PITTSFORD, Vt.–A small group of residents met in the evening on Monday, Feb. 2 in the Lothrop School gymnasium to discuss and vote on the approved business per the published Warning. Led by Moderator Robb Spensley, the meeting kicked off with dedications to Tony Lockwood, commending his commitment to local EMS excellence, and Kevin Blow, for his service on the town’s Planning Commission. Afterward, rather than read from the individual reports made available within the published Town Report sent to residents, Town Officers opted to open the floor for specific questions. No questions, however, were posed related to Officer Reports by those present. 

Article 2, approval of the general fund expenditures budget and the amount that should come from tax revenue, was then taken up for discussion. The specifics of this Article did cause some confusion among the participants, as a concern was brought forward asking for clarification as to why the operating expense budget figure for fiscal year 2027 appeared to be a more than 10% increase from FY26. Town Manager Ann Reed explained that the expense figure from the Minutes for Town Meeting 2025 did not include all special appropriation expenses for FY26. However, the Warning for Town Meeting this year, approving FY27, all special appropriations are indeed included in the overall expense budget figure, creating the appearance of a larger percent increase in expenses between the two fiscal years. 

Therefore, the numbers in the Town Report should be referenced instead when calculating the increase. Using the Report’s figures instead of the 2025 Minutes, the actual percent increase in General Fund Expenses is only 3.1%, with a taxation revenue percent change increase of 2.9%. While this is still an increase when compared with previous tax revenue budget percent increase FY25 to FY26 of 1.4%, neither the tax revenue or expenditure budget are increasing by the amount brought forth in the concern. Article 2 passed, approving taxation of $1,618,130 toward the general fund, with an additional $443,990 via non-tax revenue. A single no vote was heard in the room, but there was no request for a vote via a show of hands.

Articles 3 through 5 were each subsequently and separately brought up for consideration, each passing with no opposition voiced, approving Highway Fund Expenditures, Village District Expenses, and tax collection deadlines for 2026, respectively. 

Article 6, which asked voters to authorize the Selectboard to appoint a Town Clerk instead of having the office be directly elected by town residents, sparked lively discussion, as it would allow the Selectboard to appoint the Town Clerk, rather than asking voters to elect one. Note, in Pittsford, the Town Clerk and the Treasurer are a single individual. Therefore, Article 7 asked the same question, but pertaining to the Treasurer office. 

Many in the room expressed the difficulties faced by the Municipal Office due to the unexpected vacancy of the position(s) due to a medical leave. Vermont state law is such that the positions should be filled either by voters, or by the Selectboard if given the authority to do so. Ms. Reed clarified that the law does not allow for the Selectboard simply to fill the vacancy if the official chosen by voters leaves the position. Therefore, the solution posed, and now approved, grants the Selectboard this responsibility in accordance with Vermont Statutes. In the event this was not approved at the Town Meeting, the race for Town Clerk still appeared on the Australian ballot on Tuesday, where Assistant Town Clerk and Treasurer, Dolores Gecha, ran unopposed. Assuming she wins, this result is valid for 45 days, after which the Selectboard will appoint someone to the position and this appointee is indeed expected to be Ms. Gecha.

While on the surface this action does remove an office from Pittsford voters’ direct representation, the reality of the situation expressed by many in the room was that Clerk and Treasurer positions have increasingly challenging demands from the state, which require a high level of consistency and competency. Such voices in support of Articles 6 and 7 included Butch Shaw, resident and former Vermont House Rep. for Rutland-8, who stated that initially he was in opposition when first hearing of the proposal. However, he reminded attendees that the Pittsford office was previously “in chaos” due to the unexpected absence of a consistent individual in the role(s), exacerbated by the inability to hand off the necessary resources, which included things as complex as business processes and as simple as account passwords. Now that the office’s operations have again been stabilized, this change would allow for much needed consistency moving forward.

In a comment, Secretary of State Chief of Staff Bryan Mills indicated that the state does not yet have official numbers related to how many municipalities have opted to grant their local governments this ability, but plans to collect this information via surveys in 2026. Ted Brady, Executive Director of Vermont League of Cities and Towns states that in 2025, 191 of Vermont’s 247 municipalities responded to their survey regarding compensation and benefits, where local governments were asked how they elect or select Clerks and Treasurers. Among the respondents, only 34 appointed Clerks and 64 appointed Treasurers. 

Ultimately, Articles 6 and 7 passed with the ayes carrying roughly 38 votes to 17 nays, each requiring a count by show of hands. Despite the disagreement on the votes, all present voters gave a round of applause for the team in the Town Office, including Ms. Reed, Ms. Gecha, and Corrie Winterholer, thanking them publicly for their service to Pittsford.

Following these votes, a motion put forward suspended the rules and allowed the voters to consider Articles 8 through 23 in a single vote. No discussion was brought forward and all were approved. All of these Articles included continuations of special appropriations budget amounts from FY26 with the exception of Articles 13 and 23. Article 13 represented an increase from the regularly approved $2,000 appropriation for Pittsford Food Shelf, which received enough signatures from voters to be placed in the Warning instead requesting $5,000 from voters. Article 23 represented $1,300 for Vermont Adult Learning, which was not appropriated in FY26.

While those in the room were engaged in discussion and execution, unfortunately Pittsford suffers from a general trend of decreasing participation in Town Meeting Day, both in regards to the in-person meeting itself as well as the Australian ballots the following day, when needed. The Meeting Minutes from 2025 reveal a concern that so few residents were present to approve budgets, but this did not materialize into increased participation in 2026. University of Vermont’s Center for Community News has released an interactive map using information from the Secretary of State’s office, revealing that while participation across the state spikes in US Presidential election years, generally turnout has been trending downward across the state since 2015.

Robb Spensely won reelection by write-in for Town Moderator. Dan Adams won reelection for Selectboard, having run unopposed. Mark Winslow won reelection to the Selectboard as well, defending his seat, winning 262 to Erin Eugair’s 216. Dolores Gecha, current Assistant Town Clerk and Treasurer won, running unopposed, offices of Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and Trustee of Public Funds. However, with the passage of Articles 6 and 7 during the Annual Town Meeting, Gecha’s election is only valid for 45 days. Thereafter, the Selectboard will appoint to the office. As previously mentioned, this is expected to be Gecha. Pittsford resident Katelynne Hill won election to an At-Large seat on OVUU Board. The OVUU budget was defeated by voters, 868 to 700.