Burn, Baby Burn

Recently, members of the Selectboard heard strong complaints from a few Jericho residents about smoky, smoldering fires which continued for numerous days. At the time of the complaints, it became very clear that town officials did not have a well-defined way to address complaints of this kind.

As Jericho increases in density the issues around open burning will no doubt continue to cause problems among neighbors. There is also the issue of air quality. Several residents have expressed their view that composting is always a more environmental option than combustion.

The Selectboard is grappling with this subject. We've heard a variety of diverse opinions: some say the current burn policy for Jericho, along with the state law about burning, is working just fine, so there is no need to change anything. Others believe that a detailed burn ordinance (such as the one in Colchester) would do the trick. Still others believe that we should forbid all open burning in Jericho.

What do you think?

Please take a couple minutes to complete this short survey.

Thanks, Kim

Storm 7/21/10

Jericho was hit hard today. Unbelievable winds, pounding rains, hail, flying tree limbs, downed trees and flailing power lines. I received many calls from concerned residents, wondering when the power company was going to clear the trees blocking the roads. You may still be without power...Mountain View Drive and Lawrence Heights are still down, (10:10 pm). According to Kenny Barkyoumb (our Road Foreman), at least 1,500 homes in town were without power earlier today.
The above photo is of my road, Mountain View, a view north toward my neighbor's house where the Yergeaus lost a gorgeous, healthy American Maple that fell into the road and took the power lines with it.

View from the Yergeau's yard (that's my house in the background),

I called the state police and asked that they patrol Jericho tonight, looking out for possible vandals where cars have been left at the ends of roads due to trees obstructing people from driving to their homes. State police phone number: 878-7111.

I also called CVPS and pleaded with them to give me some indication of their list of priorities. They wouldn't, or couldn't, tell me much, except that there are plenty of fires to put out and their crews are working through the night.

Amazing photos of the storm on the Burlington Free Press website.

What a mess. I hope you are safe.

Update on the Riverside/Underhill Flats Community Forum

A big joint meeting is scheduled for Thursday to address the issues of Village Center designation in the Underhill Flats area.

Coming together for this forum will be: the Jericho Selectboard, the Underhill Selectboard, the Jericho Planning Commission, and the Underhill Planning Commission,

The meeting will take place at the Underhill Town Hall, Thursday, May 20th 7:00 to 9:00 pm and includes an hour of time set aside for discussion and public input. Come find out the latest on the development issues and voice your opinion to all parties involved!

More information:
Meeting agenda
Other public meetings about the Flats

Thoughts on the 5/6/10 Meeting

First, a word about an item not actually addressed at the meeting. The Streetscape construction in Jericho Corners is underway, as everyone surely knows. Bob Penniman, former selectman, is our foreman on the project. If you have questions about the construction, please contact Bob (he is in the book) or visit Town Hall and talk with the town administrator, Todd Odit. I'm sorry that I don't have all the answers, but in a recent conversation with Bob he informed me that the project is going very well and could be finished a month or more in advance of schedule.

Town Service Officer Appointment
Louise Moon Rosales is our new Town Service Officer - hurray! She is a nurse practitioner with many ties in town and she is perfect for the job - thanks for stepping forward, Louise! In the past, we've appointed the town administrator to this position just to complete the statutory requirement. But one of the first documents I read as a new selectperson was a letter from the Department of Children and Family Services asking us to appoint a person to the position who really knows the community and will serve in a way that can really help those in need. Louise is that person.

Vermont Sustainable Heating Initiative
We appointed two members of the community to a new collaborative effort: the "Solid bio-fuel Feasibility Study Steering Committee" of the Vermont Sustainable Heating Initiative. The local Energy Task Force recommended Don Tobi and Tom Baribault and so, the Selectboard approved these nominations.

CSWD Update
Tom Moreau, director of the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) presented the organization's budget and gave us his overview, which we received with a very positive response. Among other things, they are planning to take and recycle sheet plastic (bags, packaging, etc.) and also looking into taking compost from residents. Wow!

There really isn't much more to tell - all else is quiet in Jericho.

4/15 Meeting Wrap-up

The agenda was rearranged to accommodate visitors, so they wouldn't have to wait while we reviewed the minutes.

