Stockbridge Voters Increase Budget, Keep Garbage Pickup
By Shari McLaughlin

In an unusual move, the voters of Stockbridge voted to increase the town’s proposed budget from $764,471 to $814,271. This came about because voters didn’t accept the elimination of town-wide garbage removal and voted to increase the budget by $49,800 to reinstate the service provided by Benson’s Rubbish Removal.

Benson’s cannot serve all homes in Stockbridge due to road conditions, particularly in the winter. The selectboard felt it could not justify keeping the service unless it was available to all, but as resident Cheryl Rivers pointed out, there are other services paid for by the town that not all residents directly benefit from, including road maintenance and secondary education.

Voters were also concerned about the extra expense individuals would have to absorb to arrange for rubbish removal and also expressed fears people would respond by simply dumping garbage wherever they could. In addition to increasing the budget, the selectboard agreed to appoint a committee to study the issue.

Stockbridge voters also voted to change the property tax payment schedule from equal installments due in August and October to equal installments in August and November to give property owners a little more time to pay the second installment.

The ECFibernet Interlocal Contract got resounding and unanimous approval with computers set up to pre-register people on the spot. Project liaison Peter Esterquest gave a brief overview of the project but thanks to widespread public outreach and information, there were few questions or concerns about the project.

The perennial debate over whether to hire the sheriff’s department to patrol Stockbridge roads on a part-time basis seemed to lose steam this year, with opponents of the measure mounting a half-hearted attack. The measure passed with little resistance and a few good laughs.

The lengthiest discussion was held over the proposed purchase of a new truck for the road crew (who got a round of applause for their excellent work). Voters ultimately passed the measure, but not before amending it by striking the brand name "International" from the article.

State House Rep. Sandy Haas was on hand for the meeting to update residents on her work in the legislature and Kent Butterfield moderated the meeting. Girl Scout Rebecca Burns sold cookies, the Stockbridge Central School sixth graders held a bake sale to raise money for their class trip and the historical society had copies of its new book "Stockbridge, Vermont Revisited" for sale.

There was a good turn out and if you didn’t attend, you just might have gotten voted into an office. If someone asks your name at Town Meeting, be careful before responding—just ask Green Mountain Grill owner and new Cemetery Commissioner Terry Reddick.

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