Unusual Issues On the Warning

For Royalton's Town Meeting

By Richard Radford

At Royalton’s Town Meeting Day March 6, aside from the usual business of electing town officials and approving of the budget, a few additional votes are taking place.

Voters will be asked to adopt the revised town plan, whether they wish to eliminate the position of town auditor, and whether constables should be prohibited from performing any law enforcement duties.

Theresa M. Harrington, town clerk of Royalton, said the vote to remove town auditor is being revisited after it was voted upon in 2005, and turned down by just seven votes. Harrington said she believes the position is no longer necessary and redundant.

The vote on the constabulary, which might sound more severe than it is, is also to remove a redundancy of funding for constables, as there is now a police department in the town.

Additionally, voters will be given a ballot for several elected positions in Royalton, the majority of which are not contested.

Three positions are open for the town selectboard. Larry F. Trottier and John P. Dumville are running unopposed for the three and two year positions, respectively. Three candidates, Ernest L. Amsden, Ronald E. Benson, and Glenn Grote, are competing for the remaining year of Denis Ives’ position. Ives resigned from the selectboard in January.

Robert L. Hull and Roni Johnson are both running for the position of second constable for two years.

Karen Kerin is running for the position of auditor for three years, and Grant Lester Corwin II for the remaining one year of a three year term, the positions up for possible elimination in the vote.

Most of the positions are uncontested. David Ainsworth is running for moderator, town and school district for one year. Harrington is running both for town clerk and town treasurer. Jeff Barcelow is running for lister. Ilerdon Mayer is running for collector of delinquent taxes. Frank F. Berk is running for town agent, as well as school director for two years. Joshua "Bushrod" Powers is running for trustee of public funds. Allison N. Fulcher is running for grand juror. Timothy P. Murphy is running for school director for a three year term.

No candidates are listed for the positions of cemetery commissioner or the library trustee for five years.

The town budget for Royalton organizations is being voted on, a total amount of $110,405 for 2007, a 12 % increase from the 2006 budget of $98,328. The majority of the increase, $10,000, is being requested for the Royalton Fire Department and Rescue Squad.

A nominal increase for service organizations is also being voted on.

The preliminary town meeting will be held at the Academy Building in Royalton 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27.

The Royalton Town Meeting will take place a 10 a.m. March 6, 2007 at the high school auditorium in South Royalton Village.

Harrington said the last day for residents to register to vote is by 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26.