DUMMERSTON — Most of the Dummerston Selectboard's first meeting with its newest member, Jerilyn Wilson, on March 18 was spent convened as trustees to a 37-acre parcel of town land called the Prospect Hill Pasture.
After three minutes of the meeting, the Selectboard reconvened as Prospect Hill Trustees to discuss several matters relating to this land located just north of Dummerston Center.
Mary Lou Schmidt, a long-time trustee of Prospect Hill, brought to the meeting several matters requiring the board's attention, the most pressing of which was the issue of right-of-way.
Currently, there is no way of accessing the land, which is intended for public recreational use, without either trespassing on the land of Margaret Everett or Debbie Hickens.
Schmidt said that the Dummerston Conservation Commission would like to put money into removing invasive species that cover about one-third of the land, but that until there is a safe, legal, and passable route into Prospect Hill Pasture, there's little point in spending that money.
Schmidt also presented the names of three new trustees to fill vacant seats - Cheryl Wilfong, Ed Anthes, and Betsy Whittaker. They will join Schmidt, Elizabeth Catlin, and the five members of the Selectboard on April 15 as a full board of trustees to discuss in further detail plans for Prospect Hill Pasture.
After reconvening as a Selectboard, Highway Foreman Lee Chamberlain presented the highway report and a number of bids for a new town truck. These bids will go into consideration.
In other town news, there will be a special Town Meeting on April 15 to appoint formally the town treasurer as collector of taxes.
Selectboard Chair Zeke Goodband promised the meeting would be brief, but that it was important for people to attend.
The Selectboard will also meet on April 8 for a “goals session.” Its next regular meeting will be on April 1.