Tristan Roberts announces run for state rep.

From the Deerfield Valley News, June 9, 2022

The Halifax Selectboard appointed two new board members and three cemetery commissioners to fill remaining vacancies, and board member Tristan Roberts announced his run for the Vermont House of Representatives during their regular meeting on Tuesday evening. 

Paul Blais and Patrick McAllister were appointed as the newest selectboard members, after an hour-long executive session.

“It was tremendous that four people stepped forward for the two vacancies,” said Roberts after the board returned from their session. “There was some discouragement that there weren’t more people running, but it makes you wake up and think, ‘Well, who’s going to run this town?’ These are people who showed up when there was a need.”

Another vacancy included that of cemetery commissioner, a position that would be perceived as indispensable after hearing Andrea Rand and her group of volunteers comment on the poor state of the town’s cemeteries at an earlier meeting. Now, the town has appointed three commissioners; Linda Swanson, Gary Rand, and Patrick McAllister. 

The special Town Meeting to switch from a commission to a committee was canceled on account of filling the vacancies, but the public walk remains scheduled for Saturday, June 11. Those interested should meet at the community hall at 10 am. 

In addition to cemetery restoration, Rand also brought up a request on behalf of the historical society for funding regarding lead paint exposure in a preserved building. “On the interior, the paint is chipping on the window,” she said. “You can’t even vacuum it up because the exhaust puts the lead particulate back into the air.” After she inquired as to whether incoming ARPA funds could be directed to that purpose, the town recommended she make her case to voters and see what the public opinion might be.

The town will be switching their accounting from a cash basis to modified accrual, per auditor Bonnie Batchelder’s recommendation, to close out the fiscal year. In the meantime, the board aims to do more research on software packages and whether this type of accounting will be feasible in the long run.

“I think we should at the very least give it a shot and see how it goes,” said board member Pete Silverberg.

Near the end of the meeting, Roberts sat not as a selectboard member but as a resident of Halifax, and announced that he will be running for Windham 6 representative for the state of Vermont. 

“I know the selectboard and the challenges we face, and I would like to get to know better some of these challenges going on at the state level.”

Roberts welcomes the opportunity to discuss his candidacy and hear from voters in town, and promises official information is on its way.