ST. ALBANS — Voters approved funding for a second mental health crisis worker in the St. Albans Police Department Tuesday, as well as a charter change that would make the city clerk and treasurer positions appointed by the City Council, rather than elected.
Rail City residents also approved a $500,000 tax increment financing bond to fund the cleanup of a brownfield site at 100-120 Federal St., and an increase in funding for the Saint Albans Museum, which is located in the city’s downtown.
In addition, Newell Decker was elected to a three-year term on the council over Jamie Pinkham by a slim margin of 49 votes to 43.
As snow started to fall in St. Albans just after lunchtime Tuesday, a slow stream of voters was trickling into City Hall to cast their Town Meeting Day ballots.
Assistant City Clerk Sara Gabaree said just over 400 voters had voted in person by that point, which was right around what city officials were expecting for that time of day.
Walking out of the City Hall Auditorium, where polling was taking place, Angie Sturm said she strongly supported hiring another crisis worker. Adding a clinician like this to the department would improve its response to mental health emergencies, she said.
“I would like to beef up those services,” Sturm said, “and draw down police interaction in our city as much as possible.”
James Hughes, the Franklin County state’s attorney, also voted at City Hall and said he supported hiring a second mental health clinician for the police department.
The agency currently works with Sam Weber, a Northwestern Counseling and Support Services clinician. Her position is funded through that organization, not the city.
St. Albans officials and residents who advise the city’s police department say Weber’s position has been a success, and now they want another person to take on the work. Voters approved $100,000 for the position.
“I think it’s an idea whose time has certainly come,” Hughes said.
Voters approved funds for the crisis worker position 484-220. The charter changes were approved by similar margins: 474-225 for the clerk and 455-236 for the treasurer.
The charter changes will now head to the Legislature for approval, which city officials hope will happen by July 1. These changes also eliminate the requirement that the candidates for clerk and treasurer are legal city voters, which officials have said would broaden the pool of potential applicants.
The Federal Street brownfield cleanup passed 483-205 and increased funding for the museum — up to $25,000 from $17,500 — passed 609-97.
For Richard Thayer, who was at the polls Tuesday, contributing more money to the museum was “a no brainer.”
“It’s a strong asset for the community,” he said, adding, “we can make it stronger.”
