Saindon. Paul Moffat moved, Mike Brannon seconded to cease nominations and have the Moderator cast one ballot for Greg Gallagher. Motion passed.

Article 3. Shall the Town accept the Town Report as printed? Anne Alexander moved, Gerald Saindon seconded to pass over Article 3. Motion passed.

Article 4. To elect the following officers:

Town Treasurer for 3 years. Greg Gallagher was nominated for a three year term by Gerald Saindon, seconded by Bob Decker. Paul Moffat moved and Gerald Saindon seconded to cease nominations and have the Moderator cast one ballot for Greg Gallagher. Motion passed.

Selectman for 3 years. John Alexander was nominated for a three year term by Gerald Saindon, seconded by Bob Decker. Gerald Saindon moved and Paul Moffat seconded for the Clerk to cast one ballot for John Alexander. Motion passed and John was re-elected to the Selectboard for a three year term.

Lister. Article 4. C was corrected to say "Lister for 3 Years." There were no nominations and Greg explained that the Town had been contracting with Diane Moore from Morgan who has twenty plus years of lister experience, but could not be a Lister for Westmore since she is not a Westmore resident. The Selectboard will talk to her about a new contract.

Auditor- Millie Davis for 3 Years. Pat Cole nominated Millie Davis for a 3 year term as Auditor, Tim Hastings seconded. Paul Moffat moved and Tim Hastings seconded to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot for Millie Davis. Motion passed.

Delinquent Tax Collector for 1 year. Gerald Saindon nominated and Steve Richards seconded Bob Decker. Mike Branon moved and Louisa Dotoli seconded for the Clerk to cast one ballot for Bob Decker. Motion passed and Bob was re-elected.

Cemetery Commissioner for 3 years. Since Bill Julian was not seeking re-election, Bill Perkins nominated and Gerald Saindon seconded Steve Richards for a 3 year term as Cemetery Commissioner.
Tim Hastings moved and Gerald Saindon seconded for the Clerk to cast one ballot. Motion passed and Steve Richards was elected.

Town Grand Juror for 1 year. Mike Branon was nominated by Louisa Dotoli, seconded by Bob Decker. Paul Moffat moved and seconded by Nan French to have the Clerk cast one ballot. Motion passed.

Town Agent for 1 year. Greg Gallagher was nominated by Gerald Saindon and seconded by Bob Decker. Anne Alexander moved and Gerald Saindon seconded for the Moderator to cast one ballot. Motion passed and Greg was elected.

Article 5. In what manner shall taxes be collected and dates payable.

Greg asked that since the usual date, Oct 20, falls on a Saturday, to have taxes due the following Monday, Oct 22. Gerald Saindon moved and Peter Berteletti seconded to have taxes due Oct. 22 by 4 PM. Bob Decker explained that this could lead to confusion in following years, and that taxes should stay due on Oct 20. Gerald and Peter withdrew their motion. Gerald then moved and Bob seconded to set Oct 20, 2007 at 4 PM as the date for taxes to be due at the Municipal Office. Postmarks would not count. Motion passed.

Article 6. Shall the Town have the Selectmen set the Tax Rate after the 2007 Grand List has been completed. Kimball Johnson so moved and Gail Brown seconded it and it passed on a voice vote.

Article 7. Shall the Town appropriate $64,129 for Town Office Salaries / Expenses. Gerald moved and Nan French seconded to set the amount of $64,129 for Town Office salaries/expenses. The motion passed.

Article 8. Shall the Town pay the Town Treasurer $6459.00 in lieu of fees. Gerald so moved and Kimball seconded it. Sharon Strange asked why the amount had gone up. Greg responded that the amount had not been given a cost of living increase for several years and that it also included Social Security and Medicare taxes. Motion passed.

Article 9. Shall the Town appropriate $7,300 for Selectboard Salaries / SS/Med/Expenses. Gerald so moved and Mary Lou Cummings seconded. Motion passed.

Article 10. Shall the Town appropriate $4,000.00 for the a Selectboard administrative assistant. Mike Branon moved Article 10, seconded by Louisa Dotoli. Cindy Poplawski asked what this position would be about and how would the person be selected. John Alexander explained the increased work load writing grants and filing papers. Last year the board received $25,000-$30,000 in grant funding. Funding this position would help cut the administrative time put in by the Selectboard. The opening will be posted. Several people mentioned the board should hire someone other than a board member. Motion passed.

