Chester Selectboard Approves Yosemite Feasibility Study; Announces Town Manager Retirement
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We will be Welcome Back Our Assistant Publisher is PRSRT STD CLOSED to School! getting U.S. POSTAGE PAID married POSTAL CUSTOMER Monday, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER PERMIT #2 Sept. 2 for See EARLY N. HAVERHILL, NH DEADLINES ECRWSSEDDMECRWSS Labor Day below FREE Your Local Community Newspaper THE AUGUSTVermont 28, 2019 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM JournaVOLUME 19, ISSUEl 35 Chester Selectboard approves Yosemite feasibility study; announces Town Manager retirement BY SHARON HUNTLEY concern with making a deci- Chester Historic Preservation go forward,” she said. The Vermont Journal sion now for that reason. Committee member Lillian Jonynas and Lee Gustafson Part of the issue is the in- Willis had suggested in prior both expressed concerns on CHESTER, Vt. – The Chester creased need to pump the tank meetings moving forward with spending $12,000 on a study Selectboard began their meet- that services the information a feasibility study in order to versus on real repairs when ing Wednesday, Aug. 21 with group. To date, the tank has provide the necessary infor- they’ve seen other buildings a tour of the Academy Build- been pumped out nine times mation and allow for the town that need repairs, specifically ing in downtown Chester. The versus the projected two or to resubmit an application for the Academy Building that building is currently occupied three times per year they had a Historic Preservation Grant they had just toured. mainly by the Chester Histori- planned and budgeted for. that would assist in structural After continued discussion cal Society. There is also a room As the Selectboard consid- repair of the building. The on both sides, the issue went that contains Chester Alumni ers future usage of the Acad- cost of the feasibility study is to a vote and the decision was Association material. The CHS emy Building, they decided $12,000. The Historic Pres- made to green light the feasi- 15-year contract is coming up to keep the system status quo ervation Grant is a matching bility study for the Yosemite for renewal in 2020 and the while they determine how they $20,000 grant, which would building, using the funds in Selectboard is considering ad- might be able to use those rest- require the town to also com- the Historical Facility Mainte- ditional uses for the building room facilities. mit $20,000 on the project for a nance budget, by a vote of 3 to in addition to CHS. There has Holden also said that the total of $40,000 to be spent on 2. Heather Chase, Ben Whalen, also been talk of tapping into town did not have the time to renovations. and Leigh Dakin voting yes, the plumbing of the Academy consider doing a project to tie Jonynas confirmed that a and Lee Gustafson and Arne Building for the bathroom of the information booth to the previously identified Ches- Jonynas voting no. the nearby information booth. Academy Building this year ter Historical Society fund of The announcement was The need for plaster repair and regardless, due to other neces- $2,900 was not available to use made that Town Manager Da- roof repair were noted during sary unanticipated projects this on a study but could only be vid Pisha was retiring with his the tour. summer. Jonynas suggested used for actual renovations. tenure ending at town meet- Jeff Holden updated the Se- and the Selectboard agreed to Town Manager David Pi- ing in March of 2020. Jonynas lectboard on a new proposal table the decision. sha confirmed that they had praised Pisha, who has been for the information booth As a short-term solution to $12,266 in a Historical Facility town manager since August plumbing to include a single cut down on the heavy usage Maintenance line item in the of 2008, for his many accom- pump and tank on the exterior of the Information Booth re- budget. plishments, namely his fiscal with a force line to the man- stroom, the Selectboard sug- Heather Chase spoke in sup- oversight, which eliminated a hole. Board Chair Arne Jony- gested that they discontinue port of investing in the feasi- $500,000 deficit within a year. nas again expressed his con- the sandwich board that ad- bility study since it would be a The town will begin the pro- cern about compromising the vertises a restroom in the in- The Chester Selectboard toured the Academy Building prior to the “roadmap” for fixing the build- cess of searching for a new selectboard meeting. health of the large oak tree at formation booth. The facilities PHOTO BY SHARON HUNTLEY ing. It would not only serve town manager. that location. “I’m worried that would continue to be open