BETHEL — Bethel voters will have to wait to vote on a $2.5 million bond for capital improvements to the town’s water system. Initially scheduled to be decided by Australian ballot this Tuesday, the vote will now be non-binding, due to the town not meeting all statutory bond voting notification laws.

A binding vote is scheduled for Tuesday, April 18.

Otherwise, all articles passed in the Bethel Middle School Gym at Tuesday’s floor meeting, and pie was served.

The dessert tradition started four or five years ago, said Jean Burnham, confectionary deputy.

Burnham was the town clerk for 49 years: “I’d much rather be doing this,” she said while slicing blueberry pie and brewing decaf coffee as residents filed into the floor meeting.

Meanwhile, her successor Pam Brown checked in 161 voters.

Bethel residents approved a $2.66 million budget, of which $2.16 million will come from taxes. The budget is up from the $2.42 million spending plan approved last year.

Budget increases were attributed in part to the higher cost of providing benefits to public employees, and inflation on town expenses. Salt, for example, has gone up $30,000.

Inflation accounts for about a third of the budget increase, Selectboard member Chris Jarvis said.

Voters were most divided over whether to shift the election of town officials to Australian ballot. The article passed, but sparked debate about the present-day purpose, and future, of Town Meeting.

Jesse Plotsky, owner of Babes Bar and member of the Bethel’s Equity and Inclusion Committee, noted that there was a 47% increase in voter turnout when the town voted by Australian ballot during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents who can’t get time off from work, or find child care or adequate transportation, are boxed out from participating, he said.

“If we truly want Bethel’s affairs to represent its citizens, we should vote yes on Article 17,” Plotsky said.

Selectboard member Gene Kraus emphasized that switching to Australian ballot to elect town officials wouldn’t replace Town Meeting. Voting on budgets and other expenditures would still be done from the floor.

“I went to my first Town Meeting 52 years ago, and fell in love,” Kraus said. “I thought this was the greatest thing since sliced cheese. But guess what? We have made it so some members of our town can’t vote.”

Selectboard member Chris Jarvis, who was first nominated from the floor seven years ago, pushed back.

“Town Meeting is the purest form of democracy you can get,” he said. “I believe in tradition. I believe that everyone does have the opportunity to vote.”

He noted how fortunate Bethel was to have a space, like the middle school gym where the crowd was gathered, that could accommodate the community.

Instead of switching to Australian ballots, resident Lisa McCrory pitched potential workarounds, such as moving the meeting to the evening.

“If we keep moving towards these efficiencies, like with Australian ballots, we’re going to lose each other,” McCrory said. “How can we keep the glue in our community, so we can get to know each other and see each other’s faces?”

Just before votes finally were cast, Leonard Meek reminded the crowd that the Australian ballot measure would only be used for town officials.

“It’s not the majority of the population of Bethel casting this vote today, and we should be terribly concerned about that,” Meek said.

Article 17 went to paper ballot vote and passed, 65-35.

Voters elected Denise Guilmette to a three-year seat on the Selectboard. Current Selectboard member Chris Jarvis was elected to another two-year term.

White River Valley Ambulance, like other ambulance services across Vermont, required a budget increase as the nonprofit had to increase wages to fill vacant positions. Voters approved $153,048 in appropriations to the service.

Residents applauded efforts by Ellie Griffin, chairwoman of the Recreation Committee, to get the second phase of the skate park construction funded. Griffin in turn applauded the middle schoolers, who of their own initiative launched a fundraiser for the construction and raised $730. Voters approved an additional $30,000.

Voters will decide by Australian ballot whether to permit a retail cannabis operation in Bethel.

Frances Mize is a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at fmize@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.

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