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Description
For more information about upcoming Town Meeting Day 2023 coverage visit https://bit.ly/TownMeeting2023
https://linktr.ee/townmeetingtv
00:00:00 Introductions
00:01:01 Opening Statements
00:03:45 Budget
00:05:42 Selectboard
00:08:55 VT Legislative Initiatives
00:12:14 Development
00:18:57 Love of Williston
00:22:10 All Resident Voting
00:24:16 Racial Justice
This video belongs to http://www.cctv.org and published with permission under Creative Commons License CCTV Center for Media & Democracy Programming is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
A
Hello
and
welcome
to
ongoing
election
coverage
by
town
meeting
television.
This
is
one
of
many
forums
that
we're
bringing
you
in
advance
of
town
meeting
day
on
Tuesday
March
7
2023.,
how
many
TV
hosts
forums
with
all
candidates
and
all
items
that
you
will
see
on
your
ballot
town
meeting
TV
election
forums
also
introduce
you
to
community
decision
makers
and
connect
you
with
issues
that
shape
your
local
community
with
me
tonight.
Are
our
candidates,
Ellie
Beckett
and
Mike
Isham,
who
are
running
to
fill
the
remaining
year
of
a
three-year
term
on
the
Williston
select
board.
A
Now,
if
you're
tuning
in
live,
we
welcome
your
questions.
You
can
call
us
at
802-862-3966
and
we
will
prioritize
your
questions
if
you
call
in
so.
You
are
definitely
encouraged
to
give
us
a
call.
You
can
watch
town
meeting
TV
on
Comcast
channel,
1087,
Burlington
telecoms,
Channel,
17
and
217,
as
well
as
online
at
youtube.com
town
meeting
TV.
A
B
Hello,
my
name
is
Ellie
Beckett
and
I'm
running
for
select
board
to
continue
my
service
to
Williston
and
pay
back
all
the
gifts,
this
town
and
our
community
have
given
me
and
my
family
I'm
running,
to
bring
a
new
energy
and
fresh
perspective
to
the
select
board.
I
want
to
serve
my
mother's
example
of
Public
Service
as
the
Williston
town
clerk
for
20
years
and
a
member
of
the
Army
National
Guard
have
shaped
my
life,
my
own
experiences
growing
up
in
Williston
and
being
a
young
woman
building.
B
My
life
there
now
have
shown
me
that
we
must
both
keep
williston's
historic
identity
and
sense
of
community
and
manage
the
growth
that
will
come
if
elected.
My
priorities
are
the
following
natural
resource
protection.
Williston
must
protect
its
Green
Space
and
undeveloped,
Land
by
continuing
to
concentrate
growth
in
the
growth
Center
and
working
to
ensure
the
town
has
adequate
zoning
regulations
protecting
our
rural
landscape
and
view
sheds.
B
We
must
adequately
fund
the
town's
environmental
Reserve
fund,
which
has
conserved
over
2
000
acres
of
land
since
1989..
Another
priority
is
small
business
support.
Now,
more
than
ever,
we
must
attract,
retain
and
assist
small
business
owners
who
will
make
Willis
in
a
place
where
people
want
to
be
and,
lastly,
housing.
B
A
C
I'm
excited
for
the
future
of
Williston
I.
My
experience
is
I
left
the
farm
in
the
early
80s
I
joined
the
military
I
had
four
years
in
the
military.
I've
worked
26
years
at
IBM
and
I
came
back
and
I
purchased
a
family
farm
in
the
early
2000s
from
my
parents,
I
made
it
into
a
diversified,
Community
Center,
so
I
agree
with
a
lot
of
what
Ellie
says:
I'm
excited
about
the
future
of
Williston,
the
growth
Center
designation,
the
unified
development
bylaws
and
the
official
town
map.
A
C
Yes,
I
will
be
supporting
a
budget.
I
I
think
absolutely
support
it.
There
was
a
lot
of
hard
work
that
went
into
the
budget
this
year,
for
both
the
town
and
the
school
I
feel
Wilson's
done
a
great
job.
It
starts
with
the
different
departments.
Commissions
boards
meetings
in
the
town
the
town
manager
looks
at
it
all.
