Lyndon Town Meeting 2010 Brief Overview

As Lyndon residents filed into the Town School's gymnasium many seemed eager to start the annual town meeting. As the hammer hit the podium at 9 A.M. sharp the gym seemed as if it was a church. There were many open seats in the front of the room, but very few open seats in the back. For the most part, Lyndon's town meeting was low key and had little discussion throughout the day. On all matters regarding aid for the elderly and public services such as the Area Agency on Aging, the Caledonia Home Health Care Hospice, and the Northeast Kingdom Human Services, voting was unanimous in favor of providing money for them. Although the town meeting was for the most part low key, a few questions were raised and discussed over a few of the issues being voted on. One of them was whether to give $5,000 dollars to the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium for this year in return for free and unlimited admission to Lyndon residents. After this was put on the table Carol Fisher, a Lyndon resident, voiced her concern that the town was wasting tax payers money on something that was not being taken advantage of by the town's residents. After her opinion was voiced, a man stood up and stated that his son went to the museum and planetarium over a dozen times a year. Also a woman commented that the weather station is there, which has a positive impact on the community. After these people talked, many heads were nodding in agreement with what was said and the money was given. On the other hand, the only thing that was voted down during the town meeting was to enable participating property owners to access funding for eligible energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and to pay back the cost through their taxes. This clearly was the most involved discussion of the day. When it first came onto the table, people tried to vote quickly to skip it, but others insisted to hear other voices about it so one could vote with knowledge on the subject. Basically, this would provide money for citizens who made energy efficient improvements to their homes. However, the home owners would have to pay back the loans within twenty years. Many residents voiced how they believed that if the people did not pay back the money that they were loaned, the tax payers would be held responsible. After much discussion and confusion, because there were several different motions on the floor, the town voted it down.