Brownsville
Outgoing Selectboard member Tom Kenyon, who said he can’t remember how long he has served, was praised by board chairman Richard Beatty for his dedication and received two standing ovations from the 143 registered voters in attendance. Kenyon will be replaced by Brett Myers, who was nominated from the floor without opposition.
“He really is a man for all seasons,” Beatty said of Kenyon. “He does so much on a regular basis that is unheralded.” Beatty then ticked off a list of projects around town that Kenyon has helped see through to completion, including improvements in the water system and bringing a sewer line into the village.
“The list goes on and on. He has done so many things for so many people and this town. When he no longer does these things, people will realize all that he did,” Beatty said.
Residents approved, by unanimous voice vote, the $17 million school budget, which is projected to lower the homestead education rate by 30.5 cents, though some wondered about the tuition rates paid for middle and high school students.
Changing the time and day of the annual meeting also was discussed briefly. Andrea Powell, a paraprofessional at the nearby Albert Bridge School who was taking time away from the classroom, along with nine other teachers, said moving the school meeting was a good idea. “We think it is very important we be here and we want to be here,” she said.
Selectboard member Win Johnson suggested the creation of an advisory committee to see if there is a consensus to make a change. “Then we can think about this in a more educated way,” Johnson said. Voters would have to approve the change.
The proposed $1.2 million town budget, combining general fund and highway, is 3.6 percent above last year’s spending plan. It also passed on a voice vote, though there were a few “nays,” after it was stated that town employees would receive a 6 percent pay raise. Johnson said most of the compensation increase is in the highway fund and those raises came after a comparison of wages for similar jobs in area towns.
“Our people are underpaid,” Johnson said. “We are recommending we remedy that with a larger-than-expected increase. Our people are doing a great job and deserve to be paid the same.”
In response to questions about having a part-time zoning administrator, Johnson said with the acquisition of the water system on the mountain and the new sewer lines in the village, there is a lot of administrative work that has to be done to manage the system, in addition to other zoning responsibilities. The current part-time administrator is leaving and the town is advertising for the job.
Resident Dennis Lemire, referring to some of the salaries, said expenses are getting too high.
“I don’t know if as a small town, it is where we want to go,” Lemire said.
The rest of the articles passed easily by voice vote, including borrowing $275,000 over five years for a new fire truck, $51,800 for the fire department, $15,000 for the library, $6,950 for the historical society and $11,082 for several social service agencies.
Turnout was 17 percent of the town’s 850 voters.
