Maple Corner Net

Date: May 20th 2008

The Maple Corner Net Newsletter is now being published 2 times a month, usually on the 2nd and 16th, depending on how much info I get, and how busy I am. You can easily contact me with news, comments, criticism, or compliments, by just replying to this email. This Newsletter now has 443 subcribers.
Please Note: If you change your email adress, you will need to re-subscribe. You can do this directly at www.maplecorner.net. I erase all undeliverable addresses after each issue. To help prevent spam filters from blocking delivery, it is a good idea to enter my sending address in your email whitelist, if you have such a thing.

To search & read archives of past newsletters, see:
http://www.songseek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?f=list&l=maplecor or www.maplecorner.net

Address Change: I am eliminating some of my email addresses, including steveg@songseek.com , which Ihave used for 7 years, and some of you may have in your address books. To find out my new email, go to www.songseek.com and click on the "contact me by email" link. There will be a form there which you can use to email me. I will reply with a working email. - Steve Gallagher

As of right now the Newsletter is being sent from steve@maplecorner.net , which is working, but may be changed in the future.

Contents:

• Does your son want to start Lacrosse?
• Mother's helper wanted
• Tres Leches Cake Recipe
• David Hinton Stonework
• Building Efficiency & Long Range Planning topic for 5/19 Calais School Board meeting
• Free Piano
• Maple Corner Community Center Spring/ Summer Potluck Schedule!
• Calais School Board meeting agenda
• My Notes & Occasional Comments: Calais Selectboard meeting, Monday, May 12,2008, by Peter Harvey
• Home Cooking Recipe Swap #3, parsnips

• Readings Highlight the Plight of Family Farmers Struggling with Regulatory Barrier

• Anyone have a used canoe for sale?

• For rent: studio apartment in Maple Corner
• Dot Naylor’s Unadulterated Notes
• Rabbit Run Garden Seedling Sale

 

Reminders and Updates:

• Bookstore for Sale

 

• Important Calais Web Links
  
  
• Community Quote of the Week
  

 

 

 

 

 

I am looking for someone to play with my very active 4 year old girl at my home in the afternoons a day or two a week while I am home. This would be a great starter babysitting job for a young teenager who likes little kids, has a lot of energy and likes to play!  Please contact Chauntelle at chauntelleeckhaus@mac.com or 456-1230.

 

 

 

Dear Steve,

Some of you asked for the recipe for the cake Mack brought to the
Cinco de Mayo Potluck.  Ira got the recipe from Beth Stafford when
they were both teen naturalists going to Costa Rica with North Branch
Nature Center.  Here it is.


How to make.......TRES LECHES CAKE!!!!


Cake:

1 ½ C. cake flour
1 t. baking powder
1C. granulated sugar
½ C. (1 stick) butter, soft
5 large eggs
½ t. vanilla
1/3 C. milk

Milk Syrup:

1C. evaporated milk
1C. sweetened condensed milk
1C. whole milk
1T. light rum or favorite liquor (I omit)

Cream topping:

1C. heavy cream
1 t. sugar
½ t. vanilla


To make cake:

Sift flour and baking powder.  Cream sugar and butter in large bowl
until well creamed.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat until foamy.  With
rubber spatula, gently fold in dry ingredients, alternating with milk.
  Whip gently until smooth.  Pour batter into lightly greased 7x11x2”
pan/dish or 9” round cake pan.  Bake on middle rack of oven at 350º
for 30 minutes, or until done.  Cool on rack, then invert onto plate.
  Pierce with fork in many places, allow to cool completely.

To make (low-fat ;-) topping:

Whisk milks and rum in medium bowl.  Pour over cake.  Refrigerate the
whole lot for at least three hours.  Mix cream topping and dollop on
each piece when it is served.  ENJOY!!!!!!!

-Ira Gardner-Morse
August 1, 2002


Sincerely yours,

Mack Gardner-Morse   E-Mail: Mack.Gardner-Morse@uvm.edu
University of Vermont   Telephone: 802-656-4244
Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
401C Stafford Hall
95 Carrigan Drive
Burlington, VT 05405-0084 USA   Fax: 802-656-4247

 

 

 

David Hinton is building stone walls, porches, walkways, etc. again 
this year. Anyone interested can call at 456-8996.

