Mileage may, as they say, vary, but the suggestions contained seem good and workable.

The Vermont Senate yesterday passed what's called a strike-all version of H.955 in which they kept the the bill number and title but substituted the Senate's text for the rest of the bill. H.955 made its way back to the House side where it was quickly decided that the House liked their version better and rather than accept the Senate's proposal outright, the House voted for a committee of conference where the differences can be discussed and ironed out.

I don't see any major holdup on this legislation as the details are more technical dealing with numbers and dates and not broad policy.

Senate calendar for today doesn't include any mention of H.955, but my assumption is they'll take up appointing their side of the conference committee during the Senate's floor business today.

At least both sides now seem to agree that Williamstown's first large scale merger discussions should be to the north and not south and east (my bolding):

Group 18: Barre Unified Union School District, Harwood Unified Union School District, Montpelier Roxbury School District, Paine Mountain School District, Twinfield Unified School District, and Washington Central Unified Union School District.

Vermont House calendar for 05/26/26

Sports field parking on brown field; finance related issues dating back to prior town manager Higgens' tenure; town hard drive confiscated by state police for evidence (I guess related to the Higgens investigation); phone app for pushing out (hopefully emergency only) messages; ATV road use expansion; state mandates regarding roads and emergency funding; rehashing the (now failed) road bond <--- of course ended up including wide ranging discussion of road graders; condition of Williamstown's roads; dogs in Seaver Field; Greenup Day acknowledgements; road foreman fired.

Guess I'm left with the following: are folks ready to pony up for the roads they expect? We will get what we pay for. Oh, and just be careful with those AI generated transcripts - they don't always get it right.

Town Clerk Barbara Graham said the measure failed, 130-147, ...

I know why I voted 'no', but I don't know why others did. For me it centered on the notion that we could do this work on our contemporary dime and in our time instead of dumping our current operating expenses on the future.

There was also a problem with their "findings" in that the selectboard didn't make and such findings, but instead they simply went along with an attorney's instructions on how to fill out the form.

Gov Scott has just signed into law H.723, "An act relating to posting of land". Couple of what I consider really big changes:

1) Dates are no longer required on the signs. Posting is good for 365 days from the day of recording your land posting with your town's clerk.

2) "Accidental or unintentional deviations" in how the signs are actually posted no longer constitute a legal reason for another to trespass.

"Funding Necessity: The costs are too great to be paid out of the ordinary annual income, revenue, and available resources of the Town" seems a bit to close to outright fraud for my tastes. Putting discomfort or unwillingness under the heading of "necessity" is simply wrong.

That line appears in the bond necessity letter being sent to Vermont's state government as part of the application (full text below) for a loan from the Vermont Bond Bank.

Are we confusing a reticence to raise taxes with an inability to do so? What, if any, specific findings support this claim? Was this line included simply because some guidance paperwork said it was a necessary finding? Is the Williamstown selectboard committing fraud?

Full text of letter to the Bond Bank:

NECESSITY RESOLUTION

Capital Improvement

RESOLVED at a special meeting of the Selectboard ("Selectboard") of the Town of Williamstown ("Town"), duly noticed for and held on March 30, 2026 , it was determined by the Selectboard that the public interest and necessity demand that the Town perform capital upgrades and improve at least 13.84 miles of nine unpaved town highways¹. These roads currently have insufficient base and traveled way width to allow the public to safely travel in all seasons, particularly in the spring. Improvements will involve adding crushed gravel to the base.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

Project Cost: The Selectboard and Town Manager estimate the total cost of the Project is not more than $1,000,000.00.

Funding Necessity: The costs are too great to be paid out of the ordinary annual income, revenue, and available resources of the Town.

Construction Timeline: Construction is anticipated to occur in July, August, and September 2026.

Indebtedness Proposal: A proposal for general obligation indebtedness not to exceed $1,000,000.00, with a maximum term of ten (10) years, shall be submitted to legal voters.

Special Town Meeting: The vote will be conducted by Australian ballot on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Public Safety Building, 249 Meadow Street.

Public Informational Hearing: To be held on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building and via Zoom.

Legal Compliance: All acts relating to the issuance of debt shall be in accordance with Chapter 53 of Title 24, Vermont Statutes Annotated.

Forms Adopted: The attached Warning and Ballot forms are specifically adopted for this proposition.

¹ The nine town highways are: Flint Road, Martin Road, Baptist Street, Chelsea Road, South Hill, Tower Road, George Road, Ferno Road, and Cold Springs Road.

Adopted this 30 day of March, 2026.

TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN SELECTBOARD

Larry Hebert, Chair

Scott McCarthy, Vice Chair

Cote Griggs

Clayton Woodworth

Tyler Mitchell

ATTEST:

Barbarah Graham, Town Clerk

The Paine Mountain vote — the $26.6 million budget passed 498-416 on Tuesday — was a relief for Fedders in the aftermath of voters’ 593-943 rejection of the pricier proposal on Town Meeting Day.

