Today is the first Tuesday in March.. and as such, it is Town Meeting Day here in Vermont !. Town Meting day is such an amazing tradition.In towns across the state people take off work and gather in churches, school auditoriums and grange halls and vote on their towns business for the year. Business can include everything from town budgets and school budgets to declaring our town a nuclear free zone. as ours did back in the 80’s..   Even in today’s busy culture I was pleased to see about 250 of my fellow towns folks gathered at the middle school this morning to talk about Richmond’s issues.not bad for a town of 3000 .I was able to hang out for an hour and a half to vote and watch the fun. I got to stay because my email was still down and I could not get meeting notices !!! (bliss) Going there always reminds me how much I love this town.. most folks know most folks. if not by name.. at least by site.. We have our share of characters… some you can predict exactly what they’re going to say and when. others.. you can never tell what they’re going to say..

The meeting is run by the select board..   a group of civic midned folks who dedicate their time in what has got to be a thankless and tiring job.. My good buddy Clint (hand raised here) presided over the proceedings as his dad has in the past.   He had his hands full during a debate about hiring/training a paramedic or two for our rural rescue squad. Amid debate one resident moved that we delay the debate on the issue to a later date.. What happened then was a 45 minute debate on debating that would have made Abott and Costello proud.. We had been debating the issue, then we debated if we could delay debate on the issue.. then we debated if we could debate on moving the debate on the issue .. (i kid you not !) Clint did a fine job of keeping us all kosher to Roberts Rules.. even when it got tough.. !

It was getting really confusing… Clint joked  that he could use a lifeline just as his  dad Toby walked in .. perfect timing.. Toby has run the meeting since I can remember.. I’ve been coming to these for 30 years.. I don’t think he’s been here that long, though.  Here they are conferring

Eventually the board had to cal the secretary of states office.. they said the debate could be moved.. but just to a specific date and time within the next 3 months.. I had to leave before it was resolved.. Not sure where it landed.

I’m still waiting to here how the elections all came out.. does anyone know ?

nite folks, nite sam

-me