 

 

On Monday, May 19th, 6:15 pm, the Calais school board will hold their monthly meeting in the school library. The energy efficiency and long-range capital improvement plans for the building are the focus for this month's meeting. Under the advice of several local experts, the Calais Elementary School Board contracted a building envelope and mechanical systems audit over a year ago. The results from this audit have guided much of the work that was done on our aging school building over the past year. The meeting will provide an opportunity to look back at those audit reports & the work done, assess other current needs (such as our roof!!) and prioritize next steps. We encourage all, but especially those with experience in creating an optimally functioning building, to attend. Your insight is appreciated!

For copies of the audit report and details on completed steps prior to the meeting, please contact Kaiya Korb at this email or 454 -7777, ext. 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Calais School  Board Meeting
 Monday May 19   6:15 pm     CES Library
(please note change from usual meeting date)


1. 6:15- 7:00 (45 minutes)  Energy Efficiency/ Facilities Discussion
- Review recommendations/ input gathered over the past year
- Review work completed in identified areas
- Identify all work yet to be completed, prioritize (reference capital improvement plan)
- Identify any details relevant to specific projects

2. 7- 7:05 (5 minutes) Audience and Written Communication: Discussion

3. 7:05 – 7:10 (5 minutes) Approval of the April minutes: Consent

4. 7:10 – 7:20 (10 minutes) Policy: Action
- D12 Harassment of Employees (ready for adoption)
- F7: Drugs & Alcohol (ready for adoption)
- F20: Harassment of Students (ready for adoption)
- H12 Vehicular Idling (ready for adoption)


REPORTS TO THE BOARD
5. 7:20 – 7:25   (5 minutes)  Monthly Financial Report: Informational

6. 7:25  – 7:30 (5 minutes) Principal’s Report: Informational 

7. 7:30 – 7:35 (5 minutes) Executive Committee: Informational

8. 7:35- 7:50  (15 minutes) Executive Session
Personnel (non-negotiated salaries, hiring)

9. 7:50 – 7:55 (5 minutes) Hiring: Action
- Kindergarten teacher
- Custodian (notification)

10. 7:55- 8:00 (5 minutes) Board Orders: Action

 

 

MY NOTES & OCCASIONAL COMMENTS: Calais Selectboard meeting, Monday, May 12, 08, members present (clockwise: Paul Hannan (chair), Anne Winchester, Denise Wheeler, Cy Lamberton and John Brabant. Rose Pelchuck, the Board's paid meeting secretary, took the official minutes. There were 5 people in the audience tonight: Dot Naylor, Peg Bowen, Bill Powell, David Klein, and myself.

MINUTES: The Board approved the minutes of April 28, 08 with one correction by John, referencing the discussion about Gates Salvage metal recycling bin at the last meeting, that the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District contract gives the CVSWMD complete control over the collection site and that the Town is not allowed to allow to place competing recycling/waste businesses on Town property. The vote was 3-0-2 (with Paul & Anne abstaining because they were absent at that meeting.

WEC WORK IN TOWN RIGHT-OF-WAY: The WEC is moving lines on existing poles next to Collar Hill Rd. Referring to Goal 3 in the Town Plan, Anne reminded the Board that the Calais Town Plan discourages the moving of lines to the road side from the fields. That led to a short discussion that culminated in several members of the Board suggesting that the Planning Commission look at related state statutes while they are re-writing the Town Plan. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the WEC application.

Background: Anne and I were on the Planning Commission when Goal 3 was  added to the Town Plan because of the concern over the announced WEC policy goal to move the lines from the fields to the road sides for service convenience. The first electric lines ran across fields from barn to barn. Barns were often electrified before houses. The Planning Commission discussed the moving of the lines to the road side with the WEC for several years. The result was "Goal 3: Encourage preservation of scenic roads and their historic and aesthetic qualities. …encourage the preservation of tree canopies and the planting of trees along appropriate stretches of town roads…" At the Aug. 28, 06 meeting WEC representative Dan Weston told the Board that although the cut on the southerly side Adamant Rd. had created an "airport effect," the town really has no control over what WEC could do within the Town right-of-way because State Law trumps the Towns regulations. He told the Board that WEC only came to the town to ask permission to park vehicles on the roadway while doing their work. All these years the Board had thought they were approving work done within the right of way. The room was stunned.

