by Margo Callaghan

The Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24 followed the public hearings held for the Town and School Budgets on Jan. 23. Once again, it was the streetlights in Davis Park that garnered much of the space on the agenda. The Selectboard received an appeal requesting that ten of the 24 streetlights which had been removed last fall with the adoption of Shelburne's streetlight policy, be replaced. The Board reviewed the locations of the lights and, under the new policy, felt that six of the 10 sites could warrant streetlights, based on traffic levels and the sharpness of turn angles in the road. The position of the residents signing the petition was that School Street was a "feeder road." The Board determined five locations where streetlights should be replaced- at the corners where Fletcher, Davis, Tracy, Stokes and Heritage roads each intersect with School Street. One additional light is slated to be placed at the corner of Fletcher and Davis, due to the curve of that area's road. Member Tim Pudvar stated that the decision reached this night regarding location of lights "begins and ends with need". It was decided that residents of the neighborhood, and particularly those property owners whose residences are located at the corners where the lights are to be erected be notified of the plans. Final discussion of light placement will take place at the next Selectboard meeting on Feb. 14, and Board members urged all interested parties, both from Davis Park, and throughout the town, to make a point to attend that meeting.

Constitutional amendment

"Money is not speech" stated Louise Ransom emphatically, as she read from the petition she presented to the Board. That petition was to request the Board authorize an additional ballot item be added to those presented to Shelburne voters at Town Meeting. The 160 signatures represented residents in favor of reversing the Supreme Court decision granting "personhood to corporations." (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission) Board member Gary von Stange was the most vocal in his response to Ransom's request.  "We are a local board, dedicated to serving Shelburne," going on to state that his feeling was that it was inappropriate to address the issue at the local level. Chair Bob Roesler also weighed in saying, "It is not the role of this board to support this position." One of the Board's concerns was whether voters have enough information on the issue to make an informed decision. Following discussion, it was felt that the best way to encourage dialogue and enhance awareness of the Supreme Court's decision was to bring it forward at Town Meeting on Monday evening for a potential floor vote, in lieu of a ballot item; the decision as to whether or not to hold the floor vote will be at the discretion of the Town Moderator.