WARNING
TOWN OF BRIDPORT
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
The Legal Voters of the Town of Bridport are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Bridport Masonic/Community Hall on Tuesday March 2, 2021 to transact the following business. The polls for voting by Australian ballot will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. All business will be voted by Australian ballot.
Article 1. To elect the following officers by Australian ballot:
· Town Moderator for a term of one year.
· Selectboard member for a term of three years.
· Selectboard member for a term of two years.
· Selectboard member for a remaining term of two years.
· Auditor for a term of three years.
· Auditor for a remaining term of two years.
· Lister for a term of three years.
· Water Commissioner to the Board of Water Commissioners of the Tri-Town Water
District #1 for a term of three years.
· Water Commissioner to the Board of Water Commissioners of the Tri-Town Water
District #1 for a remaining term of two years.
· First Constable for a term of one year.
· Second Constable for a term of one year.
· Collector of Delinquent Taxes for a term of one year.
· Cemetery Commissioner for a term of five years.
Article 2. Will the Voters approve of the reports of the Town Officers?
Article 3. Will the Voters appropriate $15,000.00 for the Bridport Fire Department?
Article 4. Will the Voters appropriate $8,000.00 for Townline First Response?
Article 5. Will the Voters appropriate $1,900.00 for Addison County Central Teens?
Article 6. Will the Voters appropriate $608.00 for Addison County Economic Development Corporation?
Article 7. Will the Voters appropriate $2,500.00 for Addison County Home Health and Hospice, Inc.?
Article 8. Will the Voters appropriate $500.00 for Addison County Humane Society?
Article 9. Will the Voters appropriate $1,600.00 for Addison County Parent/Child Center?
Article 10. Will the Voters appropriate $350.00 for Addison County Readers, Inc.?
Article 11. Will the Voters appropriate $400.00 for Addison County Restorative Justice Services?
Article 12. Will the Voters appropriate $2,000.00 for Age Well?
Article 13. Will the Voters appropriate $500.00 for American Red Cross NH VT?
Article 14. Will the Voters appropriate $1,000.00 for Better Middlebury Partnership?
Article 15. Will the Voters appropriate $1,000.00 for Charter House Coalition?
Article 16. Will the Voters appropriate $1,750.00 for Counseling Service of Addison County?
Article 17. Will the Voters appropriate $600.00 for End of Life Services (formerly Hospice Volunteer Services)?
Article 18. Will the Voters appropriate $1,250.00 for HOPE?
Article 19. Will the Voters appropriate $700.00 for John Graham Emergency Shelter?
Article 20. Will the Voters appropriate $12,180.00 for Middlebury Regional EMS?
Article 21. Will the Voters appropriate $150.00 for NeighborWorks of Western Vermont?
Article 22. Will the Voters appropriate $850.00 for Open Door Clinic?
Article 23. Will the Voters appropriate $2,600.00 for Platt Memorial Library?
Article 24. Will the Voters appropriate $320.00 for Retired and Senior Volunteer Program?
Article 25. Will the Voters appropriate $760.00 for Tri-Valley Transit (formerly ACTR)?
Article 26. Will the Voters appropriate $500.00 for Vermont Adult Learning?
Article 27. Will the Voters appropriate $500.00 for Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired?
Article 28. Will the Voters appropriate $200.00 for Vermont CARES?
Article 29. Will the Voters appropriate $190.00 for Vermont Center for Independent Living?
Article 30. Will the Voters appropriate $250.00 for Vermont Family Network?
Article 31. Will the Voters appropriate $1,250.00 for WomenSafe?
Article 32. Will the Voters appropriate $16,000.00 for Bridport Fire Department and Townline First Response for a repeater for better communication?
Article 33. Will the Voters approve of exempting the Bridport Grange No. 303 from taxation for a period of five years?
Article 34. Will the Voters approve of exempting the Bridport Historical Society, Inc. from taxation for a period of five years?
Article 35. Will the Voters approve of the Town changing its budgeting fiscal year from a calendar year to a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022; with January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 being an 18 month transition budgeting period?
Article 36. If Article 35 is approved, then for the 18 month transition period of January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, will the Voters approve the sums of $1,406,125.00 and $377,716.00 for the proposed expenses of the Department of Public Works and General Fund, respectively, for a total of $1,783,841.00; with up to $1,428,926.00 to be raised by property taxes in addition to other non-tax receipts; with each of these last three amounts being reduced by the respective amount from any of Articles 3 to 32 that are not approved; and with all property taxes to be paid to its Treasurer in one installment of 67 percent thereof on or before November 10, 2021 and another installment of 33 percent thereof on or before May 10, 2022?
Article 37. If Article 35 is approved, will the Voters approve of there being due and payable on all property taxes remaining unpaid at the end of the calendar month in which they are due interest thereafter at the rate of one percent per calendar month or fraction thereof?
Article 38. If Article 35 is not approved, then for the calendar year 2021, will the Voters approve the sums of $1,109,925.00 and $ 288,227.00 for the proposed expenses of the Department of Public Works and General Fund, respectively, for a total of $1,398,152.00; with up to $1,117,482.00 to be raised by property taxes in addition to other non-tax receipts; with each of these last three amounts being reduced by the respective amount from any of Articles 3 to 32 that are not approved; and with all property taxes to be paid to its Treasurer on or before November 10, 2021?
Article 39. Will the Voters approve of any vacancy after March 2, 2021 in the office of the Collector of Delinquent Taxes being filled by appointment by the Selectboard, which will change the office to an appointed position?
Article 40. Shall the Town of Bridport ratify the Town of Ripton’s vote of January 12, 2021 to withdraw from the Addison Central School District?
NOTICE of AVAILABILITY of 2020 Bridport Annual Town Report
At the March 3, 2015 Town of Bridport Annual Town Meeting, the Voters authorized the Selectboard to give at least thirty days advance notice before the date of the Annual Town Meeting of the availability of the Bridport Annual Town Report.
The 2020 Town Report will be available for review and/or download on the Town of Bridport website (www.bridportvt.org) on or before February 20, 2021. In addition, printed copies of the Town Report will be made available at the Town Clerk’s Office on or before February 20, 2021. Any Town Voter or resident may request to receive a printed copy of the Town Report by requesting it at the Bridport Town Clerk’s Office. Residents may call 758-2483, email bridporttown@gmavt.net, mail a request to P.O. Box 27, Bridport, VT 05734. Please do not stop in the Town Offices to request a Town Report due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Dated January 29, 2021 by the Selectboard members of the Town of Bridport.
Tim Howlett-Chair Joan Huestis David Bronson
Robert Sunderland Steve Huestis