CURB CUT: The Board tabled a curb cut application from Tim Howe after reviewing the application and hearing from two neighbors. The Board had two problems with the application: where the curb cut was and the claimed "farm" status of the curb cut.  Peg Bowen gave the Board a copy of an agreement between Tim Howe and Gene Bowen, moving the curb cut further north, beyond the Bowen's driveway. She showed the Board a scale map with photographs and told the Board that they had agreed to the change after Tim's application had been filed. David Klein, also an abutting resident, questioned the use of what he described as wetland. The Board told Mr. Klein that they would only look at the curb cut,  and that he should speak to the Zoning Administrator about his concern. Zoning Administrator Dot Naylor, who was sitting in front of him, began a short conversation with him. Tim first applied for a curb cut at the June 26, 06 meeting. John will contact Tim about clarifying the application.

SOLID WASTE PLANNING: Paul had asked Bill to come to tonight's meeting to update the Board. Bill told the Board that the CVSWMD is moving towards a "stretch goal" of "Zero Waste." He would like to see that goal added to the Town Plan, currently being re-written by the Planning Commission. He explained Zero Waste as removing organics and other recyclables from the waste stream going into the landfills. Bill, an employee of WEC, explained that the WEC Coventry Landfill Methane Gas Generation Station is not a gasification (incineration) process. The difference is that WEC is only using the methane that is a naturally produced byproduct of the land fill that had previously been flamed off. Recently there has been a lot in the news about how valuable recyclables have become on the market.

Bill also asked if there was any progress in looking for a more suitable site. John told the Board that discussions with the State about the small unused and almost forgotten State owned gravel pit next to the Town Garage have slowed down. John told the Board that it appears to have usable gravel in it that the State may want to take advantage of. The Board told Bill that they did not expect anything to move on that in the next few years and asked that the CVSWMD move ahead with the contracted improvements on the current site. The Board signed a 5 year contract with CVSWMD last fall. Dot Naylor noted that there is a free metal recycling bin in Worcester.

REVIEW OF TOWN & HIGHWAY EXPENDITURES TO DATE: The Board reviewed Town Treasure Eva Morse's 3rd quarterly report to them. The Town operates on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year. Paul noted that the $8,000 received from FEMA after last summers storm is not included in the report and that the Town has not yet received the $3,000 payment from Chad Scribner. There were no questions about the report.

CAPITAL BUDGET REPORT: This item has been passed over on the agenda for many meetings and Anne finally got her chance to report on a work shop she attended some time ago. When she first got on the Board a year ago she had asked why the Town did not have a capital spending plan. Handing out a packet from Barre Town as an example, she showed the Board how Barre Town phased it in over several years, beginning with gravel roads, then adding paved roads and public buildings. (Our Road Commissioner, Don Singleton, already has a less formal road rebuilding plan, on 4 year cycle.) The Board asked Cy & Anne to work with Eva to create a Debt Service & Equipment Payment Schedule for the Board members to more easily keep track of those payments.

VARIOUS BRIEF UPDATES:

CURTIS POND DAM: John had nothing new to report at this time. Paul asked him to update with Morris Root to keep it moving.

BATTEN ROAD BILL: John reported that he had talked with Steve Duke, who told him, "send me the bill & I'll pay it." John said that he will keep tabs on that bill payment.

LIGHTENING RIDGE / RT 14 INTERSECTION: Anne reported that she, Cy, Don Singleton, and Alfred Larrabee had met at the site with Ernie Englehardt from VTrans. Ernie had suggested "stop lines," moving the intersection three feet north, and signage for Lightening Ridge Rd. (When people enter onto Rt. 14 too far to the south, they can not see cars down in the depression coming from the north.) For Max Grey Rd. he suggested talking with the neighbor in the northeast corner about making improvements to increase visibility, paving the gravel entrance of Max Grey Rd. to increase traction, and painting a stop bar on Max Gray Rd. He said that the state would be able to help with some of the work.

CVRPC HIGH RISK ROAD LOCATIONS: The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission had sent out a form asking for input from each town. The due date is past, but upon review of it the Board decided it was accurate.

OTHER BUSINESS:

MEMORIAL  DAY MEETING DATE: The Board decided to meet on memorial Day, as scheduled.

