Subject: TOWN NEWS
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Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:23:14 -0400

TOWN NEWS

By Carol
Bam

Select Board
Chairman Stan Rhodes reports that
the process is underway to determine what changes the Center Rutland Fire
Station will require. Voters in March approved spending $9,000 for a renovation
plan for the aging station which has seen no major upgrades since it was built
in 1967.  The Montpelier firm of
Black River Design Architects is conducting a needs assessment for the facility.
This involves determining space allocations for such things as work and training
areas, hose and other storage, truck and equipment housing. The firm will
recommend what improvements to the existing facility are required, or if it is
more cost effective to erect a new structure.  Rhodes does not expect a cost estimate
for the renovation until the end of the summer. “Right now we are unsure how
much of the current facility can be salvaged. Not only is the building old and
deteriorated, the design is outdated for current use.”
Residents
will vote on the final project in the November election.

The Select Board has made changes to law and traffic enforcement in the
Town. With the resignation of J.P. Faignant in February and recently of Chief
John Sly, the Town has only one full time officer, Ed Dumas. The Town has
contracted with the Rutland County Sheriff’s Dept. for 40 hours of traffic
enforcement. Whether to hire a part time officer or expand the contract
with  the Sheriff’s  Dept. for the 26 hours that the
Town
needs for full coverage is still under consideration.
Residents
may not know that while the Town provides certain equipment, police officers
utilize their own vehicles and are reimbursed for their use while on town
duty.

The Fire Dept. is determining specifications for Engine 4, the oldest
truck in the force, located in Center Rutland. Rhodes stated that trucks are on
a replacement schedule of 20-25 years. The cost comes out of the Fire
Depreciation Fund which is funded by a fraction of a percent each year on the
property tax rate. A new tanker truck which has been in production since last
fall is being assembled and is due for delivery in a couple of
months.

The Highway Dept. has partnered with Mendon to purchase a new wood
chipper. This equipment is used for roadside clearing and clean-up of downed
trees after storms.

The Town has received a RIDC (Rutland Industrial Development Corp.)
grant
for
$15,000
to study how best to bring sewer and water to the Center Rutland corridor.
Rhodes said, “It is in the best interest of the Town to be proactive in
developing infrastructure in areas where it wants commercial development.” The
study will determine whether the Town would be better off connecting to the
existing facilities of West Rutland or the City of Rutland.

Rhodes would like to thank the Select Board Scholarship Committee
(Jim
Hall, Steve Hawley and Joe Dicton)
for reviewing scholarship applications. On their recommendation, the Board
awarded 11 scholarships to college bound town residents. The
$10,000
approved
by voters in March will go to
seniors
from MSJ, Mill River, Rutland High School and one private school.