Guilford Central School Leadership Council meeting Agenda
AGENDA
I. Call to order
II. Welcome members and guests
III. School Board Update (5 min)
o Policies: dress code and volunteer/chaperone policy
o Tax rate possibilities
The Region
News from towns around the Brattleboro area
Guilford Park Project Embraces 60-day Race to Raise $20,000 for 2:1 Match
“On Your Mark, Set, Go!” According to the Guilford Park committee, the “starter pistol” has been fired for a 60-day race to raise $20,000 more dollars for the construction of the Guilford Community Park. The committee has been working for over a year on plans to build a park behind the Guilford Store, alongside the Guilford Community Church, in the center of Guilford’s Algiers Village. The park they envision is complete with a green spaces, a pavilion, a walking labyrinth, children’s play area with a slide and swings, a basketball half-court, net and fire pit.
If community members and businesses donate $20,000 by February 28, the park can qualify for a matching $40,000 Vermont Community Development grant, “Better Places Program” which will allow the park committee to have everything on their wish list, explained Dunham Rowley, one of the organizers.
Guilford Unofficial JP Election Results
Town of Guilford: General Election Nov. 8, 2022 — Justice of the Peace Vote Totals. UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. Per Guilford Board of Civil Authority.
R= Republican, D = Democratic, I = Independent. * = one of 10 elected.
*Roberta Bremmer (D) 561;
Patricia Bullock (R) 217;
Connie Burton (R) 263;
Kathy W Clark (R) 207;
Richard Clark (R) 246;
Guilford Voters: Another New JP Ballot
Guilford voters will be receiving a new ballot in the mail for the Justice of the Peace election. The ballot will be mailed to every registered voter in town by Guilford town clerk, Penny Marine, following meetings this past week of the town’s Board of Civil Authority and Selectboard. Voters should be receiving the new ballots within a few days. All previously submitted JP ballots — only the JP ballot, not the main ballot for all other offices — will not be counted and will be destroyed.
This action is a result of an error in the preparation of the main General Election ballot, which failed to include the Justice of the Peace candidates. With the approval of the Vermont Election Division of the Secretary of State’s office, the town clerk initially remediated the omission by sending new ballots to voters who requested them. A number of townspeople, however, questioned the fairness of this system.
Guilford Voters Need to Request Ballot for Justice of Peace
Registered Guilford Voters,
Due to unexpected circumstances, the Justice of the Peace candidates were not submitted in time to be placed on the original ballot for the November 8, 2022, General Election. You will not automatically receive this ballot, as you did with the original ballot. You must request this ballet if you plan to vote in advance. There are a number of contests for JP this time, so it is important to have full voter participation.
Newfane to Vote on Retail Cannabis
Newfane voters can weigh in on whether to allow retail cannabis sales at a Special Town Meeting to be held on September 20 at 6 pm at the Newbrook Fire Station. There will be in-person voting only.
An informational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday August 23 at 6 pm: www.zoom.us/joinameeting ID: 972 2791 1757 Passcode 352680
Rescue Inc Opens VEMSA – Vermont EMS Academy
Brattleboro – Rescue Inc. is proud to announce the opening of VEMSA, Vermont EMS Academy, to bring state-of-the-art emergency medical training to Southern Vermont and the surrounding region. The facility is on Route 30 in Newfane, Vermont, just minutes off I-91. VEMSA will be opening this fall with an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and AHA (American Heart Association) classes and many other courses soon to follow.
“It’s both a natural progression and a dream realized for Rescue Inc,” said Drew Hazelton, Rescue Inc’s chief of operations, “We’ve always wanted to create a place where doctors, nurses, teachers, and first responders can hone and broaden their skills.” VEMSA will focus on the latest in emergency medical techniques for all skill levels. “We will offer CPR courses, for instance, to high school students and teachers while also providing instruction to practicing medical professionals,” said Hazelton.
HatchSpace Seeks Volunteers for a Community Woodworking Project
HatchSpace, Brattleboro’s community woodworking facility, is looking for assistance with a special service project to benefit the Putney Central School. Volunteers will work alongside skilled woodworkers to build classroom worktables. Light carpentry skills appreciated but not necessary. We’re aiming for an August 1st start date, with day and evening work sessions to last for about two weeks. This will be a fun and instructive experience! Please contact Karen at info@hatchspace.org for more information.
Upper West River to be Studied this Summer
The water quality of the upper West River and some of its tributaries is getting closely examined this summer. Fitzgerald Environmental Associates has been hired through the State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a Stream Geomorphic Assessment (SGA), which is a way of assessing, understanding, and evaluating the condition of the river system.
According to Marie Caduto, Vermont DEC Watershed Planner for the southeastern portion of Vermont which includes the West River and its tributaries, “this project has been in the works for several years. The local communities are concerned that the recreational use of Townshend Lake and the West River has been impacted by all the sediment moving down the river since Tropical Storm Irene. What we are looking to study is where this sediment is coming from and to find on-the-ground projects that can be done to help stabilize the erosion.”
Road Construction Projects in the West River Valley
Travelers in the West River Valley might be both pleased and dismayed to know that there will be Route 30 paving and other road projects going on soon. Expect some delays and alternative routes in the near future.
