WOODBURY – Business was mostly routine at the Woodbury Select Board’s September 8 meeting, with the Swenson Quarry planning to expand and the road crew beginning significant repairs on Wilbur Road.
Diana Peduzzi reported that Swenson Quarry has submitted an Act 250 application for a substantial expansion to their operation. This application includes operating a crusher for up to 45 days each year, resulting in 20,000 cubic yards of crushed granite, which will lead to up to 50 loaded trips per day.
photo by Terry J. Allen
The town and residents along Swenson Quarry Road have the right to participate in the Act 250 process, she said. The company is also expected to apply for a zoning permit which will require a local hearing before the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The road crew has begun work on a major project covered by two grants on Wilbur Road that is intended to relieve flooding and erosion that occurred with the past two summer’s flooding and caused damage to camps on Herricks Cove Road and deposition of gravel and dirt into Woodbury Lake, said Road Commissioner Alfie Larrabee in his report.
He suggested another project, which has not yet been considered for mitigation work, is on East Hill Road, where the ditch has been severely eroded from flooding. If there is time before winter sets in, he said the road crew hopes to get to that project. Whether it can be funded is still a question.
Following a question by Peduzzi, Larabee agreed to ask the road crew if they are willing to work overtime on Fridays to haul sand and prepare for winter.
Town Clerk Robin Durkee reported an ad for the road commissioner position has been placed in several media outlets and with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.
The town office and town hall will get new roofs before winter if all goes to plan following the awarding of a contract to Vermont Construction at $34,000 for the former and $36,800 for the later.
Town spending remains on track or below projections in the budget, said Treasurer Lilly Baron. The purchase agreement has been sent to the dealership for a new 10-wheeler truck with payment anticipated November 24.
Larabee hopes the new truck will be ready in time for winter snowplowing and intends to hold on to the old 10-wheeler to use in case of inevitable breakdowns that come with winter plowing.
The board accepted a bid for heating fuels from Gillespie Fuels & Propane that was just $2.54 per gallon for fuel, $0.51 below the bid from Suburban Propane, and $1.51 for propane, $0.19 below the Suburban bid.
Becky Browning was appointed to fill a position on the Zoning Board of Adjustment from which David Barnowski has resigned, because he will be moving from Woodbury.
The board signed an Emergency Watershed Protection Program grant agreement for stream bank armoring on Buck Lake Brook at Cabot Road. The stream bank has a history of washouts that have compromised Cabot Road in the past. Though a required 25 percent match that could be as high as $37,500 is a concern, a commitment to USDA needn’t be made until the start of construction, so the town can still back out.
The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan was adopted. FEMA must still do a final review and approval, but the town will be in good standing for full funding in the eyes of FEMA with adoption of the plan, explained Michael Gray
Recovery Officer Skip Lindsay updated the board on FEMA reimbursements and pending inspections, announcing he intends to step down from the position on December 29 and saying his work should be completed by then.
Nate Sicard, the town’s engineer, will not be able to complete engineering for culvert projects on County Road. Two of the three planned projects are still waiting for completion of a hydraulic study. Larabee estimated each project may cost about $50,000 to $75,000.
There was concern that a new wooden fence by Wheelhouse Motors at 3715 Vt. Rte 14, may be in the highway right-of-way, creating a hazard and potentially subject to damage during snow plowing. Larabee said he will take a look and measure the right-of-way which is generally 50 feet from the center line.
A 25-minute executive session, that included Durkee, came at the end of the agenda, with no action taken before the two hour and thirty-five minute meeting ended.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
