Temporary cell town to stay awhile longer
PUTNEY — PUTNEY-The state Public Service Board recently received a request from AT&T for an extension of the time the company's temporary cell tower is permitted to remain at Basketville.
The utility would like to postpone the switch to the permanent tower on Shag Bark Hill until spring 2016 to allow for unforeseen construction issues.
The PSB has permitted AT&T to maintain the tower at Basketville until November, when the utility expects construction on the permanent tower to be complete.
At the April 22 regular Putney Selectboard meeting, Town Manager Cynthia Stoddard said “nobody has complained to us about the temporary cell tower” at Basketville.
The Selectboard's consensus was to take no action on AT&T's request to the PSB.
Hazard Mitigation Plan continues
PUTNEY-Town Manager Cynthia Stoddard said an April 14 Hazard Mitigation Team meeting was well attended and it was “good,” although “we got a little unruly at the end.”
The team worked on the draft of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, a document created with the assistance of Alyssa Sabetto, planner with the Windham Regional Commission.
“We added some new hazard mitigation possibilities, added some tasks the [community resilience] team could work on,” Stoddard said. One of those tasks is creating a guide of emergency information for residents, including locations of temporary, emergency shelters.
Hard copies of the HMP draft are available at the Putney Town Office and the Putney Public Library; a digital copy can be reviewed at putneyvt.org/doc_page.php. Stoddard also says she will email a copy on request; her address is tm@putneyvt.org.
The draft plan will be reviewed and approved by the Selectboard when updates are complete, Stoddard said at the April 22 Selectboard meeting.
Town Hall needs, gets attention
PUTNEY-At the April 22 Selectboard meeting, Town Manager Cynthia Stoddard alerted the Selectboard of some issues in and around the Town Hall building.
The button used to automatically open the front door is broken. “We have to fix this as soon as possible,” Stoddard said, because access for those with limited mobility is hindered.
She said an electrician has to order a replacement part for the door opener, and she assured the Selectboard that she did change the battery, thus ruling out that possibility for its malfunction.
Stoddard also noted the concrete steps are “crumbling.”
She reported her continuing negotiations with Brattleboro's Stevens & Associates on the iron fire escape.
“The assessment cost has gone up,” she said, noting the estimate is now between $800 and $1,000 for the company to inspect the fire escape and advise the town on its repairs.
“Do it before the price goes up again,” said R. Scott Henry, Selectboard clerk.
Stoddard said Stevens & Associates “should be here in the next few weeks.”
“Things are falling apart out there,” Stoddard said, “but I'm working on it."
Vacant building still standing, but not for long
PUTNEY- The town has received quotes from Derrig Excavating on different options for demolishing a vacant building on Gassetts Road.
Jim Derrig, the local firm's proprietor, told Town Manager Cynthia Stoddard that he would charge the town $5,000 to “take down the house and truck it away,” Stoddard said. For $1,000 or less, his company could “just stuff it in the hole.”
Stoddard said she spoke with a relative of the property owner, who said he was also looking into the cost of removal.
The town expects to make a decision soon, and “when we do it, we'll put a lien against the property,” Stoddard told the Selectboard.
Pool opens June 13
PUTNEY- The town pool is scheduled to open June 13 for the 2015 season.
The town has begun advertising for lifeguards and a pool manager.