Town meeting 2010 came with the centuries old traditions upheld in small towns throughout Vermont. Budgets and other issues of concern were discussed with and by the citizens of their towns a the rare present day form of direct democracy continues.
One of the biggest changes this year was the format of the meeting. The Australian Ballot was used for the first time in many places, and Saint Johnsbury even moved their meeting completely to Australian Ballot voting. There is nothing Australian about this voting method, its simply when residents can come in on their own time on town meeting day to vote on ballot, rather than saying "aye" or "nay" in the meeting. Saint Johnsbury last year voted to replace their traditional meeting to an informational meeting the night before town meeting day and make town meeting day itself an election day. Other towns still did their traditional meetings, however, voted on some important measures by Australian Ballot. . Concord also used a method similar to Saint Johnsbury with their meeting being the night before and the actual town meeting day be an election day via the Australian Ballot. Lyndonville vote on their $10.52 million school budget by australian ballot for the first time in its town meeting history.
Several other towns used the Australian Ballot to vote on part of their meeting items, however, the smaller towns, such as Kirby and Bradford still use the traditional approach to town meeting...an "aye" or a "nay" and the voice of the people is heard.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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