By Guy Page

Town Meeting voters Tuesday, March 5 sent school budgets down in flames, gave Nikki Haley her first win among the 50 states, and picked a Progressive to lead the state’s largest city. What else did they decide?

Burlington City Council races maintain status quo

Despite the election of Progressive mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Burlington Democrats will maintain its narrow, one-seat control over the City Council.

In Burlington, Marek Broderick, a UVM student who chairs the college chapter of Young Socialists for America, took the Ward 8 (UVM) city council seat from incumbent Democrat Hannah King, who managed Democratic candidate Joan Shannon’s campaign. 

Despite a last-minute charge by his trans, Progressive opponent Lee Morrigan of using the ‘n-word,’ Democrat Evan Litwin won the Ward 7 (New North End) seat. Progressive-turned-Republican Bill Oetjen finished third.

The Progs held on to the Ward Three seat vacated by Joe Magee. Joe Kane handily defeated Democrat Malik Mines and Republican Christopher-Aaron Felker.

Two towns say yes to pot, two say no

Highgate and Ryegate both voted down retail pot ballot initiatives. Killington and Cavendish said yes. 

Montpelier backs ‘just cause’ eviction

Under a charter change approved by voters, landlords in Montpelier will no longer be allowed to evict tenants when their lease expires – unless the tenant violates a short list of infractions (failure to pay rent, causing significant damage, etc.). If approved by the Legislature, the charter change would be the first in Vermont that significantly sways the right of occupancy to the tenant and away from the landlord. Vermont state law at present does not require landlords to state reasons for eviction. 

Winooski bridge bond OKed

Winooski voters approved a $4.6 million bond to rebuild the Winooski Bridge connecting the Queen and Onion Cities on Rtes 2 & 7 (Main Street in Winooski). The bridge, built in 1928 after the Great Flood of 1927 washed away its predecessor, will cost up to $80 million, to be paid with a combination of federal, state and local funds. 

Gaza cease-fire resolution

Richmond, Marshfield and Newfane Tuesday joined Thetford (Saturday) in passing non-binding resolutions for a cease-fire in Gaza, where the Israeli Army is seeking to decisively defeat Hamas amidst reportedly intense civilian suffering. 

No new public safety building in Swanton Village

Swanton Village voters rejected a $14.8 million public safety building bond. The initiative fell by a 3-1 margin. Public safety officials say their current quarters are outmoded and unsafe. (In the 1980’s, the Swanton firehouse caught on fire, much to the embarrassment of local FD.)

Rutland keeps flouride in drinking water

Supporters say it’s compelled medication, but Rutland voters by a wide margin opted to keep mandatory fluoridation of drinking water. Fluoride is regarded as an anti-tooth decay agent. A similar measure was voted down in 2016. 

Middlebury approves two bonds

A $1.2 million infrastructure bond and a $1.5 bond to complete South Street work were approved by Middlebury Town Meeting voters. 

Incumbent St. Albans mayor Tim Smith re-elected

Former development official Tim Smith was re-elected for another term Tuesday by St. Albans City voters. He has held office since 2016. Voters also backed an $11.4 million tax incremental funding (TIF) bond for continued downtown development. 

Berlin passes local option tax

The Town of Berlin – home to several shopping malls – passed a one-percent local option tax. It also approved a non-binding resolution to ask the US Post Office to open a Berlin Post Office. At present the Montpelier post office operates a temporary facility in the Berlin Mall.

Cabot to keep school

Voters in Cabot elected to keep their small high school open, despite declining enrollment and growing costs.