By Layla Burke Hastings
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
ANDOVER, Vt. — The Andover Selectboard unanimously decided on Monday, Jan. 24, to change this year’s Town Meeting from in-person only to a hybrid of both electronic and in-person, but not without two board resignations and heated discussion about the previous January selectboard meeting.
Jed LaPrise and Chris Walker both resigned from their positions as selectboard members citing irreconcilable differences with Andover Co-chair Maddie Bodin.
At an earlier January meeting, heated discussion between members of the Andover Selectboard began when Bodin questioned the ethics of the board. As a result, she refused to write the annual letter from the selectboard for the town report reasoning that she could not author the letter in good conscience.
Chris Walker wrote to the Eagle Times on his position and reasons for leaving the board.
“First I had been thinking about resigning for awhile and after Maddie Bodin didn’t get the vote to go her way she basically threatened the board members that didn’t vote her way. I don’t need fellow board members threatening me with unwarranted accusations,” Walker wrote.
Walker said he wrote the letter and it was accepted to add to the town report.
“The letter that she refused to write is simply a summary of what happened in the last year and I already wrote it,” Walker wrote. “She refused to have her name put on it and the meeting.”
As far as the proposed town budget, the town of Andover is still currently working out the budget details.
The hold-up has been related to coming up with a number in dollars to budget the provision of Chester Fire and Rescue which has been a slow going decision making process because they have not yet set a number to bid for Chester’s emergency services.
“The budget is higher than anyone wants but there are a couple things that made a big impact. First the cost of emergency services went up almost 30k and we also allowed quite a bit more for road materials since the local sand pit has closed.
“Jed never told me his thoughts before the meeting but I agree with his decision,” Walker said. “I think the majority of the board tries to do what’s best for the whole town.”
Maddie Bodin also commented in writing about her direction regarding the Andover Selectboard’s 40-percent drop in board members.
“In the meeting, I suggested several cuts to the budget. Most of those were rejected by the rest of the board. I understand we are facing a nearly six-percent inflation rate and a $30,000 increase in our emergency services costs in the coming fiscal year,” Bodin wrote. “To me, those are two reasons to be as exacting as possible in our budgeting.”
Bodin also said she was surprised that the situation had become what it was.
“I’ve expressed my dismay over and disapproval of the selectboard’s actions many times in the past year or so,” Bodin wrote. “I don’t know why it drew attention this time.”
As far as the letter, Bodin said Walker officially wrote it.
“Chris Walker has already written it. The text was accepted by the rest of the board at the Jan. 24 meeting and will be printed in the town’s annual report,” Bodin wrote.
Bodin had no further comments except to say that she felt like Andover residents had been supportive of her position.
“The residents who have reached out to me seem to understand what’s going on in a deep way. I’ve received some wisdom there, and I appreciate it,” Bodin wrote.
Board members Chair Plumb, LaPrise and Kendall were unavailable for comment.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.