BELLOWS FALLS — The annual village meeting, in which residents will be asked to approve funding for a community garden, is scheduled for Monday, May 14, at 7 p.m., in the Bellows Falls Opera House. On Wednesday, May 15, voting to fill village offices will take place at the Masonic Temple at 61 Westminster St., from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Greater Falls Prevention Coalition has asked the Village for $1,500 to support a community garden initiative. At the Rockingham Town Meeting in March, a similar measure was approved. Several possible garden plots have been identified, and supporters of the measure said families and youth will be given an opportunity to grow their own food, thereby supporting healthy choices for nutrition at the table after harvest.
Voters to choose officers
There are two contests on the ballot. One will be for the one-year seat as village president with two candidates vying for the vacancy: Deborah Wright, currently serving as trustee, and Roger Riccio, who previously held the presidency.
Four candidates are vying for two seats in the two-year trustee spot: Cathy Bergman, incumbent Stefan Golec, and political newcomers Jeffrey Keenan Humphrey and Andrew Smith.
Wright, who owns and operates Green Mountain Traffic Control, told The Commons she “believes in Bellows Falls.”
She said the village “deserves to resurrect itself and its strength as the vital core of Rockingham through constructive participation.”
“I believe in the ability of Bellows Falls to rebirth itself as a joyful, productive community that epitomizes the small-town archetype of the state of Vermont,” she added.
Riccio, executive director of the Greater Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce, did not return requests for a statement for his candidacy.
Trustee candidates
In the race for the two year seat, incumbent Stefan Golec said that being the senior member of the board of trustees and serving as its vice-chair “has allowed me to represent Bellows Falls Village residents for many years, and provided me with a hands-on history and institutional knowledge of the people I represent.”
“I remain an independent voice who listens to concerns with no personal or hidden agendas, and with new energy and fresh ideas,” Golec added, “while remembering to serve the people.”
Smith said he decided to throw his hat in the ring this year after attending trustee meetings for many years.
“I'm running to bring a fresh and positive perspective to the board,” he said. He added he wants to see “increased sunshine” for the trustees, “which means an absolute minimum of executive sessions.”
He also said he hopes to “seek out new economies in village spending, and encourage an improved exchange between village residents and the trustees, so those concerns can be effectively addressed.”
Bergmann said she can bring “dedication, experience, leadership, knowledge and intelligence to the board and village I love.”
“I have several ideas and goals I would like to set forward for reducing taxes, increasing revenues, building partnerships, creating jobs, and working toward a stronger, healthier and more prosperous community,” she added.
“The most important part for me is to once again make the voters and citizens an equal part of what I call the 'equation of governance,'” she said.
Humphrey said he relocated to the area to be closer to his family. “[The village] is a wonderful example of the Vermont experience,” he said, adding that he would, “demonstrate and practice 'servant leadership' to foster an environment conducive to setting realistic, attainable goals and objectives for the betterment of the village and its inhabitants.”
“I would work to control expenses by using diligent budget methodology to allow for managed growth of the village,” he said, adding, “I would work to enrich village revenue through the expansion of the commercial tax base.”
Michael P. Harty and Donna J. Harty are running unopposed for one year seats as moderator and treasurer, respectively. Village Clerk Kerry Bennett is also seeking re-election and is unopposed. Pat Fowler and Michael Tolaro are running for two of the three one-year auditor seats. The board will appoint a third auditor after the elections.
Kathryn Wright is running unopposed for the three-year seat as commissioner of the Mary J. Arms Fund.