by Mickey Smith

     The next hearing of the Morristown Development and Review Board (DRB) plans to be a busy one, with six applicants on the agenda including a new business and three others that are asking to expand.
Howard and Nick Manosh are looking to add about 840 square feet, in the form of two buildings, at their existing concrete batch plant on Route 15 east.
     In a combined permit, Aubuchon Hardware and RL Vallee (owners of Morrisville Mobil) are both looking to expand and redo their lot at the corner of Routes 15 and 100 in Morristown.  Aubuchon's is planning to add about 4,300 square feet to the front of their building and about 1,100 square feet to the back of the building. Custom Collision is also named as an applicant, as the proposed changes to the lot would require changes to the property lines.
     RL Vallee is planning the biggest change at the lot.  They are proposing to tear down the current convenience store and build a 4,400 square foot Maplefields towards the west end of the lot.  The proposal also includes more gas pumps.
     Morristown Zoning Administrator Todd Thomas said the project had been discussed for some time, but became viable when RL Vallee was allowed to connect to the village sewer line near Hearthstone via the planned bypass route.  He said along with making room for this project, by connecting to the sewer line, the space which had been dedicated to the septic system would become available for future growth.  Thomas said, if the project comes through the DRB review process favorably, this project should start as soon as possible this spring.
     A new business is also being proposed for the creamery building at the foot of Pleasant Street.  Building owner Jeff Emerson has applied for a conditional “bar” use permit, to go along with a brewery that is planned for the building. Thomas described the use of this use as more in lines with the permit granted to the Green Mountain Arena, than to a permit for a bar and grill type situation.
     Thomas said a second brewery would be an exciting opportunity for Morristown.  He noted, based on the number of out-of-state cars parked at Rock Art, these types of businesses have become destination places for communities and a second such business would serve to improve the interest of tourists, and add to the draw for the downtown is important.
     The DRB hearing will be held on Thursday, February 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Offices at the Tegu Building.

by Andrew Martin

     On Tuesday, March 6, voters of the Town of Wolcott will be asked to approve a budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2013 that has increased slightly over the budget that was passed last year. The town selectboard will be presenting voters with a budget that has risen $104,968, from $1,055,253 in FY 2012 to $1,160,221 in the proposed budget for FY 2013. The $104,968 is a 9.947 percent increase over last year’s budget.
     The increase in the budget being proposed by the Wolcott Selectboard is due in part to increases in several town departments and offices. The Elections budget was increased from $670 in FY 2012 to $2,920 in FY 2013, while the library and highway department were two other areas where noticeable increases took place. The proposed library budget is $51,612, up from $48,901 in FY 2012, while the proposed budget for the highway department has risen from $406,491 in FY 2012 to a proposed $509,599 for FY 2013.
     An additional area that have seen an increase in the proposed budget include Wolcott’s Parks and Recreation budget, which was created this year, meaning that the budget for that department has gone from $0 to $4,500.   Other areas where increases occurred include the Town Building Maintenance fund, which increased from $6,000 in FY 2012 to $10,000 in FY 2013, as well as the fund set aside to pay for miscellaneous expenses, which has increased from $31,055 last year to a proposed $36,413 in the upcoming year. The amount that the town pays for police coverage with the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department has also increased, rising from $177,292 in FY 2012 to $195,004 in FY 2013.
     While there were increases in the proposed budgets for some departments, there were also a fair number of decreases in other departments. The board was only required to budget $22,527 to help pay the town’s debt in FY 2013, a sum that has dropped considerably from the $63,355 budgeted in FY 2012. The amount budgeted by the board for insurance also decreased, dropping from $41,927 last year to a proposed $37,122 for FY 2013. A third department seeing a decrease in proposed budget is the Landfill, which is dropping from $5,351 last year to $5,210 for FY 2013.
     Along with the budget being proposed by the selectboard, there are also several articles that the townspeople will be asked to vote on at Town Meeting in March that also concern funding projects or groups. Article eight of the warning for the Wolcott Town Meeting asks “Shall the Town appropriate up to $30,000 to be used for a Veteran’s Memorial?” Along with article eight, the warning also presents an article asking that the town voters “appropriate $16,535” to help fund several social service agencies.
     In total, the Wolcott Selectboard is asking the voters to authorize “a total general fund expenditure for operating expenses” of $1,209,756. Of that figure, a total of $959,661 will be raised by taxes, while $247,095 would be raised by non-tax related revenues.