LETTER ABOUT SCHOOL GENERATOR BILLS: The Town installed an emergency generator at the school with Homeland Security funds. The school is the Town Emergency Shelter Site. Last year it signed an agreement with the school to have the school pay for the LP gas, because it runs off the same tank that the school uses for the kitchen stoves, and have the school pay for one maintenance service yearly. The Board later decided to have it serviced twice yearly. One of those services resulted in a bill for parts. Paul will phone Principle Kaiya Korb to discuss the difference. The school is able to use the generator to keep school in session when it loses power.

LETTER FROM RURAL PROTECTION TASK FORCE: Paul read a letter, with no return address or contact phone number, to the Board notifying them of a meeting about a rate increase, from $52,000 to $132,000. Rose was able to tell the Board that the letter is about the Montpelier Police Department raising the rates it charges to Capital West Dispatch, which handles local 911 emergency calls. She explained that all 911 calls go to Burlington, then are re-routed back to Capital West Dispatch which is located in the Montpelier Police Station. It is expected that the $132,000 covers all the towns serviced by Capital West. Several members of the Board said they would try to get to that meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Board met in executive session for 20 minutes. Upon reconvening the meeting, Paul told the audience that they had talked about writing a letter to the Environmental Court re-stating the Town's interests as recorded in the official minutes of the Oct. 15, 07 where Paul Hannan said: "We do support the DRB decision; we want to be assured some judge will particularly look at the voids in the application, missing plans, voids in information and [that] our concerns are heard.  Our intent is to make sure the voids are filled before any permit is issued."

It had come out at tonight's meeting that Road Commissioner Don Singleton and other nearby town road commissioners have written letters of support to the Environmental Court saying that granting a permit to expand the gravel pit would be cost beneficial to a number of close towns.

DRB MEMBER REQUEST: Anne told the Board that Bob Schaffer, the newest appointee to the DRB, had talked with her about the Selectboard following some DRB cases more closely and giving input about some cases. A couple of Board members said they felt "ambivalent" getting involved in the DRB process. Anne will talk with Bob Schaffer again and may invite him to come to the Board to explain his idea.

The Board adjourned at 9:45. The Board will be meeting at the Calais Town Hall for the summer. The next scheduled meeting of the Board will be 7:00 PM, Monday, June 26, 2008. Agendas are posted at the Calais Town Clerk's Office, the 3 stores in town, and the East Calais Post Office. Only items posted on the agenda are voted on at any meeting. Those wishing to bring items before the Board should contact Chairman Paul Hannan at 223-5528. Agenda items for the next meeting need to be received by 6 PM, the Wednesday before that meeting.

 

 

 

 

Home Cooking Recipe Swap #3, parsnips

FREE PARSNIP SEEDS: To create more interest in growing an old fashion vegetable that is the first to come of the garden in the spring, I ordered extra seeds this winter. Steve Owens will have them at the Maple Corner Farmers Market across the road from the Maple Corner Store Saturday morning. Since it is crop that you leave in the ground all winter, there is still plenty of time to plant it. Moist earth is the most critical growing factor. If it doesn't rain, I water mine every other evening until they are a few inches high.

From the FEDCO catalog - "Parsnips - One of the greatest for grating and stuffing into egg rolls, strudels and veggie pies. A parsnip pie is an amazing treat. Jean Ann Pollard has a good recipe in The Simply Grande Gardening Cookbook. Harvest some parsnips after frost for late fall delights. The remainder will taste even sweeter in the spring after over wintering [in the garden]. Harris Model (120 days) Sweet-flavored smooth tapered roots average 10". For better performance, prepare raised beds, especially in heavy soils."

We plant ours ½" deep, in 4" rows (thinned to 3-4") in wide raised beds as per Ed Smith's (Cabot) instructions in his book The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, cover in the fall to keep the deer from eating the tops, and dig them up in the spring as soon as the ground thaws, our first vegetable out of the garden. I have found the difference between a good crop and no crop is watering them every other day until they get a good start. Germination: 12 to 14 days.

Last week someone told me the simplest way to cook parsnips was to boil or steam scrubbed, sliced parsnips until they are fork tender (abt 10 or 15 minutes), then mash them like potatoes or rutabagas. Stir in butter, salt, and pepper. I tried it. They tasted great! And cooked, mashed parsnips freeze well. Easy to thaw and warm up for a quick supper vegetable dish.

