The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 17

1 urlitt0tDtt raja aMe Deaths 2B Sports 9B Classifieds 1 2B Wednesday, March 2, 1983 Voters Still Interested in Peace, Disarmament she said. Sollberger took heart even in defeat. The item was rejected in Cambridge. But a weapons freeze vote in that town was tabled a year ago. At least this year the issue was discussed and that was an encouraging sign, Sollberger said.

The nuclear freeze question was on the warning in Benson but died on a parliamentary point of order. When the moderator asked what the residents wanted to do about the nuclear freeze item, retired Army Col. John Michael rose and objected, he said, because "This is irrelevant to the purpose of this meeting, which is to run the town of A two-thirds vote needed to uphold the objection and Michael said his Turn to ISSUES, Page 4B troversial strategy. "It should give a clear indication of the public sentiment and legislators should listen as closely to this as the nuclear freeze vote in its early stages," he said. He said he was especially pleased that Lyndon's civil defense officer raised the issue from the floor.

Sophie Sollberger of Johnson, spokeswoman for the Lamoille Peace Coalition, said there was definitely a mixed reaction to the "jobs for peace" votes in that county. "The ones that passed were applauded and unanimous. was some organized opposition in the larger towns. The American Legion, for instance," she said. "I'm not discouraged because what I sense is that people are just scared of the whole going to take work," sidered nuclear weapons freeze questions some similar to those adopted by so many other towns a year ago, some slightly different items than those approved last year in the same towns and some reaffirmations of last year's freeze endorsements.

Nine of those towns and cities voted "yes," six voted "no," two renewed the vows of a year ago and one tabled the matter after heated debate. In a unique variation on the theme, Sandgate voters defeated a "peace through strength" resolution sort of a reverse nuclear freeze item by a 24-21 vote. A freeze item had been approved there last year. David McCauley of Putney, a coordinator of the moves to condemn the Crisis Relocation Plan, said he was gratified by the unanimous rejection of the con Recommendations that the federal government cut back on weapons spending and plow the money into domestic jobs, so-called "jobs for peace" items, were greeted with mixed responses. Such questions were on the warnings in all 10 Lamoille County towns and were approved in three, rejected in four and tabled in three others.

Elsewhere, the question was approved in two towns and rejected in another. Residents in at least five towns voted to add their communities to the list, begun several years ago, of places banning the transportation or storage of nuclear wastes. As of early this morning, six towns had reported passage of items calling for a halt to United States aid to El Salvador and one had rejected it. At least 17 towns and cities con By WILLIAM H. BRAUN Free Press Staff Writer In dozens of communities Tuesday, Vermonters let it be known they are still vitally interested in questions of peace and disarmament.

Though there was no one question with the nearly statewide consideration of last year's nuclear freeze proposal, endorsed by 178 of 195 towns considering it, this Town Meeting Day saw at least four basic proposals considered in towns across the state Tuesday. The trends were as mixed as the questions. Reports from 20 towns where the proposal was considered indicated unanimous rejection of a federal Civil Defense plan to send people from southern New England to Vermont "host communities" in case of a nuclear war. Election Retains Deep Divisions Among Aldermen Free Press Photo by ELAINE ISAACSON celebration at a downtown restaurant. Sanders and Bouricius won re-election during Tuesday's voting.

Mayor Bernard Sanders, center, joins with Terrill Bouricius of Ward 2, left, and Peter Lackowski of Ward 3, right, for a victory compromise for two more years," he said. While the mayor won a solid victory virtually citywide, the aldermanic races show that victory was based at least in part on Sanders' personal popularity, rather than any party-line voting. In every ward, Sanders ran ahead of the aldermanic candidates supporting him, often by substantial margins. His supporters won only in wards 2 and 3, the city's densely populated, relatively poor Old North End, where Sanders' coalition always has been strongest. Republicans maintained their traditional hold on the affluent Hill section of Ward 6 and solidly suburban Ward 4.

