NEW SALEM — The town has earmarked $8,818 for a Franklin Regional Council of Governments assessment, but the Selectboard has been told not to pay the bill until a meeting with the organization is scheduled.
This stipulation was an amendment to the $2,779,890 annual operating budget for next year, approved at annual town meeting on Monday.
Paul Chapin made the motion after a more stringent one suggested by Tony Palmieri was overwhelmingly rejected by voters. Chapin’s motion, which passed 28-18, was opposed by Town Coordinator Nancy Aldrich, all three members of the town Finance Committee and the three Selectboard members.
Chapin, Palmieri and others said they are displeased with what they perceive as a lack of results in bringing broadband Internet to the region. Palmieri suggested leaving money for FRCOG out of the budget until the town gets “an explanation of services.” He said he wants an FRCOG representative to attend a public meeting and explain what benefits the organization has provided and what it’s doing to resolve the broadband issue. After Palmieri’s motion was struck down, Chapin offered a modified version that was accepted.
Selectboard member Wayne Hachey said FRCOG worked diligently to fight Kinder Morgan’s proposed Northeast Energy Direct pipeline project, which has been withdrawn, and he expects the broadband issue to now be brought to the forefront.
Fire Chief Joe Cuneo he knows the people at FRCOG and there are not enough of them to attend every meeting in its more than 25 member-towns.
Selectboard Chairman Randy Gordon said no one requested that a FRCOG representative attend Tuesday’s town meeting and suggested it makes no sense to not pay the town’s bills because an unmentioned expectation had not been met.
The budget approved for 2017 includes a $12,000 spending increase for the ambulance service it gets from Orange Fire Rescue EMS. The budgeted spending went up from $12,000 to $24,000. Cuneo and Orange Town Administrator Diana Schindler said New Salem has been underpaying for years, but the ambulance service can no longer sustain that status quo.