It's Town Meeting time again

In March of 1982, Vermont town meetings were catapulted into national headlines. The reason? In response to a groundswell of opposition to the drift towards US-Soviet nuclear war, voters in 155 Vermont town meetings approved a resolution calling for a mutual freeze on nuclear weapons. It did not prevail everywhere. The resolution was defeated in 22 Vermont towns and tabled without a vote in 8 others. While the nuclear freeze was ultimately not endorsed by the US Senate, the size of the protest in the north and east of the country forced President Reagan to reverse his rhetoric that a nuclear war would be winnable and declare instead that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought." 

While town meetings in Vermont and other northeast states do not normally address themes at the national level, they are still regarded as the oldest and purest representation of democracy in the US. Town meetings began in the New England colonies at the outset of the 1600s as a way to discuss and make decisions on matters affecting the community in a formal setting. They ensured local autonomy and self-government, particularly when it came to tax laws and religious freedom. The town's meeting house, built at taxpayer expense, served both as the space for this most important of town business as well as a place of worship.

The format of town meeting is one that permits registered voters to participate directly in town governance with no intermediary between the voters and public decisions. Residents are allowed to air their opinions on town affairs as part of public deliberation and decision-making on the issues placed before the voters in the Warned Articles. People who are not registered voters may not vote and may only speak at the discretion of the Moderator or by agreement of the meeting.

Two weeks or more ahead of Thetford Town Meeting Day on Saturday, March 1, Town Reports were mailed to every household that requested one so voters might familiarize themselves with the Warned Articles and the Town budget. The Town Report is available online for reading or downloading, and print copies are also available at Town Hall and Town libraries. In addition, the Selectboard will hold an informational  "pre-town meeting" on Monday, February 24, to go over the budget and the Warned Articles, many of which pertain to the spending of money for operation of the Town, so that residents have an opportunity to have their questions answered. 

Town meetings are "structured deliberative assemblies" that operate under a parliamentary process encapsulated in Robert's Rules of Order. The Rules provide a step-by-step framework for the meeting to avoid confusion and chaos and to promote fairness in an orderly, efficient manner. The Town Moderator presides over the meeting and enforces the Rules. Voters must be recognized by the moderator before they may speak, only one voter may speak at a time, and the Moderator makes sure speakers stay on topic and may impose a time limit. The Moderator also decides questions of procedure, unless overruled by a majority vote.

Common procedures include amending a Warned Article. Any voter may propose an amendment to an article under discussion. The amendment needs to be seconded, then debated. Voters must vote on whether to accept the amendment first, before returning to the main Article as amended (or not). If a voter wishes to change a previous decision of the meeting, they must make a "motion to reconsider" before the meeting adjourns. Only a voter who voted with the majority may request such a reconsideration.

If a voter feels an issue has received ample discussion, they may move to end debate by "calling the question." Ending debate at this juncture requires a two-thirds majority vote. If the motion fails, the debate continues. A voter who feels that the rules are being ignored may interrupt and say "point of order." The Moderator must address this before proceeding with the meeting.

Voting is usually in public, either by voice or by holding up voter cards (supplied). However, if seven or more voters request it, a vote may be conducted by secret ballot.

The Thetford Town Report may be accessed through this link:  https://www.thetfordvt.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/5868/638743585207432282. The Warned Articles are on page 10 of the Report, and the budget is on page 62.

Education taxes are not a focus of this article, as they are the subject of the separate School Meeting which will follow the Town Meeting on March 1.

Overall, the Town tax rate has increased by 6.01% from last year. To calculate actual Property Tax, the Total Taxable Value of a property is divided  by 100. The result is multiplied by both the municipal and education tax rates. Residents may refer to the School Report for information on Thetford’s education expenses (link).

In Article 3 of the Town Report, the town proposes to raise $1,489,823 from taxes for the 2025 budgeted expenses of the Town General Fund, a 5.48% increase over the previous year when this figure was $1,462,907. An additional amount of $468,217 will be raised by non-tax revenue.

In Article 4 the town proposes to raise $1,473,768 from taxes for the budgeted expenses of the Department of Public Works (formerly the Highway Department). This is a 6.75% increase over the previous year. The amount of $173,900 will be raised by non-tax revenue. 

In Article 5 the town’s contribution to the Thetford Volunteer Fire Department has increased to $356,738, from the previous year’s figure of $337,260, an increase of 5.77%.

Every year the Town donates money to regional social service organizations that provide services to Thetford Residents. Almost all have not asked for an increase in 2025, with the exception of Senior Solutions which is asking for the town to double its contribution from $1400 to $2800. In addition a new social service, the Special Needs Support Center, is asking for $1,194. 

Of note, Article 7 asks the voters to authorize $25,000 for a new position – a contracted Social Services Coordinator. Half of this expense ($12,500) will be covered for now by the Thetford Farm Trust Fund (formerly known as the Anna Poore Trust), a private trust that is managed by the Trustees of Trusts. It was established to provide emergency, short-term financial assistance to individuals or families as recommended by the Town Service Officer.

Article 7 acknowledges that the Town has taken over the management of the Evergreen Rest Cemetery in Thetford Center village behind Town Hall. The Article asks to use the Evergreen Rest Trust Fund money to start a Town capital reserve fund for maintaining Thetford's cemeteries..

And, harking back to historical Town resolutions on national issues, 5% of voters petitioned to place the last Article on the Warning. It asks whether the voters will support a pledge affirming "commitment to freedom, justice and equality for the Palestinian people and all people," oppose "all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination and oppression," and more. Other towns, including Winooski, Vergennes, Brattleboro, Newfane, and Montpelier, have this pledge on their Warning.

Expect a lively debate on this one.