Town of Isle La Motte
Minutes of the 2015 Annual Town Meeting
February 28, 2015 at the Isle La Motte School
Those present: Town Moderator and Selectman Rustam Spaulding, Selectboard members
Stephen Stata and Selby Turner, Town Clerk/Treasurer Betsy Howland, Justices of the Peace
Betty Lockerby, Cathy Tudhope and Albert Bertram, Listers Deborah Spaulding, Louise Koss and
Deborah Daly, Cemetery Commissioner Christopher Smith, Trustee of the Public Funds Barbara
Callahan, Delinquent Tax Collector Mary LaBrecque, Auditors Michael Daly and Keri Johnson;
also, voters Carol Stata, Bill Howland, Arthur Larvey, Barbara Larvey, Douglas Rondeau, Elizabeth
Lee, Kris Luce, Susan Larkin, Charles Gurney, Michele Murray, Peter Murray, Marjorie Bertram,
Joyce Tuck, Doris Clayton, Dale Patnode, Maureen Turner, Jane Zera, Paul Zera, Kathie
Balutansky, Sylvia Jensen, Allen Hall, Jeff Sharp, Carol Michaels, Cindi Varga, Robert Varga,
Frances Yandow, Tom Brennan, Dianne Brennan, Tom Gibson, Robert Camp, Beverley Camp,
Jen Rafferty, Steven Reeve, Beth Meese, Claire Aldrich, Michael Aldrich, Jackie Jarvis, and James
Pearo; 53 voters in all.
Non-voters present were Brenda Dulude, Lt. Donna Polk, and Free Press reporter April Burbank
Town Moderator Rusty Spaulding called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.
He thanked the community for the support shown to his family and thanked the Isle La Motte
Community Organization for providing food. The assemblage pledged allegiance to the flag, and
Spaulding read the warning.
Non-voters in the room were asked to identify themselves. Debbie Spaulding made a motion to
allow non-voters to speak during the meeting, this was seconded by Betty Lockerby and all voted
in favor.
Note: All articles were moved to the floor by Debbie Spaulding, and seconded by Carol Stata. All
articles were passed by voice vote. The moderator used a beautiful new podium made and
donated by Art Larvey.
ARTICLE 1: Will the legal voters of the Town vote to apply any general fund surplus
from the current fiscal year to reduce taxes in the next fiscal year?
Motion: Sylvia Jensen, 2nd Paul Zera, all in favor. Article passed.
ARTICLE 2: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $45,850.00
to the Isle La Motte Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. to provide fire and
emergency medical services to the Town?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Cathy Tudhope, all in favor. Article passed.
ARTICLE 3: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $2,020.00
to the Visiting Nurses Association?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
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The Visiting Nurses served 17 Isle La Motte residents last year. The cost of these services was
$33,647. The amount reimbursed by insurance and fees was $32,023 for a remaining balance of
$1,623.
ARTICLE 4: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $1,300.00
to the Northwestern Counseling & Support Services?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article Passed.
Carol Stata spoke in support of NCSS. $600 of the money appropriated will be used for The
Family Center of Franklin & Grand Isle Counties and the Alburgh Family Center.
ARTICLE 5: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $700.00
to the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article Passed.
There was a discussion of services provided by CVAA, which include Meals on Wheels,
Transportation and Case management. Discussion participants were Joyce Tuck, Carol Stata,
Jane Zera and Charles Gurney.
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The meeting was interrupted briefly to allow Lt. Donna Polk of the Grand Isle Sheriff Department to
speak. After thanking the community for their support, she touched on the drug problems and
burglaries in G.I.County. She stressed that it is important to contact the Sheriff Dept. if suspicious
activity is observed. The matter of closure of the County courthouse in North Hero has been
tabled at the State level. Rusty Spaulding thanked the Sheriff Dept. for their service to the Town.
____________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE 6: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $465.00
to the Northwest Regional Planning Commission?
Motion: Sylvia Jensen, 2nd Cathy Tudhope, all in favor. Article passed.
The amount requested is 99 cents per capita.
ARTICLE 7: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $350.00
to the American Red Cross?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
ARTICLE 8: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $375.00
to the Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corp.?
Motion: Debbie Spaulding, 2nd Maureen Turner, all in favor. Article passed.
Bob Camp, a member of the LCIEDC board, mentioned that a goal of the corporation is to foster
year-round green businesses in the county.
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ARTICLE 9:
Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $1,000.00
to the Champlain Islands Food Shelf?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
The food shelf serves 547 people, some from Isle La Motte. It has moved back to the Grand Isle
location, which has re-opened after a fire at the church.
