February 26 Select Board Minutes

You'll find the official, approved minutes here. As always feel free to comment or post on the discussion board.

A Half-Hour Town Meeting

Last night's Town Meeting was short and sweet, lasting just 30 minutes. Each of the articles passed with overwhelming support. 

Bob Proulx asked why the Town Report had the two auditors' positions as one-year terms, when it turns out state law has them serve for staggered terms, with one serving a two-year term. Town attorney Bernie Waugh quoted Supreme Court Justice Learned Hand, who said that local government needs "a little play in the joints." Town Moderator put it a bit more succinctly, saying it had been a mistake.

Danny got a standing ovation for serving as Moderator for 25 years, and Gary Hamel presented him with a painting of him in Maine. Sharon Proulx also received a painting for her years of service in town offices. 

In fact, there was more applause than comment throughout the meeting. 

Bob Ells Wins Close Race, School Bond Fails

Voter turnout was unusually strong for a local election, and races were tight. Selectboard incumbent Bob Ells got three more votes than challenger George White, winning 68-65. In the other contested races, Dave Stacy (Budget Committee), Pat Mercer (Welfare Officer), and Christine and Bill Souza (Auditor) came out winners. 

For the third time in five years, the Mascoma School District renovation bond issue failed to get the required 60%, with 1,807 (59.3%) yes votes and 1,240 no's.

Specifics below. Congratulations to the winners, and thank you all for your service to our town. 

Don't forget Town Meeting Tonight. Potluck at 5, meeting at 7.

Selectboard
George White  65
Bob Ells           68

Treasurer
Tessa Michetti   92

Town Clerk
Sophie Seace   137

Tax Collector
Sharon Proulx  137

Deeding Agent
Sharon Proulx  137

Budget Committee
Colin Higbie   48
Dave Stacy   54

Planning Board (2 positions)
Scott Sanborn   133
Albert Emerson   53

Welfare Officer
Pat Mercer   76
Don Pfaefflin   54

Road Agent
Scott Sanborn   138

Trustee of Trust Funds
Jeanne Minasian   120

Cemetery Agent
Ed Saulen   128

Auditor (2 positions)
   Christina Souza   95
   William Souza   86
   Henry Minasian   27

Supervisor of the Checklist
Laurie Sanborn   92

For Mascoma School voting: 

School Board - Canaan.  Wayne Morrison 98 

                         Enfield.    Danielle Thompson 101

                         Grafton.    Brewster Gove 71

                                          Robert Constantine 36 (we don't declare Gove the winner

                                               because the results of 5 towns must be totaled)

District Budget Committee

                         Canaan. Eleanor Davis. 92

                         Enfield.  Jeffrey Briand. 90

Articles:

Article 3. (This is the big school renovation bond issue; again, 5 town results must be totaled)

Yes 68.  No 73

Article 4.  Yes 79.  No. 56

Article 5.  Yes 86.  No. 50

Article 6.  Yes 80.  No. 56

Article 7   Yes 82.  No. 52

Article 8.  Yes 84.  No 50

Article 9.  Yes 80.  No 54

Candidate for Auditor

Voting is just about to begin, and we have two new write-in candidate for auditor (the other candidate is Henry Minasian).  This is from Christy and Bill Souza. Don't forget to vote! The polls will be open till 7.

Hello,

My name is Christy Souza and my husband Bill and I are running for the positions of Town Auditor as write-in candidates.  We moved to Orange from Maine in December 2012 to our home on the Cross Road.  Bill grew up in Canaan and much of his family still lives in Canaan and Enfield so this was a homecoming for him.  We have lived many places and both of us agree that here in Orange is our favorite.  We wanted to find a way to serve the Town and its residents to ensure that it continues to be place that we are proud to call home for years to come.  The position of Town Auditor would allow us to serve the town in an important way but still have the time necessary to serve the needs of our business customers.

I have run my own business, garden design and construction, since I graduated from Smith College in 1990.  Bill ran a successful Goodyear tire and auto service business for 15 years before pursuing his passion for building things.  We teamed up our creative passions 10 years ago and have run a successful garden and home design and construction business together.  Since moving here we are rebuilding the construction business but have added farming to our pursuits. 

We also hold positions of responsibility in our church, St.Helena’s/St.Mary’s Parish. Bill is on the finance committee and I am on the Pastoral Council so we know how to work cooperatively with others toward a common goal.

We believe that our experience with managing businesses including all the bookkeeping  and working with many people to achieve a desired outcome makes us capable to execute the duties of the Town Auditor position and ask for your vote tomorrow.  Please be sure to write-in each of our names separately.

Roads Update

Our Road Agent, Scott Sanborn writes:

With warmer weather in the forecast (for which I'm sure we're all ready  ... is it me or does it seem like several weeks since we've seen the sun??) our town roads will be getting posted with the usual 6 ton weight limit over the next day or two.

Essential service and emergency vehicles are excluded of course, and  if conditions permit, a temporary waiver MAY be granted by the Road Agent upon request. 667-8237 or scsanborn@myfairpoint.net.

Also, apologies for the slick roads last week ... while the rest of the world was warm enough to melt off our daily flurries it was cold enough up here on the mountain to pack them all down into a nice bed of ice which sort of snuck up on us!  We've been out & about and I trust you'll find all is back to normal!

Hope to see you all at town Meeting tomorrow!