He
submits
it
to
the
select
board.
The
select
board
approves
it
so
I
stand
behind
what
the
select
board
did
this
year,
approving
the
budget
and
I'm
looking
forward
to
looking
at
next
year's
Town
budget.
A
B
B
The
budget
increase
is
largely
a
cost
of
living
adjustment
for
Town
staff
and
does
not
include
any
new
Municipal
Services
I
support,
keeping
our
towns
Our,
Town
staff
salaries,
competitive
Our,
Town
staff
are
valuable
and
we
have
a
responsibility
to
our
employees
who
support
the
town
every
day,
even
under
the
circumstances.
The
budget
still
finances
things.
B
A
B
Well,
I
think,
first,
the
number
of
contested
elections
for
seats
on
the
select
board
isn't
really
a
good
litmus
test
for
citizen
participation.
You
know
on
one
hand
being
on
the
select
board,
isn't
terribly
glamorous.
It
takes
away
from
a
lot
of
family
time.
It
can
make
things
awkward
with
you
know,
friends
and
neighbors,
and
you
know
the
time
of
day
in
the
in-person
meetings
can
make
it
harder
for
to
for
one
to
commit
to
a
committee
I'm
running,
because
I
have
the
capacity
to
do
it
and
I
really
want
to
give
back.
B
There
are
some
areas
of
Civic
engagement
and
participation
that
I
want
to
highlight
that
have
been
improvements.
I
think,
moving
to
hybrid
options
for
a
lot
of
our
town
committees
has
been
a
tremendous
help.
The
ability
to
participate
by
video
from
home
has
increased
participation
in
town
committees
and
Boards,
as
well
as
public
attendance
at
these
meetings,
and
then
another
thing
that
is
helpful
to
note
is
that
it
used
to
be
really
rare
that
more
than
one
person
would
come
forward
to
fill
a
vacant
seat
on
the
various
Town
commissions
and
committees.
B
When
there's
been
an
opening,
but
in
the
past
year,
I've
noticed
more
and
more
people
asking
to
be
chosen
to
serve
on
those
boards
like
the
Planning
Commission,
which
I'm
on
the
developmental
review
board
the
conservation
committee
and
the
energy
committee
Leslie
I
I
would
say
that
Wilson
residents
are
very
engaged
in
discussing
the
the
public
issues
through
other
forums.
We
have
constant,
robust
discussion
on
front
porch.
Forum
I
think
that
a
lot
of
town
issues
are
discussed
at
clubs
like
rotary
and
I.
Think
people
out
and
about
town
are
are
often
engaged
in.
A
C
I
believe
I
believe
that
the
select
board
Town
commissions,
the
Committees
and
all
the
groups-
it's
amazing-
there
are
over
16
groups
in
the
town
over
16
boards,
including
the
site
advisory
committee
and
I.
Think
that
there's
a
lot
of
different
people
that
are
involved
in
the
town
politics.
It
would
be
nice
to
see
more
people
running
I
understand
that
people
are
busy
today
with
multiple
jobs
and
part
of
life.
C
C
A
Thank
you,
Mike
and
now
we'll
move
on
to
a
question
about
Vermont
legislative
initiatives
and
we'll
start
with
you
Mike.
So
the
Vermont
legislative
session
is
underway.
What
are
some
important
initiatives
to
the
community
of
Williston
that
you
will
be
tracking
and
supporting
as
a
part
of
your
work
as
a
select
board
member
well.
C
I
think
number
one.
One
thing
that
we've
learned
is
that
since
coveted,
the
income
and
educational
Gap
has
widened
dramatically
I
think
what
we
must
do
is
level
the
playing
field
to
the
Future
and
our
future.
Is
our
youth
I
think
it's
important
that
we
support
our
youth.
Our
youth
need
more
help
today
than
they
ever
did
before.
C
So
I
will
be
following
what
the
legislator
does.
I've
I've,
followed
them
in
the
past
on
agricultural
issues.
I
have
actually
was
responsible
for
a
bill
that
got
submitted
to
the
house
in
the
senate
for
agritourism
liability
that
got
past
the
last
session
and
I
look
forward
to
following
the
legislator
again
and
trying
to
make
a
difference
with
some
type
ideas
of
bills.
