MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Communities across Vermont will weigh in Tuesday during Town Meeting Day on issues such as merging school districts to becoming sanctuary towns and whether to call for an investigation into a presidential impeachment.
The annual town gatherings are a forum for Vermonters to voice their concerns on local to national issues.
“It’s neighbor with neighbor having the conversations about what’s important to them,” said Maura Carroll, of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. “And while it’s nonbinding,” she said of the resolutions, “it still is a statement of their concern about an issue.”
In Charlotte, residents will elect town officers and decide whether to buy a new fire pump truck. They’ll also consider a call for an investigation into whether President Donald Trump should be impeached. The resolution would have the town with a population of less than 4,000 ask Congress to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment.
“There’s been a lot of news about his financial dealings in foreign countries and dealings which he will have personal gain,” said Susan Ohanian, a retired teacher, who is introducing the resolution.
Four other communities - Tunbridge, Sharon, Strafford and South Royalton - will consider whether they want to be the sites for a massive development project proposed by a Mormon Utah businessman, based on the writings of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David Hall, of the NewVistas Foundation, wants to build a development, years from now, in and around Sharon, the birthplace of Smith. It would include housing for 20,000 people, offices, gardens, 48 basketball courts and 48 Olympic-size swimming pools.
“We also want to let NewVistas Foundation know how people feel and that may or not may impact how they think about this development,” said Michael Sacca, of the nonprofit Alliance for Vermont Communities.
The communities of Calais, Hartland, East Montpelier, Plainfield and Williston will be weighing whether to take a stance against Trump’s immigration plans by becoming sanctuary communities and not participating in federal efforts to deport workers living in the country illegally.
At least one town, Jericho, will ponder whether to require presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns to get on Vermont ballots.
Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras is facing three challengers as he seeks his sixth term. Two candidates say new leadership is needed after the community became divided by the way Louras rolled out a plan to bring up to 100 Syrian refugees to the city without seeking input from the public or city officials.
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