 

 

 

Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008
Subject: Readings Highlight the Plight of Family Farmers Struggling with Regulatory Barriers

Readings Highlight the Plight of Family Farmers Struggling with Regulatory Barriers

Rural Vermont is partnering with the Bee's Knees, Park Squeeze, and Flack Family Farm to host a series of dramatic readings from Joel Salatin’s book Everything I Want to Do is Illegal. Farmers from around Vermont will read chosen excerpts highlighting the bureaucratic nightmares they have faced as promoters and participants of community-scale agriculture. Following the readings, folks will hear about Rural Vermont’s success with breaking down nonsensical regulatory barriers standing between Vermont’s farmers and consumers, and participate in a short discussion.

This series of three events will be held on Tuesday May 27 from 5:30 – 7 pm at the Bee’s Knees on Main Street in Morrisville, Wednesday May 28 from 7 – 8:30 pm at the Park Squeeze on Main Street in Vergennes, and Thursday May 29 from 7 - 8:30 pm at the Raw Milk Theater on Flack Family Farm on Pumpkin Village Road in Fairfield.

Some of the featured farmer readers will include Tom Stearns, owner of High Mowing Seeds in Wolcott; Geoff Naylor of Naylor Family Farm in Johnson; John Clark of Applecheek Farm in Hyde Park; Bambi Freeman of Sterling Branch Farm in Stowe; Mike Eastman of Eastman Farm in Addison; and Doug Flack of Flack Family Farm and Jonathan Falby of Symphony Farm, both of Fairfield.

In Everything I Want to do is Illegal, Salatin addresses the illogic behind so many of the regulatory barriers that farmers face on the community-scale level by sharing his experiences over the years dealing with these bureaucracies first hand. It is his belief that by choosing to promote mass production of food, the government is slowly pushing out small-scale local farms through senseless zoning, taxing, and inspecting. Salatin’s proposed solution to the problem is simple - "allow freedom for traditional food growing and purchasing choices."

Rural Vermont recently hosted similar readings at the Langdon Street Café in Montpelier, which was a huge success and lots of fun! So, come out to any or all of these FREE events, enjoy dinner at the Bee’s Knees or Park Squeeze while you are there, and hear and learn from your local farmers! Also, take this chance to pick up a copy of Salatin’s book, part of the proceeds benefiting Rural Vermont. A special thanks to the Bee’s Knees, Park Squeeze, and Flack Family Farm for hosting this entertaining and educational series of events!

Rural Vermont is a nonprofit advocacy group founded by farmers in 1985 that advocates, activates, and educates for living soils, thriving farms, and healthy communities. For more information or directions, contact Rural Vermont at 223-7222 or visit www.ruralvermont.org.


__________________________
Shelby Hammond
Organizer
Rural Vermont
15 Barre St., Suite 2
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 223-7222
www.ruralvermont.org

 

 

Anyone have a used canoe for sale? Would like to get one for my
fiance's birthday (May 25th). If you can help, email me at
shelby@ruralvermont.org or call me at work 223-7222.
{{{If anyone knows Jeff, please don't mention -- this should be a
SURPRISE!}}}

Thanks!
Shelby Hammond

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Steve for doing this.
This was a longer meeting!
Dot

Dot Naylor’s Unadulterated Notes

Calais Selectboard Action

Monday May 12, 2008

7:00 P.M.

SelectBoard members present: Paul Hannan, Denise Wheeler, John Brabant, Anne Winchester and Cy Lamberton; Rose Pelchuck, Board Recorder; and five members of the public including myself.

 

1. Call to order – assess agenda time allotments

2. Review and approve Selectboard minutes of April 28, 2008 – Denise offered a small typo and John asked to clarify information regarding the offer of a container to collect metal and the town’s agreement with CVSWMD – amendments were approved and minutes approved 3-0.

3. WEC work in town right-of-way: Collar Hill Rd. – The request from Washington Electric Co-op was to string power wires on existing poles and install a guy wire on one pole. This request initiated a conversation around the Town Plan’s requirement that power lines be placed away from roadsides to protect the aesthetics of roadside foliage and WEC’s present policy to place poles along roads in the town’s ROW. It was generally acknowledged that there might not be a policy that would address all instances. And someone remembered that a past conversation with WEC revealed that WEC has statutory right to place poles/wires where it thinks is best and does not require permission from towns, although WEC prefers to get town approval. The SB suggested the Planning Commission, which is presently revising the Town Plan, might revisit that section of the Town Plan.