C
A
B
Are
three
specific
initiatives
that
I
want
to
touch
on
that
I'll?
Be
tracking?
First
is
h68
the
omnimus,
the
Omnibus
housing
bill,
which
aims
to
reduce
sprawl
and
development
pressure
on
forests
and
farmlands
by
modernizing
local
zoning
to
allow
smart
growth,
smart
growth,
housing
where
infrastructure
already
exists,
some
of
the
ways
it
aims
to
do.
This
is
through
re-examining
density
standards,
excessive
parking
mandates
and
whether
there's
enough
flexibility
in
the
kinds
of
housing
that
can
be
built
in
the
aim
to
get
more
missing
middle
housing.
B
Another
one
I'll
be
tracking,
is
h208.
The
child
care
bill
now,
I'm
very
pleased
that
this
year
the
legislature
has
made
Child
Care
a
top
priority
so
overdue,
but
so
happy
to
see
it.
The
lack
of
affordable
child
care
hurts
everyone,
families
who
need
it,
so
they
can
get
jobs,
employers
who
can't
find
workers,
children
who
are
left
with
substandard
and
even
dangerous
levels
of
care,
and
then.
B
Thirdly,
this
isn't
a
specific
bill,
but
it's
a
component
of
the
budget
that
I'm
I'm
interested
in
I
work
part-time
for
Howard
Center,
which
is
the
designated
designated
Agency
for
Chittenden
County,
which
the
state
has
tasked
with
providing
mental
health
and
substance,
abuse,
services
and
I.
Think
we
can
all
agree
that
these
are
desperately
needed
services
and
it
affects
everyone.
B
The
people
struggling
with
mental
health
and
addiction,
their
friends
and
families,
and
you
know
even
every
business
and
the
people
who
use
those
businesses
who
have
to
deal
with
the
behaviors
and
drug
use
that
and
untreated
mental
health
that
untreated
mental
health
problems
create.
So
this
year,
I'm
I'm
interested
in
the
budget
and
I
hope
to
see
a
significant
increase
in
mental
health
spending,
so
that
people
in
our
community
can
get
help
who
need
it.
A
Thank
you
Ellie
and
before
we
move
on
to
our
next
question,
I
just
want
to
remind
viewers
anybody
who's
watching
live,
please
feel
free
to
call
in
at
802-862-3966,
and
we
will
prioritize
your
question
and
get
that
answered
live
in
the
meantime.
We'll
move
on
to
our
next
question,
we'll
start
with
Ellie,
and
that
question
has
to
do
with
development.
So
Williston
has
certainly
seen
a
fair
share
of
growth
and,
with
the
recent
adoption
of
form-based
code
for
task,
Corners
is
set
to
see
more
what
it
excuse
me.
B
Development
all
right
first
I
I
refute
the
premise
that
the
form-based
code
will
cause
growth.
The
form-based
code
will
not
cause
an
increase
in
growth.
The
areas
of
town
that
people
are
talking
about
are
already
zoned
for
development,
and
they
have
done
for
decades.
The
form-based
code
is
really
more
about
Aesthetics
and
functionality
of
development.
That
is
already
going
to
happen
one
way
or
another.
It
doesn't
encourage
or
discourage
growth.
B
It'll
make
the
development
that
does
happen,
a
lot
more
walkable,
more
environmentally
friendly
and
more
functional
and
aesthetically
pleasing.
As
for
a
long-term
Vision,
the
form-based
code
is
a
huge
step
toward
the
goals
that
have
been
in
place
within
the
town
for
Taft
corners
area.
For
my
entire
life,
which
is
to
create
a
pedestrian
friendly,
Town
Hub,
where
people
who
work
in
Wilson
can
hopefully
afford
to
live
outside.
B
Of
the
growth
Center,
my
vision
for
the
future
includes
ensuring
that
land
is
preserved
through
adequate,
consistent
funding
of
the
town's
environmental
Reserve
fund
and
looking
at
potential
development
more
creatively.