ARTICLE 10: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $50.00
for Green Up Vermont?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
Beverley Camp offered a thank you to Mary Jane Tiedgen, who recently passed away, for starting
the Isle La Motte Green Up program.
ARTICLE 11: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $1,000.00
to Voices Against Violence, Laurie’s House?
Motion: Michele Murray, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
Services of the organization were used by seven families in Isle La Motte last year. Services
include 24 hr. hotline, safe shelter, crisis support, safety planning, and support groups.
ARTICLE 12: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $100.00
to Vermont Adult Learning?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
The organization provided instruction to one Isle La Motte resident.
ARTICLE 13: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $14,500.00
to the Isle La Motte School for community use of the school building?
Motion: Betty Lockerby, 2nd Maureen Turner, all in favor. Article passed.
School Board chair Barbara Callahan stated that although community use of the school has
increased the amount requested remains unchanged from last year. Jeff Sharp asked for an
explanation of appropriation funding vs budget funding.
ARTICLE 14: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $500.00
to Franklin-Grand Isle United Way?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
ARTICLE 15: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $500.00
to Friends of Northern Lake Champlain?
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There was a discussion of amending the article to appropriate more money. We gave $1000 last
year. The actual amount requested was $500 to $2000. Several people spoke in support of the
organization, which does hands-on active cleanup of the lake.
Discussion participants: Beverley Camp, Bob Camp, Steve Stata, Louise Koss, Sylvia Jensen and
Bill Howland.
Beverley Camp made a motion to amend the amount to $1000, this was seconded by Cathy
Tudhope and all voted in favor. Article passed as amended.
ARTICLE 16: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $250.00
to the Franklin Grand Isle Court Diversion program?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
ARTICLE 17: Will the legal voters of the Town approve the sum of $100.00
to Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
This is the dry hydrant program which provides a source of water to firefighters.
ARTICLE 18: Will the legal voters of the Town approve a sum of $2,900.00
to the Cemetery Commission for restoration of graves?
Motion: Maureen Turner, 2nd Betty Lockerby, all in favor. Article passed.
ARTICLE 19: Will the legal voters of the Town approve a sum of $1,000.00
to Island Arts?
There was a discussion of what Island Arts contributes to the Town, and how much of an
appropriation is appropriate. Discussion participants were Bob Camp and Louise Koss.
Bob Camp made a motion to amend the amount to $500.00, this was seconded by Beth Meese
and all voted in favor. Article passed as amended.
ARTICLE 20: To transact any other business proper to come before this meeting
and to discuss any article to be voted upon by Australian Ballot on
Tuesday, March 3, 2015.
Moderator Spaulding read the warning for Australian ballot voting on March 3, 2015.
Discussion of the following topics ensued:
1-New Salt Shed
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The building materials for a new salt shed have been purchased without having to borrow money.
The building will be erected this coming summer.
2-Status of Suzanne LaBombard’s retirement account.
At the request of Sylvia Jensen, Steve Stata spoke about the history of the VMERS retirement
monies returned to the Town by the VT Attorney General’s office in 2010.
About $23,000 from Suzanne LaBombard’s retirement account was judged not properly authorized
by the ILM Selectboard at the time it was set aside and therefore due back to the Town. The
money is held in a separate bank account, and the Selectboard is waiting on the statute of
limitations to apply the money against future taxes.
3-Budget
Charles Gurney, Louise Koss and Kris Luce had budget related questions or comments.
The voted amount of surplus to be used to reduce taxes in the current year is the surplus from the
previous year. There is extra money in the bank account, source unknown, from before 2007.
4-Town Hall painting
Plans for siding or painting the Town Hall were discussed. Removing the paint would be very
expensive due to potential exposure to lead paint. We have one quote of about $35,000. There is
no grant funding available for painting. Historically correct vinyl siding is available. The $10,000 in
the budget for Town Hall maintenance is for a porch roof on the front of the building and foundation
work to correct drainage and access.
Discussion participants: Sylvia Jensen, Bob Camp, Steve Stata, Selby Turner, Diane Brennan,
Maureen Turner
Maureen Turner made a non-binding motion to use historic vinyl siding on the building.
Steve Stata suggested a sub-committee to look into options.
There being no further business to discuss, the moderator called for a motion to adjourn at 11:00
am. This was so moved by Maureen Turner and seconded by Debbie Spaulding.
Everyone headed to the back of the room where ILMCO served hot dogs, soup, baked goods and
coffee.
Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Howland
Town Clerk
These minutes are approved by:
__________________________date__________________
Rustam Spaulding, Town Moderator & Selectman
__________________________ date__________________
Catherine Tudhope, Justice of the Peace
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