The big plan is to re-surface VT Rt. 30 in Brattleboro, Dummerston and Newfane. You may have seen people out taking measurements last year.:
“Project Location: Beginning on VT Route 30 in the Town of Brattleboro, at mile marker 0.326 (just north of the intersection of VT-30 and Cedar St.) and extending north for 9.948 miles and ending at mile marker 1.597 in Newfane (just past the intersection of VT-30 and Hemlock Hill Rd).
Newfane 2022 Town Election Results
VOTE TOTALS 2022
Town Meeting Australian Ballot Results
* shows winner
All Articles passed
Town Moderator
Deborah Luskin: 274*
Write-ins: 6
Blank: 284
Guilford Pre-Town Tonight Has Room for All
Contrary to earlier info, Guilford Pre-Town Meeting (tonight, Thursday, 7:00 pm) will be able to accommodate up to 500 participants. BCTV, which is managing the Zoom (and also providing live coverage on the station) has changed their zoom setting to ensure that everyone can zoom in. Info on joining by zoom, by phone, or watching on BCTV on cable or live-stream, or watching on YouTube — all that info is on the Town website guilford vt.net
Newfane Special Town Meeting Minutes – Gravel Pit Purchase
Here are the official minutes from the special town meeting in Newfane on December 7 for the purpose of buying a sand and gravel pit. It passed, with some minor friendly amendments.
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December 7, 2021 Newfane Special Town Meeting Minutes
Eagle Claw Air-to-Air Combat Exercises Over Southern VT Through June
Windham County is again being used as a temporary military operations area, with loud jets buzzing the area for about six hours a day. The 104th Fighter Wing of Westfield, MA is in training.
Does Keene still have their tank? Maybe we could borrow it for defensive actions, if required, against aerial attack.
Community Center in Guilford Announces Matching Challenge
Broad Brook Community Center (BBCC) in Guilford has announced a winter fund drive to support the major phase of renovations this spring. Thanks to a matching gift challenge, all donations received by January 31, 2021, will be doubled.
The BBCC purchased the 1896 building from Broad Brook Grange three years ago, began raising funds for a complete renovation, and completed the first phase of work in 2018. The improvements particularly addressed accessibility and safety, and included a new entry ramp, ADA-compliant restrooms, and a fire escape.
Massachusetts Air National Guard Over Southern Vermont
Wondering about the planes buzzing southern Vermont? We asked the VT Air National Guard about it and they weren’t sure where the planes were from at first. After a bit more research, they told us the planes were F-15’s from Massachusetts, and directed us to a page about what they are doing:
SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
Chugs Temporary Military Operations Area (MOA), Windham, VT
Windham Region Broadband Project Information and Survey
The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) and its partners, ValleyNet and Rural Innovation Strategies Inc. (RISI) were awarded a Broadband Innovation Grant (BIG) from the state’s Department of Public Service in late December 2019. The resulting Windham Region Broadband Project was informed by the hard work of many town broadband committees and other volunteer efforts, as well as education and outreach organized by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation.
WRC understands the importance of high-quality, high-speed and reliable internet access to our communities for many reasons – connecting students with teachers and online education resources, connecting patients with medical providers, connecting rural businesses with clients and employers with employees, as well as for entertainment and news. Broadband can provide that level of service to Windham Region communities that are currently unserved and underserved.
Guilford Pre-Town Meeting Feb. 13
Broad Brook Grange will hold its annual Pre-Town Meeting on Thursday, February 13, 7:00 pm at the Broad Brook Community Center.
This is the only opportunity for voters to hear details of the articles which will be presented at Town Meeting, and to meet and discuss issues with the selectboard in advance of Town Meeting.
Run for Town Office in Guilford
The Guilford Board of Civil Authority reminds all Guilford legal residents that you are both eligible and encouraged to run for a Town position, via the Australian Ballot at Town Meeting. Here’s the catch: To be on the ballot, you have just 2 weeks to file a petition. It’s not too hard: Go to the Town Office (Mon-Thurs) and sign up. Get a petition for the office you’d like to seek, and get 18 signatures of registered voters, turn it in by the close of the day on Monday, Jan. 27, and you’re a candidate!
Here are the offices which will be elected on the ballot: Town Clerk, 3-year term; Treasurer, 3 years; Selectboard: One 3-year term, one 2-year, and the remaining year on an unexpired term; Lister, 3-year; Auditor, 3-year, and Town agent, 1-year.
Putney Bridge Deck Replacement Public Meeting
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will hold a public information meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Putney Fire Station, 21 Carl Snyder Drive, Putney. The purpose is to discuss a project that will replace the deck of the US Route 5 bridge in Putney Center at the intersection of Kimball Hill Road. Construction will start in Spring 2020.
The existing structure is a single span cast-in-place deck on rolled beams constructed in 1954. The bridge is owned and maintained by the State of Vermont. VTrans bridge inspectors have observed areas of heavy saturation, cracking, and evidence of significant concrete deterioration. VTrans engineers determined that the most cost effective and viable approach to address deterioration of the aging bridge deck is to replace it.
