Barre Finance Committee Backs Most Warrant Articles, Defers on Cannabis and Stabilization

BARRE -- May 30, 2018, Barre Finance Committee votes favorable action on most warrant articles but takes no action on cannabis and stabilization items. Meeting on May 30, the committee worked through a full slate of budget articles ahead of Town Meeting, approving a $50,000 police cruiser, a $60,000 Engine 6 refurbishment, and a $32,500 clerk's office equipment request, among other items. Members voted no action on a proposed $60,000 stabilization fund transfer and on several cannabis cultivation and sales zoning articles, saying it was "not fiscally responsible" to vote a not-to-exceed figure without confirmed Select Board target numbers and that the cannabis articles' outcomes depended on earlier zoning votes. The animal control budget drew extended scrutiny after a restructuring raised the officer's wages from $32,708 to $42,300 and pushed Barre's apportioned share of the regional contract up roughly $3,000; members said major service restructurings should come before the committee before numbers are finalized.