Article 11. Shall the Town appropriate $30,000.00 for Lister’s/Consultant and expenses. Gerald so moved and Paul Moffat seconded it. Nancy Mallary moved to amend the motion to change the word "Consultant" to "Assessor." Seconded by Paul. The amendment passed and the motion passed.

Article 12. To see if the town will vote to instruct the selectmen to employ a certified public accountant or public accountant to aid the work of the auditors and if so appropriate the sum of $4,700 for auditors and accountant. Kimball Johnson moved and Arthur French seconded motion as written. Motion passed.

Article 13. Shall the Town appropriate $76,789.75 for General Funds. Nan French so moved and Roy Perkins seconded it. The motion passed.

Article 14. Shall the Town appropriate $10,724 for Police and Security. Deputy Corey Bingam explained the increase was due to increased costs of health insurance, workers compensation maintenance and fuel. There would also be an extra hour per week. Kimball Johnson so moved and Gerald Saindon seconded it. Nancy asked about an article in the "Legislative News" saying the Sheriff’s budget might be put into the County budget. The deputy did not know about that. Motion passed.

Article 15. Shall the town appropriate $1000 for 911 work. Kimball so moved and Peter Berteletti seconded. Wayne French asked what this would be for. Gail Brown answered that it would go towards the expense of issuing new 911 numbers and working with the state. It would also go towards new or replacement signs. When asked, Kimball said the new GPS system worked well for finding sites, signs are also helpful. Motion passed.

Article 16. Shall the Town appropriate $23,198 for reappraisal and Mapping for the year 2007. $23,198 was voted on in year 2006. Nan French so moved and Gerald Saindon seconded. Arthur commented that this was the second year of the two year contracts. Gail Brown added that some of the new maps were on the stage behind the Selectboard. Ethan Swift asked the Listers if the maps are in GIS format. Arthur French stated that to get that type of map we would have to pay extra. Motion passed.

Article 17. Shall the Town appropriate $20,000.00 for Westmore Fireman’s Association. Gerald so moved and Paul Moffat seconded it. Kimball explained that this is the 6th year for the Fire Department. It is one of the best equipped departments in the area. He said his biggest need was for volunteers. Mike Branon said the fire department did a great job, but Westmore was too small to pay its volunteers. The motion passed.

Article 18. The Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment request the Town to consider for both boards, the sum of $6000 to meet anticipated expenses. Paul Moffat so moved and Gerald seconded. Motion passed.

Article 19. The Westmore Cemetery Committee is requesting that the Town of Westmore appropriate $2,500.00 for the cemetery mowing and maintenance. Gerald so moved and Pat Cole seconded it. The motion passed.

Article 20. Shall the Town appropriate $10,000.00 for the Milfoil control project. Paul Moffat so moved and Wayne French seconded it. Jeremy LeBlanc, milfoil contractor gave a report of the milfoil in Willoughby Lake. Ann Duggan stated the need for an additional $5,000 to cover extra expenses incurred by the milfoil contractor but would need less in years to come. Ann moved and Annalei Babson seconded to amend Article 20 by $5,000 to a total of $15,000.

Cindy Poplawski asked when would it all end. Melissa Zebrowski pointed out the comment in the Selectboard letter in the Town Report stating an extra $5,000 would be coming to help the milfoil operation from the State Agency of Natural Resources. Ethan Swift said that the state grants are getting more competitive. The Moderator determined that a voice vote was too close to call and asked for a hand vote. The amended motion passed 30 yea, 27 nae.

The Moderator recessed the meeting at 12:15 PM for a half hour break for lunch.

The meeting was reconvened at 1:05 PM.

Moderator Dotoli gave a sincere "thank you to the members of the Ladys’ Aid who put on the potluck lunch. The audience followed with a round of applause.

Article 21. Shall the Town appropriate $54,000 for the Transfer Station. Gerald made the motion and John Alexander seconded it. Roy Perkins stated his concern that uses of equipment and labor from the Highway department at the Transfer Station should come out of the Transfer budget, not the Highway budget. Cost such as use of the bucket loader, truck, diesel fuel and labor from the highway budget are used at the Transfer Station. Motion passed.

Article 22. Shall the Town appropriate $25,000.00 for Trash and Recycling Pickup. Gerald made the motion and Mike Branon seconded it and the motion passed.

Article 23. Shall the Town appropriate $25,000.00 for the Equipment Purchasing Fund. Gerald Saindon so moved and Louisa Dotoli seconded it. Motion passed.

Article 24. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $9,500.00 for Municiple Buildings Maintenance & Repairs.

Gerald moved and Debi Rash seconded. Motion passed.

