MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE TOWN OF DUXBURY AS A TOWN AND AS A TOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT, MARCH 7, 2006 **DRAFT**_______________________________________________ The Meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM by the Moderator. 1. To elect a Moderator to preside at the meetings of the Town and Town School District for the year ensuing. On a motion made and seconded, Mark Morse was elected Moderator by unanimous voice vote. 2. To act upon the reports of the Town and Town School District officers. On a motion made and seconded, the reports of the Town and Town District officers were accepted. 3. To determine what action the Town and Town School District will take with respect to compensating their officers for the official services during the ensuing year. On a motion made and seconded, budget line items 218, 311, 311A, 315A, 321, 331, 332 and 333 were approved. 4. Shall the voters of the Town of Duxbury vote to have the Delinquent Tax Collector receive a salary in lieu of fees and, if so, to set the salary at $2,400.00? A motion to pass over this Article was defeated. On a motion made and seconded, this Article was approved by paper ballot with a vote of 58 in favor, 34 opposed. At this time, the Moderator read a Resolution of Thanks to former Waterbury-Duxbury Union #45 School Board Chair Teresa Wood. This resolution will be Printed in the 2007 Town Meeting book. 5. [By Petition] Shall the voters of Duxbury, Vermont vote to increase the salary lines in the proposed 2006 Town Budget for the Road Crew, Town Clerk and Town Treasurer to reflect the final 2005 cost of living index amount as reported by the VT Department of Employment and Training as of February 1, 2006? The Moderator presented a statement of the VT Department of Employment and Training stating the cost of living index was 3.4%. A motion was made and seconded to accept this Article with the 3.4% figure. A motion to have the increase be 2% was defeated by voice vote. On a motion made and seconded, this Article was approved by paper ballot, 59 in favor, 43 opposed. At this time, State Representatives Robert Dostis and Sue Minter and State Senator William Doyle addressed the Town. Following the Representative’s and Senator’s address, the Duxbury Board of Civil Authority was called to the podium. Stephanie Koonz, outgoing Assistant Town Clerk was honored for her service to the Town with a gift certificate. Mrs. Koonz addressed the Town recalling her years of residence and of service, which continues, as a Justice of the Peace. Following her address, Mrs. Koonz received a standing ovation from the Town. The Meeting was recessed for lunch until 1:30 PM. The Meeting was called to order by the Moderator at 1:30 PM. 6. Shall the voters of the Town of Duxbury fund the Mad River Valley Health Center in a sum not to exceed $1,000.00? A motion to pass over this Article was defeated. On a motion made and seconded to approve this Article, the Article was not approved by a vote of 15 in favor, 47 opposed. 7. To vote sums of money to pay the debts and current expenses of the Town and Town School District and to pay county taxes with same to be expressed in specific dollar amounts or as a rate of tax on the dollar of the Grand List and, if by specific dollar amounts, to authorize the Selectboard to set the necessary tax rate after the Grand List book has been completed and lodged in the office of the Town Clerk, and to vote a sum of money to increase the principal of the Town’s Capital Reserve Fund, and to vote a sum of money to increase the principal of the Town’s Tax Stabilization Fund. A motion: “To appropriate a sum of $585,698.36 to pay the debts and current expenses of the Town and Town School District and to pay County taxes with same. Also, to appropriate a sum of $67,500.00 to increase the principal of the Town’s Capital Reserve Fund and to appropriate a sum of $13,500.00 to increase the principal of the Town’s Tax Stabilization Fund, and to authorize the Selectboard to set the necessary tax rate after the Grand List book has been completed and lodged in the office of the Town Clerk”, was made and seconded. An amended motion to change the amount of $585,698.36 to $565,000.00 was defeated by voice vote. A motion to change Line 444 from $150.00 to $300.00 was defeated by show of hands, 18 in favor, 46 opposed. A motion to change the amount for the Tax Stabilization Fund from $13,500 to $10,000 was defeated by voice vote. The original motion was approved by voice vote. 8. To determine what action the Town will take with reference to fixing the date of the tax warrant of real and personal property and to set the dates when taxes on such property shall become due and payable and to see whether the same shall be paid with or without discount and provide with regard to payment of interest on such taxes not paid when due. The motion: “Taxes shall be due and payable on or before October 11, 2006 without discount and 1% interest per month shall accrue on delinquent tax amounts”, made and seconded was approved by voice vote. 9. To determine if the Town will have its current taxes paid to the Town Treasurer and its delinquent taxes paid to the Collector of Delinquent Taxes. On a motion made and seconded, the Town approved by voice vote that current taxes shall be paid to the Town Treasurer and delinquent taxes paid to the Collect of Delinquent Taxes. 10. To elect all Town and Town School District officers required by law and to fill any other vacancies existing in Town and Town School Districts offices. Selectboard 3 Year Term: Todd Liberty was nominated. Craig Isvak was nominated and withdrew. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Liberty’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. 1 Year Term: Craig Isvak was nominated. Paul Brusa was nominated and declined. Lars Dickson was nominated and declined. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Isvak’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. 