Democrat aldermen again won in the diverse South End Ward 5 and in student-dominated Ward 1. In some wards, the tally made it clear that Democrats and Republicans voted their party in the aldermanic race, then turned around and voted for the socialist mayor. "This is a strange election. Look at these numbers it means people must have voted for Al (Gear) and for Sanders!" said Gear's wife, Sara, as she watched the returns come in at Ward 4. Gear is a conservative Republican.

Sanders pulled 38 percent of the vote in Ward 4, his poorest performance in the city. His aldermanic supporter, Evans, however, got only 18 percent of By CANDACE PAGE Free Press Staff Writer The deep political divisions on the Burlington Board of Aldermen remained intact Tuesday, as each of the city's three political factions held the two seats it had at stake. Unofficial results were: Ward 1, Democrat Maurice Mahoney (incumbent), 903; independent Amy Demarest, 691; Republican Rudolf Hirss, 225. Ward 2, Citizens Party Terrill Bouricius (incumbent), Democrat Esther Sorrell, 660. Ward 3, Citizens Party Peter Lackowski, 942; Democrat James McGregor, 764.

Ward 4, Republican Allen Gear (incumbent), Democrat William Williams, 1.095; independent Rita Evans, 648. Ward 5, Democrat Linda Burns, independent Peter Stern, 881; independent Nelson Slingerland, 78. Ward 6, Republican Diane Gallagher, 963; independent Huck Gutman," 736; Democrat Brian Lloyd, 475. The results mean Mayor Bernard Sanders will continue to deal with a Board of Alderman composed of five Republicans, three Democrats and five of his own supporters. Sanders thus will have enough votes to sustain a veto, but not, as he had hoped, positive control of the board.

"We've compromised for the last two years and we'll have the vote to Gear's 51 percent. Perhaps the most surprising result of the night was Bouricius' easy defeat 61 percent to 39 percent of Sorrell in Ward 2. Although Bouricius is the incumbent, Sorrell is one of the city's best-known Democrats. She retired from the state Senate last fall. But, while the ward was once a stronghold of the city's Democratic machine, it has been changing as its population changes.

The 1980 census found that more than half the people in the ward are between 18 and 34. Only 19 percent are 35 to 64, the age group that would be more familiar with Sorrell's long record. Bourcius won the biggest victory of any aldermanic candidate in the city. Two aldermen won with less than 50 percent of the vote. In Ward 6, Gallagher got 44 percent of the vote to 34 percent for Gutman.

But she finished with 300 more votes than her Republican counterpart on the mayoral ticket, James Gilson. Sanders' strong finish in the ward (47 percent) was not enough to help Gutman, who finished with 34 percent. In Ward 1, Mahoney faced his first tough election in three races. Two years ago, he was unopposed. Tuesday he won with 48 percent of the vote.

Sanders' supporter Demarest got 38 percent. Mahoney attributed Demarest's relatively strong showing to her aggressive campaign and to the mayor. "He ran a very aggressive campaign against me," Mahoney said. "There was a lot of information suggesting I never cooperated with the mayor. That was all rhetoric.

I can work with anyone." About half the University of Vermont dormitories are in Ward 1, and Mahoney said he expected Sanders to do well when he saw the large number of young voters who turned up at the polls Tuesday. In the city's South End. an area of mixed, low-, high- and middle-income neighborhoods, longtime resident Linda Burns ran well ahead of Democratic mayoral candidate Judith Stephany, collecting 51 percent of the vote. It was Burns' first run for public office, although she has frequently been a campaign worker. She is the sister-in-law of the ward's other alderman, James Burns, and the estranged wife of former Democratic Lt.

Gov. Brian Burns. Palm Keeps His Spot On Board Browne Aso Wins School Post By JODIE PECK Free Press Staff Writer A 12-year veteran on the Burlington School Board fought off a strong challenge from a newcomer in Ward 3 and two newcomers battled it out in Ward 6. Democrat Francis H. Palm 49, took 56 percent of the vote, defeating two-time political loser Michael E.