4. Review of town and highway expenditures to date – The March 300, 200008 budget summary indicates that the town will still come in at or barely under budget despite high costs for sand and gravel and diesel fuel. Since then the Road Commissioner made some significant purchases such as a bulk delivery of diesel fuel, which will last into the next fiscal year – July 1, 2008. Cy’s sharp pencil says that even with those taken into account and the $8,000 from FEMA for flood road damage, the town will stay in the black.

5. Capital budget discussion (Anne) - Anne had been to a workshop on the what, how and why of capital budgeting. She said it was useful. Towns that were doing it warned that it is best to start on just one area of the budget and keep tweaking it until it works smoothly before tackling another part of the budget. She passed out a set of papers which explained and followed one area another town had used for capital budgeting. It was pointed out that we already do some capital budgeting in the way we buy trucks and the road commissioner has been tracking the work on the roads. We could use those records as a starting place. Anne asked if the SB could have a list of the various town debts, how many total payments, what payment we were on, and the end date for each commitment. Cy said he had usually done some of that when he was on the board previously and would be happy to do it again. Someone asked if there was any news from the group investigating the structural needs of the Town Hall and how those needs can be addressed both financially and structurally. No news yet – I think Paul said he would ask Donna Fitch, who originally approached the board with the idea of fixing up the Town Hall.

6. Review curb cut request: Tim Howe, East Hill Rd. – Peg Bowen and David Klein, abutting property owners, were there to discuss the proposed project. Peg and her husband, Gene, had met with Tim and agreed on a change to his proposed curb cut and gave the SB a written agreement and diagram.

The SB wanted Road Commissioner and themselves to look at the new location before approving the curb cut so the decision was tabled until the next meeting. John will contact Tim Howe.

7. Solid Waste planning (Bill Powell) – Bill Powell was on hand to discuss various concerns. He noted that Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD) is moving toward zero-waste and would like the Town Plan to reflect that. Asked to define (in as few words as possible) zero-waste, Bill said it means everything will be recycled, reused, given or sold, and nothing would go into the landfills. CVSWMD’s moving toward zero-waste is in direct contrast to Chittenden Solid waste District’s intent to move toward gasification of solid waste. The SB then discussed the suitability of our present transfer station on Moscow Woods Road – we have a 5 year lease with CVSWMD for it so a search for a more vehicle-friendly and spacious site is at a dead end for now. Gates Salvage had previously offered a metal collection container to be placed on town property and Gates would have paid the town some from the proceeds. Since the town has the contract with CVSWMD, it cannot make an agreement with Gates. John Brabant noted that Bolduc’s salvage in Middlesex will drop-off and pick-up a container for metal only for an individual(s) for free and pay 100% of the scale price. If you have a junk car and can get it to Bolduc’s you may get as much as $200. If Bolduc comes and gets it you get only about $50.00.

8. Various brief updates:
- Curtis Pond dam (John) – no news from Morris Root – Paul, noting how busy engineers and surveyors are this time of year, asked John to call Morris and remind him that the town needs the information he was to provide.
- Batten Road bill (John) – John talked to Steve Duke who agreed the bill was his responsibility and he would take care of it including the interest. John volunteered to notify Knight Engineering that Steve had agreed to pay the bill.

-

9. CVRPC High Risk Road locations in Calais – discussion – This was mainly a list of where and when accidents occurred on Calais Roads. Many were one-vehicle accidents and there did not seem to be any unknown dangerous places. The SB then addressed the two most dangerous intersections – Lightening Ridge Road / VT Rte 14 and Marshfield Road / VT Rte 14. Cy and VTrans Eng. Ernie and our Road Commissioner met at Lightening Ridge Road intersection and Ernie said the state would use paint to try and move traffic further north. On the Max Gray Road side they could cut away a little of the north corner and pave the apron so traffic has good traction entering VT Rte 14. It was also suggested that signage indicating a dangerous intersection would be a good idea. It might at least alert people who do not regularly travel VT Rte 14.

10. Zoning violations, appeals, litigation, etc. (likely executive session) – The SB went into executive session – the audience spent the time at the mercy of our local irritants, black flies. When the SB came out of executive session they said they had agreed to send a letter to the District 5 Environmental Commission to clarify that the Road Commissioner’s position (in a letter attached to the McCullough application) was the Road Commissioner’s position, and not necessarily the town’s position. The SB is interested in being sure that the information the DRB found lacking would be provided before any permit is issued.

