Stockbridge To Vote on Retail Cannabis, New Fire Truck
This year’s Stockbridge Annual Report features a water color painting by Greg Crawford.
Stockbridge voters will decide if they want cannabis retailers and commercial growers to be able to operate businesses in their town during town meeting voting on Tuesday, March 22.
Even though retail cannabis was legalized in Vermont in 2020, the law allows towns to put the question of retail cannabis sales and cultivation to their voters. Towns can decide if they will allow for dispensaries and commercial growing operations to be opened in their jurisdiction.
Randolph and Strafford voters approved retail cannabis in 2021. Stockbridge is just the third town in the White River Valley to bring that choice to its voters.
Budget, New Fire Truck
Voters will also decide on the proposed budget of $931,393, which is a 14.4% increase ($117,324) over last year’s budget of $814,069.
According to the selectboard, a large portion of the proposed budget increase is due to the hiring of a new member of the road crew.
Kevin Bagley was hired to learn the ropes from Dave Brown, who stepped down as road commissioner at the end of December. Brown has stayed on a part-time basis to help transition Bagley into the job.
In addition, the highway supply budget has some large increases due to repairs on Blackmer Boulevard and draining issues just above the Cobb Bridge.
One additional expense is $6,000 needed for the planning commission to work on the town plan, since they were unable to secure a state planning grant.
According to Brown’s fire department report (beside road commission, Brown is also the Stockbridge fire chief), the town’s 35-year-old fire engine is due for replacement and is a ticket on the ballot this year. Chief Brown brought the issue of the old truck to the selectboard in December, noting there are funds in the fire department’s and the highway department’s equipment funds that could cover the estimated $348,000 for the truck. He noted that the cost is four times the amount it was to purchase the truck in 1987.
The fire department also plans some miscellaneous equipment replacements in the coming year, including finishing the conversion of automobile rescue equipment to battery power and replacing four air bottles which have reached the end of their 15- year service life.
Elections
All of the elections this year are uncontested. Jim Shands is stepping down from the selectboard, which he announced on the Stockbridge Front Porch Forum on March 5.
“Mike Ketchum is also running for this position, and as a former selectboard member, he has the experience and knowledge to jump right into this position,” wrote Shands.
Some of the positions up for election are empty on the ballot. There are no candidates for first constable, second constable, and the one-year lister seat. The first-constable seat is currently vacant, and the second-constable seat is held by Nathaniel Kennedy who did not file for reelection.
Jack Green, the current agent to defend and prosecute suits, did not put his name in for reelection, but Joanne Green Mills is on the ballot for the one-year seat. Town clerk Lori Scott said there are no write-in campaigns that she’s aware of.
All other elections have incumbents listed on ballot, including Beth Dawley for lister (three years), Richard Furman for lister (two years), Pamela Lyman for auditor (three years), Susan Pelletier for collector of delinquent taxes (one year), Mary Ellen Dorman for trustee of public funds (three years), Louis. L. Chap for grand juror (one year), Mette Sjoberg Rea for cemetery commissioner (three years), and Suzanne Butterfield for Memorial Day chair (one year).
The Stockbridge selectboard will be holding an informational meeting via Zoom on Thursday, March 17 at 7 p.m. The Stockbridge town office will be open on Tuesday, March 22 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. for those wanting to vote in person.
Original story can be found at The Herald.
