By Michelle Fountain, Standard Correspondent
Village improvement projects led much of the discussion at this week’s Trustees meeting ranging from the completion of the Safe Routes to School grant near Woodstock Elementary School to proposed work at the new East End Park.
The meeting began with a brief public hearing regarding a change to the Village Zoning Regulation to remove the phrase “and involving not more than one employee” from the definition of Bed and Breakfast. The trustees approved the change without comment.
“The Safe Routes to School project is complete. I think it was a fantastic project,” Municipal Manager Phil Swanson reported about the new sidewalks and traffic calming measures around Woodstock Elementary School.
“They are nice improvements,” Trustee Cary Agin said noting that it is easier to drop kids off at school now.
Swanson also noted that construction plans for replacement of the Post Office Bridge are on track. It will be closed for three weeks in
April in order to complete the construction.
Work on the Bentley’s building will be completed in October and will require the use of the sidewalk to access the building. A plywood walkway will be constructed to allow pedestrians to walk through although use of several parking spaces as a walkway will be considered, if necessary.
“The new snow dump is ready for operation this winter,” Swanson added. This will allow for the further development of the East End Park, since snow will no longer be dumped in that area.
Landscape architect Jack Rossi gave an overview of the park design, which will be completed in three phases. It will include an amphitheater with a terraced bank and view out to Billings Farm, a possible fire pit, a path along the riparian buffer, park and ride and handicapped parking, an extension of the stone wall, an extensive picnic area, a pergola for shade, additional picnic tables, a slide for children, and possibly some miniature apple trees on the bank.
Rossi called it a “passive recreation area” noting there is also access to the river for canoes and a kiosk will be added that will likely give the history of the area as well as current view information.
Fundraising is beginning to complete the project with the next phase, (which should be completed in 18 months), estimated to be $75,000-$100,000. Rossi noted the entire project should be completed in three-five years.
Trustees agreed to move a planned electric car charging station out of the river viewscape, placing it closer to the Route 4 entrance of the park instead at a request from Sustainable Woodstock.
“We would charge $1.50 an hour at a parking meter while people are charging their car,” Swanson said.
Village tree maintenance was brought up as a concern by Tree Warden Don Wheeler. “We’ve had declining elm trees over the past 10 years. We need more funding either through the budget or the 1-percent option tax…to do general tree care that has been neglected over the last several years.”
Trustees approved Wheeler seeking a grant through the Economic Development Commission to remove and replace dying trees and noted they will look to find a way
to maintain trees in their regular budget.
One way they could get help is through a donation of just over $6,000 for village beautification from the children of former resident Clayton Adams. His will had left a bequest of $5,000, the interest of which was to be used to maintain village trees. Trustees turned down the bequest as maintenance costs would exceed the generated income so the children made the unrestricted donation instead.
Police Chief Robbie Blish noted that his department is following up on a lead on the suspect in a series of thefts from unlocked cars. “In the mean time I am asking people to lock their cars,” he said. He also noted that the cost for credit card usage is more than being offset by the fees received for village parking meters.“I don’t think it is a huge impact on revenue but it does have some impact.”
In other business, the Trustees approved $500 to defray Halloween candy costs in the area streets roped off for trick-or-treating. Elizabeth Daniels was appointed to the Village Development Review Board. Also, Police Chief Blish will host the next “Coffee with the Chief” on Friday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 a.m. at Soulfully Good Café.
This article first appeared in the September 14, 2017 edition of the Vermont Standard.