Page 54 - 2020 Annual Report

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MINUTES

MARCH 2, 2020

The legal voters of the Town of Brighton met at the Brighton Town Hall in Island Pond, Vermont on Monday, March Essex County Resource and Conservation District far exceed this cost. They have done a lot of
2 at 7:30 PM to transact the following business: work for us and they help us to get grants. Carried by voice vote. The Ayes have it.
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Present: Joel Cope, Heather McElroy, and Ray Fontaine 11. Shall the Town of Brighton enter into a communications union district (CUD) to be known as NEK
Community Broadband, under the provisions of 30 V.S. A. Ch 82.? Carmen Murray made a motion
Heather McElroy called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
to move this Article to the floor, seconded by June Goodband. Michael Strait explained that
Ray Fontaine made a motion to adjourn and continue the 2020 Brighton Annual Town Meeting at the American it does not cost the Town anything by becoming part of the CUD. By joining the CUD, high speed
Legion, located at 60 Main Street, Island Pond, Vermont, March 2 , 2020, at 7: 40 PM. Joel Cope seconds the internet access will be available to everyone in Town. At this time, this option covers a limited
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motion, all in favor. So carried. area. This Article was carried by voice vote. The Ayes have it.

Tom Donnellan called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM and the legal voters of the Town of Brighton continued the 12. To see if the voters will appropriate $1,000 to Rural Edge for the SASH program (Support and
Town of Brighton’s Annual Town Meeting at the American Legion. Services for at Home), which coordinates resources to support Vermonters who choose to live
independently at home. Marty Frizzell made a motion to bring this Article to the floor, seconded
Moderator, Tom Donnellan, read Articles 1-3 and stated that these Articles would be voted on by Australian Ballot by Jim Webb. Gary Chester and Melinda Lamoureoux explained the benefits of this program to
at the polls on March 3 , 2020, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the American Legion in Island Pond, Vermont. the Town’s people. Currently SASH provides services to 37 people in Brighton. This Article was
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carried by voice vote. The Ayes have it.
4. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag had already been conducted at the beginning of the Brighton
Town School District Meeting.
13. To see if the voters will exempt from the local and statewide property taxes for the Island Pond
Tom Donnellan introduced, Paul Lefebvre, state representative, who spoke about the most recent Lodge F&AM for five years. Craig Goulet made a motion to move this article to the floor. Ralph
changes in ACT 250. Wilkins seconds the motion. Craig Goulet said that the Island Pond Lodge is a great benefit to
youth services, Shriners Hospital, and gives to many other good non-profit organizations. This
5. To hear the reports of the town officers for the past year and to take action thereon. No one asked Article was carried by a voice vote. The Ayes have it.
to hear the reports. Passed.
14. Shall the voters approve an appropriation of $200 to the Lake Memphremagog Watershed
6. To hear the report of the Water Commissioners for the past year and to take action thereon. Marty Association? Carmen Murray made a motion to bring this Article to the floor, seconded by
Frizzell said that the state is now requiring us to test for PFOA’s in our water. At first the state said Marty Frizzell. Michael Strait said that the selectboard is not in support of this. Brighton
that if our results came back clean, which ours did, we would not have to test again for 3 years. They currently spends more money on our lake than Newport does for theirs. By voice vote, this
have since changed their mind and are now requiring us to test yearly. Article did not pass.

7. To see if the voters shall fix the number of installments and the payment due dates for the collection 15. To see if the voters will raise money by property taxes to pay the general expenses of the town
of taxes as authorized in Title 32, V.S.A Section 4872. Recommended payments to be due on August and if so, how much. Carmen Murray moved this Article to the floor, seconded by Jim Webb.
19, September 19 and November 19. Craig Goulet made a motion to move this Article to the floor, Tom Donnellan asked the Town’s people to vote on Line Item #1167 being the proposed
seconded by Carmen Murray. Carried by voice vote. The Ayes have it. budget in the amount of $1,555,873.52. Carried by voice vote. The Ayes have it.

8. To see if the voters shall authorize collection of 2020 taxes through the treasurer as provided for in Line item 1154 shall be reworded next year to say Recreation/Swim Lessons.
Title32, V.S.A. Sections 4792 and 4793. Carmen Murray made a motion to move this Article to the
floor, seconded by Jim Webb. Carried by voice vote. The Ayes have it. 16. To transact any other non-binding business that may legally come before this meeting.
There was no other business.
9. To see if the voters shall authorize the Board of Selectmen to borrow money for the operating
expenses of the Town of Brighton in anticipation of taxes--such borrowing not to exceed 90 Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM
percent of all anticipated revenues. Craig Goulet made motion to move this Article to the floor,
seconded by Jim Webb. Carried by voice vote. The Ayes have it.
Respectfully Submitted,
10. To see if the voters will increase the appropriation to the Essex County Resource and Conservation
District to a total of $500. Marty Frizzell made a motion to move this Article to the floor,
seconded by Jim Webb. Michael Strait, chairperson of the Selectboard, pointed out that the _______________________ ______________________ _____________________
Selectboard supports increasing this appropriation, because the benefits we receive from the Lisa A. Moore Michael Strait Tom Donnellan
Ass’t. Town Clerk Selectboard Chairperson Town Moderator

54 Town of Brighton, VT 2020 Annual Report 55