Ultimately,
we
have
a
natural
cap
on
growth.
Our
Town's
Wastewater
capacity
will
determine
what
is
possible,
but
what
we
have
control
over
now
prior
to
reaching
that
cap
is
the
the
ability
to
diversify
the
makeup
and
growth
that
is
yet
to
occur.
C
C
It's
going
to
be
growing
exponentially
now,
compared
to
the
last
40
years,
I
see
over
500
000
people
living
in
chanting,
County
in
15
years,
I
see
over
25
000
people
in
the
town
of
Williston
I
think
it's
important
that
we
control
that
growth,
where
we
put
the
growth
I
think
the
form-based
code
is
a
great
way
to
do
that.
I
love
the
The
Pedestrian
of
the
bicycle
walkways
my
wife
and
I.
C
This
winter
we
went
to
New
York
City
to
see
a
couple
of
Broadway
shows,
and
while
we
were
there,
we
went
to
Brooklyn
Heights,
where
they
have
a
form
base,
coat
I
believe
and
we
really
enjoyed
walking
through
the
brown
Stones.
We
we
had
breakfast
at
a
cafe
a
cup
of
coffee.
We
went
to
a
bar.
We
watched
a
football
game,
I
think
it's
a
beautiful
region.
It's
where
tourists
are
attracted
to.
It's
also
proven
that
you
can
have
high
density
growth
and
you
can
have
low
crime
and
also
have
affordable
living
I.
C
Think
it's
important
that
we
have
affordable
living
for
the
people
that
work
in
our
town
are.
Policemen
are
firefighters,
so
I
think
we
need
to
keep
it
affordable
and
by
controlling
the
growth
and
where
we
control
the
growth
is,
is
key.
I
think
what
we
don't
want
to
have
is
urban
sprawl,
where
we
have
more
large
homes
that
are
just
bringing
in
more
families.
A
D
Rick
and
two-part
question
in
what
political
party
do
you
each
identify
with,
and
the
question
is
the
Williston
post
office
is
in
terrible
shape
on
a
good
week.
We
get
mail
once
a
week.
I
know
it's
a
federal
issue,
the
post
office,
but
what
can
they
do
to
fix
the
problem
with
our
lack
of
mail
and
Will
Smith.
A
C
C
C
You
know
just
be
mindful
that
you
know
our
post
office
is
going
through
some
extremely
tough
times
and
the
people
that
we
see
in
the
office
are
extremely
under
duress
and
you
know
just
be
as
polite
as
we
can
to
them.
You
know
it's
something
we
all
have
to
work
through.
Thank
you
for
the
question.
Thank.
B
Don't
don't
really
lend
themselves
to
one
party
platform
or
the
other
man
if
I
had
a
solution
for
the
post
office,
I
would
win
this
race
in
a
landslide
but
seriously
I
know
it's
very
frustrating
for
all
of
us
who
live
in
town
to
not
get
your
bills
or
important
mail
or
Wilson
Observer
until
the
following
week,
and
you
know,
unfortunately,
the
only
when
I've
asked
the
questions.
I've
been
part
of
these
conversations.
The
only
answer
that
I'm
hearing
too
is
it's
a
federal
federal
issue
and
that
there's
a
massive
Staffing
shortage.
A
Thank
you
Ellie,
and
thank
you
both
for
answering
that
caller's
question
and
thank
you
for
calling
in
just
as
a
reminder.
If
you'd
like
to
call
in
and
ask
a
question,
the
phone
number
is
802-862-3966
and,
in
the
meantime,
we'll
keep
moving
on
down
our
list
and
I'm,
not
quite
sure
where
we're
at
in
terms
of
who's
going
first,
so
we'll
we'll
keep
it
with
Ellie
and
we're
going
to
move
on
to
our
question
that
has
to
do
with
your
love
of
Williston.
A
B
It
has
conveniences
that
I'm
sure
many
vermonters
Envy
it's
located
between
the
mountains
and
the
lake
I
love
that
the
town
is
a
mix
of
Rural
and
modern,
and
it
just
truly
feels
like
we
have
it
all
in
Williston,
so
I've
been
interested
in
public
service
since
my
AP
Gov
class
at
cvu,
when
I
was
17.
everything
I've
done
professionally,
since
that
has
been
in
pursuit
of
becoming
a
more
equipped
public
servant.
