Clarksburg Will Try Again to Pass School Merger Article
The board welcomes new officer Cody Alvarez.
The Select Board signed off on a single-article warrant Wednesday that would see if town meeting would accept an agreement with the town of Stamford that would merge the two districts. Chairman Jeffrey Levanos shared his concerns over the redundant article.
"This is the same warrant ... so I guess my concern is ... we kind of got trashed for this so if this is verbatim are we just going back to get trashed again?" he asked.
Levanos was referring to the December special town meeting in which there was an obvious disconnect between the town and the School Committee about the presence of the question on the warrant. This led to the failure of the article.
Town Administrator Carl McKinney said both communities are under the gun and have to move on the merger, which is being driven by Vermont's Act 46 that calls for small Vermont school districts to begin consolidating.
"Th Vermont Legislature is only part time… and if we can't get this figured out before they are out of session that would set back the process rather considerably," he said. "Like maybe a year."
McKinney said a placeholder for the merger has been set on the Legislature's agenda and Stamford needs to make a determination by November.
"I think that this is imperative," he said. "I think that if we don't do this, I am not saying it will, but I am concerned that it could deal a fatal blow to this effort."
He added that passing the article would also allow the town to enable the $25,000 the late state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi was able to secure for the community to run a feasibility study. Vermont will also contribute.
Levanos agreed but said McKinney made the same presentation at the last town meeting and it didn't do any good.
"The speech you just gave is the speech we gave to the School Committee at that meeting," he said. "This aggravates me to no end because we just went through this and we have to do it again."
McKinney said he will ask the School Committee members to attend a future meeting and noted the consolidation will only be a plus for both communities because they will be able to share some resources.
The special town meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 5, at 6:30.
In other business, McKinney said state Sen. Adam Hinds filed legislation to secure $500,000 to go toward the replacement of the Clarksburg Elementary School roof.
He said the legislation still has to pass the House and be signed off by the governor.
"It is not a given by any stretch of the imagination, but it is still a solid first step and we are very grateful for that effort," McKinney said.
• The Select Board approved town-sanctioned fundraisers for a Veterans of Foreign Ward sign for the town field and the elementary school repair.
McKinney added that he would like to expand the fundraising for Town Hall.
"I would like to expand the scope of the façade fund beyond just the exterior of the building because we do have a lot of stuff on the inside that could be done too," he said.
• The Select Board also appointed new reserve Police Officer Cody Alvarez.
"Welcome aboard," Levanos said. "It is a pleasure to welcome you to Clarksburg."
• The board accepted the fourth quarter sewer commitment to North Adams of $79,275.36.
Tags: act 46, Clarksburg School, special town meeting,