Article 25. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for Water System 3-year Loan payment Gerald moved and Mike Branon seconded to table this Article until after Articles 26-31 were discussed. Motion passed

Article 26. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $9,000.00 for proposed Emergency Generators. Kimball so moved and Gerald seconded. Mike Branon asked what these funds would be used for. Nancy explained they would be the Town’s share for one generator at the Municipal buildings and one for the Town Garage/Fire Station. A proposed USDA Grant would cover the rest of the cost. Motion passed.

Article 27. Shall the Town appropriate $153,500.00 for Town Highway Systems. Gerald Saindon so moved and Roy Perkins seconded. Motion passed.

Article 28. Shall the Town appropriate $2,000.00 and combined paving carryover of $17,088.30 and Highway carryover of $41,390.25 totaling $58,478.55 for 2007 paving projects. Gerald Saindon so moved and Nan French seconded it. Motion passed.

Article 29. Shall the Town vote the carryovers back into funds voted for previously. Gerald so moved and Melissa Zebrowski seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Article 30. Shall the Town authorize the Selectboard to use unused General Funds to cover 2007 deficit funds. Louisa Dotoli moved and Gerald seconded. Louisa moved and Gerald seconded to change "2007" to "2006" Motion passed.

Melissa moved and Gerald seconded to amend the motion to say "Government Agency Account" instead of "General Funds." Motion passed. Article 30 passed as amended.

Article 31. Shall the Town vote to use up to $100,000.00 of unreserved General Funds to lower the Municipal tax rate.

Gerald so moved and Wayne French seconded. Mike Branon asked if the money would lower taxpayers taxes proportionately as they paid in. Louisa and Melissa said yes. John Alexander said we have not had an accurate accounting to know how much money was available until now. Nancy commented that it would be hard to pay back money to taxpayers and then ask USDA for a Grant for the water system improvements. Motion passed.

Now the Moderator moved back to Article 25.

Article 25. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for Water System 3-year Loan payment After discussion of whether to fund the water system repairs with a Grant or with Town funds, Gerald moved and Mike Branon seconded to authorize up to $55,000 of unreserved Government Funds for the improvements to the water system. Motion passed.

Article 32. Shall the Town authorize the Selectboard to borrow if needed for current expenses. Louisa Dotoli so moved and Gerald seconded. Motion passed.

Article 33. Shall the Town accept Articles 34 thru 53 as printed, if not to vote each separately, totaling $7,201. Peter Berteletti moved and Gail Brown seconded to vote on Articles 34-50 and 50-53, leaving Article 51 out for a separate vote.

The Moderator introduced Sandy Florsheim who explained the services provided by Orleans-Essex VNA & Hospice.

Motion passed.
ARTICLE 34. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $75 for County Court Diversion
ARTICLE 35. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $80 for the Center for Independent Living.
ARTICLE 36. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $75 for Northern VT RC&D Council.
ARTICLE 37. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $50 for Green Up Vermont.
ARTICLE 38. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $50 for Rural Community Transportation RCT
ARTICLE 39. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $300 for the Orleans County Citizens Advocacy.
ARTICLE 40. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $300 for Orleans County learning Services.
ARTICLE 41. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $250 for STEP O.N.E..
ARTICLE 42. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $700 for Jones Memorial Library.
ARTICLE 43. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $321 for the NEK Human Services.
ARTICLE 44. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $750 for Orleans-Essex VNA & Hospice.
ARTICLE 45. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $300 for Area Agency on Aging for Northern VT.
ARTICLE 46. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $500 for the Frontier Animal Society of VT..
ARTICLE 47. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $300 for the Old Stone House Museum.
ARTICLE 48. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $250 for the Red Cross.
ARTICLE 49. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $500 for Northwoods Stewardship Center.
ARTICLE 50. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $200 for the Lake Region Senior Citizen Center.
ARTICLE 51. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $500 for the Barton Senior Center--amended to $200
ARTICLE 52. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $200 to NVDA.
ARTICLE 53. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the Barton Library.
ARTICLE 51. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $500 for the Barton Senior Center

Gerald moved Article 51 as written and Louisa seconded. Nan French moved and Gerald seconded to amend Article 51 to $200, the same rate that Lake Region Senior Center gets. The amended motion passed.

Article 54. To do and transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting. There was no other business.

Article 55. To Adjourn. Gerald so moved and Peter Berteletti seconded it and the motion passed on voice vote.

The meeting ended at 2:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Greg Gallagher

By Australian Ballot, the Waste Management vote: 31 YES 0 NO