and as the basis for reapplying for The next regular Chester Se- no matter what we do, we’re available, but they would not this initial grant but would also lectboard meeting is scheduled gonna lose that tree.” He asked be publicized as heavily. Yosemite Fire House, a his- tower in the nation. The town serve as the basis for applying for Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 if it was better to put in a grav- The Selectboard once again toric building identified as the has been investigating turning for additional grants. “I think p.m. at the Chester Town Of- ity system. Jonynas expressed discussed the restoration of only two-tower original fire the building into a museum. we have to do the feasibility to fice. Cavendish Streetscapes Swap shed to be reestablished fundraiser dinner at the Transfer Station BY MEGAN HARLOW Mount Holly.” Ash Borer after he attended a PROCTORSVILLE, Vt. – It’s fundraiser dinner to celebrate. Streetscapes has successfully JENKINS Ron Tarbell spoke in favor of meeting with the Ludlow Tree been a very productive summer Thanks to our many generous raised the flags in both vil- The Vermont Journal the town trying a swap shop for Warden, Ralph Pace. Informa- for Cavendish Streetscapes and donors, volunteers, and help- lages and added as well as a second time while Mark Turco tion about the Emerald Ash it’s time to gather for our annual ful townspeople, Cavendish improved the gardens and MOUNT HOLLY, Vt. – On commented that he didn’t want Borer, which causes significant landscaping at Cavendish Aug. 13, 2019, the Mount the town to inherit the cost of damage to ash trees in the state, Town Elementary School Holly Selectboard continued disposing junk items. can be found in the August Chit grounds and adjacent park, discussion on the possibility Matthews made a motion to Chat. and Svec Memorial Park. of building a swap shed at the spend $2,500 for a swap shed for Matthews also reported at the To celebrate this sum- Transfer Station. At the meet- reusable goods. Tarbell second- meeting that while of a number mer’s accomplishments ing July 9, the Selectboard de- ed. The vote was two in favor of contacts were made for bids to and to prepare for the sea- cided to put up a petition at with Turco against. The motion repair the Town Office roof, only son ahead, Murdock’s Res- the Transfer Station to gauge passed. one bid had been submitted. The taurant in Proctorsville is public support for the project. In new business, Don Rich- Selectboard decided to keep the hosting a fundraiser din- At the August meeting, ardson informed the town about bid process open until their next ner on behalf of Cavendish Board member Jennifer the invasive species Emerald meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 10. Streetscapes Thursday, Aug. Matthews reported that the 29, from 4-9 p.m. A portion petition had collected over of the evening’s meal profits 60 signatures. She also pre- will go to future Cavendish sented a letter from Jeff Teter, Streetscapes projects. a former road foreman, that 100th birthday We’d like to add a col- he requested to be read at lection of benches to the the meeting. “I’m writing to N. SPRINGFIELD, village greens and expand you in support of the swap Vt. – On Aug. 24, Layne Herschel flag placement around Svec shed. As you know, I was Marion Harlow cel- Memorial Park and down the dump coordinator for ebrated her 100th receives Frost Award Depot Street in time for the around 30 years and I know birthday in North bridge reopening. We’re also what [goes through] there Springfield. Fam- working with Tim Calabrese which includes many use- ily and friends were LUDLOW, Vt. – On Saturday, Aug. 17, the Robert Frost award of Good Earth Landscape ful things…” He also wrote, there to celebrate for excellence and outstanding leadership in art education was on options for the space va- “It was my idea to make the this milestone. Hap- presented to Layne Herschel, former executive director of the cated by the old town garage swap shed into an office for py Birthday! Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts. Presenting the PHOTO BY RON PATCH award during the Chrome & Craft Festival was the school’s in the Cavendish Village. So the attendants because at the longtime financial director, Carolyn Scott. “I’m thrilled to receive mark Aug. 29 on your cal- time it was a cheap answer this award,” Herschel said. “This school has been close to my endar and join Cavendish to a problem. The cost to the heart for a very long time.” Streetscapes for an enjoyable town, even if it’s [$5,000] is a PHOTO PROVIDED evening. We hope to see you minor investment to benefit there! the people of the Town of INDEX CONTACT US Obituaries/Take a Break ...............