1 Year Term: Paul Brusa was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Brusa’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Lister 3 Year Term: Jill Smith was nominated and declined. Jeff Poitras was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Poitras’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Duxbury School District Director 3 Year Term: Betty Gibbs was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mrs. Gibbs’ favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. 1 Year Term: Kim Quenneville was nominated and withdrew. Rick Scharf was nominated and withdrew. Amy Scharf was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mrs. Scharf’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Waterbury-Duxbury School Union #45 Director 3 Year Term: Jeff Larkin was nominated and declined. Andra Liberty was nominated and declined. Dawn Poitras was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mrs. Poitras’ favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Auditors 3 Year Term: Gloria Bedell was nominated and declined. Andra Liberty was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mrs. Liberty’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Budget Committee 5 Year Term: Cris Cote was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Cote’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Cemetery Commission 3 Year Term: Greg Trulson was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Trulson’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. At this time the Cemetery Commission was commended for their work and received a round of applause from the Town. Constable 1 Year Term: Henry Parro was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Parro’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Delinquent Tax Collector 1 Year Term: Maureen Patterson was nominated. Craig Isavk was nominated. Ken Scott was nominated and declined. By a paper ballot, Mrs. Patterson was elected with a vote of 35, Mr. Isvak having a vote of 31. Agent to Prosecute & Defend Suits 1 Year Term: Henry Parro was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Parro’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. Grand Juror 1 Year Term: Henry Parro was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Parro’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. 11. To determine if the Town will elect a second constable and if so, to elect. A motion was made and seconded to have a Second Constable and to nominate Maureen Patterson as Second Constable. This motion was approved by voice vote. 12. To determine if the Town will elect a dog catcher(s) and if so, to elect. A motion was made and seconded to have two (2) dog catchers. This motion passed by voice vote. 1 Year Term: Henry Parro was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Parro’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. 1 Year Term: Zeb Towne was nominated. On a motion to cease nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot in Mr. Towne’s favor, made and seconded, was approved by voice vote. 13. Shall the voters of the Town of Duxbury instruct our State Representatives and Senators to oppose: A.Any use of the State Education Fund for purposes that are outside the law’s original intent to “make payments to school districts and supervisory unions for the support of education”; B.The shifting of existing State General Fund school expense obligations to the Education Fund; and C.The reduction of any existing State General Fund revenue support to the Education Fund? A motion was made and seconded to accept this Resolution. This motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. _________________________________________________ The following Articles shall be voted by Australian ballot: ARTICLE VIII: Shall the voters of the Harwood Union High School District appropriate $10,628,226 necessary for the support of its school for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006? In favor: 1,538 Opposed: 950 ARTICLE IX: Shall the voters of the Harwood Union High School District authorize the establishment of a capital improvement and facilities maintenance reserve fund, pursuant to the provisions of 24 V.S.A. S.2804, for the purposes of capital improvement and facilities maintenance projects and to appropriate the sum of $75,000 to said reserve fund? In favor: 1,643 Opposed: 831 ARTICLE 9: To vote by Australian Ballot whether, in order to preserve District property, there shall be established a capital repair and replacement reserve fund, the principal and income thereof to be expended with voter approval exclusively for the benefit of existing District grounds and buildings, and appropriate initially thereto the sum of $36,321. In favor: 800 Opposed: 164 ARTICLE 10: To vote by Australian Ballot whether to authorize the Board of Directors to expend a sum of $7,624,587 for the support of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 during the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2007. In favor: 727 Opposed: 413 ARTICLE A: Shall the voters of the Town of Duxbury approve proposed changes to the Duxbury Zoning Regulations to bring the Zoning Regulations into compliance with the State Statutory requirements, to clarify access to the Barn/Building section of the State Farm and to correct an error in the official Zoning Map? In favor: 185 Opposed: 25 _________________________________________________ 14. To do any other business that may legally come before the Meeting. A) Harry Rook requested, for next year’s Meeting, that the Selectboard consider having the election of Town Officers occur before consideration of the budget. The Meeting was recessed until 7:00 PM when the Polls will close and Australian ballots will be counted. Respectfully submitted on March 13, 2006, J. Kenneth Scott, Town Clerk Approved and signed at Duxbury this ______ day of _________, 2006: _____________________ _____________________ Paul Brusa, Chair Joann Berno _____________________ _____________________ Fred Collins Craig Isvak ____________________ Todd Liberty Duxbury Selectboard ____________________________________________________________ Received for recording, and recorded this _________ day of _________________, 2006 in Town Records Book, page ____________. ATTEST: ____________________________________ J. Kenneth Scott, Town Clerk