I
want
to
work
on
complicated
and
thorny
issues,
problem
solve
and
hopefully
move
the
needle
in
a
positive
direction.
B
This
opportunity
is
this
is
an
opportunity
to
finally
start
doing
the
thing
I
want
to
do
when
I
grow
up.
As
for
favorite
spots,
Catamount
Forest
soccer,
Brook
trails
and
the
bike
path,
the
iceham
Family
Farm
for
their
Tuesday
night
farmers
markets,
yep,
let's
see
Vermont
Meat
and
seafood
Williston
coffee
shop
and
I'll
give
a
plug
for
the
new
Junior
sidebar.
C
C
In
all
my
I
like
to
be
able
to
wander
a
corn
maze
hike
through
the
woods,
I
like
to
attend
a
Tuesday's
Farmers
Market,
whether
we
have
at
the
farm
in
the
summer
time,
we
have
it
from
first
to
June
through
September,
we
have
up
to
upwards
of
30
vendors.
Every
week
we
have
live
music,
some
great
Community,
Gathering
Center.
C
My
wife
has
started
a
fine
Performing
Arts
in
the
barn
we've
got
a
we've
had
Barn
Opera
we've
had
Tosca,
we've
had
just
amazing
experiences
at
the
farm
and
and
I
also
love
the
historic
village.
I
love
the
history
in
Williston
I
think
it's
important
to
keep.
It
I
saw
a
documentary
on
Phillipsburg
Montana
and
about
how
the
importance
of
why
it's
such
an
important
town
in
Montana
is
because
they've
saved
their
historic
structures.
C
They've
saved
the
history
they
just
go
in
and
raise
it
and
build
everything
up
new,
so
my
vision
of
the
town
is
I
hope
someday
I
can
go
down
into
the
Taft
corners
area
where
they
have.
You
know
a
pedestrian
and
bike
friendly
area
and
I
can
have
a
cup
cup
of
coffee
at
a
cafe
and
enjoy
enjoy
the
Town
Center
as
much
as
I
enjoy
the
woods
of
Williston
on
the
farm.
A
It's
great
thank
you,
Mike,
and
so
next
the
question
has
to
do
with
all
Resident
voting
and
we'll
start
with
Mike
for
this
question.
So
a
few
communities
around
the
state
have
implemented
all
Resident
voting
in
local
elections,
giving
tax
paying
non-citizen
residents
a
chance
to
participate
in
local
votes
on
school
budgets,
tax
increases
and
candidates.
Do
you
see
this
as
a
path
to
a
more
robust
democracy
in
Williston.
C
I
I
do
I
I,
never
thought
about
this
before,
but
I
have
one
of
my
best
friends.
He
he
owns
more
property
in
Essex
than
the
old
IBM
plant
or
the
global
foundries,
but
his
home
is
in
Williston
he's
I.
Don't
he's
not
allowed
to
vote
in
Essex
on
this
budget
issues,
I
feel
that
someone
a
Vermont
resident
that
owns
land
you
know,
especially
at
a
substantial
amount
of
land,
should
have
the
right
to
vote
on
a
Town
budget.
A
A
B
I
support
the
work
of
the
Williston
Community
Justice
Center,
and
support
the
town's
racial
Equity
value
statement
and
I
know.
The
town
is
currently
working
with
the
Vermont
League
of
cities
and
towns,
an
abundant
Sun
as
part
of
the
welcoming
and
engaging
communities
cohort
so
with
that
they're,
currently
in
the
process
of
collecting
data
on
Equity
issues
within
the
town
to
see
where
it
can
improve
from
within
and
where
it
stands
relative
to
other
towns.
B
So
I
think
this
is
a
great
step
in
the
right
direction
and
to
help
make
data-driven
policy
decisions
and
I'm
curious
to
see
what
story
this
data
will
tell
and
we'll
recommend
what
recommendations
will
be
made
to
continue
to
make
progress.