     by Andrew Martin

     Along with the proposed town budget, voters in Wolcott will also asked to vote on the proposed school budget when they gather for Town Meeting on March 6. The Wolcott School Board is presenting the town voters with a proposed total budget for FY 2013 of $4,352,595, a sum that is up $289,882, or 7.14 percent, from the FY 2012 budget of $4,062,713. While the school board is proposing a budget for FY 2013 of $4,352,595, a sum of $827,207 of that total will be provided by local revenues. This means that it will be necessary for taxpayers to fund a total of $3,525,388 out of the overall proposed budget. 
     Of the proposed school budget of $4,352,595 for FY 2013, $2,080,301 of that total will be used to fund elementary education, while $2,272,294 is earmarked to fund secondary education. The $2,080,301 proposed for elementary education is a $66,167 increase from the FY 2012 budget, while the $2,272,294 proposed for secondary education is $223,715 more than the amount budgeted in FY 2012 for the education of that age group.
     The budget being proposed by the Wolcott School Board for FY 2013 translates to an overall per-pupil cost of $12,463.37. This figure is up slightly from the overall per-pupil cost from FY 2012, which is $12,246.16.

     The following is a publication of names gathered and planned for the Wolcott Veterans Memorial in one of the time frames that will be covered on the memorial. This list is of those who will be listed in the category WWII 1940 – 1949. The letters “kia” are listed after names of people known to have been killed in action. Anyone with additions or corrections to the list is asked to call Lloyd Phelps at 888-5931.

     Adams, Ruth Eldridge; Alexander, Cleo Edward; Allaire, Albert Merriam (wounded); Andrus, Leon Ernest; Bartlett, Lawrence Wayne; Billings, Wendell R.; Bohannon, Everett C.; Brown, Edgar Vilas; Chambers, Burton E.; Chaplin, Ralph; Cleveland, Roger Floyd; Collette, Clifford Rowland; Corrow, Robert James; Courchaine, Francis Leo; Crawford, Francis E. (wounded); Darling, Leroy V.; Davis, Clarence E.; Dimick, Henry; Eldridge, David A.; Eldridge, Mulford G.; Fisher, Manville Kenneth; Fisher, Stanley H.; Foster, Earle H.; Foster, Gordon A.; Foster, Paul C; Foster, Phillip William (kia).
     Gauthier, Alfred Eugene; Godin, Romeo J.; Grant, William G.; Griggs, Walter Jones; Griggs, Wendell W.; Guillete, John R.; Harris, Richard Wayne (wounded); Hart, James P. (wounded); Houghton, Arden W.; Hurst, Earle F.; Jones,  Stewart Melvin;  Jones, Wayne Walter; Judge, John Wallis; Kennision, Wendell Archie; Kneeland, Maurice B.; Laclair, John L.; Lafont, Kenneth Warner.
     Lanphere, George; Leno, Lloyd Leo; Leno, Roy Raymond; Madore, Arthur D.; Manley, Cedric Guy; Martin, Roger Courtney; McKinstry, Elmer L.; Moodie, Floyd; Poore, John Clinton; Putvain, Arthur Harold; Putvain, Joseph F.; Randall, Clifford L.; Randall, Mason G.; Reed, Lionel Eben; Reed, Malcom E.; Reed, Wendall B.; Reynolds, Robert E.; Richardson, Howard Moody;Richardson, Lynn Archie; Rivers, Gerald F.;Russell Robert R.; Ryder, Jr., Percy A. (wounded); Ryder, Roy H.
     Sabin, Merle W. (kia); Sargent, Daniel G (wounded); Shelsky, Robert Ralph; Whitcomb, Urban W.; Wilkins, Henry H.; Willey, Clifton H.; Willey, Harold A.; Wood, Gordon M. (wounded); Woodmansee, Jr., Horace S. (wounded).

