Antrim Town Meeting voters passed all articles before them at the town hall Thursday night.
About 65 people attended, and all articles unanimously passed, except for a measure to extend the winter maintenance exemption for White Birch Point Road and Craig Road, which passed by a standing vote.
The winter maintenance exception extension commanded the majority of the meeting’s discussion. The article, which passed 33-20 on a standing vote, extends the period where White Birch Point Road and Craig Road go unmaintained by 45 days.
Now, the roads are exempt from maintenance by the Highway Department from Nov. 15 to April 30, rather than Dec. 10 to April 10, the previous exemption.
“As far as both roads are concerned, they’re both very treacherous and dangerous for us to be plowing off throughout the year,” Road Agent Jim Plourde said, citing a safety risk for highway personnel plow the narrow roads, which were designed for access to summer cottages only.
The article was inspired by a similar ordinance passed in the town of Washington, which deemed the old exemption dates antiquated, Plourde said. He estimated the extension could affect anywhere between zero and 20 plowing events a year, depending on weather conditions.
Several residents suggested the town look into reclassifying the roads and upgrading them so they could be maintained year-round, although several attendees noted that such a discussion was outside the purview of the article.
“If it’s not safe for it to be plowed, maybe the town needs to make it accessible,” Marsha Ullman said.
Ullman is a resident of Gregg Lake Road, and said she would like to see Craig Road upgraded in order to provide an alternate route off Gregg Lake Road in case of a fallen tree or another blockage. Currently, year-round residents on the two roads pay out of pocket to plow the roads or do it themselves.
“Plow it and maintain it, we live there,” White Birch Road year-round resident Paul Stephens said.
Stephens said he and his wife worry about emergency personnel being able to access the road. Plourde estimated that the unmaintained third of White Birch Road could cost $100,000 to upgrade, and Craig Road could cost significantly more.
Fire Chief Marshall Gale called the purchase of a vehicle exhaust extraction system in the Central and North fire stations “long overdue.” The exhaust from vehicles, as well as the gases from contaminated gear and materials used at fires, pose a health risk to emergency responders as well as members of the public, he said, and the pollution is evident in the soot buildup on the walls and ceiling in the stations.
“This was the most economical system,” he said, half the price of other options. The system is fully automatic, he said, and starts up as soon as bay doors close.
Residents also opted to spend $32,000 to finish upgrades to the Fire Department’s self-contained breathing apparatus.
Voters put $40,000 towards a new police cruiser, which would replace a 2012 cruiser that is no longer dependable, especially in the wintertime, Select Board member John Robertson said.
Voters also approved the town’s operating budget of $4,192,739, allocated $245,600 to replace the High Street Bridge, $41,000 for library repairs, $20,000 for a new air conditioning system in the Town Hall, $38,000 for new radios for the highway department and $30,00 for a loader/backhoe for the transfer station. They opted to add $563,600 to various Capital Reserve Funds for anticipated future upgrades and repairs, and $25,000 to keep up with the town’s assessment schedule.
At the end of the meeting, Charlie Boucher spoke on behalf of the food pantry run by the Antrim Baptist Church. Boucher reminded residents that some people will lose their jobs for a period of time due to coronavirus quarantines, and more people might need to use the food pantry’s services. Last year, demand increased 60 to 70 percent, he said.
“All I’m asking is, when you go to the bank, when you go to Grapevine, when you go by our church … drop some food in there,” he said.