CRAFTSBURY, A grassroots effort to reinvigorate local democracy has led to changes in how the town elects its officers, while keeping the traditional in-person town meeting intact.
The Freedom & Unity Task Force (F&U) formed in 2023 after resident Bruce Urie connected with author Susan Clark, whose work focuses on inclusive local governance. A grant from the Vermont Community Foundation funded a workshop, which sparked community discussions and the creation of the task force.
Task force members Susie Houston and Wendy Turnbull said the group engaged residents through evening meetings with refreshments, asking questions such as what makes attending town meeting difficult and how it could be improved.
At the March 2024 Town Meeting, Craftsbury voted to elect town officers by Australian Ballot, a secret ballot used at polling places, while retaining the open floor meeting for financial and other business. Houston and Turnbull said the goal was to broaden participation in elections while preserving the personal deliberation of town meeting.
“You have to be creative to keep our small towns vital,” Houston said. Turnbull added that without town meeting, “Where’s the on-ramp to serve and recruit?”
Other initiatives include Civics Education mock town meetings at Craftsbury Academy, a skill-sharing event called Craftsbury University, and creation of a “Town Operator’s Manual” drawing on examples from other communities. The task force also arranged childcare and transportation to make Town Meeting Day more accessible, including for residents of the Craftsbury Community Care Center.
The F&U is now a permanent town committee. Its work continues with plans for community forums and school programs.
Photo: Stacey T via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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