The Overture: Rituals, Fines and a Presentation
After the weekly rituals had been completed, Karl rose to propose a fine of one-and-nine on President Caroline for something to do with the Four Way Test. An amendment was added because she didn’t include the preamble…” Of the things we think, say, or do:” In her defense she opined that some of the members present couldn't recite the Four Way Test without reading it from the banner. Amendment and fine passed.
Next up was Bob Pope to propose a fine on Tony. He proceeded to deliver a protracted lead in describing the situation. In brief, Tony
gave the phone number for the “tentman” to Bob who called the number and asked for the tentman by name (?) and the voice at the other end said it was the St. Johnsbury Correctional Facility. (Bob quipped that he was glad to hear that he was not there.) One-and-nine on Tony for giving Bob the wrong number. Without much of a defense, the fine easily passed.
Tony asked the Stephens to assemble at the front of the room. He then presented Lena, Riley’s sister, with a Rotary name badge. Now three members of the family have badges.Act 1: Happy Days Are Here Again and Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Eddie started things off with a HD in thanks for Chief Vail being here; another for not being elected to the City Council; and a third for playing golf with a friend of his brother who flew into Burlington on a private plane.
Jan, with dollar in hand, joined in by telling us that, reminded by one of answers to last week's On This Day in History trivia quiz… the
Oklahoma City bombing, she had done a carving in honor of the first responders and the victims. She then displayed it for all of us to see her fine work.
President Caroline had two Happy Dollars to add to the coffers, happy that three years of probate work on an estate resulted in naming in the will the Aldrich Public Library as a beneficiary.
Eddie reported that providing the grills and the grill masters for the Berlin Elementary School Annual Picnic was a success, serving over 400 burgers and hot dogs.
Karl announced that a new grill has been ordered and will be here next week.
Act Two: Since Last We Met
Birthday: Sandy Rousse June 15
Anniversary: Zachary & Caitlin Lyle-DeLong June 14
On this day in history: In 1873 American suffragist
Susan B. Anthony was fined after being convicted for voting in the 1872 presidential election , though she refused to pay it.
On this day in history: In 1940 broadcasting from London after France fell to the
Nazis, French General
Charles de Gaulle appealed to his compatriots to continue
World War II under his leadership.
Act Three: BCPD Initiatives & Public Safety UpdatePresident Caroline introduced Chief Braedon Vail of the Barre City Police Department (BCPD).
Chief Vail began his career with the Hardwick Police Department and after three years of service he joined the Hartford Police Department and remained there for twenty-eight years before accepting the position as chief with the BCPD.
Currently there are five vacancies with two officers in field training in a force budgeted for twenty-one. Recruiting is difficult, not only in Barre, but nationally as well. It takes nine months to become a police officer, seventeen weeks of that time is spent in residence Monday-Friday at the Police Academy in Pittsford. Not having a full complement of officers puts undo stress on current members of BCPD who have to work overtime on a regular basis.
Chief Vail reported on what he called “The Status of the City.” Most of what he had to say was about quality of life/safety issues. He
labeled the major problem as "nuisance" issues. They become unacceptable when they become criminal in nature. Panhandling is one of the most persistent nuisance activities, but it’s not a crime. Trespressing is another nuisance issue to which the City is responding by developing an ordinance modeled after Brattleboro’s. Notices would be issued for violations and eventually could lead to a court appearance. He also addressed the issue of cameras in various parts of the City. The pilot program of cameras in City Hall Park may be expanded to other parts of the City, such as Currier Park and Merchants Row although there are no definite plans to do so at this time. The public has weighed in with pro and con views, including raising the issue of the possibility of violating constitutional rights.
Chief Vail talked about bringing back bike patrols, but this time with officers with arresting power. The former members of the bike patrols reported criminal behavior, but couldn’t make arrests. Additionally, the BCPD will continue to work with Turning Point dealing with individuals with addiction problems.
The good news is that violent crime in Barre has been on the decline for a number of years and continues to do so. Retail theft and property crimes are the most prevalent crimes. Basically, Barre is a safe city with mainly nuisance issues, opined Chief Vail. Need to change the perception of those who don’t see it that way.
.png)
