TO THE EDITOR: THE NORTHFIELD NEWS

D

OES THE 2012 town meeting in Northfield have the makings of another “perfect storm?” The following items reported in the Dec. 15 issue of the Northfield News suggest that it does.

Repairing damage from Hurricane Irene is going to cost the town $181,000. While this is less than some towns, it still presents a challenge for our limited tax base.

• The aerial ladder fire truck has failed and must be replaced at a cost estimated at $150,000 - $200,000 for another 2nd hand aerial ladder truck.

• The police department wants a budget increase of $104,000 in order to add a sixth police officer. Cuts in overtime and part time personnel might reduce the increase.

• The proposed budget includes a cut of $20,000 in tax support for the Brown Public Library. If that cut holds up during the budget process, the library trustees are expected to appeal to the voters at town meeting to restore the library’s budget request.

• The proposed budget includes funding to convert the part time position of “town administrator” to full time “town manager” at an unspecified cost increase.

• The proposed town charter may be on the town meeting agenda.

I have previously expressed concern about the proposed charter, as it would institutionalize the split between the town and the village that took root when the selectboard terminated the services of former town and village manager Nanci Allard.

I would add at this time that it appears the split will not only create inevitable friction and management problems within town and village government, it is also going to mean an increase in taxes at a time when the town can ill afford it.

The proposed town charter is similar in many ways to the charter that was defeated some years ago. It was seen at that time as an instrument that would cement a permanent split between the town and village. Since I believe that would be a very costly mistake, I do not support the charter and will vote against it.

My opinion remains that the way to improve municipal government in Northfield is to merge the village into the town and hire one, highly qualified manager for a unified town of Northfield.

The alternative proposed in the charter makes no rational sense and is also going to impose an added tax burden on the community to employ two, full time managers. I believe it is time for the community to consider this issue very carefully.

I have been considering the proposed charter for two months. My conclusion is that it is absolutely the wrong direction for Northfield. If it is on the 2012 town meeting agenda, I believe the voters should reject it a second time.

I would welcome a selectboard statement outlining in detail how they can justify adding expense, complication and inevitable intergovernmental friction to Northfield’s municipal government at this time.

BRAD DENNY

Northfield