by Mickey Smith

     Despite conditions on their original permit that prohibit inpatient or residential treatment services, Lamoille Community Connections is looking at a proposal to lease a section of their Harrel Street (formerly McKerley Health Facilities) to the state for a temporary mental health facility to address the crisis created when the Vermont State Hospital was shut down due to Tropical Storm Irene.
     LCC Board Chairman Ed French Jr. described the proposal as being in the exploratory stage. The LCC Board is scheduled to discuss the option at a board meeting on Monday evening, February 6. 
     The facility would be part of a plan to temporarily regionalize mental health care, while a new state hospital is being sited and built. Currently, patients are being housed at some of the larger hospitals around the state, but Vermont Commissioner of Mental Health Patrick Flood said this is tying up beds that would normally be available for other services. He noted Fletcher Allen Health Care has taken one unit completely off-line to make room for the mental health patients they are currently housing.
     Commissioner Flood is estimating this could take about two years, but said no specific time line has been created yet.
     Flood said, at first, his department would be looking to house about eight to 10 people at the site, but this could increase to 16 to 20 depending on how many could reasonably fit at the site. He expected 16 would probably be the best number. While an exact count had not been made yet, Flood estimated about 70 people covering a 24 hour period could be working at the facility. He expected, including nurses, therapists and other staff, there could be 30-35 people, about 25 in the evenings and another 10-15 during the overnights. He described these positions not as new jobs, but more likely as people already working in the system that would be transferred to this area.
LCC Executive Director Savi Van Sluytman said her organization is trying to find a way to help in response to the crisis that has affected the entire state. She stressed this would be a temporary solution and does not expect it to be a long term situation.
     At their February 23 meeting, the Morristown Development Review Board (DRB) have a site plan development hearing scheduled to discuss the matter, but Zoning Administrator Todd Thomas said because the state is leasing the property the town's development review process has no jurisdiction over the scope of the proposal.
     “The DRB can move the deck chairs, but the can't keep the ship from docking,” said Thomas.
     He said because the project will not change the footprint of the building, the DRB can only look at peripherals and only to the point they do not interfere with the intended functional use.
     Title 24 subsection 4413 of the Vermont Statues states, “The following uses may be regulated only with respect to location, size, height, building bulk, yards, courts, setbacks, density of buildings, off-street parking, loading facilities, traffic noise, lighting, landscaping, and screening requirements, and only to the extent that regulations do not have the effect of interfering with the intended functional use...”
     Thomas said based on this, he felt the DRB's authority would be limited to screening for a security fence which Thomas said the application describes as being “a 15 foot tall semi-enclosed fence that is approximately 240 [feet] long.”
     In 2010, when LCC (then called Lamoille County Mental Health) went in front of the DRB for their original permit testimony provided in the “findings of fact” testified “there would be no overnight or residential activity or services provided.”
     As part of their permit for the conditional use of the facility, the “decision” stated “Inpatient or residential treatment services and drug or other substance abuse rehabilitation or treatment services are explicitly prohibited.”
     Thomas said while the state's leasing of this property does not have to comply with this ruling, he could see where concern could be raised regarding LCC following the spirit of the law.
     Van Sluytman said they will definitely be talking to the neighbors. She said, originally, Lamoille County was not an area being discussed about as a possible temporary solution, but this proposal came about quickly.
     The state filed the application for the DRB hearing in order to make sure if the project goes forward they were on the warning for the next meeting. She said if the board was to decide to not go forward with the project, the application could be rescinded. While they are doing all they can to help the state, she said they will also take their own community's needs and concerns into consideration.

