Town of Orange re-elects Moderator, approves 2025 budgets and Tucker Road repairs

David Childs was re-elected Moderator at the Town of Orange annual meeting on March 4, 2025, which convened at 6:10 p.m. at Orange Town Hall after the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence.

Representative Mike Tagliavia gave legislative updates and took questions early in the meeting, and Siobhan Perricone provided an update on CVNEK Fiber projects affecting town broadband plans. The meeting rules were announced and the Town Warning was read in full before the warrant proceeded.

Francis Kidder nominated David Childs for Moderator; there were no other nominations and Childs was elected. Voters then considered a procedural motion by Gary Eggleston to suspend the rules and reorder the warrant; the motion required a two-thirds majority and failed on a paper-ballot-supported attempt with a count of 42 yes and 22 no (50 required to pass). Later, Francis Kidder moved to change the Road Commissioner from an appointed to an elected position; after discussion that proposal failed on a voice vote.

Voters elected Kristin Paya to a three-year Selectboard term, defeating Mike Raboin Jr. by 46 votes to 24. Art McNeil was nominated to a three-year term as Lister and Selectman Kevin Wilson was directed to cast one vote for him when there were no other nominations. For Cemetery Commissioner, Rodney Coronado was elected with 42 votes to Kevin Wilson's 32 after nominations from David Gomo and Clark Agnew.

The meeting set elected-official compensation through Article 5, as revised by Sean Brown: $2,000 per year for each Selectboard member, $20 per hour for the Lister, $25 per hour for cemetery maintenance performed by Cemetery Commissioners, and mileage paid at the federal rate; the article passed on voice vote.

On budget matters, Steve Simpson moved and voters approved General Fund operating expenditures of $405,746.30, of which $188,171.30 is to be raised by taxes and $217,045.00 by non-tax revenue. Simpson also moved approval of Highway Fund expenditures of $645,222.91, with $544,822.91 to be raised by taxes and $100,400.00 by non-tax revenues; that motion passed on voice vote. The meeting approved raising $100,000 for repairs and repaving of Tucker Road (Article 8), $5,000 for town recreation facilities (Article 9), and $14,300 to support town cemeteries (Article 10) on voice votes.

Without objection the Moderator combined Articles 12 through 22; Mike Concessi moved and the meeting approved raising $8,475 to support the requests covered by those articles. The meeting also authorized the Town Treasurer, with Selectboard approval, to borrow in anticipation of taxes, grants, and state and federal allocations (Article 23). Sue Perreault moved and the assembly set property tax payment dates in two installments due Aug. 15, 2025 and Nov. 15, 2025 (Article 24). Mike Concessi moved and voters set the date and time for the 2026 Town Meeting as March 3, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

Under Other Business (Article 26), Leo Martineau spoke in favor of adding a man to the road crew. Gary Eggleston asked about the town audit; Selectman Wayne Symonds said the Selectboard was close to final reconciliation with NEMRC before turning records over to the contracted auditors.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.; Town Clerk Chelsea E. Magwire submitted the minutes.

The assembly recorded two paper-ballot counts during the evening: the failed motion to suspend the rules (42–22, two-thirds threshold of 50 not met) and the failed Article 11 motion (29–33). Most financial articles and personnel compensation measures passed on voice votes as recorded by the Moderator.