Lawsuits, budgets, sidewalks and neighborhood concerns

This week’s Selectboard meeting opened with a brief executive session as the board discussed the Brett Grabowski/Milot Real Estate lawsuit. Shortly afterwards, they reopened to hear a citizen petition about maintenance on Baldwin Road. Baldwin Road resident Jean Miner and her son Nathan Miner represented the 42 signing neighbors on the road who expressed extensive concerns about ongoing road conditions. Neighborhood suggestions ranged from different types of crowning and grading, as suggested by Randy Volk, to fully paving the road, as suggested by the Miners. The board expressed surprise, given the problems with all dirt roads in Vermont, but the citizen concerns were so extensive that the board discussed the possible costs and concerns with paving the road. The board ultimately resolved that the issue needed more research, and asked the town administrator to reach out to Mike Anthony at the Highway Department and find out more.

Next, the board circled back to litigation to talk about the ongoing Hannaford appeal, and about legal funding in general. The Selectboard moved to approve funding an expert from Stantec to provide expert testimony supporting the town’s Development Review Board decision regarding the Hannaford project. Multiple board members mentioned that due to the legal cost of multiple suits, the legal budget would likely be stretched again in fiscal year 2016, as it had been the previous year.

The Selectboard engaged in extensive discussion about both the Goldsmith/Grillo “Horseshoe” concerns and the Village North Sidewalk Project, both of which involve other parties in addition to the town.  Board members emphasized the need for simple solutions, and that both concerns merited speedy action.

Police Chief Frank Koss brought the police department capital budget to the Selectboard, and emphasized the variety of ways the department is hoping to keep costs low in the coming fiscal year. Al Barber brought the fire department budget before the board, and there was a request to use fees to pay for a new heating system. Board member Jonathan Trefry moved to spend $10,000 on the new heating project, and it was approved with five “yes” votes.  The Selectboard also approved a special event permit for Frost Beer Works, with some discussion of the appropriate times for the beginning and ending of the event.