Review your new Town Plan

This week's meeting begins with a public hearing to discuss the new Town Plan. My apologies for the short notice, but if you have time to take a look at the documents, please do! More so now than ever, I would very much like to hear your opinions - either comment on this forum, send me an email, call me at 802-343-1265, or attend the meeting on Thursday, 12/16/10. 

• Jericho 2011 Town Plan - Draft 8.5x11.doc  
• Jericho 2011 Town Plan - Side By Side Comparison.doc 

Seth Jensen, Jericho's town planner, says that the most substantial changes in the new plan have to do with specificity, i.e. adding detail and definitions for certain topics. In particular, the sections on the town's energy plan and our economic development have been expanded. Also new: in the back of the plan is a table of long- and short-term priorities for tasks to be implemented.

Also on the agenda (12/16/10):

• Jericho-Underhill Park District Board Member Interview – Michelle Hayes
• Mobbs Farm Committee Request for Grant Submittal Approval
• Town Library Request for Funds for Painting
• Draft Town Plan and Zoning Map Discussion and Warn Public Hearings
• Proposed FY12 Budget Overview
• Approval of 11/18/10 & 12/2/10 minutes
• Other business
• Possible Executive Session (personnel)

Selectboard Meetings are the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month, 7:00 pm, Town Hall, 67 Route 15.

[ Minutes from previous meetings are available online ]

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...?!?

Not yet sworn in

When Louise Miglionico told me that Bob Penniman requested two "Write-in Kim Mercer" lawn signs, I was more than a little surprised. I hadn't thought he was a real fan of David Villeneuve necessarily, but I wouldn't have thought that he'd endorse me outright for his seat. I began to think we had a very good shot at winning.

From the VLCT Selectboard Handbook, Chapter 3 - "Conflicts of Interest and Incompatible Offices":

The proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials be independent, impartial, and responsible to the people; that government decisions and policy be made in proper channels of government structure; that public office not be used for personal gain and the public have confidence in the integrity of its government.

So there's that, of course.

During my time as the Assistant to the Town Administrator (2006-2008) I took the minutes for dozens of SB and DRB meetings and I watched quietly from the corner as David Villeneuve worked to get what he wanted out of Town Hall. When I saw on the ballot that he was running unopposed for the board, I was worried about our other two selectpersons: that they might be hassled and aggravated; that they would be required to expend endless energy to maintain the board's integrity; that the board would struggle constantly to prevent discussions and decisions that might contain conflicts of interest.

I tried to convince a number of other people in town--people who are competent and honest--to run as a write-in, but the effort was futile.

I was thinking that I might become one of the town's watchdogs, monitoring meetings and diligently studying the minutes of each meeting. If I was going to be appearing at Town Hall every 1st and 3rd Thursday nights to keep a vigil, I might as well throw my line into the river and see if there would be a nibble.