Emmalee Cherington

The meeting commenced with a delay due to members inspecting the town's new fire truck, a recent significant purchase. Key discussions included the approval of the agenda, which involved deleting an item regarding the Everrolling merger discussion. The consent agenda was approved, with one member abstaining from the minutes approval. The Board discussed updates on the e-scooter pilot projects, noting delays in securing a local manager. They also noted the posting of the town audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. A significant portion of the meeting addressed an increase in pricing for a budgeted dump and plow truck purchase, which, despite the surcharge, kept the total cost under budget. Furthermore, the Board discussed and authorized a six-year agreement with the Town of Ripton to formalize and alternate winter road maintenance responsibilities for sections of Dragon Brook Road and North Branch Road, aiming for more equitable coverage. The Board also addressed resignations from two appointed positions: Ann Taylor from the DRB (requiring a new advertisement for candidates to complete her term) and Carl Robinson from the Parks and Recreation Committee. The Board moved to appoint Melissa Ken to complete Carl Robinson's term on the Parks and Recreation Committee. Finally, the Board discussed streamlining their appointment process, including tracking meeting attendance for reappointment considerations and implementing candidate interviews for committee positions to gauge interest and commitment levels.

The event featured a panel discussion on drug policy, moderated by Dave Silman. Panelist Ian Sullivan, State's Attorney for Rutland County, discussed the pressing need for new solutions to the opiate crisis, detailing the structure and function of Rutland County's Treatment Court as a jail diversion program for high-risk, high-need individuals. He contrasted the traditional criminal justice system flow with the treatment court track, emphasizing contingent adjudication, incentives, sanctions, and therapeutic adjustments as core components. Panelist Danielle Wallace, Executive Director of the Turning Point Center, shared her background in recovery and restorative justice. Panelist David Mickenberg, an advocate for drug policy reform since 1997, discussed his work on campaigns involving drug decriminalization, sex work legislation, and cannabis regulation.

The meeting agenda was amended to include several items related to town projects, specifically Change Order Number Three for the police department reuse project and the replacement of a sewer manhole on Main Street. Citizen comments dominated the discussion, focusing primarily on the potential public health risks associated with Middlebury College bringing thousands of students back to town amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Concerns centered on the college's plan being based on unrealistic assumptions regarding student behavior and the potential strain on local medical facilities. Several speakers urged the Select Board to persuade the college to switch to remote learning. Later in the meeting, the board approved license applications for Bowl Robinson Incorporated doing business as Swift House, including first and third class liquor licenses and an outside consumption permit.

The meeting commenced with the call to order at 7:00 p.m. A procedural change was discussed and adopted regarding the meeting pace. The primary business involved an application by Tyler Manik for a conditional use review to construct a single-family house with an accessory dwelling unit on parcel 9.058 in the forest district. There were discussions and amendments concerning the terminology used in the motion related to the accessory dwelling unit. The board ultimately approved the conditional use request as amended, following consideration of testimony from previous hearings and a site visit.

The meeting included discussions regarding the approval of previous minutes, with minor modifications noted for names and sentence completion. The board approved the payment of bills, noting a significant amount related to student transportation. Student representative updates covered the closing of Quarter Two, student council establishing a stakeholder group for diverse perspectives, and class load status. A presentation was provided on the Fiscal Year 2025 proposed budget for the Hanford Career Center, detailing the impact of salary, benefits, and debt service from facility renovations. The presenter emphasized the critical need for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Vermont due to trade shortages and high student graduation/college enrollment rates associated with CTE participation. Budget challenges included rising healthcare premiums and a funding cliff due to one-time fund balance usage in the prior fiscal year. The discussion also addressed barriers to student participation, primarily scheduling conflicts and the necessity of meeting English credit requirements, prompting a conversation about potential pathways for offering English credit at the center.