by News & Citizen Staff

     This year’s County Budget is up approximately $63,000 resulting in an increase to each town's budget.  Each town pays a portion of the budget, based on their percentage of the overall grand list for the county.
     The County Budget primarily covers the operation and maintenance of the Lamoille County Court House and the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department building, but also includes probate court. This year that includes $60,000 for repairs to the halfmoon windows that are starting to leak. The total budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year is $535,525.  Assistant Judges David Williams and Karen Bradley, along with  County Clerk Anne Conway have been lobbying to have the state take over paying for these types of major renovations to the building. To date that has not happened.
     With the funding based on the grand list, Stowe pays the largest part of the budget at just over 50%.  Their $261,651 bill is an increase of $29,478 over last year.  Morristown's share will be up about $12,591, and Cambridge will be paying $10,639 more.
     Johnson is paying $3,585 more and Wolcott's share will increase by $2,967. Eden is seeing a $2,080 jump in their bill and Waterville's will be up $831.  Elmore will see a $770 increase and Belvidere a $645 increase.
     The County Budget is not voted on by voters; a preliminary budget is prepared by the assistant judges and county clerk and then presented at an annual meeting which is often attended by selectboards from around the county.  Based on feedback at this meeting, a final budget is prepared to be included in towns’ general government budgets.

    by Mickey Smith

     Two proposed power contracts were approved by Morrisville's village voters on Monday, January 30, by a vote of 11-3.
     MW&L asked voters to approve a contract with the Canadian-based Hydro-Quebec and the New Hampshire-based nuclear power plant in Seabrook.
     The Hydro-Quebec contract will replace a contract with that hydroelectric facility that has expired.  The Seabrook contract will be a new one, helping to replace an expired contract with Vermont Yankee.
     Craig Myotte, manager of MW&L, said approving the contracts helps diversify the utility’s power source mix, with power that is available at competitive rates.
     Myotte said he is continuing to look for new ways to create interest in these types of votes, as he hopes in the future more than 14 people will be involved in the decision making process.

     Officials in Morristown are currently investigating the possibility of moving the Town Offices to a new location sometime in the future. The town selectboard and other officials have begun the process of looking into relocating the offices to a portion of what was formerly Arthur’s Department Store. The Town of Morristown leases the space in the Tegu building where the offices are currently located, and that lease runs out in roughly four years.
     “There has always been a desire to keep the town offices in the downtown,” stated Morristown Town Administrator Dan Lindley, “Not only would this possible move accomplish that but it would also have the side benefit of helping to keep the Arthur’s building alive and well.”
     According to Lindley, at this point the town is working with the Vermont Housing Partnership to evaluate whether it would be feasible for the Town Offices to be moved into the portion of Arthur’s that is known as the Ferris Building. The town would likely occupy the basement and first floor of that building, a space of approximately 6,000 square feet, which is over half of the total of 11,000 square feet in commercial space in the Arthur’s building. If the move does occur, the town would not own or operate any of the apartments that are located in the upstairs portion of the building. The space currently leased by the town in the Tegu Building is only slightly smaller, but the space available in both buildings is not the only reason for the possible move.
     “Realistically it makes more sense for towns to own the space where their offices are located,” stated Lindley, “Morristown owning their own space should save the town money in the long run.”
     Lindley also reiterated that the town is only exploring its options at this point. Town officials plan to continue working with the Vermont Housing Partnership to review the project. According to Lindley, one of the next steps would be to establish a projected total cost to the town if the building was purchased. While the Vermont Housing Partnership would be responsible for making the space environmentally safe, the town would be responsible for purchase costs and any construction or changes to the space. An engineer will likely need to be consulted to provide an accurate estimate of what expenses the town would incur in updating the building.
     “We have to make sure that it is a fiscally responsible project for the town to take on,” commented Lindley.
     Lindley further explained that he and other town officials are hoping to have more concrete numbers of what the move and updates to the building could cost by the end of February. And while nothing is certain at this point, if the town were to ask the voters to approve the funds necessary to make the purchase that could potentially happen as early as August in conjunction with the primaries scheduled at that time.

