BELLOWS FALLS â Voters approved a $1.6 million village budget in balloting on Tuesday.
But the participation was stunningly low, with less than 5 percent turnout.
Only 79 people cast ballots, with the only draw being the budget since there were no contested races. The budget passed 56-22. There are about 3,300 residents of the village, with 1,922 registered voters, according to Village Clerk Kathleen Neathawk.
Winning reelection in the uncontested races were Village President Deborah Wright and Village Trustees James âJiggsâ McAuliffe and Stefan Golec.
Tuesdayâs turnout was in stark contract to last year, when there were seven candidates for two trustee positions, and more than 300 people voted.
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BELLOWS FALLS Village President Deborah Wright, Bellows Falls Village Moderator Paul Obuchowski and Municipal Manager Scott Pickup had a Zoom dress rehearsal Friday morning to iron out any kinks for Monday night s annual village meeting.
There is one big change: Obuchowski and Pickup decided to hold the meeting downstairs in the Town Hall, in the Lower Theater, rather than upstairs in the Bellows Falls Opera House, because of the technology and equipment needed for a Zoom village meeting.
Determined to get as many people to attend the meeting as possible either in person or virtually the decision was only made after Gov. Phil Scott loosened the distance requirements for a public gathering, Pickup stressed.
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To the editor: Thanks to all who voted in the recent election. Having no idea what my chances were, I was happily surprised when Justice of the Peace Paul Obuchowski announced the results at the Masonic Temple. My fellow new select board members Bonnie North, Elijah Zimmer and I learned of our victories at 7:10 and were already at work in our first board meeting 20 minutes later.
With veteran select board members Peter Golec and Sue Hammond as chair and vice chair respectively, it feels like we have a capable, thoughtful and hard-working team in place. Iâm also encouraged by my recent orientation meeting with Municipal Manager Scott Pickup, Finance Director Shannon Burbela and Town Planner Chuck Wise who are all welcoming and helpful to this new select board member as he learns the ropes.