Select Board Report
2021
Select Board: As we end this year, the Select Board must again thank community members for continued diligence in the face of the on-going pandemic. Thank you for continuing to wear masks, to social distance, and to limit the number of those gathering in indoor spaces. The continued good health and safety of all community members are always paramount in our minds.
With community safety in mind, Select Board members working with others in town reviewed, updated and approved the Town of Mount Holly’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Local Emergency Management Plan. We also signed on to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission’s Mutual Aid Agreement. In response to residents’ concerns, the Select Board created a traffic safety committee to look at the issues of speeding and traffic safety in town. RRPC conducted traffic studies on the roads of concern, and the Select Board plans to write an ordinance and install new speed limit signs in town soon after the first of the year.
In order to address the PFAS contamination in the Mount Holly School’s well, the Select Board agreed to create a water system using the town garage well in order to provide safe drinking water for our students, teachers, and staff while at school.
The Select Board addressed the issue of accumulating junk on several properties in town. Four property owners cleaned up their property. Two others have been issued municipal tickets with a financial penalty for being in continuous violation of the Junk Ordinance. The Select Board thanks those residents who cleaned up their property and thanks all residents for keeping their property neat, thereby keeping Mount Holy looking fine!
With Select Board support, Conservation Commission members submitted an application to the VT Urban & Community Forestry Agency to develop a Municipal Shade Tree Preservation Plan. Mount Holly was selected as one of ten towns in the State to receive free services to develop a plan. The Select Board also supported Conservation Commission members’ efforts to address the on-going weed issues in Star Lake with a plan for the installation of bottom barriers currently in the works. Work continues on an inventory of ash trees in town so as to mitigate the effects of the imminent arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer. All three initiatives contribute to our town’s beauty and safety.
After issuing a RFP (Request for Proposal) for professional auditing services, the Select Board chose RHR Smith to perform an audit of the Town of Mount Holly’s financial records for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2019-2023. The completed audits for those first two years will be presented to the Select Board and to residents in the not-too-distant future.
In our ongoing efforts to keep costs low, the Select Board issued a RFP to area fuel suppliers and chose Champlain Valley Fuels as the town’s fuel supplier.
For the Town of Mount Holly, the Select Board accepted the funds offered through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The town will receive $371,863.99 in ARPA funding for various projects in town. The Select Board also agreed to join the National Opioids Settlement, bringing additional funding into town. At the end of the year, the Town of Mount Holly was awarded a Municipal Planning Grant in the amount of $20,000.
Please refer to the town website (www.mounthollyvt.org) and Facebook page for updates and as a resource of important town information for both community members and visitors alike.
Throughout the year, your Select Board worked to meet the needs of the community with the best interests of residents and the future of Mount Holly in mind, all while keeping services as high and costs as low as possible.
Appointments: The Select Board reappointed Jon McCann as the town’s Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) representative and appointed Ryan Harter as the RRPC Alternate. The Select Board reappointed Clinton Woolley as the town’s Rutland Region Transportation Advisory Committee (RRTC) representative and appointed Jeff Chase as the RRTC Alternate.
To the Planning Commission, the Select Board appointed Andrew Schulz to complete a term ending in 2023 and reappointed Jim Seward to a three-year term.
To the Conservation Commission, the Select Board appointed David Martin and Ryan Metcalfe and reappointed Fred Garrow and Peter Smith, all to terms ending in September 2022.
The Select Board accepted Phil Crane’s gracious offer to serve as the Town of Mount Holly’s Tree Warden and appointed him to the position.
In November, the Select Board appointed Jeff Chase and Jon McCann as the Town of Mount Holly’s representatives to RRPC’s Regional Emergency Management Committee.
The Select Board whole-heartedly thanks these individuals for their willingness to serve the Town of Mount Holly.
Highways: This past year the road crew worked on Frost Hill and Tiffany Roads, replacing culverts and stone-lining the ditches to State of Vermont specs. Healdville Road was paved from VT Route 103 to the railroad tracks and into Mount Holly Heights. Jeff Chase and Clinton Woolley put together a 12-year Retreatment Plan for both Class 2 and Class 3 roads. In April, the Select Board adopted a Road Surface Cut Policy. In June, the Select Board reappointed Clinton Woolley Road Foreman. In September, a mulcher was purchased to facilitate roadside ditching and to meet the erosion control requirements of the town’s MRPG permit. The road crew appreciates the Select Board’s help in obtaining grants to cover the costs of the new box culvert on Summit Road. Our thanks go out to Clinton, Les Deyette and Gordon Dimick for all their efforts to keep the Town of Mount Holly’s roads in the best shape possible.
Transfer and Recycling Site: Working with the Rutland County Solid Waste District, the transfer site was recertified for another five years.And the town’s membership in the Rutland County Solid Waste District brought two Household Hazardous Waste collections to the transfer site in 2021, and two are currently scheduled for 2022: on April 16th & July 16th. The town participates in electronics recycling under the statewide program which provides free recycling for Vermont residents. A list of acceptable electronics for this program can be found at the town office and on the town website. Residents continue to make good use of the open-top container and Zero Sort recycling as well as the compost bins for food scraps. And a number of treasures can always be found in the Swap Shed. Last but far from least, David Hill and Kevin Stillwell continue to offer residents courteous & efficient help at the transfer site. We thank them for their exemplary service!
Meetings: The Select Board meets at 6:30 pm on the second Tuesday of the month. If you have any questions or concerns, please attend a monthly meeting, or contact us at 802-259-2454 or at [email protected]
Your Select Board,
Jeff Chase
Jennifer Matthews
Mark Turco, Chair