WILMINGTON — A consultant for the town has identified four sites for possible co-location of the police and fire departments, but officials aren't set on a course of action.
The Selectboard on Feb. 19 heard from representatives of Middlebury-based Bread Loaf Corporation on the firm's feasibility study for a possible move of one or both public safety departments.
According to the consultants, as cited in a published report, the sites under review are the Green Mountain Power building on Haystack Road, the former WW Building Supply site on West Main Street, the former Town Garage on Beaver Street, and a Route 100 South site near Deerfield Valley Health Center.
Bread Loaf specializes in architecture, construction management, and sustainable design. The feasibility study and pending work on the project are funded by a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Grant.
According to draft meeting minutes, Bread Loaf Architecture Operations Manager Chris Huston and Project Architect Jan Becker based their findings on site visits and meetings with Fire Chief Ken March and Police Chief Joe Szarejko, and included budgets for variations of the move.
Minutes note that discussion included concerns from the fire department that its response time not be delayed; input from the police department such that it was not concerned with any of the proposed sites in terms of its ability to respond promptly to calls; and an understanding that the high school location is dropped from consideration as it would be difficult to separate public safety from other proposed uses of the building.
Next steps, say the minutes: the town manager and Bread Loaf will continue to narrow down and prioritize candidate sites.
“It may turn out that the better option would be to have separate departments at separate locations. The grant still has money to continue working with Bread Loaf,” read the meeting minutes.
Board approves $14,000 local option tax fund request for recycling
Town Manager Scott Murphy told the Selectboard on Feb. 19 that he plans to prepare an application form for future 1 percent local option tax fund requests and to bring those requests to the board on a quarterly basis as written in their procedure.
That said, Murphy brought forward the following requests on behalf of residents, and votes were taken:
• Request of $14,000 from the Wilmington Works Design Committee for downtown trash receptacles. Draft meeting minutes say committee members Susan Lawrence, Sheila Osler, and Wendy Woods-Hartwell explained their request and answered questions.
The committee members are paraphrased as saying that, as universal recycling will be required shortly, they propose to purchase six heavy-duty double containers, and have them attached to cement pads, to accommodate recycling downtown - ideally by summer.
The town will pay for collection of trash and recyclables.
The motion passed. Diane Chapman moved the request, Jacob White seconded, and Margaret Streeter opposed. Susan Haughwout was absent.
By way of background, Vermont's universal recycling Act 148 is the new solid waste legislation, approved unanimously, that focuses on recyclables and organics. It is intended to provide convenience and choices for solid waste generators, including individuals, and to lead to more consistent services throughout the state.
• Request of $1,550 for two events to be held at Memorial Hall from Alan Greenspan of the Memorial Hall Board: Four events are planned, but one has already been scheduled from their budget - which is already overspent, say draft meeting minutes - and one is to be sponsored.
The board's consensus was that this request is better suited for the Events Fund, which requires a 50 percent match. The board asked Murphy to propose that alternative to the Memorial Hall Board.
Hermitage Club fire agreement in flux
Bob Rubin of Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain and Fire Chief Ken March discussed proposed changes to the club's fire coverage agreement at the Feb. 19 Selectboard meeting.
New hotel construction is expected to begin in November and last 18 months. The town manager and March will move forward in modifying the current agreement, draft meeting minutes note.
Tonon is DRB alternate
By an unanimous vote, the Selectboard appointed Aldrich Road resident Paul Tonon to the Development Review Board (DRB) as an alternate for one year on an as-needed basis.
In January, there was concern that the DRB could be down to four members with no alternates, threatening its ability to hold meetings.
DVTA wastewater allocation permit renewal sails through
In their capacity as Sewer Commission, members of the Selectboard unanimously approved a renewal of he expired Deerfield Valley Transit Association's Wastewater Allocation Permit without any fee, according to draft meeting minutes.
Road closure request tabled
The Selectboard tabled a request to close a portion of South Main Street for Sunday, May 25, for the Memorial Day Fiddlehead Festival. Organizers say the event will be similar to the Blueberry Festival block party.
The request was tabled until the next meeting to give the fire and police chiefs time to comment.