Trustees Hear from Bellows Falls Police Department
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE 59 PAID POSTAL CUSTOMER FREE Years RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER PERMIT #2 N. HAVERHILL, NH ECRWSSEDDMECRWSS New New Year You Inauguration Day Page 9A Jan. 20, 2021 Your Local Community Newspaper JANUARY 20, 2021 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM VOLUME 59, ISSUE 34 Trustees hear from Bellows Falls Police Department BY BETSY THURSTON and support to someone in into doing that.” know what agencies called vehicles,” but even one car in Golec suggested they revamp The Shopper crisis, and both the BFPD and James McAuliffe asked Bemis and in what towns assists were the lot “makes a mess” for snow parking permit applications to Turning Point would respond if state agencies offered initia- made. removal. require phone number, physi- BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – On to calls. Bemis said, “Hopefully, tives for officer recruitment. Moving on to snow re- Village President Deborah cal address, and email. Tuesday, Jan. 12, the Bellows we can assist people with their Bemis said they were offering moval and plowing in the vil- Wright said she received a com- During the Trustee meet- Falls Trustees discussed the Bel- addiction.” upgrades for certifications, en- lage, Pickup mentioned that plaint from a resident that had ing, Pickup also announced lows Falls Police Department. Municipal Manager Scott abling departments to hire offi- he found a Winter Operations in the past received emails and that Feb. 1 was the first meet- Chief David Bemis explained Pickup said the BFPD needed cers with less academy training Plan, last revised in 2000, that had missed the call that night. ing for the working group for there were recent burglaries in updated computer systems to requirements, but bonuses were discussed village towing poli- Pickup said, “We don’t tow im- self-driving vehicle testing. He town that “matched the MO install the Dominion security offered by communities. cies. The parking permit ap- mediately. It’s unfortunate – suggested the group stay rea- with Walpole,” and they were and software for the Axon cam- Wade Masure asked about 21 plication states that lots are frustrating for us. We much sonably small but wanted to working together with the Wal- eras. Security vulnerabilities police department assists “out- posted 24 hours prior to snow prefer you move your car.” see a member from each of the pole Police Department on the were a concern. side the village” made in De- removal and car owners are Stefan Golec said it’s common boards. Wright said, “I’m very investigation. They are request- Bemis said the department cember. Bemis explained that contacted prior to towing. Be- sense. “Take some responsibil- happy to be on it.” ing that anyone who has infor- was diligently working to re- many were agency assists inside mis responded that the BFPD ity as the vehicle owner to get it The Trustees meet on the mation to call BFPD or WPD. cruit new officers, and Pickup the village and said, “Officers makes every effort to contact off the street or out of the lot.” second and fourth Tuesdays Bemis also announced the noted that many regions were would not go out of the village car owners before towing their Bemis explained that when of each month at 6 p.m. in the kickoff for the outreach pro- working short-staffed. He men- without a request to assist.” vehicles, but in December vehicles are towed, the owner Lower Theater of the Bellows gram with the Springfield Turn- tioned when Bemis was hired Masure asked if that infor- seven cars were towed from is charged $75 payable to the Falls Opera House. Meetings ing Point Recovery Center. The they offered recruitment bo- mation could be broken down the Hetty Green Lot. “The last BFPD, but that pays the towing are recorded and available on project helps provide assistance nuses and said they could “look in the report so Trustees would thing we want to do is to tow company. www.fact8.com. BFUHS Board narrowly approves new school budget BY JOE MILLIKEN rather reinserting the numbers services and transportation. budget figures were initially useful information and build- budget indicated that it was The Shopper without using the state’s educa- However, the estimated projec- presented, it was a concern ing a parallel system on the fly, largely because the Vermont tion finance template – Super- tions originally proposed were simply because the supervisory and in the middle of the budget Agency of Education had not BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – After intendent Christopher Pratt just that – an estimate – and union’s portion of the budget cycle,” chairman of the budget yet provided needed budget in- initial projections for the new and business manager Flora did not include such factors as