As
for
specific
examples
of
areas
that
I
imagine
will
be
flagged
for
opportunities
of
improved
opportunity,
opportunities
for
improvement
is
increasing,
Outreach
to
bipod
communities
when
Town
employment
opportunities
arise
and,
of
course,
Broken
Record
here,
but
making
progress
and
increasing
affordable
housing
options
in
our
town.
Thank.
A
C
Also
believe
that
the
racial
racial,
racial
Justice
Equity
board
and
the
community
Justice
board
are
doing
a
great
job
and
you
know
working
towards
that.
The
police,
chief,
Foley
and
Sergeant
Dan
Shepard
of
the
police
force
have
been
you
know
actively
involved
in
you
know
all
of
this
traffic
stops
and
I
know.
Town
manager,
Eric
Wells,
has
had
National
Training
for
members
of
the
town,
so
the
town
is
working
hard
to
address
any
issues,
as
the
town
naturally
grows,
which
I
believe
it
will.
C
C
A
B
B
Okay,
so
you
have
on
a
couple
occasions,
come
out
come
out
as
opposed
to
the
glacier
specific
plan
and
and
you've
said
that
that,
even
today,
that
that
was
the
planning
commission's
vote
was
one
of
your
determining
factors
that
led
you
to
run
for
this
position
so
I'm
on
the
Planning
Commission,
and
that
vote
was
a
preliminary
one
about
whether
or
not
the
commission
believed
the
plan.
May
provide
a
substantial
benefit
to
the
town.
B
The
vote
enabled
us
to
create
a
committee
that
will
dive
deeper
into
the
proposal
and
then
come
back
to
the
commission
for
approval
and
then
we'll
go
to
the
select
board
for
further
approval.
So
there's
still
many
steps
left
in
this
process
before
before
the
plan
is
approved,
so
under
existing
zoning,
the
parcel
in
the
Resident
is
in
the
residential
zoning
District
under
current
zoning
and
the
owner
has
the
absolute
right
to
develop
the
parcel
for
as
many
houses
as
current
zoning
will
allow,
which
is
about
140.
B
So
the
vote
was
just
to
explore
the
possibility
of
giving
them
a
fast
track
in
exchange
for
these
benefits.
With
all
that
in
mind,
knowing
that
the
alternative
is
to
wait
roughly
10
years
for
the
traditional
path
to
play
out,
which
will
likely
result
in
full
capacity
development
and
none
of
these
benefits
are
you
still
opposed
to
the
vote
to
consider
the
plan
and
if
so,
what?
What
would
you
say
is
the
alternative,
I.
C
Believe,
I'm
still
against
the
plan
because
of
the
impact
on
the
town
services.
There's
a
specific
growth
management
plan
in
place
that
takes
into
effect
the
water
and
sewage
allotment.
It
also
takes
into
effect.
You
know
the
police
and
fire
Services.
It
takes
into
effect
the
Old
Town
Services
traffic,
other
other
items
and
I
think
it's
important
that
we
follow
the
town
growth
plan,
the
development
bylaws
of
the
town.
C
You
know
the
town's
done
a
lot
of
serious
work
on
this
with
the
community
they've
made,
you
know,
decisions
on
the
growth
that
they
want
to
allow
and
I
just
see
a
lot
of
inequalities
in
different
developments
being
built
in
Williston
and
I.
Don't
think
it's
right
that
a
developer
can
go
and
hire
a
paid
lobbyist
to
come
in
and
make
changes
to
the
town's
specific
plans
that
you
know
they've
worked
so
hard
to
do:
I,
Just
Disagree!
This
is
opening
up
a
precedent
to
Future
growth
that
is
out
of
control.
A
C
A
All
right,
in
that
case,
thank
you
all
for
tuning
in
to
town
meeting
TV's,
ongoing
coverage
of
local
candidates,
local
budgets
and
ballot
items
you
can
find
this
and
more
forums
at
www.ch17.tv,
don't
forget
to
vote
on
or
before
March
7th
ballots
are
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mailed
automatically.
So
please
check
with
your
local
clerk
to
request
a
ballot
or
make
sure
to
get
to
the
polls
on
March
7th.