Serving people through teamwork
M E E T I N G N O T I C E
TOWN OF BENNINGTON
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Bennington Fire Facility
Multi-Purpose Room – 3rd Floor
130 River Street
Bennington, VT 05201
A G E N D A
M E E T I N G N O T I C E
TOWN OF BENNINGTON
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Wednesday, Sept 27, 2017
Bennington Town Office – Conference Room
205 South Street
Bennington, VT 05201
A G E N D A
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Ongoing topics
Final Report Format
Engagement of Public
Next meeting, Oct. 4, 2017
M E E T I N G N O T I C E
BENNINGTON SELECT BOARD
Monday, September 25, 2017
Bennington Fire Facility
Multi-Purpose Room – 3rd Floor
130 River Street
Bennington, VT 05201
A G E N D A
6:00 PM
M E E T I N G N O T I C E
TOWN OF BENNINGTON
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Wednesday, Sept 20, 2017
Bennington Town Office – Conference Room
205 South Street
Bennington, VT 05201
A G E N D A
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Ongoing topics
Final Report Format
Engagement of Public
Next meeting, Sept 27, 2017
***
Vermont Local Roads recognizes RJ Joly and his team in Bennington on the completion of the River Road Project, as a “Good Job Done” project.
Please view the link below for the complete story.
Vermont Local Roads Newsletter, Summer Edition
Division Street remains Closed to through traffic all week. Local traffic WILL be accommodated. Sewer and Highway crews continue preparation work for paving. Men and equipment will be in the roadway. Please find alternate route.
Grove Street – will be Closed to through traffic all week. Local traffic WILL be accommodated. Sewer and Highway crews will be working in preparation for paving. Men and equipment will be in the roadway. Please find alternate route.
Townwide Work:
Roadside mowing, tree trimming and weeding also will continue in numerous areas in Bennington. Please use caution when approaching these areas and leave plenty of room for the tractor and men or equipment on side of the road.
Reminder:
Please DO NOT rake or blow grass and/or leaves into Town streets or Highways as these clogs storm drains and creates flooding and driving hazards for the entire community.
Residents and Contractors – Please make sure all loads are covered when taking leaves and or brush to the transfer station.
Proposed Work Schedule, Week of 9/18/17, BENNINGTON-WILMINGTON SURF (51)[Route 9 Paving]
Please focus on safety when driving through the construction work zone and remember, it is against the law to use a hand held cell phone while driving in Vermont.
PROJECT LOCATION: The Bennington-Wilmington paving project begins in the town of Bennington along Route 9 just west of the junction of Route 279 and Route 9 and continues easterly along Route 9 for approximately 23.5 miles. This paving project will include the towns of Bennington, Woodford, Searsburg and Wilmington, and ends at the Wilmington-Marlboro town line.
Work on the Wilmington area of the project will begin at the Wilmington-Marlboro Town line (near the Horizon Inn) and end at Lind Lane in Searsburg. This section of work has a completion date of 10/13/17.
Work to be performed includes shoulder widening, cold planing existing pavement, surface preparation (including crack sealing, pothole repair and patching), new layer of asphalt paving, installation of rumble strips in designated areas, pavement markings, and other related highway items.
COLD PLANING: Cold planing of the main traveled portion of the road (mainline) will continue west of Haystack Rd. toward Lind Lane throughout the week of 9/18/17. Cold planing of side roads and driveways will commence after mainline cold planing has been completed.
PAVING: Crews are scheduled to pave mainline from the Marlboro-Wilmington town line to the intersection of Route 100S for the remainder of this week and the early part of next week, weather permitting. Work is scheduled for this Saturday (9/16/17) to continue the paving operation on this portion of the project only. Crews will not be working within the village limits on Saturday.
Mainline paving will continue from the intersection of 100S through the village throughout the week of 9/18/17. It is anticipated that paving within the village limits will occur early in the week, and will take a maximum of 2 days to complete (in-village paving). Crews are aware of the Wine and Soup stroll occurring on Friday, 9/22, and all work within the village limits will be concluded early afternoon on Friday.
Paving of side roads throughout cold planed areas of the project will continue during the week of 9/18/17 until completed. Driveways will be completed after mainline paving is done.
