WOODBURY – Concerns about the condition of the town hall, a zoning variance for expanded operations at the Swenson Granite Quarry and an update of regional land use maps for the Woodbury area occupied the select board at its November 10 meeting, along with the more usual items.
Local residents Mary Jo Llewellyn, an architectural historian, and contractor Rick Cannon were at the meeting to discuss the physical state of the Woodbury Town Hall and suggest efforts to secure funding for improvements to make the building usable year-round and preserve its structure.
The Woodbury Town Hall is listed on the Vermont Historical Register and is considered Vermont’s oldest town hall still in use. In 2022, Jan Lewandoski, a specialist in historic buildings, inspected the hall and raised concerns about the integrity of the beam on the front wall, which is close to the granite steps and susceptible to rot. Lewandoski recommended installing flashing between the building’s wood and the steps to prevent moisture damage. That work has not yet been done and Cannon echoed the recommendation, suggesting lower clapboards be removed and flashing installed down to the cement wall supporting the sill.
Cutting back the granite steps, a suggested solution, would be costly, he said.
Llewellyn observed evidence of powder post beetles in the wooden floor joists beneath the building. Flooding events have caused erosion under the building, leading to pooling water and creating an environment conducive to beetle infestation, she said.
Board member Chris Casey recommended gathering information and cost estimates for remedies. Llewellyn will research solutions for the beetle problem.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) was to hold a hearing, November 18, at 6 p.m., in the town hall for a non-conforming use requested by Swenson Granite Company.
Notice of the public hearing indicates Swenson has applied for an Act 250 permit amendment to expand the quarry site, including increasing the quarry area and grout storage. He is hoping to crush grout on site for up to 45 days each year and sell finished product to the construction industry, with up to 20,000 cubic yards of product per year. This may increase truck traffic on Cabot Road to a maximum of 50 loaded trucks per day (100 round trips).
The ZBA must determine whether the expansion will result in greater detriment to the community.
Brian Voigt, Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) senior planner, told the board Vermont’s Regional Planning Commissions are now required to update regional land use maps according to unified statewide standards set by the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) to conform with Act 181 of 2024 and changes to Act 250.
CVRPC is currently updating its map, with a final draft expected in December, said Voigt. He noted changes in data and criteria for the map, clarifying that the regional land use map is aspirational, not a zoning bylaw; it will influence future permitting but is unlikely to differ significantly from the town’s current map.
The updated map will be submitted to the state Land Use Review Board for compliance, he told the board.
Town Clerk Robin Durkee reported chimney patching at the town office has been completed.
Town Treasurer Lilly Baron told the board tax payments have totaled $3,125,502.95. with delinquent taxes of $243,322.31, which should decrease as mailed payments are processed. She said she expects the final delinquency amount to be slightly above the usual historical range.
Baron asked the board to sign warrants this week for a $2,368,422.16 payment to the school district, a $605,562.09 transfer to the Highway Fund and $90,000 to be placed in the Highway Equipment Replacement Fund, all of which will reduce the town’s available funds.
She said Insurance costs, not halfway through the fiscal year, are already near budgeted amounts for FY26. Reasons for increased insurance costs include higher valuations for town-owned properties (including the school and library), claims to cover flood repairs at the town office and workers compensation, plus inflation. There is some uncertainty about whether coverage for the school building includes both the building and its contents, she added.
Regarding the highway budget, the maintenance line for the LoPro truck exceeded the budget due to maintenance identified during annual inspections and the expiration of the truck’s warranty. Road Foreman Alfred Larabee and Baron recommend allocating more funds for older equipment in future budgets.
Lister Bonnie Collins reported the town-wide property reappraisal will not begin until 2028 due to a shortage of contractors. The reappraisal is required by the state so she prepared a draft FAQ for inclusion in the town report and general distribution.
Casey announced that Peter Dailey accepted the position of road foreman.. There has been limited response to the search for a new road commissioner. Larrabee will continue in a part-time interim role to train Dailey for management duties. An advertisement for a third road crew member has been posted.
Alfred Larrabee reported the road crew has been unable to grade roads due to persistent rain, as grading during wet conditions would worsen road quality. At least two days of dry weather are necessary for proper grading.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
