You are hereTown slated to provide free child care for floor meeting - From the Rutland Herald
Town slated to provide free child care for floor meeting - From the Rutland Herald
From The Rutland Herald
By PATRICK McARDLE STAFF WRITER - Published: February 16, 2010
MANCHESTER – The floor meeting portion of town meeting in Manchester this year may be different because of something that will be invisible to those running the meeting, but important to those who attend.
Town Manager John O'Keefe said the town had reached an agreement with Northshire Day School to provide child care at no direct cost for those who plan to attend the floor meeting.
Unlike most floor meetings in Vermont, Manchester's takes place on Saturday. This year's meeting starts at 1 p.m. Feb. 27.
According to O'Keefe, the Select Board was looking for ways to increase participation and sought input from Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lee Krohn, Town Meeting Moderator W. Michael Nawrath and Town Clerk Linda Spence.
"Let's face it, when you look around at the floor meeting, you can see the room is getting older," O'Keefe said.
As someone with young children himself, O'Keefe said he recognized couples with children had a dilemma: Should they get what could be an expensive babysitter or should one of them stay home with the children, thereby reducing their voting power by half?
With the help of the Northshire Day School, parents will have a third choice. O'Keefe said the service is open to children between the ages of 2 to 12.
The children can be dropped off at 12:30 p.m. and are expected to be picked up within 30 minutes of the end of the floor meeting. O'Keefe said parents are also being asked to get a receipt that shows they attended the floor meeting.
"We're trying to bring out the next generation of voters. If we get another 10 or 20 residents at the floor meeting this year, I think it will be well worth it," O'Keefe said.
A snack will be provided for the children. O'Keefe said he would also like to see the Northshire Day School staff provide a lesson on democracy and the voting process so children will know what their parents are doing.
Child care may become an annual tradition for Manchester's floor meeting, but O'Keefe said the Select Board wanted to "float a trial balloon" this year.
There will be other enticements to attend the floor meeting this year. For the second time, a potluck meal is being organized at Manchester Elementary-Middle School, the site of the floor meeting, prior to its start.
O'Keefe said he's also trying to arrange some musical entertainment before the meeting starts.
"Town meeting is supposed to be a celebration of democracy," he said.
For more information about the child care service on the day of the floor meeting, call O'Keefe's office at 362-1313.