TROY — Voters here approved the proposed water bond, 85 to 17. The proposal is to spend $1.55-million to improve the system and remove arsenic.
The voters here were ready to make a change during the meeting Tuesday, and they got started right after the moderator, Senator Bobby Starr, gaveled the meeting to order. He was returned to his office, which he stated he has held for more years than he can remember.
But the voters were not happy with the lineup of the selectmen and moved to change that quickly. Dexter Randall was nominated to the three-year position to replace one-term incumbent Paul Barrenger. When the votes were counted, Mr. Randall received 84, and Mr. Barrenger got 24. Mr. Randall took his place at the table.
Margaret Meunier was was up for re-election as a town auditor for another three-year term. Jamie Marsh was appointed to the position as one of the other auditors, and neither one of them were at the meeting. Somebody stated that if they didn’t show up, their penalty would be another three-year term, and they were both quickly elected.
Eric Starr was up for re-election to the school board. Samantha LePage was nominated for the position, along with Mr. Starr. The vote of 86 for Mr. Starr and 12 for Mr. LePage showed everyone that the town was not ready for a change on that board.
All of the other officers remained the same for the next year.
The town voted to continue the practice of providing assistance for transportation to other schools for people who live in Troy, but only after discussion. It was noted that the $250 per student could be used right in town for the chidlren getting their eduation right there. But it was also noted that people who send their children to other schools also pay taxes so helping them out is not hurting anyone.
Voters quickly approved $10,000 toward the cost of expanding the vault at the town clerk’s office. Town Clerk Lucille Cadiuex noted that there is already that much set aside for a new vault but they would need more to do the job. “I really need more space for vital records.”
Voters also approved $169,656 for the general fund and $346,713 for the road budget.
The school budget of $2,209,466 was passed, but only after much heated discussion. Board members announced that it was only a 5 percent increase over last year, and if they had left all three paraprofessionals in the budget instead of cutting two out, the budget would have been 15 percent higher. One of the board members said the cuts saved $60,000.
After a hearty lunch consisting of chicken and biscuits with all the sides, the taxpayers got back to work. Representative Mark Higley spoke for a few minutes about projects in Montpelier.
Then they took up the question of keeping the Town Meeting in the school in North Troy every year, or continuing to swap with the Parish Hall in Troy. The Secretary of State had already ruled that public polling places must be in a non-sectarian building and after much wrangling the voters decided to always have the annual meeting at North Troy.
The next fight came with the request of $10,246 for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Dan Locke told voters his department had been told over the last three years not to do any work in the village. The voters were mad because people who live in North Troy Village pay a tax to the town of Troy, and another one to the village, which also hires the Sheriff’s Department.
After further discussion, it was decided that the new selectmen would sit down with the trustees and come up with one contract that would cover the whole town, starting next year.
Appropriations were approved, but a question came up under article 18, to see if the town of Troy would appropriate the sum of $200 to support Northeast Kingdom Learning Services.
“I’m sorry, I’m stupid,” announced Steve Merrill. “But what is this for,” he continued.
Bobby Starr could not pass that one up. “Well, that is why we are going to send you there,” he told Mr. Merrill. As soon as everyone stopped laughing, they passed the request.