already showed a substantial committee Jack Bryar stated in formation, which still creates a 2021-22 Bellows Falls Union Pagan, along with other district special education funding that decrease from the previous a recent WNESU budget meet- question about how local taxes High School budget had been officials, determined that after is provided by the state, a figure year. Therefore, the largely in- ing held via Zoom. will be affected. anticipated to be $8.8 million, a plugging the numbers into an that officials are still waiting to creased overall numbers seem- Last week, the final 2020-21 There is also a concern that potential 11% increase, officials alternative financial template a obtain. ingly did not add up. figures were presented to Bel- teachers and staff are currently from the Windham Northeast much more reasonable result Additionally, not all of the Pagan, who is in her first year lows Falls Union High School working without a contract, Supervisory Union continued occurred. budget changes showed in- as business manager, is credited Board, which approved the pro- and the new budget also needs to work towards a better solu- The largest increases origi- creases, as it was also noted the with showing the creativity to posed budget. With a narrow to include funds to reimburse tion. The current school budget nally outlined revolved around superintendent’s office spend- utilize a more flexible financial 4-to-3 vote, the board approved those salary increases. An offi- is $7.1 million. the areas of special education, ing was down just over 10%, a template as to create the more a budget figure of $7,502,808, cial decision on the budget has After convening and reconfig- wages and benefits, as well as substantial decrease from last palpable budget figures and do- which is a 2% decrease from the to be made before the last day uring the budget last month – programs provided by the su- year’s fiscal budget. ing so under time restraints. current budget. of finalizing a Town Meeting, and not through cutbacks, but pervisory union including food When the increased overall “I give her credit for getting The voters who opposed the which is Jan. 21. Selectboard discuss highway, recreation departments budgets BY BETSY THURSTON updates related to Community summer the Highway Depart- sary.” She explained that there Ryan Stoodley said there were but suggested a replacement The Shopper Development Block Grant ment would like to dedicate a were still substantial funds savings this past year; how- for next year. The cost eight funding, but Pickup said the crew for ditches and culverts at the end of fiscal year 2020 ever, if this summer looked years ago was $2,000. He also BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – On project was “not stalled and but needed to either hire flag- in both highway and general like last, the recreation de- reported that the ski tow was Monday, Jan. 11, the Rocking- basically moving forward.” gers or fill an empty position. funds with $725,000 in the partment “won’t be able to run running “pretty good.” ham Selectboard discussed Highway Department Di- Howarth said normally highway fund balance. Bur- our day camp.” He hoped to be Pickup explained that due Highway and Recreation De- rector Andy Howarth present- Brockway Mills to Bartons- bela anticipated an increase to open this spring, explaining to the pandemic no one knew partment budgets. ed the highway paving budget ville was plowed by the grader, that fund balance as fiscal year the day camp was a huge loss what to expect for the summer To begin the meeting, Mu- and explained that he needed but that position had been 2021 was under budget. of income and staffing hours but they would report month- nicipal Manager Scott Pickup to inform the Saxtons River eliminated. This winter they Chair Gaetano Putignano but “in essence we’ll be able ly after March. updated the board on Wind- Trustees because most of it were using the two-ton pick- asked if the proposal to lev- to do what we did [last] sum- Town Meeting is scheduled ham and Windsor Housing was in Saxtons River. up, a 2002 International, usu- elfund the budget included a m e r.” for Monday, March 1 and elec- Trust’s proposed changes to Pickup explained they were ally only used in the summer full-time development direc- Stoodley anticipated replac- tion Tuesday, March 2. The the Bellows Falls Garage proj- in the third year of a five-year for chloriding dirt roads. tor. He said he was in favor of ing the last third of the pool’s Selectboard meetings are held ect. WWHT’s original pro- resurfacing program and the Finance Director Shannon a full-time position for Gary water lines and said the pool on the first and third Tuesdays posal was modified due to additional request of $100,000 Burbela proposed the board Fox. Burbela responded that was losing water and had to be of the month at 6 p.m.