Hartland
During an emotional discussion, which also included a back-and-forth on a proposed amendment to change the phrase “illegal immigrant” to “undocumented immigrant,” and which was subsequently defeated, residents raised concerns about whether the article was even legal as written.
They discussed whether adoption of the article could mean that the town would lose federal education, highway or homeland security dollars. They also questioned whether a small-business owner would be legally liable if she or her company hired someone without the proper documentation, and what legal liability might attach to the town as a result of a “sanctuary town” designation.
Craig Stedman spoke against the article.
“Disapproval is not hate, but (this) is a nation of laws,” he said.
Craig Barrett said he didn’t believe that the citizens of Hartland could vote to break federal law.
Kira Kelley spoke in favor of the amendment, arguing that “as a community, we do have enough capacity to take care of people.” She also added that she believed that President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration was targeted at people of color.
Jeffrey Bell, who proposed changing the wording of the article, said that he had been watching the events surrounding immigration around the country. Whether immigrants were described as “undocumented” or “illegal,” he said, his hope was that the article would give town residents a way to show they cared about immigrants.
The town of Randolph passed a similar proposal at its Town Meeting on Tuesday.
Hartland voters approved an article authorizing the town to buy a house and property on Route 12 adjacent to the town’s recreation center with an asking price of $180,000.
Selectboard member Gordon Richardson argued that the transaction offered a rare opportunity to buy a lot next to a municipal property, although he added that there are no ideas yet on what to do with the property.
Some voters argued it didn’t make sense to take a reasonably priced property off the market at a time when affordable housing is in short supply.
But others welcomed the chance to enlarge the relatively small parking area at the recreation center.
After Matt Dunne suggested that the article be amended to read that no changes to the property would go forward without the approval of Hartland voters, it passed.
Voters also approved appropriating $2,517,000, of which $1,866,400 will be raised by taxes, for the highway and general fund expenses. This is an increase of $45,300, or 0.8 percent, over the previous year, according to a PowerPoint presentation by Town Manager Bob Stacey.
This translated into a tax rate increase of 0.4 cents, which would add $10 to the tax bill on a property appraised at $250,000.
Other articles approved by voters included $62,250 for the volunteer fire department, $39,012 for social service agencies, $16,500 for the rescue squad and $1,500 for the Stagecoach bus service.
Voters approved Article 11, which recommended that the town formally ask TransCanada, which operates the Bellows Falls and Wilder dams on the Connecticut River, to modify its operations and create a mitigation fund for any damages to or deterioration of the riverbank, roads or farmland.
There were 218 people at Town Meeting, Town Clerk Clyde Jenne said. The town checklist is 2,620.