WEST WINDSOR — An agreeable crowd inside Story Memorial Hall at Tuesday’s Town Meeting passed all articles with just a few comments and elected all officers without opposition.
Selectboard Chairman Win Johnson said the general fund budget of $640,000 was up less than one-half of 1% and would result in a slight tax decrease, but the $751,000 highway budget represented a 5% increase.
“Where we struggled was the highway budget,” Johnson said.
Higher salt and sand expenses and major maintenance on an aging grader, which the town expects to replace in five years, helped fuel the increase, Johnson said.
Johnson said he estimates the town tax rate will increase about 2% with the budgets and approved appropriations for emergency services, the library and social service agencies.
Voters also approved transferring $150,000 from the town’s general fund surplus into the highway capital reserve fund to purchase a $300,000 grader in five years.
Other articles with appropriations included about $70,700 for the fire department, FAST Squat, Historical Society, Independence Day Committee and Sheddsville Cemetery; $9,800 to support several social service agencies; and $18,000 for the Mary L. Blood Library.
Library hours will nearly double to 15 a week after the approval of $5,850 for longer hours as well other enhancements including more programs.
A stone wall to protect some graves in the Sheddsville Cemetery can be constructed after an article seeking $12,000 for the project passed. A petition article to pay Windsor $2,000 so West Windsor residents can use that town’s recreational facilities without paying the non-resident fee passed without comment as well.
Mount Ascutney School Board member Nancy Pedrick said since the formation of the new district with Windsor means more West Windsor students use the Windsor Recreation Center after school but now pay the non-resident fee, which is $25 more annually.
“It adds up if you have more than one child,” Pedrick said.
Among the incumbents reelected were Town Clerk and Treasurer Cathy Archibald, Town Moderator Matt Birmingham and Selectboard member Brett Myers.
Turnout for the 90-minute meeting was 150, or about 16% of the town’s 935 registered voters.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
