East Montpelier debates CVAC funding increase #tmdvt

East Montpelier residents spent an hour today debating a proposal to increase substantially town support for the Central Vermont Community Action Council.
The CVAC requested the usual $400 from East Montpelier, but East Montpelier Lister and resident Renée Carpenter suggested that the amount for the CVAC be increased to $9,000.
Carpenter said that she’s worried President Obama and the U.S. Congress are proposing deep cuts to programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and nutrition programs for children, and that that those cuts could severely impact CVAC’s ability to help Vermonters in need.
The CVAC, she said, “has provided around $85,000 in services” to East Montpelier, and so residents should increase their support for the Action Council to $9,000.
Others recommended changing the amount to $5,000 or just doubling it to $800, but all of the amendments were voted down and the original $400 proposal passed.
Voters approved an article designating East Montpelier a Clean Energy Assessment District. This is part of Vermont’s Property Assessed Clean Energy program that allows homeowners to borrow money from the municipality to cover the initial investment in energy efficient or renewable energy home upgrades, such as solar panels, insulation or new windows.
Residents also agreed to spend $9,000 for maintenance of the town’s cemeteries, and to double the amount disabled veteran's can deduct from their property valuation from $20,000 to $40,000.
The Four Corners Schoolhouse Association got $3,900, and residents agreed to continue bus service into Montpelier at a cost of $8,333.
Polls will remain open until 7 this evening for residents to cast their vote for the four Articles requiring ballot voting, as well as the election of officers and the school district.