LEICESTER TOWN MEETING MINUTES 2017

The legal voters of the Town of Leicester, Vermont are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Leicester Meeting House in said Town on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 7:00 pm to transact the following business:

Richard Reed, the Moderator called the Town of Leicester Meeting to order at 7:03 PM.  The Moderator welcomed the 32 voters in attendance to the 256^TH Annual Town Meeting.

The Moderator explained that Non-residents cannot vote.  Town meetings will be run according to VT State Law and Roberts Rules of Order, all motions, remarks and questions should be directed to the Moderator.  Articles must be moved, seconded and restated by the Moderator before debate can begin. 

1.     To hear the auditor’s report.

                        D. Miner stated the auditor’s report was on page 14.  No further discussion.

2.     Shall the voters of the Town of Leicester vote to approve a sum of $629,915.73 to defray the necessary expenses and liabilities of the town for the ensuing year, divided as follows:

Note: The amount to be raised may increase based on the result of the vote on Article 3 and Australian ballot articles.  The Selectboard will set the tax rate at a later date.

A motion was made (C. Reed) and seconded (C. Morrison) to accept Article 2.

A motion was made (J. Delphia) and seconded (C. Reed) to amend Article 2 to remove the $625 appropriation for Maple Leaf Farm (that has closed).  Article 2 shall read “Shall the voters of the Town of Leicester vote to approve a sum of $629,290.73 to defray the necessary expenses and liabilities of the town for the ensuing year, divided as follows:

.”

Note: The amount to be raised may increase based on the result of the vote on Article 3 and Australian ballot articles.  The Selectboard will set the tax rate at a later date.

            Article 2 amendment was passed by unanimous voice vote.

No further discussion.

Article 2 was passed by unanimous voice vote.

With no objection, the warning was set aside to hear from Representative Peter Conlin.  P. Conlin discussed ongoing legislation and answered questions from the floor.

3.     Shall the voters of the Town of Leicester approve an additional sum of $20,000 for road paving?

A motion was made (D. Callum) and seconded (W. Shouldice) to accept Article 3.

W. Shouldice asked where paving would be.  A. Pidgeon indicated that it would be on RT 53 or Maple Run Road.

Article 3 was passed by unanimous voice vote.

4.     Shall the voters of the Town change the date due for property taxes from October 15^th to November 15^th (in office, postmarks not accepted) to allow for State approved late homestead/tax credit filers changes?

A motion was made (C. Carroll) and seconded (G. Moore) to accept Article 4.

D. Perkins asked about the postmarks not accepted.  J. Delphia explained that it is current practice.

J. Delphia explained that the State allows for late filers until October 15^th and the Town does not get notified until November 1^st.  Changing the date would allow for all late filer information to be received prior to the final tax date.

W. Shouldice asked if this would be ongoing and if it would change when taxes were sent out.  J. Delphia said yes.

J. Michael requested that when tax bills are sent out that there is a notice of the change.

J. McLaughlin asked if we would have to borrow more money.  J. Delphia said that she did not expect to need to borrow much money as many people pay their taxes when they receive their tax bill so there is cash flow.

Article 4 was passed by unanimous voice vote.

5.     Shall the voters of the Town authorize the Selectboard to appoint a first and second constable in accordance with 17 V.S.A. § 2651a?

A motion was made (D. Snyder) and seconded (W. Shouldice) to accept Article 5.

D. Benware explained that it is difficult to find candidates that are Leicester residents and by appointing them, it would open the pool to residents from other towns.

H. Sessions asked if the Selectboard would prioritize a Leicester resident.  D. Benware said yes.

D. Miner asked what they do.  J. Delphia explained that Article 6 explains what their duties are.

D. Perkins asked if two are needed.  J. Delphia explained that the second constable has received calls.

T. Drew asked if the Town can vote to prohibit law enforcement authority.  J. Delphia explained that in order to have law enforcement authority, they would require hundreds of hours of training.  D. Benware stated that it is a huge expense for the Town and would require a huge commitment on the part of the constable and require the constable have oversight by a legal authority (ie. Sheriff, VSP).

W. Shouldice said that some constables with law enforcement authority make money for their Town.

H. Sessions asked how much time the constable spends.  D. Benware stated as Health Officer, she has only called him once in the past three years.  T. Barker stated that he has accompanied the Animal Control Officer on occasion.

Article 5 was passed by paper vote: 26 Yes, 5 No

6.     Shall the voters prohibit the town constables from exercising any law enforcement authority, in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 1936(a)(1), [in which case the constable is only able to serve civil and criminal process, destroy animals when required by law, kill injured deer in accordance with law, assist the health officer in the exercise of his or her duties, serve as a district court officer, remove disorderly people from town meeting, and collect taxes if no tax collector is elected. 24 V.S.A. § 1936a(b)]?

A motion was made (C. Reed) and seconded (H. Sessions) to accept Article 6.

Article 6 was passed by unanimous voice vote.

7.     Discussion of articles to be voted by Australian ballot.

R. Reed reviewed the items to be voted.  D. Benware explained that Hospice was on the ballot because they were asking for more money.

8.     To do any further business that is proper to be done when met.

J. Gildrien asked if Article 1 for the 3/7/17 vote needs to be amended based on the vote of Article 5.  J. Delphia explained that per the Director of Elections, the offices of constable will be ignored during the 3/7/17 vote.

D. Benware thanked Ken Young for his years on the Selectboard.  She thanked the elected and appointed town officials and discussed opportunities to serve.  She thanked the auditors for their hard work over the years and indicated the very positive result of professional audit was thanks to the Auditors and the Town Treasurer’s diligent work.  She thanked the road crew for their great work.

D. Benware and R. Reed discussed Act 148 and the changes for collection of food scraps.  D. Benware indicated that there may be a question to the town in the future regarding the gas pipeline.

A motion was made (C. Reed) and seconded (G. Moore) to adjourn Town Meeting. 

Leicester Town Meeting adjourned at 8:13 PM.

Results of those elected by Australian Ballot Voting: (Ballots and results attached)

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Of the 708 registered voters – 117 cast votes

The legal voters of the Town of Leicester, Vermont are further warned and notified to meet at the Leicester Town Office in said Town on March 7, 2017 between the hours of 10 AM and 7 PM when the polls will be open to vote by Australian ballot on the following articles:

Article 1:  To elect Town Officers for the ensuing year

OFFICE                                  CANDIDATES                            TERM   

MODERATOR                          RICHARD REED                         1 YEAR            

SELECTBOARD                        JOHN ROUSE                             3 YEAR            

SELECTBOARD                        TOM BARKER                             2 YEAR

SELECTBOARD                        RON FISKE                                1 YEAR OF 2 YEAR TERM          

AUDITOR                               DOT D’AVIGNON                        3 YEAR                        

DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTOR   BETH RIPLEY                             1 YEAR                        

GRAND JUROR                        MIKE RAKOWITZ                       1 YEAR                                    

TOWN AGENT                         MIKE RAKOWITZ                       1 YEAR                

TOWN CLERK                          JULIE DELPHIA                         3 YEAR

TOWN TREASURER                   JULIE DELPHIA                         3 YEAR

Article 2: Shall the voters of the Town of Leicester vote to appropriate $500 for Hospice Volunteer Services to be taken from Town funds for the purpose of helping pay part of the cost of providing home Hospice care for terminally ill patients in this town?

                                                                  YES:        101        NO:        9          BLANK:    7

Approved:

Julie Delphia – Clerk                                Diane Benware – Chair                     Richard Reed - Moderator