Town Meeting VNA Follow Up Discussion

The brief back-story: several years ago the freeps ran a story outing the salaries of the top executives at the non-profit home health agency, Visiting Nurses Association. Following that story, at Jericho's town meeting in 2009, a resident relayed the story to those in attendance. He asked that the increased budget request from the VNA be denied, and suggested instead that the organization be level-funded at the same rate as the year prior.

After some discussion, the town decided to fulfill the VNA's funds request that year. The resident's asked that the SB send a message to the VNA asking for an explanation of the high salaries. The message was sent but there was apparently no reply.

Fastforward to last Thursday's Selectboard (SB) meeting: present to discuss the issue is VNA's CEO, Church Hindes, along with Anne Doremus, a Jericho resident who sits on the VNA's board of trustees.

It seems there have been a few misunderstandings:

1. Church said he received the letter from the SB last year and did respond: by phone.
   
2. Church had an amenable conversation with then-town administrator Bert Moffatt, who assured him not to worry about the issue too much. He advised that it would probably blow over.
   
3. The high salaries were described as $600k for the top 3 execs, which may have been misconstrued as $600k for each one. Actually that amount is divided among the three.
   
4. The execs, according to Anne, are in the 25th percentile for similar positions in the region.
5. The VNA asks for only about 80% of its Jericho expenses to be reimbursed with taxpayers' money.
   

So after we'd heard all there was to hear, Tim Nulty (chair of the SB) asked that Mr. Hindes write a letter describing his conversation with Bert. He also asked the chair of the VNA board to send a letter attesting to the relative compensations for similar positions at other organizations.

Proposed Reconfigured Hammerhead for Hunt Subdivision

Larry Young & Marge Hunt presented their revised plan of a turnaround for emergency vehicles and buses. The SB gave them their approval.

Approval of minutes

3/2/10, 3/18/10 & 4/1/10

We approved the minutes with a few typo fixes and clarifications. These minutes should be posted soon online.

Acceptance of Lee River Road Pedestrian Easement

The board reviewed the map and approved the easement as advised. Catherine McMains (who chaired the DRB for a number of years) noted that there are several such easements along Lee River Rd. She expressed the hope that they might all connect one day to create a pedestrian walkway for joggers and others on this town road with a minimal shoulder.

Proclamation of “Way to Go! Community Challenge” Week

We quickly approved this effort to urge residents to find alternate ways to commute for one week. Methods include: biking, taking public transit, carpooling and telecommuting. The Jericho Energy Task Force will spearhead this challenge, which pits Jericho in a friendly competition against neighboring towns. Find out more, sign up, way to go!

CSWD/RPC/MPO Appointments

• CSWD - We reappointed Bert Lindholm and Leslie Nulty to represent Jericho on the CSWD board.
  
• CCMPO - Tim Nulty was named the board representative, with Bert Moffatt and myself as alternates.
• CCRPC - Catherine McMains was named the board representative, with Bert Moffatt and myself as alternates.

Olde Yankee First Class Liquor License Renewal

No problems here. Since Jericho does not have a Liquor Control Board, the SB acts as one. We approved the renewal of Olde Yankee's liquor license.

Old Pump Road Dog Bite Complaint
Tricky situation. I won't describe the issue in detail, but prefer to just sum it up - some dogs escaped from the house and chased a teenage girl until one bit her. An onlooker along with the owner pulled the dogs away. The town's dog ordinance states that if an injury caused by someone's pet requires medical attention, the SB will hold a quasi-judicial hearing to discover facts and determine the best action. Because the girl did not seek medical attention, the issue does not warrant a hearing. However, the family of the girl wants some retribution and control over the dogs. The owner has promised several improvements, including an invisible fence and obedience classes for the biter. Seeking a solution, the SB will write a letter to the dog owner urging quick action on the promises, and a stern warning that the next bite will cause a serious response.

Open Meeting Law Discussion

We discussed the law for open meetings and reviewed a presentation from the VLCT (Vermont League of Cities and Towns) that covers different circumstances for executive sessions (legal matters, personnel matters), as well as email discussions. I spoke of my concern about email conversations, which seem to go beyond the "information distribution" type that the VLCT recommends, and trend toward discussions of substance. No one intends for an item of note--a simple informational email--to become a discussion that perhaps should be aired in a public forum.

Approve Recreation Program Counselors

This item included a review of the applications for summer camp counselrs. Approved with very little discussion.

