Shelburne voters have a big decision to make this year concerning the town’s “failing infrastructure,” according to documents associated with town meeting day. They will decide whether to allow the town to issue nearly $1.5 million in general obligation bonds to fix the Town Center’s roof and replace its heating and cooling systems.
The infrastructure money, if approved, would also go to making repairs to Shelburne’s historic Town Hall, as well as to the town’s police and highway vehicles and its ambulance equipment. In addition, Shelburne voters will decide whether to raise $100,000 by taxes to preserve natural resources and open space in their town.
Shelburne updated its Open Space Plan, first created in 2006, in 2017, stating, “The community’s open space embodies the characteristics of a Champlain Valley town: a landscape, steeped in an agricultural past, replete with spectacular vistas and rich and varied water resources — not least of which is Shelburne Bay, the primary source of drinking water for Shelburne and adjacent towns.”
It’s also worth noting that town officials are actually asking voters to approve a decrease in the town budget of nearly 4%.
Meeting: 7 p.m., Monday, March 3, Shelburne Community School Gym, Harbor Road
Voting: 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, Shelburne Community School Gym, Harbor Road
Proposed budget: $12,542,421, a decrease of 3.7% from the current budget of $13,027,639.
Who’s running for Selectboard: Chair Michael Ashooh is running unopposed for a three-year term. Incumbent Luce Hillman is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Items: Shelburne voters will decide whether to allow the town to issue $1,446,661 in general obligation bonds to replace failing infrastructure, including the Town Center’s roof and HVAC, repairs to the historic Town Hall, as well as police and highway vehicles and ambulance equipment. Voters will also decide whether to raise $100,000 by taxes to preserve natural resources and open space.
Champlain Valley School District information meeting: 5 p.m., Monday, March 3, Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg.
Proposed school district budget: $102,724,062, an increase of 0.9% over the current budget of $101,801,185.
Who’s running for School Board: Erika Lea is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.