STRUCTURES: Crews are scheduled to continue to adjust the height of structures throughout the week of 9/18/17. Structures include man holes, water valves, storm drains, etc…
BERM REMOVAL: Has been completed.
TRAFFIC DELAYS: Paving, and milling operations and work on structures will require lane closures in the location of these operations. One-way alternating traffic will be required. Flaggers and uniformed traffic officers will be on site directing the flow of traffic. Delays are expected.
Contact Natalie Boyle, Project Outreach Coordinator, GPI, Inc. with any questions or concerns in regard to this project at 802-310-7822. For additional information regarding the paving project in Wilmington this summer and fall, please go to our regional Facebook page entitled “VTrans Rutland Region Construction Contracts”. Periodic updates and pictures may be posted from time to time.
ALL ABOUT TOWN
Stuart A. Hurd, Town Manager
Many of you may have seen my Letter to the Editor seeking support for the October 10 bond vote.
A reader pointed out to me that I had not mentioned the Assurance of Discontinuance in strong enough terms. Those of you who may be contemplating a “no” vote are reminded that the Assurance carries with it the threat of fines if we don’t complete mandated upgrades. It is unfortunate, but we do find ourselves facing, not only the cost to construct, but also fines to be paid to the State should we not complete the work in a timely manner. The Assurance of Discontinuance arose from the RBC failures in 2015 which, in turn, caused violations of our discharge permit. During that difficult time, the waste water staff worked very hard to keep the Plant within its permit limits. It simply could not be done. That brings us to this moment. We can support the bond vote and do the work, or we can vote “no” and still be mandated to do the work and, on top of that be fined. Regardless of the threat of fines, this work is necessary and must be done. We’ve pared the project down to the most needed, high priority work. We’ve committed to some of the work in-house saving some $2.0 million in construction cost. And we’re bonding when the rates are fairly low. The bond costs do not affect the rates until two (2) years after substantial completion or not until FY 2021. Now really is the time to move forward. I hope you will support the Town. Vote “yes”. The Walloomsac River thanks you. We thank you.
The TIF Plan has now been approved by the Select Board. The application is scheduled to be submitted by the end of September. I am very hopeful that it will be approved. That’s what makes this moment very exciting. The Town will be able to construct necessary public infrastructure such as improved sidewalks, improved pedestrian spaces, improved public parking, improved storm water systems, and the like all to benefit the community and all to be paid for from funds raised through the incremental growth in the Grand List within the TIF District, said growth being the result of new developments tied to the improved infrastructure. The Town is committing 100% of the local incremental increase, and requesting that the maximum, 70%, of the education fund incremental increase be committed to paying for the infrastructure. The Plan does not contemplate raising local taxes. That’s why this is such an important development tool.
The construction contracts for the Phase 1 PFOA water line extensions have been awarded. There are 4 contracts for the Bennington work totaling $11.14 million. Work is anticipated to start in October. This will mean construction in and along many of our rural roads in the northwesterly portion of Bennington. Please exercise care and patience when moving through construction zones. This is a major undertaking. It will create problems for traffic movements. In the area considered Phase 2, the northeasterly portion of Bennington, soil sampling and water testing are about to begin. Drilling rigs will be along the roadsides and at the Houghton Lane former landfill site. This activity is being paid for by Saint-Gobain. The company is conducting this work to further define how the groundwater moves in this area and determine if the soils show trace contamination. The results should help to identify the cause of PFOA contamination in this area.
The Charter Review Committee continues its work. It has established a comment page for the web site. The Committee wants to hear from the community. It will hold a forum at 5:30 pm on Wednesday September 27 at the Bennington Fire Facility. Please let your voice be heard. If you’ve got an idea or a suggestion on how Bennington’s Charter should be revised, let the Committee know.
Remember, if anyone has any questions or suggestions arising from this column or on any town matters, please contact me at 442-1037 or stop in at the Town Offices on South Street.
Stuart Hurd is Bennington’s Town Manager. He writes a monthly column on town issues.
M E E T I N G N O T I C E
TOWN OF BENNINGTON
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Bennington Town Office – Conference Room
205 South Street
Bennington, VT 05201
A G E N D A
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Next meeting, September 20, 2017.