April 1st Meeting Recap

Following is a brief recap of business conducted at last SB meeting:

Public to be heard (Question about plan for Dickinson Street)
A resident of River Road came to the meeting to inquire about the current plan for Dickinson Road - he wanted to know who will make the decision about the traffic patterns, and when? Seth Jensen, our town planner, was there at the meeting so Tim Nulty asked him to provide some insight.

Seth described the Charrette's process that occurred 4 or 5 years ago to gain input on development in the Flats area. I'm oversimplifying here, but basically he explained that, since the development of David Villeneuve's property in the Flats is still undetermined, the town hasn't moved forward on making a decision about Dickinson Road. The River Road resident pointed out that traffic is horrific every morning between 7 and 8:00 a.m. as parents drop kids off at the middle school then wait in a backed-up queue to take a left onto Route 15. Tim expressed sympathy for the situation. He asked staff to prioritize the next steps for determining the best alternative for converting Dickinson Street into a 2-way street.

Green Up Day
$200 was granted to pay for the breakfast at the Jericho Community Center on Green Up Day. This is a really great spread, and a wonderful chance to mingle with your neighbors. To stake out your piece of road to clean, and to pick up your garbage bags, visit Town Hall or call Jessica at 899-9970. Green Up day is May 1...let's all join the party and green up Jericho!!!

Village Center Designation
Seth (town planner) gave us the skinny on the state's "Village Center Designation" -- which is NOT to be confused with a Historic Village Designation. We agreed that Seth should apply for the designation for the Underhill/Jericho Flats village. (Note: Jericho Center and Jericho Corners are already so designated.) If you live in the Flats and would like more detailed information, please call Seth directly at 899-9970 x 6.

Transfer of Funds
We approved the closing of the Town Hall Renovation Reserve Fund and directed the balance toward the May 15, 2010 Town Hall bond payment.

Speed Limit Revision Request
We reviewed and discussed a petition by the residents of Ethan Allen Road (which leads to the Ethan Allen range). They've requested a decrease in the speed limit of that road to 25 mph. It is now 35 mph but the residents say that cars go much faster. We decided to send a letter to the petitioners letting them know that we appreciate the communication and that we are about to embark on a study of all the speed limits in town by checking their validity in relation to the last speed study conducted by a traffic engineer.

Summer Recreation (aka Jericho Summer Camp)
There was a detailed letter from Lynn Wagner, our Summer Recreation director, with her hiring recommendations for both assistant directors - the older kids at BRMS and the younguns at JES. Jessica Chace will act as site director for JES. Jessica is from Jericho and has attended camp since 1st grade and has 6 years experience working at camp as a CIT and as a counselor. For the BRMS camp, Lynn gave a strong recommendation for Moira Lamay, who has a solid resume with experience in children's mental health and police work. After speaking with Lynn and reviewing the candidates' qualifications, we approved the recommendations for the two Assistant Directors. If you'd like to hear more, please feel free to contact me at 343-1265 or by email: kimnormanmercer@gmail.com.

Streetscape Project
Work on the Route 15 Streetscape project begins April 15th! This may disrupt your commute, so plan on leaving early or going the long way around. Plans for the streetscape project can be viewed online here or, if you want to see the big plats, you can go to town hall anytime where they are available in the Town Administrator's office.

What else?
After a discussion about the VT State Police presence in Jericho (particularly, where they spend most of their patrolling time), I started a random conversation about the idea of instituting a constable position in town. Needless to say, this idea was received with some chagrin. But my own experience growing up in Thetford provided a very positive impression of a constable. I was thinking of it as a sort of sacred Vermont tradition - like our town meetings or our Good Samaritan Law - but apparently there is a history of abuse and controversy with constables. What do you guys think...?!?

WANTED: community-minded people-person to fill TSO post

The Town of Jericho is looking for a resident to fulfill the term of Town Service Officer. This person should know the community and enjoy helping others in need.

 Please read this letter (pdf) from the deputy commissioner of the Dept. for Children & Families. Here is an excerpt describing the ideal candidate for this appointment:

• Does the candidate really know the people of your community?
• Is the candidate available to assist members of your community in accessing needed services?
• Can the candidate be depended upon to maintain in complete confidence (as required by law) the names of people who are receiving assistance?

For more information or to inquire about applying for this position, please contact Todd Odit, Jericho town administrator by April 1st by calling 899-9970 x 3 or email todit@jerichovt.gov.

Please share this info with anyone you feel would be a good candidate!