WOODBURY — A mixed agenda at the March 24 Woodbury select board meeting found the board once again discussing flood resilience and FEMA projects.
Emergency Management Director John Gordon informed the board that he has prepared and will begin submitting applications to the state’s hazard mitigation program for FEMA buyouts. This currently includes the Jake Shattuck property and the old firehouse in Woodbury village. Gordon said grants would pay owners for the purchase of the property, demolition and property restoration, after which the properties must remain absent of buildings or paving.
In Woodbury, water runs down Blake Hill Road, Monday night, July 11, 2023. Woodbury has yet to receive any of over $240,000 in promised FEMA reimbursement and just approved a $500,000 line of credit to cover expenses while they wait.
Recovery Officer Skip Lindsay said he has researched projects eligible for excess FEMA funding after the bridge projects are completed. Road projects, and possibly flood-proofing for the town office and town hall were among his suggestions. The board agreed the first thing to do is designate and prioritize possible projects.
The board moved on to discuss whether the excess FEMA funds could be used toward the town matches for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) and pending Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants. According to the board, thus far the response from FEMA has been that the funds can’t be used as a match for other federal funds.
Road Commissioner Alfred Larabee shared that he and Michael Gray will be meeting with VTrans District 6 representatives to go over the grant application for the Valley Lake Road culvert replacement.
Larabee updated the board about bicycle warning signage. The plan for 14 signs at seven locations began as part of the town plan re-write several years ago. The board at the time approved the purchase of the signs for a total of less than $1000, not including the posts, anchors and labor. The signs were not purchased or installed, and then there were two summers of flood damage that took priority for the road crew. According to the board, the posts and anchors were approved and purchased in the summer of 2024.
At the previous meeting, Larabee had agreed to order the signs. He did so, and then canceled the order when issues came up again among the board. When visiting Work Safe, where he orders signs, Larabee noticed a large poster showing many signs available and came up with a plan for a 30-inch sign with a bike logo, then a separate small sign “Ahead”. Discussion regarding the signage led to a motion to rescind the prior approval, and instead purchase 14 each of signs with the bicycle logo and ahead. The motion was seconded and passed with a 2-1 vote, with Chris Casey voting to stay with the signs originally approved. Larabee will order the signs and, barring more flooding, will make time during the summer to locate and install the signs.
The board’s future meeting schedule and structure was a topic of discussion. Casey suggested board members consider setting up email addresses specifically for town business, as they are all currently using personal emails.
He also continued the discussion from the last meeting about changing the format of select board meetings in the future, suggesting the first meeting of each month, on the second Monday, be structured to take in the various reports and other town business concerns that residents may have. The second monthly meeting, on the fourth Monday, would then be more of a work meeting for the board, with a lighter scheduled agenda and more time devoted to tasks needing to be addressed. Both meetings would be duly warned and open to the public.
The first meeting would be held in the community room at the library; the second at the town office. The board agreed to try out this change, starting in April.
In other business, Seville Murphy informed the board that Hazen Union students will be engaged in “Do Day”, May 9. This is a planned event where students go out into their communities to assist with projects the community would like help with. Seville requested the board offer some projects for students to work on.
Town Clerk Robin Durkee reminded Woodbury residents that dog licenses were due April 1. Dogs may still be licensed, but fees have increased. As of March 27, only 57 dogs had been licensed.
George Sawyer was appointed to the Woodbury Fund Board at his request, unanimously.
The board approved the motion for a once-yearly service on the school generator, with Brookfield Services, for general maintenance including checking fluids.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
