LOWELL — Two changes to Lowell’s administration were proposed this year and both were soundly rejected.  The first proposed that planning commissioners be elected not appointed, the rationale being it is more democratic that way and that elected commissioners would have the people behind them more.  But resident David Robitille objected.  “If it ain't broke don't fix it,” and “The process is meant to slow decisions down, not speed it up and let hot heads prevail.”  The article was defeated — passed over on a voice vote.  The same fate awaited the proposal to elect town officers by Australian ballot — in this case the motion to pass over came before any discussion at all.

In the race for select board incumbent Dwight Richardson, when asked what he would do for the town, said he would try to do the same he has been doing — and that anyone with an issue should come to see the board.  The challenger Steve Clark said he would cut waste and taxes and run the town more like a business.  Mr. Richardson won 89 to 38.

Delvin Warner attempted to unseat Delinquent Tax Collector Pam Tetreault.  Mr. Warner said he would give back to the delinquent party the 8 percent the collector receives, that he would work for nothing.  Pam Tetreault noted the 8 percent was set by Vermont statute, that it was not her choice.  Mr. Warner lost 37 votes to Ms. Tetreault’s 93.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department’s representative Officer David Jacobs said “everybody smirked” when he picked the Lowell Town meeting to visit, but it was not too bad this year.  The proposal to reduce the department’s request of $10,442.45 by half was defeated.  The officer said his department has been spending more time on burglary rings and therefore has less time to give to traffic patrol.  Traffic enforcement is important to Lowell because the flat straight Route 100 north of 58 seems to invite speeding.

The Lowell Town School’s request for $1,455,335 (down from last year) was granted without discussion.  Retiring principal Scott Boskind, who first came to teach in Lowell in 1970, received a standing ovation.  He talked of his years in Lowell as a “labor of love.”  Steve Mason announced that Anita Gagner has been offered the position of principal.  Ms. Gagner has been serving as assistant principal.  She grew up in Lowell.

Winter roads received $100,000, the same as last year.  The $100,000 requested for summer roads was questioned:  why was it $15,000 more than last year?  Road Commissioner Reginald Pion said because an extra $15,000 was needed to receive matching funds from the state for paving grants.  The town will contribute $25,000 and the state will give $100,000.  One road that will be worked on is the Mines Road.

Eighty thousand dollars was approved to purchase a new bucket loader, but not before road commissioner Pion heard he should make do with the old one longer.  He justified the purchase by noting the existing loader is breaking and really needs $15,000 in work, so sell it before it breaks. It has 6,600 hours on it (twice the old bucket loader).  It was also hit by lightning.  And the new loader will have an electric broom and sweeper pan.  So the springtime scene of a man sweeping up winter sand into little conical piles to be collected will pass.  The town currently spends $4,000 a year on road sweeping.

The fire department received its requested $18,000, $1,500 more than last year.  The higher request was explained by the fact the department answered more calls, had higher fuel costs and switched to a new insurance policy that had better coverage.

All the requests for money were approved with the exception of the request for $200 for the Missisquoi River Basin Association.  One audience member said it was an “extreme environmental group” that opposed small hydro on rivers, an opinion that might have contributed to its two-to-one defeat.  The Orleans Essex VNA & Hospice, Inc. received the $3,200 it requested, but was criticized for paying the director a yearly salary of $115,000.  An amendment was added to the article instructing the select board to inform the Orleans Essex VNA & Hospice, Inc. by letter that the town thinks the salary is too much.

The closest the discussion ever came to the divisive wind issue (the actual word ‘wind’ was never mentioned once) was when, under “Other Business,” Bonnie Day asked if the deficiencies the Public Service Board had noted in the Green Mountain Power’s position had been addressed.  Select board member Richard Pion simply noted that the lawyers were working on it.