TOWN OF NORTH HERO
PO BOX 38
NORTH HERO, VERMONT 05474
(802) 372-6926
FAX (802) 372-3806
Notes from the North Hero Town Clerk….
The Town of North Hero has a dog ordinance which clearly states that “no person shall keep a dog within the limits of the Town of North Hero unless it is licensed in accordance with the requirements of the Vermont Statutes as are now in effect”. A license is required for any dog over six months of age and a current rabies certificate must be presented at the time of the licensing. There are still dog owners who have not licensed their animals who can expect the Town Constable to be stopping by in the near future. Remember, dog owners, “no person shall permit or cause any dog to go at large within the town. At large means off the premises of the owner and not under control of the owner, a member of the immediate family or an agent of the owner by leash, cord, chain or otherwise within the control of such person so that at all times, the dog may be prevented from causing any damage, disturbance, nuisance or annoyance and is in obvious control of it’s owner or keeper.” Any dog roaming at large on public land or on land other than its owner’s may be impounded by the Constable or any police officer, deputy sheriff or any person designated by the Town for the control of dogs.
There has been concern about land records being stored in the trailer at the North Hero School. I can assure town residents that all land records are stored in the vault at the Town Office. The current vault, even though it was constructed on a temporary basis, had to meet State standards, was constructed with full knowledge of those standards and was inspected by the State upon its completion.
Ruth M. Miller
Town Clerk/Treasurer
Notes from the North Hero Town Clerk….
Warren (Butch) Robare has resigned his position of Fire Warden for the Town of North Hero. His resignation was accepted at the Selectboard meeting held on October 2, 2006 and the appointment of Todd Keyworth into the position was approved that same date. Burning permits will be issued by Todd, who can be reached by calling Harborside Market at 372-4443.
Jack Miller was reappointed Health Officer for the term of November 1, 2006 to October 31, 2007 by the Selectboard at their meeting on October 2, 2006.
The polls for the Town of North Hero on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If it’s not convenient for you to vote during those hours, requests for absentee ballot forms can be obtained through the Town Office or downloaded from the Town web page (Northherovt.org) until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 6th.
The Board of Civil Authority Hearings occur every Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. The Board is nearing completion of the hearings for the seasonal residents of North Hero. Hearings for the year round residents will be scheduled shortly. You will be contacted for a convenient time to meet with the assessor, as well as the Board.
The second property tax installment is due Friday, October 20th.
Ruth M. Miller
Town Clerk/Treasurer
Notes from the North Hero Town Clerk…..
From what I understand, there have been concerns expressed regarding the placement of political signs on school property during the Primary Election. During the course of the day, I did note that signs had been placed on the school property and referred to my Vermont Election Guide. It clearly states that “Political campaign signs at the polling place on Election Day may be regulated by the presiding officer. For the day of the election, the presiding officer can adopt a policy to allow signs to be placed in the ground in certain areas as long as the policy is applied evenly to all candidates or political issues”. 17 V.S.A. Section 2508. I could see no harm in having the signs on the property and therefore took no action. It would have been nice if those who put the signs up had asked permission to do so and then had remembered to remove them. After a very long day of working at the polls and then counting the ballots and calling in the results to the various media, I certainly never gave a thought to removing the signs.
Absentee ballots for the General Election will be available by October 10th (30 days before the election). Absentee ballot request forms are available to download on the web page, Northherovt.org or by contacting the Town Office.
At the Selectboard meeting on August 14, 2006, David Campbell was appointed to serve as Town Constable until the time of the March meeting. Anyone having issues of animal control should contact the Town Office during regular business hours and call David directly at 318-1939 for evening and weekend issues.
Ruth M. Miller
Town Clerk/Treasurer
NOTES FROM THE NORTH HERO TOWN CLERK……
One hundred and ninety one (191) North Hero voters made it to the polls on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 to elect a fifth Selectboard member. Joe Poquette was elected to serve until the March 6, 2007 meeting with a total of 95 votes cast in his favor. Joe’s opponent, David Jacobs, received 87 votes. Ruth Miller, running unopposed for the Delinquent Tax Collector position received 150 votes and will also serve until the March meeting.
The Selectboard survey completed by voters on June 6th had 73 voters indicating they wanted the existing Town Hall structure removed and replaced with a Town Office building. 53 voters indicated they would like to see the existing Town Hall restored, 49 voters indicated they would like to gift the Town Hall building and property to a non-profit or a coalition of non-profits and 9 voters indicated they would like to title the Town Hall building to others by selling to any willing buyer at a fair market value.
Also, please remember there is a statewide burning ordinance and no burning is allowed of household garbage or building debris. This is enforceable by the State of Vermont and fines can be levied.
Ruth M. Miller
Town Clerk/Treasurer
Town of North Hero
Notes from North Hero’s Town Clerk….
An article appears on the Town of North Hero Warning for the March 7th vote asking if the legal voters of the Town of North Hero will approve the Town Treasurer becoming the delinquent tax collector (DTC) with the 8% penalty reverting back to the Town General Fund. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify what has transpired to bring this article to the voters. The DTC at the current time gets a listing of taxpayers who have not paid their property taxes on or by the February 20th deadline. It is at this time taxes become delinquent and the 8% penalty gets added on to any principal balance not paid. The 8% penalty goes to the DTC for his efforts in collecting any account.