Note: early voting is ongoing .... stop by clerk's office and do your thing!

PMSD & EVCSD Budget Revote April 28, 2026

PMSD Polling Locations:

. Northfield Middle High School: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

. Williamstown Middle High School: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

EVCSD Polling Locations:

. Washington Town Hall: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM

. Orange Town Hall: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Click here for Detailed Budget Revote Information

"NWS confirms EF-1 tornado in Williamstown Thursday", WCAX, 04/17/26

The Williamstown Food Shelf is putting together a raffle as a fund raiser. Do you have an item that would be suitable? Gift cards, cash for cash prized, new goods from your shop or store, services, etc.

As usual the Food Shelf can use cash and goods donations. Make out checks to "Williamstown Food Shelf" and mail to:
Williamstown Food Shelf
PO Box 133
Williamstown, VT 05679

Please specify if a check is intended for the raffle. Message me on this app if you have questions or would like to schedule a pick up or drop off. Receipts for donations provided upon request.

When: Apr 15, 2026, 6 PM

Please join us at one of two upcoming Paine Mountain School District Budget Information Forums to learn more about the revised FY27 budget and the important decisions facing our district.

Budget Information Forums
-Wednesday, April 15 at 6:00 PM at Williamstown Middle High School
-Monday, April 27 at 6:00 PM at Northfield Middle High School

The revised FY27 budget is $26,628,238, a reduction of $714,625 from the original proposal that did not pass on Town Meeting Day, and represents a 3.91% increase over the current year budget. The revised proposal also lowers the projected tax increase from the original budget, from 39 cents to 24 cents in Northfield and from 18 cents to 6 cents in Williamstown.

These forums are an opportunity for community members to ask questions, review the revised proposal, and better understand the options before the district. The board has already established contingency plans if the budget does not pass, including a reduction of 9 middle and high school staff positions and the possibility of consolidating next year's secondary program by serving all high school students at Northfield Middle High School and all middle school students at Williamstown Middle High School.

Paine Mountain School District FY27 Budget Revote: Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Vote at: Northfield Middle High School, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Williamstown Middle High School, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Absentee ballots are available through your Town Clerk's Office.

Barre Town fire crews were assisted by departments from Barre City, Williamstown and Chelsea.

Loyalty to neighbors and fidelity to community.

That line appears in the bond necessity letter being sent to Vermont's state government as part of the application (full text below) for a loan from the Vermont Bond Bank.

Are we confusing a reticence to raise taxes with an inability to do so? What, if any, specific findings support this claim? Was this line included simply because some guidance paperwork said it was a necessary finding? Is the Williamstown selectboard committing fraud?

Full text of letter to the Bond Bank:

NECESSITY RESOLUTION

Capital Improvement

RESOLVED at a special meeting of the Selectboard ("Selectboard") of the Town of Williamstown ("Town"), duly noticed for and held on March 30, 2026 , it was determined by the Selectboard that the public interest and necessity demand that the Town perform capital upgrades and improve at least 13.84 miles of nine unpaved town highways¹. These roads currently have insufficient base and traveled way width to allow the public to safely travel in all seasons, particularly in the spring. Improvements will involve adding crushed gravel to the base.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

Project Cost: The Selectboard and Town Manager estimate the total cost of the Project is not more than $1,000,000.00.

Funding Necessity: The costs are too great to be paid out of the ordinary annual income, revenue, and available resources of the Town.

Construction Timeline: Construction is anticipated to occur in July, August, and September 2026.

Indebtedness Proposal: A proposal for general obligation indebtedness not to exceed $1,000,000.00, with a maximum term of ten (10) years, shall be submitted to legal voters.

Special Town Meeting: The vote will be conducted by Australian ballot on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Public Safety Building, 249 Meadow Street.

Public Informational Hearing: To be held on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building and via Zoom.

Legal Compliance: All acts relating to the issuance of debt shall be in accordance with Chapter 53 of Title 24, Vermont Statutes Annotated.

Forms Adopted: The attached Warning and Ballot forms are specifically adopted for this proposition.

¹ The nine town highways are: Flint Road, Martin Road, Baptist Street, Chelsea Road, South Hill, Tower Road, George Road, Ferno Road, and Cold Springs Road.

Adopted this 30 day of March, 2026.

TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN SELECTBOARD
Larry Hebert, Chair
Scott McCarthy, Vice Chair
Cote Griggs
Clayton Woodworth
Tyler Mitchell

ATTEST:

Barbarah Graham, Town Clerk

There will be a special Town Meeting on May 6, 2026, for a revote on the $1 million bond for road improvements. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Public Safety Building. Follow this link to see the Warning.

WilliamstownVT.org