Hackett. 887-6'ln. Hackett, 38, an independent and part-time substitute teacher, narrowly lost a bid for School Board last March and lost a bid for the U.S. Senate last November Palm said earhei he decided to continue on the School Board for a seventh term because he pnjovs playing a part in the education of Burlington youth and appreciates what the schools have done for his children. He believes he has represented the needs of all fat turns of the city during his term on the board, he said.

Republican Peter C. Brownell edged out independent Hans' Puck in heavily Republic an 6. taking 58 percent i tin- v. 1,188 to 863. Ward 6 is the only represented by Republicans on the 13-person board 'I he seat opened up when GOP commissioner Diane Gallagher opted to tun for alderman.

Brownell, 33, is a financial analyst for General Electric Co. Puck, 38. is a manager at A C. Hathorne Co. and a former special education teacher at Pine Ridge School in Williston.

Brownell has been living in Burlington since leaving the Force five years ago. He became a candidate because his experience in long-range financial planning is needed on the board, he said. The new commissioner said after-school programs lor children should be expanded and the School Department should hire a school nurse, and he graded the school system a B-plus. In Ward 1. the third contest for six School Board seats, incumbent Colin K.

Ducolon defeated Dorothy Stein by an almost z-1 margin. Ducolon, '10. a Cluimplain College professor and chairman of the board's Curriculum Committee, defeated Stein, 61. a retired teacher. 1.028 to Ducolon said increasing the city's share of state aid to education is the most important issue for schools and said he wants to continue studying the possibility of changing the system of grades in the two middle schools.

I'nopposed were incumbents Barbara Hockert. 1) Ward 2. and F. Allen Brooks I) U' ircl 4. and newcomer Kristtne Bailey, a Democrat in Ward 5.

Hockert and Brooks were reelected to their third terms on the board. Hockert. 50. director of the integrated Wilderness Program for handicapped and non-handicapped people, said she wants to develop a comprehensive health curriculum in the schools for kindergarten through grade 12. which would include nutrition, preventive medicine, sexuality and the human body, and alcohol and drug education.

Brooks, 46, a manager and engineer for General Electric said he will use skills acquired in the last four years on the board to help with the educational quality and efficiency of the board. Bailey, 31, a homeworker, said she became a candidate because it is Important for people to be involved and her first child will enter public schools in the fall. Other Bolot Items Pass Kindergarten Rejected by Colchester Voters board were Charles Howe, named late last year to fill a vacancy, and Nancy Coy, who will replace Campbell. Howe will serve for three years and Coy for two years. Re-elected without oppostion were Delinquent-Tax Collector Gladys Severance, Lister Ellen Weber, and Cemetery Commissioner Ted Cooper Also elected were Joan Conant, library trustee; Marion Giffin, cemetery commissioner; Richard Preble, constable and grand juror; Mary Arel, auditor; and William Garrett, moderator.

By MIKE DONOGHUE Free Press Staff Writer All ballot items except one to establish a kindergarten were approved Tuesday by Colchester voters, who re-elected Town Clerk and Treasurer Maxine M. McGinn to a third term. McGinn, 56, of Belair Drive defeated former selectman Wayne A. DeForge, 49, of Pine Lane, 1,148 to 687. In keeping with the town's longstanding tradition on kindergarten, voters rejected it, 1,123 to 812.

School Board Chairman Robert L. Campbell, elected to the board of selectmen, said he was pleased with voters reaction to the school and town budgets. Both saw substantial increases in the tax rate, but voters were willing to accept them, he said. Campbell and John T. Gutman, a St.

Michael's College vice president, were un-challenegd for three- and two-year terms on the Board of Selectmen, respectively. The town budget of $1,964,034 was approved 1,090 to 775, while the school budget of $6.2 million was accepted 1,058 to 823. Reappraisal, expected to save the town from possible losses in state aid to education, was approved 986-875. The $88,000 expenditure will be spread over two years, according to Town Manager Francis J. Taginski.