The Town purchased the NEMRC Tax Administration software program, as well as the NEMRC Grand List software in 2005, allowing both property taxes and water payments to be billed and tracked with greater efficiency. The software automatically figures the 1% or 1.5% interest, as well as the 8% penalty for payments received after the February 20th due date for property taxes. Utilizing the software has resulted in increased payments collected during the year and less outstanding delinquencies at year end of both the water and property tax.
As of February 22, 2006, the total outstanding property taxes totaled $146,500. This is compared to the $203,000 being transferred to the DTC at this time last year. $146,500 in delinquent taxes will put $11,720 back into the Town General Fund saving the taxpayers approximately $.01 on the Grand List ($.01 on the Grand List equals approximately $14,000). The property tax penalty received WILL NOT go into the pockets of the Town Treasurer, but WILL go into the Town General Fund. It will involve more work at the Town Office, but both my assistant and I are willing to take on the task, which generally involves computer work and telephoning.
Collecting and recording delinquent taxes in the Town Office will also simplify the procedure for land record researchers on a daily basis. It is standard procedure to inquire about delinquent property taxes on any parcel when conducting a title search. At the current time that information is not readily available.
Another article of special interest to the voters involves obtaining a vote tabulation machine through the State of Vermont Secretary of State’s office at no cost to the Town. A positive voter response on March 7th is required for the Secretary of State to order this machine for the Town. The machine cost to the State is approximately $6300. For future elections, the machine’s software is configured to match the ballots, thus simplifying the vote counting process.
And, last but not least, the Town is in receipt of two new voter booths supplied at no charge to the Town by the Secretary of State’s office. They will be utilized for the vote on March 7th. They accommodate four voters each, are light weight and fold up for easy storage.
I urge all registered voters of the Town of North Hero to attend the Informational Meeting to be held at 3 PM on Saturday, March 4th in the North Hero Elementary School Gym. Please participate (or just listen) to the discussions regarding the articles to be voted upon on Tuesday, March 7th, but most of all become informed before you vote.
Remember, if you aren’t available to vote on March 7th, absentee ballots are available until 4:30 PM on Monday, March 6th at the Town Office.
Ruth M. Miller
Town Clerk/Treasurer
Town of North Hero
Notes from the North Hero Town Clerk…
Those of you in the community who plan to seek a town office need to remember that a nominating petition signed by 1% of the voter population needs to be submitted to the Town Clerk no later than Monday, January 29th at 5:00 PM. Each candidate must file a written consent form for the candidate’s name to appear on the ballot by January 31st. Petition forms and consent forms are available at the Town Clerk’s Office.
A Budget Hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 6:30 PM in the Library at the North Hero School just prior to the Selectboard meeting scheduled for 7 PM that same date.
Ruth M. Miller
Town Clerk/Treasurer
REMINDERS FROM THE NORTH HERO TOWN CLERK…..
January 30, 2006 was the deadline for petitions to be submitted for elected positions. However, if anyone wishes to run for public office, a write-in campaign can be conducted.
On February 13, 2006, absentee ballots will be available at the Town Office. An absentee ballot request form can be downloaded from the web page (www.Northherovt.org) and mailed to the North Hero Town Clerk or a form can be picked up at the Town Office. A ballot will be forwarded, which must be returned by 7 p.m. on March 7th when the polls close. Voters, family members, authorized persons or health care providers may request absentee ballots until 4:30 p.m. on March 6th.
As of February 2, 2006, both the Town of North Hero and North Hero School Districts warnings for the March 7th meeting have been posted at the Town Office, at the North Hero Elementary School and at both stores in town.
On Saturday, March 4th, a public informational hearing will be conducted at 3 p.m. in the North Hero Elementary School Gym to discuss the articles to be voted on by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 7th, 2006.
February 27, 2006 is the last day to apply for addition to the checklist to vote at town meeting. The application needs to be in by 12 noon.
March 7, 2006 the polls are open at the North Hero Elementary School Gym from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to vote by Australian Ballot on warned articles.
Notes from the North Hero Town Clerk…
Those of you in the community who plan to seek a town office need to remember that a nominating petition signed by 1% of the voter population needs to be submitted to the Town Clerk no later than Monday, January 29th at 5:00 PM. Each candidate must file a written consent form for the candidate’s name to appear on the ballot by January 31st. Petition forms and consent forms are available at the Town Clerk’s Office.
A Budget Hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 6:30 PM in the Library at the North Hero School just prior to the Selectboard meeting scheduled for 7 PM that same date.
Ruth M. Miller
Town Clerk/Treasurer
TOWN OF NORTH HERO
PO BOX 38
NORTH HERO, VERMONT 05474
(802) 372-6926
FAX (802) 372-3806
MEMORANDUM
TO: All Interest Parties
FROM: Ruth M. Miller, Town Clerk
DATE: October 19, 2005
RE: Town Office Hours
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Now that “stick” season is upon us to be followed shortly by winter, I have decided to close the office on Wednesday afternoons and remain open on Monday only until 4:30 PM. Our schedule for the next few months will be as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8 a.m. to noon
Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon
Please note, on any date a property tax payment or water payment is due, we will remain open until 6 PM giving all an extra time to drop their payment off. The next property tax installment is due on November 20th, which is a Sunday. We will be accepting payments on the 21st until 6 PM without penalty.
If you can’t get into the office during regular office hours and need our services, please do not hesitate to call me and I will be glad to set up a time to meet you in the office at your convenience.
/rmm
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