As the state of Vermont continues to prepare for Town Meeting on Tuesday, the town of Berlin had its pre-town meeting Saturday where they went over what will be on the ballot. It’s a loaded ballot with items ranging from approving the budget to voting on a new local tax, this year’s budget is a steep increase from prior years due to the July floods. “It left us with a lot of road damages, close to 30 roads damages one way or the other. Four of them still having significant damage that needs to be repaired, one being closed,” said Ture Nelson, the acting town administrator. In Town Meeting fashion, the public was interested in how decisions came to be.”I think it’s interesting to know what didn’t make it in or the 2, 3, 4 things that you wished you could’ve done but decided not to,” said Matt Levin, a Berlin resident. Some also gave their thoughts. “I would like to suggest that you consider paying the non-union people what they deserve,” said a Berlin local. Another item on the ballot, if approved, would sell a portion of town-owned land in the travel plaza behind the Comfort Inn & Suites, which would allow for the creation of a new hotel. “Your underserved in terms of hotel rooms, the Comfort fills in quite often and then people leave Berlin to go elsewhere for hotel rooms so this will satisfy the need,” said Karen Whitman, with Giri Hotels Management. While much of the day was a preview, some items were voted on. One of those was in regards to bringing back a post office which received unanimous support. “Let’s work with the post office, with the work they’re doing in Montpelier, and finally get us a post office that we need and a zip code we deserve here in Berlin,” said Nelson.The vote does not make it a guarantee but makes the town one step closer to potentially bringing back something they lost over 30 years ago.Berlin town meeting is from 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Tuesday at the town offices, and you can find more info here.
As the state of Vermont continues to prepare for Town Meeting on Tuesday, the town of Berlin had its pre-town meeting Saturday where they went over what will be on the ballot.
It’s a loaded ballot with items ranging from approving the budget to voting on a new local tax, this year’s budget is a steep increase from prior years due to the July floods.
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“It left us with a lot of road damages, close to 30 roads damages one way or the other. Four of them still having significant damage that needs to be repaired, one being closed,” said Ture Nelson, the acting town administrator.
In Town Meeting fashion, the public was interested in how decisions came to be.
“I think it’s interesting to know what didn’t make it in or the 2, 3, 4 things that you wished you could’ve done but decided not to,” said Matt Levin, a Berlin resident.
Some also gave their thoughts.
“I would like to suggest that you consider paying the non-union people what they deserve,” said a Berlin local.
Another item on the ballot, if approved, would sell a portion of town-owned land in the travel plaza behind the Comfort Inn & Suites, which would allow for the creation of a new hotel.
“Your underserved in terms of hotel rooms, the Comfort [Inn & Suites] fills in quite often and then people leave Berlin to go elsewhere for hotel rooms so this will satisfy the need,” said Karen Whitman, with Giri Hotels Management.
While much of the day was a preview, some items were voted on. One of those was in regards to bringing back a post office which received unanimous support.
“Let’s work with the post office, with the work they’re doing in Montpelier, and finally get us a post office that we need and a zip code we deserve here in Berlin,” said Nelson.
The vote does not make it a guarantee but makes the town one step closer to potentially bringing back something they lost over 30 years ago.
Berlin town meeting is from 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Tuesday at the town offices, and you can find more info here.
