It’s a no for Articles 6 and 7; yes to Tenney and Mudge, budgets pass
The results were in, but not until midnight—there was a lot to count, and a lot of write-ins. Town Clerk Mary Mead said Tuesday that the Australian ballot resulted in a record number of Town Meeting Day votes.
Article 1, regarding tax payment due dates, passed 1184 to 46.
Article 2, exempting the Charlotte Grange from paying property taxes for the next five years, passed 1047 to 172.
Article 3, approving the town budget, passed 997 to 225.
Article 4, approving $62,000 raised by property taxes for the Trails Reserve Fund, passed 819 to 423.
Article 5, changing Town Meeting Day to the Saturday preceding the first Tuesday in March, passed 962 to 256.
Article 6, amending the Town Plan to increase the boundaries of the East Charlotte Village Commercial District, was defeated 859 to 389.
Article 7, amending the LURs in the East Charlotte Village Commercial District, was defeated 885 to 365.
Articles 8 and 9, amending the LURs to make changes to accessory on-farm business regulations and change nuts and bolts language and updates, both passed, 741 to 363 and 841 to 255, respectively.
Article 10, allowing the road commissioner to use his sole discretion regarding percentages when applying road salt and sand, including the option for 100 percent salt, passed 1067 to 114.
Jim Laberge received enough write-in votes for each of the three cemetery commissioner positions available, so he will be able to choose which one he wants and the other two will remain vacant.
Robert Smith, library trustee, Meghan Metzler, Champlain Valley School District school director, Charlie Russell, town moderator, Moe Harvey, trustee of public funds, and Hugh Lewis, Jr., road commissioner, all won their races—they all ran unopposed. Mary Mead won her unopposed re-election bids for delinquent tax collector, town clerk, and town treasurer. The former is a one-year term and the other two are three-year terms.
Frank Tenney was re-elected with 474 votes and will serve a three-year term on the Selectboard. His opponent Justin Bora received 299 votes and a write-in campaign for two-year term candidate Mike Dunbar yielded 315 votes.
Lewis Mudge defeated Dunbar for the two-year term, 753 to 323.
Here are the Champlain Valley School District voting results:
Article VII Budget passed: Yes: 3,701, No: 1,446
Article VIII Fund Balance passed: Yes: 4,378, No: 741
Article IX Buses passed: Yes: 3,535, No: 1,600
Board Member Elections:
Charlotte: Meghan Metzler elected to a three-year term (replaces outgoing Jeffrey Martin)
Hinesburg: Keith Roberts re-elected
Shelburne: Barbra Marden re-elected to a three-year year term
Williston: Josilyn Adams and Brendan McMahon both re-elected to three-year terms