Revision Work Begins
March 11, 2010, page 4

At its March 8 meeting, the Selectboard re-elected Charles Russell as chair. Discussion about revisions to the budget and what to do next about the LeBoeuf property came late in the evening after a full agenda of other issues. These included hearing a proposal from the Lewis Creek Association to remedy the ice jam/flooding problems near the Quinlan Bridge, which would include removing the berm and lowering the level of Spear Street to allow ice and water to flow across the road when backed up at the bridge. Several people, including Dave Nichols and Robert Mack, spoke against this approach because of driver-safety concerns. Discussions will continue at a later time.

To help with the budget reductions the Selectboard decided to send a letter to all committees and departments requesting their input, with a request for response before the Selectboard’s second meeting in April.

The reasons for the negative response to the LeBoeuf purchase were discussed, including rejection based on the $1.2 million price tag, the lack of an appraisal, concerns about taking money from the Conservation Fund and the lack of need to control the property because of strong planning and zoning regulations. Board members, however, have also heard suggestions since the vote that they should investigate a different approach that would include purchasing a smaller portion of the land for expansion of municipal facilities, and a right-of-way to the Burns property. They agreed to move forward with an appraisal, asking Richard LeBoeuf to share the cost, and to extend the expiration of the contract with LeBoeuf to September 30.