Residents agreed to spend $8,000 to construct a four-foot pedestrian-bike lane along Lakeshore Drive between Bayside Park and Mazza's Shopping Center. The lane will be on the side away from the lake. McGinn said 1,975 out of more than 6,000 registered voters went to the polls. Unchallenged for seats on the school Burlington to Keep March Election Date Burlington Mayor's Race Gilson (ft) Sanders (I) Stephany (D) Votes Votes Votes 231 12.5 1,067 57.8 547 29.7 190 10.6 1,210 67.7 387 21.7 135 7.7 1,222 69.8 393 22.5 731 19.9 1,394 37.9 1,552 42.2 384 18.7 1,007 48.9 667 32.4 621 28.2 1,042 47.3 540 24.5 2,292 17.2 6,942 52.1 4,086 30.7 Ward Ward Word Ward Ward Ward Total By SCOTT MACKAY Free Press Staff Writer Burlington voters decided Tuesday to stick with the traditional March city election date, rather than shift to a warmer-weather May date. Almost 60 percent voted against changing the date, a proposal pushed by Alderman James Burns, D-Ward 5.

The final tally was 6,625 or 59 percent against the twitch, and 4,526 or 41 percent for it The deepest opposition to changing the date came from Wards 1 and 6, the two wards with the largest number of college student voters. On the other ballot issues: Voters overwhelmingly supported the nuclear arms freeze, with 8,499 or 76 percent voting "yes" and 2,762 or 24 percent voting "no." Approved reducing city commissioner terms from five yean to three. That charter change was approved by 7,291 voters or 69 percent and opposed by 3,183 or 30 percent. Rejected a move to give the city's Health and Safety Department a citizen commission. The change, which fell short of the two-thirds margin it needed, would have taken the power to appoint the city health and safety administrator from the mayor and given it to a new commission.

Mayor Bernard Sanders opposed the commission. Supporting It were 5,728 or 56 percent; opposing it were 4,558 or 44 percent. The city meeting date change was the issue that caused the most debate among the city's political factions. Sanders argued against it, saying it would come too close to the city's fiscal year to allow a new mayor and Board of Aldermen sufficient time to consider changes In the budget. Republican and Democratic aldermen, led by Burns, argued that the May date would increase voter turnout among the elderly activist Helen Caldicott came to the city last month to speak in favor of it.

The cut in terms for city commissioners was supported by all factions in Burlington, but the commission idea for the Health and Safety Department was the result of a squabble among Sanders and Republicans and Democrats on the board. The proposal would have taken the power to appoint the director of the Health and Safety Department away from the mayor and placed it in the hands of a commission picked by aldermen. Sanders, no fan of the commission form of government, did not want the item on the ballot, but Republicans and Democrats put it on by petition. the proposed change in the voting date was another attempt to shut them out of Burlington voting. In advertisements and articles in the UVM newspaper, the Cynic, students were told it would be their "last time" to cast a ballot.

The May date would be after most students have left for summer vacation. The nuclear freeze issue was another attempt by the peace groups in the city to send a message to Washington on the nuclear arms issue. The ballot item asks the Legislature and the U.S. Congress to instruct President Reagan to begin negotiations with the Soviet Union's leadership for a mutual freeze on nuclear weapons. The peace groups campaigned for the freeze and anti-nuclear and others who have problems getting around in cold weather.

Gilson, too, was against the change, citing many of the same reasons Sanders did. Stephany, however, supported the change. The proposal brought out an old issue in Burlington elections whether the city's 7,900 college students should be allowed to participate in city politics. Last year; Republicans and Democrats on the city's Voter Registration Board attempted to restrict college student voting. The board enacted strict regulations on student voting registration.

Three University of Vermont students took their case to the federal courts, and won. The board was forced to back away from the restrictions. This year, students believed.