Published March 4, 2009

NEWPORT CENTER — Girl Scout cookies and the smiling faces of scouts Ivy Caron, Hannah Roberts, and other young ladies of troop 30242 greeted residents of Newport Town at the Newport Town Meeting Tuesday night located at the town school.

The Newport Town Meeting was called to order at 6 p.m when Selectman Steve Barrup banged the gavel.  The meeting began with the girl scouts leading the town in the Pledge of Allegiance.  This was followed by a brief moment of silence in honor of the troops serving overseas.

Before the meeting officially began, the townspeople were informed that the previously elected moderator was not going to able to make it and that a motion had been made by selectman Jerry Waterman to elect Robert Hilliker for that position.  This motion passed, and Robert Hilliker began his duties as moderator by giving a special standing honor to Kermit Donovan, a state employee who passed away in December 2008.

One of the biggest issues that the voters in Newport Center were faced with this year was the issue of the proposed school budget for the Newport Town School.  Although the superintendent and principal of the school declined a raise in their salary, the teachers were approved for a 4 percent salary increase, making up two-thirds of the proposed $36,000 increase.

“We need to turn this budget down, period,” said Newport Town zoning board member Ernest Choquette.

Mr. Choquette also insisted that the teachers shouldn’t have claimed their raises and should have given the money back that was being offered to them.  He said that this increase was “unreasonable” with the economy in its current state.

Mr. Choquette made a motion to  decrease the amount to last year’s budget of $2,422,293.  This amendment was defeated 56 to 18 by ballot vote.

The main motion was put back in place that proposed a 1.5 percent increase in the overall school budget, making the budget total $2,458,900. This sparked much debate among the Newport Town voters.

School Director Glenn Foster encouraged voters to defeat the budget in order to send a message that any increase in salary is unacceptable with the economy in its current state.  He added that the increase was not consistent with the salaries of the taxpayers, as many were being forced to level fund their own salaries if they were fortunate enough to still have their jobs.

School director Wilma Therrien took a different stand on the issue.  Ms. Therrien said that the cost was lowered due to the fact that the superintendent froze his salary, and the principal and bookkeeper refused pay raises.  She also said that the increase was necessary in order to keep aids in classrooms for students with special needs.

A ballot vote took place on the issue and the voters approved the school budget 38-37, a difference of just one vote.

The other big issue that voters in Newport Center faced was whether or not to change the town meeting time back to 9 a.m.

“The last time the town meeting was held during the day was about 15 years ago,” said Newport Town Clerk Denise Daigle.

The meeting was originally moved to 6 p.m. in hopes that more voters would attend.  Recently, they have been thinking about moving the meetings to days again because “everyone gets the choice to take the day off anyways,” Ms. Daigle said.

Some of the voters argued that over the years, the attendance at the night meetings has gradually declined, and with the new law granting people permission to take time off for Town Meeting, day attendance should be less of a problem.  On the other hand, many opposed this motion because they are concerned about missing time at work, and losing pay.

Newport Town planning board member Gary Slawson questioned the validity of this motion by asking the selectmen about attendance trends for meetings of surrounding areas to determine whether or not there really was greater attendance at day meetings.  Selectman Thomas Howell argued that not all folks work days, and that many people would still be able to attend the meetings if the time were changed.

The final vote on this issue was taken by Australian ballot, and was defeated 42-38.

Out of the 29 articles discussed at the meeting, only two were defeated, the article to change the time of Town Meeting and a $300 item for “special busing.”

Denise Daigle was re-elected for the positions of town clerk, town and school treasurer, and delinquent tax collector.  Steve Barrup was re-elected for his position on the select board.  Maureen McGuire and Barbara Leach were re-elected for their positions as school directors.  Dianne Snelgrove was re-elected as  lister.  Dave Ghelli was re-elected as the school director of North Country Union High School.

In response to the turnout of this year’s Town Meeting, voter Steve Roberts was anything but impressed:  “This is disgusting,” Mr. Roberts said.  “There were about eight million dollars worth of issues being voted on by 125 people.”