Town Meeting Review
Thank you to everyone who voted and came out to spend the day with us at Town Meeting. It really is one of our most stressful but best times of the year. People that do not attend Town Meeting, in both my hometown of Westminster and folks that I talk with in Putney, wonder why I love it so much. It is simple for me, it is the one place where I can see old friends, meet new people, share a good meal and the most important thing to me is that I feel like I can make a difference. I often go to Town Meeting with an idea of how I will vote on a particular topic and end up voting a completely different way because of the discussion. Many people say, “My one vote can’t make a difference”, I have seen one or two votes make a difference in many decisions. At Town Meeting it does matter!!
Thanks again and I hope to see you at next year’s Town Meeting!! If you were not able to attend but would like to watch you can stream it online at BCTV at http://www.brattleborotv.org/watch/video-library or you can read the minutes on the Putney Town Website at www.putneyvt.org, in the documents section, under Town Meeting.
One of the decisions made at Town Meeting was to purchase a new road grader. The grader that we have is currently getting an engine replaced and has been a troubled piece of equipment for many years. We want to thank the voters for helping us move ahead with this purchase. You should see the new grader out soon!!
After a really great discussion regarding the request for exemption on three properties from Landmark College, it was decided that in order to make decisions on these types of requests, the Town needs more information. At the last Selectboard meeting, based on a suggestion at Town Meeting, the board decided to go ahead with forming a committee. It will be made up of nine (9) members and will be tasked to review Vermont State Statutes that apply to properties that qualify for tax exempt status, examine all properties that have tax exempt status and compile data to help answer some of the questions that came up at Town Meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee please email me at tm@putneyvt.org.
We are looking to fill other vacancies for the following positions. If you are interested in learning more about these positions please feel free to contact me. We are working on a description of each position for our web site and will post that as soon as it is done.
Animal Advisory Board one (1) vacancy
Conservation Commission two (2) vacancies
Windham Regional Commission Representative one (1) vacancy
Planning Commission one (1) vacancy
Windham Solid Waste Alternate Representative one (1) vacancy
Animal Control Officer one (1) vacancy
Constable one (1) vacancy
Public Safety Committee two (2) vacancies
Lister one (1) vacancy
Remember to stop by my office anytime and say hello!
Thanks for reading!!
Cynthia Stoddard
Putney Town Manager
tm@putneyvt.org / (802) 387-5862 x11