On Valentine’s Day, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) held a meeting at Woodland Springs–and broadcast via Zoom–to show residents some love (pun intended!) and make it easier for them to come out and engage with local government.
Brian Chevalier, chair of the Arts Commission, presented an updated version of the mural proposed for Haymarket Common’s blank concrete wall on the upper level. Rather than paint directly on the concrete wall, the plan is to paint the mural on panels that are then affixed to the wall. Saying that the mural would be funded with ARPA funds, he assured the board, “We shouldn’t have to ask for any more money.” The board voted to give the Arts Commission permission to proceed with the plan to produce the mural.
On the topic of the town’s various boards and commissions, Stafford’s CFO, John Lund, spoke about a new policy that provides “consistency and uniformity” when commissions raise funds for specific purposes. The new policy will ensure that money raised or donated for a specific purpose goes to the pot of money it’s intended for. The new policy is well-timed as the Events and Celebrations Committee prepares its Polar Bear Paddy Plunge, which will raise funds for Stafford’s Summer recreation program.
Also on the agenda were appointments to boards and commissions, most of which were approved. However, the board voted to table one appointment to the EMS Commission until the next meeting. The commission is currently discussing the possible consolidation of the Stafford fire departments and ambulance service. The commission is largely made up of people from the fire departments and EMS crews, but Selectman Rick Hartenstein said they hoped to get more perspectives from other people in Stafford on the commission. Essentially, they hope to get people who are not already involved in emergency services to join the commission and balance the board. (To learn more about joining this board or other openings, go here.)
Speaking of local committees, the board discussed questions from the Staffordville Lake Advisory Commission, which was created to investigate the possibility of creating access for canoes and kayaks at Staffordvile Lake. In an effort to identify possible barriers to creating a boat launch, the commission came up with three questions for the selectmen:
Will the town be required to take on additional liability insurance? – The board said it would look into this but did not think it would be necessary.
Will it purchase and maintain kayaks for public use? – No.
Will it assume the cost of the 2024 survey of the lake (which looks for invasive weed species that the lake has been treated for previously)? – Hartenstein said he thought the company that did the treatment was supposed to do this survey for free, so it could be a moot point.
More on paving
First Selectman Bill Morrison also took the opportunity to talk about the paving budget again, saying that the board is still considering the $1,000,000 budget request from the Department of Public Works to address paving issues in town. He said the BOS is looking at holding an information session to get public input on the issue. Is paving important enough to the people of Stafford to justify the cost? Morrison says they want to know if they should move forward with the budget as is, modify the paving budget, or not even consider it. Stay tuned for more information on when that meeting will be held.
However, Morrison also mentioned the state will be paving much of Route 190, from downtown up to Sara Mart, this summer. Hartenstein also pointed out that when the state repaves a road, it also addresses manhole covers and the frames below. This helps keep stormwater out of the Water Pollution Control Facility.
The state is also doing the work on Furnace Avenue. Morrison said that the first two stages of the project have been approved, and now they are waiting on the third stage. And, as long as they were talking about paving, Morrison took a moment to explain the sidewalk project at Levinthal Run. That project is funded by a TRIP Grant, which is a state program, and the grant Stafford received was specifically for addressing pedestrian thruways. Amber Wakley-Whaley, Director of Grants and Community Development, said that many of the grants available for paving are tied up with hazard mitigation efforts. For instance, work on Willington Avenue could be funded by a grant that addresses drainage issues causing water to enter people’s homes. Re-paving would be included in that work, but few grants exist just for run-of-the-mill repaving projects.
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