Town of Shaftsbury, VT

Annual Report of the Selectboard

Period Ending 6/30/07

 

This last year was a busy and productive one for the Selectboard and our Town. Among the major projects we have been engaged in this year are the first stages of sidewalk construction in the Village, initial work on remediation of excessive methane at the landfill, development of our first ever road priority list, and our 2nd Annual Street Dance and Fair.

 

Finance and Administration

This year, Carl Davis, left the highway department and was replaced by, Bruce Mattison.  We wish Carl well in his future endeavors and we welcome our new addition to the highway crew. 

 

As part of an ongoing effort to bring more structure and “business like” policies to our employment practices, we continue to implement a merit pay system. Each full-time employee received a performance evaluation last summer and the raises awarded were commensurate with that evaluation. Employees are now contributing 10% of the full cost of their health premiums.

 

This year, the Town participated in the VLCT Health Trust’s Leader program which surveys and evaluates the Town’s business practices with regard to health and safety. Based on our programs we were reimbursed $956. Next, we hope to increase that reimbursement.

 

The Selectboard continues to try and find budget saving strategies through grants and joint purchasing contracts.

 

One problem that we will have to address by 2008 is a town-wide reappraisal.  Our Common Level of Appraisal has dropped below 80%, and when that happens the State requires a reappraisal.  The listers have been actively involved in this issue and will guide the Town through the process.

 

Solid Waste

As in past years, we held household hazardous waste days in April and October, each with a free tire day and a free metal week.  This year we participated in Bennington County’s regional household hazardous waste days along with bulky waste and electronic waste to provide additional opportunities for residents to dispose of their waste properly. We also co-sponsored Green-Up Day with the elementary school and Shaftsbury Citizens for Responsible Growth.

 

The one problem at the landfill that we must still resolve is excessive methane in the soil to the west of the cap.  We are in the process of evaluating a proposal by Dr. Bill Pennebaker, and have every expectation that his innovative approach to the problem will provide a cost-effective solution.

 

All Towns are required to have a Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP), this year we approved the regional 8-Town SWIP prepared by the BCRC to save money by sharing the cost of the state mandated requirements.

 

Over the next coming year you will notice some changes at the Transfer Station. The Shaftsbury Free Library will be getting a new home in a SWAP Shed.

 

Public Works

One of our major ongoing tasks is oversight of the more than 70 miles of road in the town.  The task of maintaining our town roads has become increasingly more difficult due to declining revenue and aging equipment. This year we hired a contractor to do the roadside mowing, and we also rented an additional grader for a week to speed up the spring grading work.  This has allowed the highway crew to work on other badly needed jobs, including removal of brush and trees at numerous locations in addition to projects described in the next paragraph. We also bartered services with the Town of Bennington, using their street sweeper on 19 miles of our paved roads while lending our chloride truck for a job in their town.

 

Numerous road projects were completed this year. A new concrete box culvert was installed along with new guardrails on Bennett Hill Road, paid for with a grant from the State Agency of Transportation.  Major road reconstruction including ditching, road widening and fabric installation was completed on Murphy Hill Road.  Church Street (Shop Hill) drainage system was repaired.  Grandview Street and Grant Street were paved with local funds. West Mountain Road intersection with Route 7A was reconstructed and paved by State.

 

This year, the Road Foreman, Town Administrator and the Selectboard developed the Town’s first road priority list which inventories all the roads due to improvement cost, maintenance cost, traffic, and safety.

 

Last year we were the proud recipient of a $250,000 Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant for the construction of sidewalks in the Village of South Shaftsbury.  Our engineering consultant, ESPC has designed the sidewalk; we met with numerous landowners to discuss their concerns and are eagerly waiting State approval so we may begin construction this fall.

 

Parks and Cemeteries    

The Town helped absorbed some of the cost of maintaining the parks and cemeteries this year in the general fund. Also, two Boy Scouts from Bennington worked on their Eagle project at Howard Park. One completed the painting of the exterior and interior of several outbuildings. Another is working on the trail renovation. The Cleveland Avenue Park will be seeing some badly needed renovations; we were the recipient of a $1,600 grant for some minor park improvements.

 

Public Safety

The Fire Warden is proposing to purchase a new brush truck in several years. Under the direction of the Town's Emergency Management Director, Gerry Mattison, we have continued to train key Town personnel on emergency management practices. This year we worked with Animal Control Officer, to much her credit we resolved a lot of unresolved animal control issues in Town. At various times over the past year the Select Board has worked with our constables, our Animal Control Officer, game wardens, and the Sheriff's Department as events dictated. The Selectboard encourages all residents to use 211 which provides residents with quick and easy access to a variety of health and human service needs throughout the state.

 

Facilities

Facilities Committee has eagerly evaluated all the Town facilities. They have identified several needs that the Selectboard and the Town will have to consider in the future. The priority for the Committee is to renovate Cole Hall for space needs for departments, repair maintenance concerns, and for health and safety standards. Stay tuned for more to come.

 

Ancient Roads

Ancients Roads Committee was formed this year, and is actively searching for old ancients roads that were never discontinued. Currently, the committee is looking for new members that are interesting in research old land records.  

 

Finally, this year the 2nd Annual Street Dance and Fair, was a successful. The theme this year was a “Hoe Down”, complete with carnival rides, food and art and craft vendors, kid games, chicken barbecue and fireworks. Many thanks go to the Shaftsbury business community for their sponsorship and assistance throughout this event.

 

Perhaps most importantly, the Selectboard thanks all those folks who so generously volunteer their time and expertise on behalf of our Town. They are truly the “unsung heroes” who make Shaftsbury a vital, caring small-town community. We all owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.

 

The Selectboard continues to post our home phone numbers in the book and on our web site, www.shaftsbury.net.  Call us if you need to, and visit the web site or call Cole Hall if you are looking for information about ongoing events in the Town.

 

Wynn Metcalfe, Chair               Karen Mellinger

Cinda Morse, Vice-Chair         Bill Pennebaker

Lon McClintock