News & Citizen -Lamoille County Newspaper

News & Citizen

Serving the People of Lamoille County with News Since 1881

Volume 123 No 10 No 5569 December 15, 2005 Thursday Morrisville, VT 056611 Web Edition

Morristown Zoning Changes Sent Back to Planning Commission

by Amy Kolb Noyes
MORRISVILLE – Rather than accepting a slate of changes to the town’s zoning bylaws, the Morristown Selectboard has sent the issue back to the planning commission for further discussion and clarification on two topics. The selectboard held a warned public hearing on the proposed changes Monday evening, December 12. The board took testimony from a former planning commission member and a co-chair of the Morristown Conservation Commission regarding one change meant to help simplify the subdivision application process. The selectmen also discussed their own concerns regarding regulations for internally lit signs. Continued on Page 2

Postmaster Merchant to Retire

by Amy Kolb Noyes
MORRISVILLE – The new year will bring big changes for Morrisville Postmaster Gary Merchant. Friday, December 30,

will be his last day on the job at the Morrisville Post Office, where he has served as Postmaster since November 1985. This week Mr. Merchant celebrated his 36th anniversary working for the United States Postal Service.

LUMS: The Board’s Perspective

by Alicia Morissette
The Lamoille Union District #18 School Board is in the process of reconsidering its prior decision to cut three full-time educator positions in the Lamoille Union Middle School (LUMS), and Peter Ingvoldstad, board chair, shared his thoughts on the topic. Continued on Page 2

The Benefits of Being Historic

by Amy Kolb Noyes
Morrisville is one of seven Vermont designated downtowns or village centers that received tax credits this month to support the rehabilitation of historic downtown buildings. The Vermont Downtown Development Board awarded a total of $312,000 in tax credits, as announced by Governor Jim Douglas. Two Morrisville properties, Melben’s railroad depot building and the Jost Electronics building at 124 Portland Street, were awarded a combined $34,607 in tax credits. Meanwhile, there is a local effort underway to increase the size of Morrisville’s downtown historic district, making additional properties eligible for such credits. Continued on Page 2

Corse to Lead VPPSA

by Amy Kolb Noyes
Morrisville Water & Light Superintendent and Morrisville resident Scott Corse has been chosen as the next chief executive officer and general manager of the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, in Waterbury. Corse will replace retiring CEO and GM William Gallagher, also of Morrisville. Corse will join VPPSA as CEO Elect beginning April 3, 2006. He will assume the top post when Gallagher retires in July. Gallagher has led VPPSA for the past 16 years.
Continued on Page 2

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Tallman to Retire from Wolcott P.O.

by Amy Kolb Noyes
WOLCOTT – After 38 1/2 years of delivering mail, Dorick “Toby” Tallman will be retiring at the end of this month. Toby

began delivering mail in Wolcott for the United States Post Office Department on May 20, 1967. When the department became the United States Postal Service, in 1972, Wolcott was consolidated from two routes to one. USPS sent Toby to work in Montpelier. He returned to the Wolcott Post Office a little over six years later, when Clifford Randall retired. Continued on Page 2

“Really Reconsider,” Say LUMS Faculty

by Alicia Morissette
HYDE PARK – Some teachers at the Lamoille Union Middle School (LUMS) are concerned that the Lamoille Union District #18 School Board wants to transform the current middle school model into a junior high school, so they wanted to let the community know the different services provided by each type of school system.
Amy Rex, a LUMS teacher, and Adrianna Fox, head LUMS and Lamoille Union High School librarian, sat down to differentiate the structures, learning styles and needs that are met in these two very different learning institutions.
To begin the discussion, Rex said, “young adolescents... are developing so rapidly across various levels,” that include intellectual, physical, social, moral, psychological and emotional levels. According to Rex, this time is crucial and each student requires “special attention in those areas.” Continued on Page 2

Town/Village Sewer Agreement Getting Closer

by Amy Kolb Noyes
MORRISVILLE – Officials from the Town of Morristown and the Village of Morrisville have been trying for years to work out an agreement on guaranteed sewer capacity for businesses considering moving to town. The process has been slow and contentious. However, with the help of Community Coordinator Heidi Krantz and Bill Rossmassler, of the Lamoille County Planning Commission, that process took a big step in the right direction last week. Continued on Page 2

Sanders Presents Johnson Recreational Grant

by Alicia Morissette
JOHNSON – Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders appeared at the Johnson Elementary School (JES) Friday,

December 9, to announce that $30,480 in grant funding will be given to Bringing Our Opportunities & Strengths Together (BOOST). This sum is part of a $220,000 federal grant that is going toward youth activities in Vermont.
Continued on Page 2

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You’ve Got the Power!
If you are one of those apathetic, disillusioned, or nihilist types who don’t get involved with local governmental affairs, Lamoille County should have shaken you up this week.
At Lamoille Middle School a groundswell of regular folks, backed up by a variety of professional and volunteer people active in education, have caused the school board to reconsider the down-sizing of the LUMS staff by three positions. They have achieved this much not by excessive stridency, but by calmly marshalling cogent arguments, citing the recent marked improvement at LUMS, etc.
In Wolcott, almost double the required number of signatures have been recorded on petition sheets, asking for yet another vote on the Wolcott Elementary School and library building project.
In both cases, many people have bothered to learn about the issues at hand and offer their opinions in tangible ways. Whatever the final outcomes in these cases, voters have amounted to something. They should be proud of themselves.
And, you, the naysayer, the couch potato, the little miss “I won’t register to vote ‘cause my vote won’t count,” should re-think your position and take part along with everyone else in your community who cares. Don’t let other people have all the say over how to serve your kids! Get out there, sign petitions, attend meetings, and vote. It’s not enough to just stay home and say, “Oh, yeah...sure, now they’re gonna vote again.”
You’ve got the power! Staying home would be like having a free tankful of gas and never taking a drive. Do it!