Randolph Selex Rebuff VLCT’s
School Financing Resolution
By M. D. Drysdale

The Randolph Selectboard turned a deaf ear Tuesday to a request by the League of Cities and Towns to petition the legislature to do away with the entire system for financing education.

The VLCT is usually listened to respectfully by local officials, but in this case, there was a legislator to deal with, too. That would be Jim Hutchinson, who is chair of the selectboard but is also a state representative.

Hutchinson made it clear that he didn’t agree with VLCT’s position. He focused on the second "Whereas" of the resolution, which stated that the current financing system, put in place by Act 60 and Act 68, just isn’t working.

Hutchinson defended the system, saying it is "doing what it was supposed to do" which was to equalize payments among various towns.

It has also raised the overall cost of education financing, he acknowledged, but he said that was because the poorer towns needed to catch up. He also predicted that the controversial tax increases caused by higher property values will stabilize, now that the real estate market has slowed down.

He asked the board to give a resounding "No" to the VLCT’s resolution, and that the board did, by a 5-0 vote.

Manager’s Report

Town Manager Peter Butterfield reported the sad news that East Randolph did not receive an "enhancement grant" in the latest round. He will be working with Two Rivers regional planners to prepare a better application next year, he said.

The grant would have promoted planning for a new streetscape and other improvements in the east village area.

He also recommended that engineering for the proposed Route 66 water expansion project be done by Forcier, Aldrich, and Associates of Essex Junction.

The board approved the $53,800 bid. It wasn’t the lowest, Butterfield said, but the company impressed him. "This is what they do," he explained.

Selectman Ken Goss announced the resignation of four people from the Citizens Advisory Board for Restorative Justice—Tom Schersten, Robin Junker, Emile Fredette, and Jay Gagnon. Michelle Kaczmarek was appointed.