CHARLESTON -- Charleston’s 2010 Town Meeting was notable for its brevity, as voters were ushered through this year’s warned articles with swift efficiency. Credit goes to Jean Wilson, first time moderator and the first woman in memory to wield that authority, and to knowledgeable town officers who fielded all questions with ready responses reflective of their familiarity with all phases of the budget and management process.
Within an hour and a half of the ten o’clock call-to-order, all officers had been re-elected unopposed to their posts with two exceptions. Former Charleston Principal Linda Studer replaced School Director Nancy Tessier, who stepped down as of the first of this year, and Grace Frizzell was elected as delinquent tax collector, a post previously held by her husband Ken Frizzell, who, tragically, was killed in the line of duty with the Charleston Volunteer Fire Department in the past year. Additionally, both the town and school budgets were passed, with brief discussion, before the noontime lunch break.
School Director Jason Brueck addressed the assembly, noting the diligent effort the board had made to hold costs down in the face of dwindling enrollments, reductions in state aid to education and uncertainty as to the future of state and district plans to consolidate small schools with the aim to cut costs further. Mr. Brueck cautioned that while this year’s budget is down $57,930 from last year, reflecting a reduction in staff that brings Charleston into alignment with Holland and Jay-Westfield schools with similar student enrollment, the coming year is filled with budgeting uncertainties, which may be more difficult to resolve. He referred to this being a negotiation year with the district and teachers’ union at odds over the contract. Support for the district position calling for a 3 percent reduction in salary was voiced by one voter, which was countered by the observation that teachers one hour south of Charleston make five to seven thousand more per year comparatively, begging the question of how to keep and attract the best possible teacher candidates to provide quality education for our area’s students.
Another voter questioned the need for a full-time guidance counselor. Support for that position came from board members, principal and citizens alike who all spoke to the importance of services provided. An improved school climate supports academic achievement, stated Mr. Brueck, and further endorsement came from Dan Whipple who cited the support and advocacy provided by the Charleston guidance counselor to students transitioning to North Country Union High School from Charleston.
Reflection of voter frustration about education spending was evident in one question about how much might be saved if parents bought their children’s pencils and markers, and another wondering why teacher salaries were not printed in the town report as in previous years. Jason Brueck offered that these and other opinions and concerns were welcome input for future planning years and thanked voters for voicing them. The proposed budget, $1,511,870, was approved by paper ballot 50-30.
Similarly, all requests for town budget articles were passed by voice vote with any questions answered succinctly by Town Clerk Jeanine Bennett or members of the select board to the satisfaction of those present. Total appropriations for the town, including net assessment of $454,692 plus an additional $20,000 for the road equipment fund and $2,600 for the cemetery commission were approved. Other requests were granted as warned, including $37,131 for the volunteer fire department. An effort to cut the Dailey Memorial Library request was turned down and the full appropriation of $800 granted.
An unprecedented move by Moderator Jean Wilson to bundle the final five of twelve appropriation requests, from a variety of community interests, into one motion was met with approval, albeit not unanimously. Once voters dispatched these unamended requests with a “yes” vote, the meeting adjourned in record time at 1:12 p.m.
“Short and sweet!” one citizen commented, smiling as she exited on the way to enjoying the better part of a sunny, spring-like afternoon.
Towns 
