CROYDON — Croydon debated spending but proceeded steadily through the warrant at its floor meeting, even when the lights flickered as the rain turned to snow.
The town has a history of prolonged deliberation over small sums, and the Selectboard has tried to streamline the process, said Ian Underwood, a member of the board. “Everything happened that should have happened,” he said after the meeting.
This year, Croydon had an unexpected expense to contend with: Between the finalization of the Town Report and the business meeting, the road grader began to fail. To pay for its replacement, Selectboard Chair Russell Edwards asked the town to approve the board raising $115,000 for the Town Vehicles and Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, rather than the original $50,000 on the warrant. Town officials had located a used 2013 grader that they could buy for about $132,500, far below the going rate for a new one. To balance the budget, the Selectboard recommended that the town nix an expensive article that asked residents to approve the expenditure of nearly $190,000 for repairs on Ryder Corner Road at the end of Reeds Mill Road. Of that figure, $95,225 would have come from taxation.
Residents voted down the road repairs, and approved the necessary funds for the grader. They approved all other articles on the warrant.
The budget for general municipal operations is $115,000 higher than the previous year’s, but the Selectboard explained that the spending increase was smaller than it appeared. The town used to have separate warrant articles for debt service, which it now includes in the general budget. Taking this into account, the increase was about $30,000.
This year, Domenic DiMaggio kept up the tradition of interrogating small expenses. Among other probes, he asked the Selectboard to explain why the town needed $3,000 to cover election expenses or $4,500 for planning and zoning.
“Seems that the Selectboard is very good at padding all these numbers,” he said. Edwards explained that with three upcoming elections, the town will need $3,000. The town also plans more public meetings for planning and zoning, and will incur costs with each one.
“They’re doing the best they can,” and without any crystal ball, chimed in Susan Edwards. She pointed out that any extra money would go back into the town’s general fund.
DiMaggio raised a motion to amend the highway and streets line item on the municipal budget from $216,158 to an even $200,000. Edwards also gave an itemized breakdown of the roads and highway expenses.
“We have the best roads around,” Russell Edwards said. “I would have you think about how good we have it.”
The room clapped. The motion failed, and Croydon approved the budget.
The town also approved an $8,000 contribution to the construction of a small building at the base of a cell tower. Hanover dispatch will use the tower and the electronic equipment in the building to provide first responder service to town. Fire Chief Jason Rook assured that switching from New London to Hanover dispatch would lead to better emergency services. While some objected to the expense, others emphasized they were funding a public service.
“I really appreciate the town supporting the Fire Department,” Rook said after the meeting. It can be hard to fund a private department, and “I had been expecting more of a fight,” he said.
Moderator Willis Ballou steered the room through the debates. “What is your wish?” he asked after he read off each article, and he jovially cut off any “private conversations” that disrupted the rhythm of the meeting. But he did not count Saturday among the toughest Town Meetings Croydon has had. He has seen many — he has served as moderator since the 1980s, and his father was moderator before him.
But he turned 74 last week, and he has decided to retire. The meeting ended with a standing ovation for Ballou’s years of service.
Claire Potter is a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at cpotter@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.