     by Andrew Martin

     Efforts by Jolley Associates to build a new gas station in Jeffersonville, just off Route 15 have come to an end. On Friday, January 20, it was announced that the Jeffersonville Village Board of Trustees had entered into an agreement to purchase the 4.2 acre lot from Jolley Associates for a price of $402,500. The agreement between the parties was reached after months of behind the scenes negotiations and secured with a $5,000 deposit that was comprised of donations from Jeffersonville residents.
     “The significance of this agreement cannot be overstated,” says Tammy Fenton, chair of the five-member Jeffersonville Board of Trustees. “The Jolley development would have devastated our community by disrupting an essential floodplain and forcing floodwaters farther into the Village during periods of significant rain or snowmelt, resulting in damage to property, disruption to local businesses and ultimately the loss of residents and the erosion of our community’s economic fabric.”
     The Jolley Associates had previously applied for the necessary permitting to build their proposed 16-pump gas station and convenience store complex in March of 2011. It was also around that time that the Village of Jeffersonville began developing new flood hazard bylaws in order to prohibit construction in the floodplains near the village.  
    

This is the land Jolley Associates had purchased and planned to build a gas station and convenience store on in Jeffersonville. The Jeffersonville Board of Trustees recently announced  they had entered into an agreement with Jolleys to purchase the 4.2 acre lot for a total of $402,500. In the photo much of the lot is underwater due to flooding in Jeffersonville Village. 
                                                                                      Photo courtesy of the Jeffersonville Board of Trustees

According to Fenton, the current plan is that the funds required to pay for the purchase of the lot will come from grants and fundraising efforts and not through an increase in taxes. The Village of Jeffersonville has roughly eight months to close on the purchase of the lot, and during that time the Trustees and citizens involved will be exploring different fundraising options. Fenton explained that the trustees will be warning a public meeting regarding the topic in the near future, and that the purchase would likely be a major item discussed at the annual village meeting in May.
     “Our goal is to use no taxpayer money, and to fund the purchase through grants and private donations. Did we want a lower price? Certainly,” commented Fenton, “But this is a fair price…ultimately we felt we could not afford not to buy out Jolley…We based our decision to buy on two words: flood mitigation. That’s what this is about. We are not opposed to development – in fact we want development, just not in the floodplains.”
     Fenton went on to explain that another reason the Trustees decided to buy was the fact that they felt they could easily incur $400,000 or more in legal expenses trying to fight the project and come out with nothing to show for their efforts.
     Jolley Associates first purchased the land, which was formerly part of the Bell-Gates Lumber Corp. on Route 15, in May of 2010 for a price of $350,000. The company also spent tens of thousands of dollars in engineering studies, design work, and legal fees over the next year and a half. The price of $402,500 being paid by the  Trustees for the lot will cover some of the expenses incurred by Jolley Associates, but not all.
Once the company’s plan to build a gas station and convenience store became known, it faced a great deal of opposition from residents of the village. The strong opposition and lengthy process involved with acquiring the necessary permits may have been a factor in the decision by Jolley Associates to approach the Trustees in mid-August with an offer to scrap their plans to develop and sell the lot back to the Village. One condition of the offer from the company was that it not be publicized until an agreement was finally reached, a request which would allow the company to continue pursuing its permits for development in case the Trustees decided not to purchase the lot.
     “We wanted to let residents know what was going on, but our hands were tied,” says Fenton. “Now that the ink has dried [on the purchase agreement], we’re able to go public.”
     The Village has set up a separate bank account for contributions from residents meant to help fund the purchase of the lot. The Trustees are also seeking guidance from local land trusts and other organizations about how to proceed. And while the focus for now is on raising the necessary funds to finalize the purchase, there is already some talk of how a Village-owned space could be utilized in the future. Area residents have suggested a number of ideas for how the Jolley parcel might be used, including green space for farmers’ markets, sports fields, community concerts and festivals, and even a skateboard park with features that could divert water during inevitable periods of flooding.
     “In conjunction with other improvements planned for the Village, eventually we’ll be looking at ways the land can be used to bring more people to our great community and support our local economy,” says Fenton. “Ultimately it will be up to the residents to decide. They’re the ones who are making all of this possible.”