Conrad Beattie voiced his opposition to Australian balloting of the school budget. He said that he "would like to see it voted down" and continue to adopt the budget from the floor. He said that he had a concern that that the matter would have to "go back for several voters," as has happened in other, neighboring towns. Photo by Kathleen Lott, The Northfield News WILLIAMSTOWN - Voters did not have the opportunity to decide whether or not to reconsider the school budget that passed at this year's annual town meeting which slashed $400,000 from the school budget.

A motion to object to the consideration of the question was raised before article One of the warning could be moved to the floor at Tuesday's special school board meeting.

With a vote of 125-91, the motion was considered passed.

It was passed even though a two thirds majority is needed for the objection to stand, according to Robert's Rules of Order. Kathy DeWolfe of the Secretary of State's office said that, in her experiences as legal counsel for the Town of Brattleboro, she has not encountered a motion to object being raised against a warned article.

She said that whether or not it was an appropriate motion will be a matter of discussion within the Secretary of State's office. She said that, if it is in conflict with section 4416 of the statutes, the statute will prevail. At the March town meeting the proposed $8,150,000 school budget was slashed by $400,000 and the question of whether or not school budgets should be determined by Australian ballot was tabled. Two petitions to reconsider those two decisions were filed and a special town meeting was set to consider reconsideration.

Because warned article one was not allowed to be brought to the floor, Moderator Winston Chambers decided article two, which called for a vote on the actual budget and was dependent on the passage of article one, was moot.

Article three, which asked voters to reconsider taking up voting on school budgets by Australian ballot beginning in 2011, passed with a 132-89 vote, allowing article four, the actual question as to whether or not school budgets should be voted on by Australian budget, to be brought to the floor. Article four passed with a 117-84 vote.

Conrad Beattie and Donald Graham voiced opposition to the Australian ballot issue. Mr. Beattie said that he "would like to see it voted down" and that the school budget continue to be adopted from the floor. Mr. Graham said that the "Town of Milton went two years without a budget," and that he could "see that happening" in Williamstown.

School Director Rama Schneider said thaqt he would "like to see Australian ballot" because "a lot of people who work can't" get to town meeting and that the vote needs "to reflect the will of the community."

Monique Hayden offered an amendment that the school budget be voted by Australian ballot for 2011 and 2012 town meetings, but for 2013 the voting "return to the town meeting format, unless voted otherwise." The amendment was defeated.