11. Other business:
a) Decide on date for second May meeting (Memorial Day evening or not) – SB will meet as scheduled, Monday, 26 May 200008 @ Town Hall @ 7:00 PM

b) Letter from School re: generator repairs - The generator at the school – which is owned by the town because the town has designated the school as the town Emergency Shelter – really requires twice a year maintenance rather than the once a year originally agreed that the school would pay. It also needs some repairs – approximately $243.00. Although the school does, and actually has benefited, from the generator when there have been power outages that otherwise would have closed school, they expressed concern about this added expense. Paul will talk with the school and was authorized to draft a written agreement going forward. Of course the SB as a body (and the School Board, I presume) will have to approve such an agreement before it is officially signed.

c) The SB received a letter from Capital West Dispatching indicating that the cost of dispatching (answering 911 calls) will increase from $52,000.00 to $132,000.00 (a 78% increase) next year. It was not clear if this increase was for just Calais, and if not how many towns did the increase cover? From discussion at the meeting, it seems that the dispatching service owns all the equipment that is located at the Montpelier Police Station and the city of Montpelier was somehow increasing the cost to Capital West. There is a meeting about this scheduled for June 2, 2008 @ Berlin Fire Dept. @ 7:00 PM – several SB members said they would try to attend. In the meantime someone was hoping to get more information about this to share at the 26 May 2008 SelectBoard meeting.

d) Anne said that Bob Schaffer, DRB member, called her to suggest that the SB be more active in DRB hearings. The Zoning Administrator (myself) opined that in order to be active they would have to be really knowledgeable about the specific permit application, as well as the zoning regulations it pertained to. This would be very time consuming. Also, should there be an appeal of the DRB’s decision, the SB holds the purse strings and ultimately the decision as to how far to go. Being active initially could be seen as a complicating factor. Paul suggested Anne speak further with Bob and perhaps Bob and the chair of the DRB, Peg Bowen, could attend an SB meeting for a discussion if necessary.

12. Tentative Meeting Agenda for May 26(?), 2008:

a) Invite and meet possible candidates to fill vacant town volunteer positions

b) Review and approve road commissioner orders and town invoices

c) Review "draft" and possibly sign EMFD interlocal agreement

d)

Adjourn.

 

 

 

Rabbit Run Garden Seedling Sale
We have had a great season so far!  Our approach is to give our customers a great deal on transplants ($2.00/plant.)  Tomato transplants have been selling well and several varieties have either sold out or are nearly sold out.

We will be at the Maple Corner Community Market this Saturday from 9:00AM - 12:00PM (across from the store.)  This week we will be featuring Taxi yellow tomatoes, Rutgers slicing/sauce tomatoes and Principe Borghese drying/cherry/sauce tomatoes, as well as several other varieties.  We will also have sweet peppers, hot peppers, celery, tomatillos and maybe some surprises.  We may also put some plants on sale this week or next. 

Peter Harvey has given us some free parsnip seeds to distribute.

If you can't make the market call us at 229-4539 or email us at sowens@ezcloud.com.  There's a 10% discount for preordering.  Have a great growing season!
Steve and Carol

 

 

Community Quote of the Week:

"True affluence is not needing anything." - Gary Snyder

 

This e-mail newsletter is open to submissions from the public, as long as they are noncommercial, and appropriate to the community. Please remember that it depends on you, the subscribers, to let people know what is going on in town. Have you written something you want to share with the community? Do you know of an upcoming event in our area? Contact me by just replying to this email, or call me, Steve Gallagher, at 802-223-0505, though the actual notice has to be emailed to me. You can get an idea of what has been posted in the past by reading the archives at: http://www.songseek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?f=list&l=maplecor

You can contact me about this newsletter by just replying to this e-mail. It is sent out about 3 times per month, so if you are sending a time critical message or announcement please plan to allow enough time before the event. If you just recieved a newsletter, the next one may not get sent for 2 weeks. You can subscribe to this list by typing your e-mail address into the form found at www.maplecorner.net and hit subscribe.
-----Steve Gallagher ------

To unsubscribe from: Maple Corner Net Newsletter, just follow this link:

http://songseek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/maplecor/

Click this link, or copy and paste the address into your browser.