Selectboard Revises Budget and Warning Drafts, Will Finalize January 23
By Nancy Wood,
January 22, 2012…..

Responding to forceful arguments by David Miskell, Robin Reid, Robert Mack and others at the January 17 meeting, the Selectboard removed the line item for a sidewalk in the west Village from the draft highway budget for fiscal year 2013. The new draft warning for Town Meeting now includes sidewalks as a separate article to be debate and voted from the floor. The board will finalize both the budget and the warning at its regular meeting Monday, January 23.
Miskell was concerned that the sidewalks would come out of funds that would otherwise be available for highway projects. The Selectboard corrected him, pointing out that the $77,000 in the budget would be in addition to the funds that Road Commissioner Jr Lewis had requested.
The Selectboard argued that even as part of the budget, the sidewalk issue could still be debated at length, and the voters – through the amendment process – would have ample opportunity to remove it from the budget.
Reid responded that it is more than a budget issue; she expressed concern that building sidewalks in the Village would be another step away from being a rural community to suburbanization of Charlotte. She and others indicated that there was a perception that the Selectboard was avoiding public discussion by putting sidewalks in the budget, and requested that there be a separate article so voters will know specifically when it would be debated. There was also a request to have it voted by Australian ballot, but the Selectboard indicated that Charlotte doesn’t usually put items of this type on the ballot. It would preclude discussion and amendment during Town Meeting.
Jenny Cole, Ellie Russell and Patrice Machavern, members of the Sidewalk Committee, indicated that the committee was ready and willing to provide information during the discussion at Town Meeting – at whatever point it occurred - and to answer questions that are raised.
The Selectboard meeting Monday evening, January 23, begins at 7 p.m. with an opportunity for public comment. The discussion and final vote on the budget and articles for the warning are scheduled for 8 p.m. To see the agenda, budget, warning, tax rate estimate and materials for other items on the agenda, go to http://bit.ly/zKIdnI.