Town OKs budgets, paving, blight declaration

Voters approved everything Tuesday during town meeting balloting, saying 'yes' to the $11 million town budget and the $28 million school budget, as well as an additional $400,000 in paving.

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Photo by Len Emery Voters line up out the hall at Springfield middle school for their chance to vote in the primary as well as the town elections. Traffic was said to be heavy all day. Published March 2, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Town OKs budgets, paving, blight declaration By SUSAN SMALLHEER SPRINGFIELD — Voters approved everything Tuesday during town meeting balloting, saying ‘yes’ to the $11 million town budget and the $28 million school budget, as well as an additional $400,000 in paving. Also, voters re-elected Selectwoman Stephanie Gibson Thompson to her third three-year seat, and re-elected Jeanice Garfield, the current chairwoman of the Springfield School Board. Newcomer Michael Griffin was elected to his first term. Thompson beat challenger Chuck Gregory, a member of the Springfield Planning Commission, 1,441-774, according to unofficial results, said Town Clerk Barbara Courchesne. Garfield received 1,000 votes for the School Board in a five-way race, with Griffith not that far behind with 923 votes. Griffith was chairman of the school budget committee. Other candidates were Pam Young, 816 votes; Samantha Snyder, 508; and Joe Costello, 472. Costello dropped out of the race last week, citing his job as the girls varsity basketball coach at Springfield High School. The town budget was endorsed on almost a 2-1 margin, 1,613-822, and the school budget was approved 1,484-918. But the biggest margin of victory was the special article to spend an additional $400,000 on paving for the town’s beleaguered roads. The vote was 2,034-360. And an article that will pave the way for the town to seek state and federal help to deal with blighted town properties was approved 1,892-489. “Hallelujah,” said Garfield, who was waiting for the results along with Thompson and state Rep. Robert Forguites, D-Springfield. Garfield immediately ran to fellow School Board member Steve Karaffa, and then texted the results of the vote to Superintendent of Schools Zach McLaughlin. “I’m very, very pleased,” Garfield said. The School Board had cut substantially into the budget to avoid state funding penalties, laying off close to 15 full-time employees and effectively closing the school district’s special school for troubled students, The Gateway Program. For the first time in about a decade, school taxes will decrease by an estimated 6 cents. Garfield, who has been on the board for almost 10 years, said her top priority was communicating to the community “the depth of our education changes to our kids, the community and the future of Springfield.” Kristi Morris, Select Board chairman, said he was thrilled with the budget support and the vote supporting more money for paving. “Obviously, I’m elated,” said Morris, adding he was gratified that the board’s initiatives were supported by the full town. He said the strong vote in favor of more paving funding was a “clear statement” for the town to pursue infrastructure improvement. Thompson said most of the comments she receives from people in Springfield are about the condition of the roads. Making an investment in the town’s roads is a message to send to businesses and people who are thinking of moving to Springfield, she said. In the presidential primary, Springfield went for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., overwhelmingly, following the statewide trend, 1,366 for Sanders and 211 for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Republicans endorsed milllionaire businessman Donald Trump with 394 votes, with Ohio Gov. John Kasich second with 225 votes. Third was Sen. Marco Rubio with 146, and Sen. Ted Cruz fourth with 82 votes. Ben Carson received 51 votes, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush received only 12 votes. http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160302/NEWS02/160309893