WOODBURY – The select board had a full agenda at its May 27 meeting last week, noting that the long-awaited Act 250 hearing has been scheduled for a Swenson/Polycor Quarry permit to expand withdrawals from its Woodbury quarry Act 250 Hearing Request: The hearing is set for June 26 at 1 p.m. in the town hall, with pre-hearing testimony to be submitted by June 3.
photo by Paul Fixx
In other business Ana Pelz shared a petition asking for a town meeting to consider possibilities for the future of Woodbury Elementary School, the status of a number of road projects and the possible purchase of a new truck received updates and discussion, followed by updates on FEMA buyouts and the status of other FEMA projects and funding.
Following an executive session at a special select board meeting called for June 1, the board authorized Woodbury Town Auditor John Reed to attach his memo regarding the proposed impact reimbursement from Polycor/Swenson to his testimony to the District 5 Environmental Commission on behalf of the town, presumably prior to the June 3 deadline to submit testimony, though it wasn’t noted during the meeting.
Area residents meeting at a home with a view of the proposed quarry expansion earlier in the year expressed concern about the expansion and were only loosely organized, but looking for ways to affect the Act 250 decision.
Resident David Barber told the board an old, unnamed bridge on TH 21 that dead ends on his property is in need of repair following repeated flooding. After a bit of discussion during which Barber said he was willing to take on the work at his expense and the board suggested the possibility of discontinuing the road, Road Commissioner Peter Dailey said he would look at the bridge with Barber to see what might work best for the repair.
Resident Ana Pelz came to the board with a petition the board would not accept because it did not include addresses for those signing it, thus names could not be verified.
photo by Paul Fixx
Peltz said she is a former Mountainview Union Elementary School District (MVUESD) board member for Woodbury and has been talking to various groups about issues concerning school district consolidation and how it might affect the Woodbury Elementary School (WES). She said it appears the MVUESD board could move to close the Woodbury school, relocating its students to Hardwick Elementary School (HES).
The petition’s purpose was to hold a town meeting to gauge sentiments about a possible WES closure and explore alternatives for educating Woodbury students. Board member Diana Peduzzi explained that a special town meeting cannot be warned just to discuss a subject, there must be an article that can be voted on.
Peduzzi also said voters of the town do not have the authority to take action on subjects regarding the school.
The wide ranging discussion strayed well away for the subject of holding a meeting and into subjects that might be discussed during one, including the possibility of breaking away from MVUESD and joining another district, with the most likely being Washington Central Unified Union School District (WCUUSD), that includes all of the Washington County elementary schools except Woodbury.
While the Woodbury Select Board (WSB) was supportive of a town gathering to discuss the school issue, they said such a gathering can be organized by anyone and Pelz indicated she was likely to develop a plan to do that.
Road Commissioner Dailey reported a range of usual subjects that were easily handled with appropriate recommendations for actions that included selling an unused trailer for $1,000, and potentially renting a backhoe to unplug culverts throughout town.
The board hoped to expand insurance evaluation of ceiling damage in the town garage to include the cost of repairs to the roof that have likely caused the ceiling damage. Treasurer Lilly Baron said she has received the settlement agreement for the garage insurance claim. The total amount would be $40,993.95, based on the adjuster’s estimate and inclusive of the $1,000 deductible. Once the agreement is signed, the funds will be released. If contractor estimates differ from the adjuster’s estimate, the claim may be reopened for review.
Dailey closed his report with a statement about the difficulty of getting out to grade the roads with the frequency of recent rain showers.
Michael Gray updated the board on a grant for a Buck Lake Brook Watershed study that the regional planning commission has submitted.
Town Clerk Graham Christie said 167 registered voters in Woodbury participated in the third school budget vote, which was passed.
The WSB will convene a special meeting for a final review and approval of the town’s revised personnel policy, on Thursday, June 11, 5 p.m. at the town office.
Town Clerk Graham Christie and Baron attended a meeting with the Village Trust Initiative that works with Vermont communities to support locally driven village revitalization projects that strengthen community connection, preserve historic village centers and create shared public spaces and local gathering places. Baron emphasized their involvement with this program would be on their own time and not billed to the Town. They requested the WSB’s support to help encourage community awareness and participation in this initiative, which the board agreed to.
John Gordon shared updates about buyouts of the old fire department and other village properties, now owned by the town and slated for demolition. He went through the RFP for the demolition of the old store and asked the WSB to set dates for the RFP to demolish the two village buyouts.
Skip Lindsay offered an update on issues with FEMA funding of projects that came in under budget and how the excess FEMA funding is being handled. The board approved Lindsay to share details of the situation with the press.
