Chelsea Voters Agree

At Amicable School Mtg.

By Cornelia Cesari

Voters at the Chelsea School District began with questions about the impact of former principal Karl Stein’s severance package, before agreeing to the proposed budget.

"Now, I think Barrett is doing a wonderful job," prefaced Frank Keene (referring to interim principal Barrett Williams), "but why did the school board give Karl a two-year contract last year and then four months later, ask him to resign?

Board member Chris Byrne confirmed that Stein did resign and went on to say that the $53,000 buyout was "unbudgeted money" and had been paid out.

The board noted that some of the money had been saved by their decision not to hire a new assistant principal when Williams vacated that position to replace Stein.

Despite this brief confrontation, the tone of the meeting was supportive; the $2,988,068 budget passed easily and the two school directors whose terms were expiring, Emily Marshia and Tracy Crocker, were re-elected unanimously to an eruption of applause.

The board achieved a budget reduction of 3.9% from last year’s approved $3,109,012 budget. They did this by reconfiguring high school assignments somewhat, reducing the number of full-time teachers without changing course offerings. There is also a slight reduction of salary due to a "leaner administration."

With declining enrollment, the per-pupil cost has risen but remains below the state average. Marshia earnestly promised taxpayers that the board is working hard to balance the needs of the students with budgetary concerns. The residential tax rate will be 1.21 (actual rate 1.289). Most taxpayers will have their school taxes reduced due to "income sensitivity" in the school funding system.

Roof Repairs

The most extensive discussion of the meeting surrounded the motion to allocate $33,158 to the capital reserve fund, which was established last year and contains about $22,000. By depositing money every year, the board hopes to control the tax rate over time and avoid a significant increase in a few years, when the anticipated $500,000 worth of work will be needed to upgrade the school.

Others were concerned about making that deposit despite a projected $25,000 deficit.

"I cannot guarantee that we will not have a deficit," said Board Chair Marshia, "but for the last three years, we have projected a deficit and then ended up with a surplus." She credited a conservative bookkeeper and frugal staff and administration.

Marshia then passed the microphone to Head of Maintenance Terry Libby who confirmed, "The building will have some immediate needs, particularly roof and insulation."

He noted that the school is losing a lot of heat through the roof, and the heating system is also in need of attention. "Any of you have a 30-year-old furnace at home, it probably needs replacement, too."

After that, the motion was passed expeditiously, and the school meeting closed at 10:15, lasting just an hour.

With this drop quote, if there’s room:

Who’s woodchucking potatoes out of there?

—John Fraser

(in reference to withdrawals from the garage reserve fund)

Chelsea Elects Colby Selectman,

Won’t Be Hiring Town Manager

By Cornelia Cesari

Voters showed appreciation for the service of former selectboard member Carol Olsen, and welcomed Ken Colby, who was elected unanimously to the open seat.

Colby grew up in Chelsea, graduated from Chelsea High School in 1991, and Vermont Technical College in 1994 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Colby works in the family business at Vermont Wireform, as a toolmaker and production supervisor.

"Running production is a little different than running a town," he admits, "but I supervise every day."

Colby’s wife, Karen, teaches math at Tunbridge Central School, and they have two young children, Jake and Emma.

The only other new town officer is Peggy Pelckman Hook, who will fill the first constable position. She is not entirely new, though, as she has already been acting as second constable, dogcatcher, and health officer.

Voters passed a motion to add another $50,000 to the Town Garage Reserve Fund (which currently contains about $150,000), but not without some lively discussion.

Robert Sanborn and John Fraser questioned expenditures from the existing fund and a few voters wanted some assurance that money from the fund would not be spent before a town garage plan is chosen and approved.

Sanborn recounted, "The original wording of the motion, when the fund was set up, stated that the townspeople would approve expenditures. Some of the money has been spent."

"Who’s woodchucking potatoes out of there?" demanded Fraser.

Ackerman assured voters, "A garage will not be constructed without the approval of the town. [However,] (t)here is no way to put together a project of this size without engineering and architectural services, so we had to spend some money, although many of these hours have been donated."

Town Manager

An article authorizing the selectboard to hire a town manager at $60,000 per year, precipitated the most contentious and confusing discussion of the day and eventually was defeated.

Pomerantz explained that because all three selectmen have day jobs, there isn’t enough time to seek out grants, manage employees, and handle the increasing paperwork required by various regulations.

Jack Johnson, former selectboard member, shared, "Initially my reaction was ‘no.’ But I got to thinking about it, and I used to sit up there [at the selectboard table]." He reflected on the many responsibilities, and concluded "three people who are trying to make their own living cannot handle it all. How many hours we need a manager, I don’t know."

While some Chelsea residents thought $60,000 sounded like a high figure, others felt it would be too low. The board reported that other towns are paying anywhere from $30,000-150,000.

Proposed alternate solutions included going to a five-person board and establishing more committees; but lack of available volunteers was a common theme on Tuesday.

Dave Bradshaw reported that First Branch Ambulance had to raise its budget to hire a full-time EMT for the daytime hours, as well as a part-time employee. Also, the position of lister left vacant by Chris Allen’s resignation remained unfilled due to lack of interest.

"Selectboard members often end up doing more than their share because no one will do it," related Pomerantz. "We are looking for an assistant zoning administrator and a lister, and can’t find anyone willing to volunteer time for their community.

"Perhaps there is some retired person who would volunteer hours or work for a low wage. There is a tremendous amount of talent in this town, but it has yet to come out."

Despite the defeat of the town manager article, the special appropriations of $13,260 and the proposed budget of $523,344.10, reflecting a 23% increase, passed without discussion.

SIDEBAR

Benches Will Honor Martins

At Chelsea’s Town Meeting, Parks Commission member Caleb Rick paid tribute to Dr. Brewster Martin, who died in 2008 and to whom the town report was dedicated.

Rick announced the launch of a fundraising campaign in the memory of Brewster and Clara Martin to install new benches on the commons.

A survey was available to ascertain what styles the community prefers.