The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-03
i i " = CHANGES
IN TOWN OFFICERS
Voters to Elect Two New
Selectmen and Two
New Listers
WILKINS PLANS TO
LEAVE BRATTLEBORO
selectman Merrill Feels He Has Served
Long Enough-Personal Business
Matters Demand Time of Listers Bet
terley and Howard.

A situation is developing with re-s-
spect to some of the more important
town officers that calls for careful con-
sideration on the part of the voters be-
tween now and the annual town meet
ing March 4. Present indications are
on the board of seiectmen and two on
the board of listers. and the best in
terests of the town demand that men of
business capacity and mature iudg
ment be elected 10 complete the per-
sonnel of those boards rather than that
the vacancies he filed in promiscu-
Gus, haphazard way.
Seleetman 4. ". j. Wilkins will not
serve longer, as he is to leave town,
Selectman A. E. Merrill has decided to
leave the board because he feels he has
held the Office long enough and does not
want to be burdened with its cares anv
longer. Fred A. Betterley says he can
not afford to continue as lister and
does not wish to be considered as can
didate, and John L. Howard has ten
| dered his resignation as lister for bust
ness reasons.
! The situation was talked over in the
| regular weekly meeting of the select
men Saturday night, and they are sat-
isfed that these four vacancies viii oe-
cur, that is, that the men mentioned
mean what they say relative 10 not
serving later than the March meeting
There is a general feeling among the
town officials that it would be mis-
fortune to lose Mr. Betterley from the
board of listers. He has the. Judge
ment and quality of first class man,
one of the Town officers said to repre-
sentative of The Reformer. He is
about completing his fifth year on the
board
Two years ago Mr. Betterlev e1-
pressed desire to give up the position
feeause it interfered with his garage
business, but he was induced to conf
plete his three-year term. Now he is
ready to give it Up.
To member of The Reformer staff
Mr. Betterlev said the work came at a
time when his garage business demand
cd his attention. In response to q
question he said that the pay was So
asv, fixed by the toun, which was
much less than his time was worth IN
his own business This was not said
with the idea of suggesting that he
wanted more pay, but the writer
couldn help asking himself why the
town should expect a competent man
(and no others are desired) in a re-
sponsible position like that to work for
So a day when he could get more than
that the year around at most any job,
requiring little or no responsibility.
A lister is supposed TO tie a good
Judge of values, whether of lands.
houses, products, factories, business
blocks or merchandise, and an error IN
Judgment on the part of lister might
cost the town more than his salary
! would amount to. By common consent
Mr.. Betterley possesses this quality of
good Judgment to a degree that has not
been exceeded by any lister of this
town in recent years, and he IS recog
| nized as one who declines to be side
E tracked in the performance of his
duties. Whether the offer OF adequate
c compensation would induce him tn
b to change his decision The Reformer IS
!. not prepared to say.
Nj. Howard was elected last year foI
three years, and was put up as can
didatc not because he wanted the Office
bat because of what was considered an
! emergency. and he feels that it is moi
good business TO leave his real estate