Vershire OKs Upgrades for Town Center, Offices

In Australian balloting Tuesday, Vershire voters approved town and highway budgets, okayed a revised development bylaw, and voted in a new selectboard member.

Challenger Marc McKee ousted incumbent and Board Chair Richard Johnson, in a close 165-140 vote.

In a contest for the open delinquent tax collector position, Town Clerk and Treasurer Naomi LaBarr prevailed over Stephen Garrow, 167-142.

Also approved in Australian balloting, were articles for a highway budget of $323,010, in a 176-132 vote); a general fund budget of $284,412, in a 170-132 vote.

A $29,870 appropriation for Vershire Fire and Rescue. garnered a more emphatic 235-75 approval.

"It was a good turnout, good discussion," LaBarr said of the three-hour meeting Tuesday morning. The Rivendell School District’s annual meeting is March 29.

Townspeople debated at length whether to spend up to $30,000 from the capital projects fund for energy-efficiency upgrades at the historic Town Center building.

That article was eventually approved, as was another $6000 withdrawal on the capital projects fund, this one to upgrade the heating system at the town offices.

Purchase, or lease, of a new highway department truck was also okayed. Vershire voters also backed the ECFiberNet resolution.