The St. Albans Town Hall is the setting for the annual Town Meeting, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. Residents may attend in person or through Zoom. In-person attendance is limited to 50 people, in accordance with the state’s coronavirus safety guidelines. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel file Buy this Photo

ST. ALBANS — Residents are set to gather in person — or through Zoom — for the annual Town Meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the St. Albans Town Hall.

A 43-article warrant includes a proposed $1,285,798 budget for 2021, which is about 0.1% more than current spending.

Those who want to participate in the meeting through the Zoom videoconferencing platform can find directions on the town’s website — stalbansme.govoffice2.com.

The Town Hall meeting is limited to 50 people, in accordance with the state’s coronavirus safety guidelines. There can be 34 people on the main floor and 12 to 15 in the balcony, according to officials. The Board of Selectmen will be on the stage.

Last year, 56 voters attended the meeting.

St. Albans has 1,533 registered voters who can vote in person or through Zoom.

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“If we have an overflow, what would we do?” Town Manager Rick Fisher said. “We do have broadcast capability. If I have to, I can run a wire to the garage and put some people in the garage. I’m not real concerned about that, but we could make it happen.”

Fisher said one of the most important issues on the warrant involves the town’s Public Works Department.

Article 21 asks if residents want to adopt the second year of a five-year plan to replace the town’s Public Works trucks.

Article 22 asks voters to approve $50,000 for a one-ton pickup truck, to be purchased this year.

Another big issue is addressed in article 10, an ordinance governing the demolition of dangerous structures.

The Pond Road paving project is also of note, according to Fisher. The project is to be funded by the town’s Highway Reserve Department of Transportation account.

“That way, taxpayers aren’t really feeling it,” Fisher said.

Residents are also being asked to set aside another $15,000 for the Capital Reserve-Fire Hall Account, which would bring the account to about.$425,000.

“That’s not enough to build a fire hall, but it’s enough to get us somewhere,” Fisher said. “I think this year we’re still putting money away, but next year will be a transitional year for something more concrete.”


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