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Faces in the crowd



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Published: February 2, 2009

At tonight's Board of Aldermen meeting, the most interesting action is likely to be what happens outside rather than inside the rail.

The aldermen have a light schedule that features only one committee report and a few permit and abatement requests, but it's also the first meeting since last week's aldermanic and mayor candidate filing deadline. Will the candidates turn out to prove their interest in the seats?

Some already regularly do.

Challengers Robert Barrett and Daniel White Sr. are regular faces at the board meetings, while Nick Ronfeld has attended many of the meetings in the past few months.

The other challenging candidates are Joseph Tilden, who served as an alderman for eight years before losing his seat in 2007, and Kevin Coleman.

Board members who are looking to regain their seats include Karen Bossi, Thomas DePoy, David Dress, Joanne Slattery and Christopher Robinson, who will run unopposed for a one-year position.

The aldermen are guaranteed at least two new colleagues, as Madeline Sherman and Paul Barbagallo have opted not to run for re-election.

Former mayoral candidate and Rutland business owner David Trapeni, who also is occasionally seen at the aldermen meetings, is the only challenger Mayor Christopher Louras will face on Town Meeting Day.

Later in the week, the aldermen will take up some new issues in two committee meetings — a Public Works Committee meeting that was snowed out last week has been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the finance committee will gather at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

According to Alderman William Notte, the Public Works Committee is taking up the issue of whether the late-night parking ban in effect downtown is costing employees of downtown's late-night establishments, who often are not able to move their cars before the ban takes effect at 3 a.m.

The finance committee will consider whether it should change its current policy to require nonprofits seeking to have their aid requests placed on the ballot to provide more detailed, audited financial statements.

  • On the other side of downtown this evening, the Vermont Workers' Center and local groups will gather at the Unitarian Church on West Street for a candlelight vigil to oppose the proposed state budget cuts. That vigil will be one of many happening across the state today as part of a "Save Our State" Coalition.

  • It's tax season and the AARP Tax-Aide is again offering free tax counseling and preparation for low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to senior citizens, from Feb. 10 to April 15. Tax-Aide volunteers trained in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service will be available at locations throughout Rutland County. You do not need to be a member of the AARP or a retiree to use this service, and the service can also be utilized by homebound individuals through the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging. For more information, call Phil Stephan at Trinity Episcopal Church in Rutland at 773-8931, the Wallingford Town Office at 446-2336 or Ellen Secord at the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging at 786-5991.

  • Looking ahead to next week, the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce and the Rutland Economic Development Corporation will run a legislative bus trip to the State House in Montpelier from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11. The cost of the trip, which will depart from the chamber office, is $10. For more information, call 773-2747.

    Contact Stephanie M. Peters at stephanie.peters@rutlandherald.com.








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