Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Shelburne News.
The smell of lasagna and conversations of local politics filled the halls of Shelburne Community School as residents gathered for this year’s Town Meeting Dinner.
Amid the lasagna and love, voters weighed in on contentious issues, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. They passed a resolution supporting Ukraine and tabled one that would have declared Shelburne an “Apartheid-Free Community.”
For the last decade, local restaurant Cucina Antica has provided dinner before Shelburne’s town meeting, held in person on Monday evening. The town meeting is mostly informational, with the town and school budgets decided by secret ballot on Tuesday.
Over dinner, constituents, volunteer committee members and state and local representatives spoke face to face with each other on issues they care about.
Carla Mazzariello of Shelburne said she is concerned about schools, property taxes and affordable housing. She said because there’s a lot of wealth in Shelburne, residents sometimes lose sight of what lower-income folks require.
“I’m concerned that we lose some of the perspective of what Vermonters need,” Mazzariello said. “I’d like to see us really focus more on how we can help our community for people who are not as entitled.”
Shelburne Fire Chief Andrew Dickerson was also focused on helping people and connecting with the community at the town meeting.
“It’s very important to make sure that residents get the opportunity to ask questions and have some face time with their public service,” Dickerson said.
“A lot of people don’t realize that at the core of our fire department is a volunteer agency. So, any time the community gets together like tonight, we can get that message out.”
In the hallway right outside the dinner, tables were set up by various organizations, including town volunteer groups like the Climate & Energy Committee.
Since its founding in 2023, committee members have tabled at both annual dinners, and they plan to continue.
“Sometimes human-caused climate issues seem overwhelming and impossible, but it’s through working with your community that you can have the greatest impact,” said Karon Baron, committee member.
“If you don’t come out for Town Meeting (Day), you don’t know your neighbors, you don’t know what issues are and you can’t have a voice in making it better,” she said.
Around 7 p.m., the cafeteria emptied out and the gymnasium filled up as moderator Tom Little called the discussion to order.
The meeting began with the presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Shelburne’s Girl and Boy Scouts. It was followed by a performance of the national anthem by David Connery, from the Champlain Valley School District School Board on the flute, and singer Matthew Wormser, who is Shelburne Selectboard vice chair.
Town poet laureate Amy Allen read her poem, “Spring Break,” and junior town poet laureate Roman Strayer-Benton read his poem, “Winter’s Close.”
There were a record 14 nominations for recipients for the 2025 Colleen Hague Public Service Award, and the winner was community volunteer Alice Brown.
Then, Connery presented on the Champlain Valley School District in an informational meeting.
Although the majority of voting took place Tuesday, all six of the ballot articles were presented and discussed Monday. Two were voted on in person: Article 1, compensation for selectboard members, and Article 2, any other proposed resolutions from the floor.
Shelburne resident Peg Rosenau proposed a motion to increase the compensation of selectboard members by $500 for both members and the chair, making the salaries $1,700 for members and $2,000 for the chair.
The motion passed and the article was adopted at the new compensation levels, with 91 voting yes and 35 voting no.
Regarding Article 2, three resolutions were proposed from the floor.
First, a resolution on Ukraine was proposed by Joan Lenes, stating in part: “Therefore, be it resolved that we, the citizens of the Town of Shelburne, Vermont, stand behind and support the continued efforts if Ukraine to maintain its independence, and that we urge the United States to continue providing military and financial aid to Ukraine.”
After an amendment to change the wording failed, the proposed resolution was approved, with 60 voting yes and eight voting no.
Second, the resolution to make Shelburne an “Apartheid Free Community” was proposed by Janet Franz.
“We affirm our commitment to freedom, justice and equality for the Palestinian people and all people; and we oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination and oppression; and we declare ourselves an apartheid-free community, and to that end, we pledge to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism and military occupation.”
After 30 minutes of discussion, the resolution was tabled indefinitely, with 35 voting yes to table the motion indefinitely and five voting no.
Lastly, a floor petition to lower healthcare costs was proposed. The motion failed with five voting yes and 30 voting no.