Woodstock Town Meeting was on the quiet side Saturday, with a $4.2 million town budget and a $2.9 million Woodstock Elementary School budget both passing easily. The town budget as approved adds about 1 cent to the town tax rate, while the WES budget results in ½ cent decrease to the school tax rate.
Quite a bit of discussion concerned a $220,000 bond to be considered by Australian Ballot on Tuesday. The Town bond -if approved – would be issued to make repairs to the “Woodstock Recreation Center Buildings” (as the ballot language reads) – mainly the Little Theater that suffered major damage in the Irene flooding. It sits on the banks of the Ottauquechee River.
Not everyone was in favor of the move – Woodstock resident Charlie Kimbell questioned the idea of the town taking out a bond for repairs to a building it does not own. He was concerned that this would set a bad precedent for the future, adding that other organizations might eventually ask for such assistance as well.
On the issue of a resolution concerning corporate and union monies being used to influence political campaigns, a decisive 51-22 “division of the house” vote, the voters approved a ballot item calling on the Town of Woodstock to encourage its elected representatives to “restore elections to the people” by opposing the concept of “corporate personhood”.
A possible proposal for a town purchase of a part of the old A&B motors parcel at 25 South Street caused barely a murmur at the meeting. Under “other business”, Woodstock Selectboard member Bruce Gould reiterated that he had a recent discussion with the parcel’s owners Bill and Jenny Lamb, noting that the idea is preliminary. He said he thought such a purchase would be a wise investment for the town, but that the voters would decide the matter – that is, if an actual proposal were drawn up in the future. The Selectboard is to discuss the idea in the coming weeks.
Also, under the “other business” section that wrapped up Town Meeting, Dave Brown of EC Fiber announced that a meeting about this project would be held on March 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The project endeavors to bring Internet, TV and phone service through a high-speed fiber optic system to Woodstock and other towns. This has already been done in nearby Barnard.
Australian Ballot voting will be held on this coming Tuesday at the Woodstock Town Hall from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by Russell Pejouhy on March 5, 2012 at 09:10
It seems that only Bruce Gould is interested in acquiring 25 South Street. Perhaps he should buy it and hold on to it until the town really needs it.
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