DOVER — A joint meeting between the Selectboard and School Board is set for July 1 in part to brainstorm ways to improve attendance at the next Town Meeting.
Picking up the thread of discussion from this year's Town Meeting on March 4, Selectboard members on March 18 considered ways to encourage greater turnout for conducting town business.
Ideas in play: providing lunch for attendees; including trivia questions with the town report, with winners of a trivia contest winning prizes; and, reportedly, providing coffee and holding dessert toward the end of the proceedings.
Town Meeting members took up whether to move the date of Town Meeting or schedule the school budget discussion and vote to another day, all in an effort to boost attendance. It was the consensus that the date not be moved as a matter of preserving tradition.
The School Board will convene at the Selectboard's meeting space at 6 p.m. on July 1, a half hour before the Selectboard typically meets, draft meeting minutes report.
Emergency operations plan approved
Also March 18, the Selectboard unanimously adopted the town's Local Emergency Operations Plan, which highlights emergency steps, tasks, contacts, high-risk areas, shelters, and resources.
The adoption takes place annually after Town Meeting. According to Richard Warner, as noted in the March 18 Selectboard meeting minutes, the appendix now has current contact list information.
That said, the minutes show that the town's emergency operations manual is incomplete, and that officials are working on it.
Copies of the LEOP are on file at the police and fire station, town office, and Windham Regional Commission.
$88K approved for tractor/mower
Selectboard members on March 18 approved the purchase of a Fairfield John Deere Diamond tractor/mower combo, cost not to exceed $88,381.
This was the second-least-expensive option among bids described by Bob Holland of the Highway Department, who made a case for the machine's articulated arm attachment for reaching over guard rails, saying that's equipment the town lacks, and will facilitate mowing further back off the road.
He added that he hopes to increase the amount of roadside mowing from 100 hours to 300 hours, and noted that the town spent $9,800 on roadside mowing last year. He said the machine would pay for itself in eight years, and that it might last longer than 10 years.
On a motion by Linda Holland, seconded by Tom Baltrus, the board voted 4-1-0 to approve the purchase.
Trail mowing, maintenance add up
In a related discussion, members agreed voters should be made more fully aware of the costs of trail mowing and maintenance, as that expense rises annually.
According to draft meeting minutes, that work this year came to roughly $7,700, including eight hours a week for 20 weeks ($5,600), and grooming Valley Trail at 60 hours ($2,100).
“Recommendation is to include in highway budget as a separate line item for the coming year,” the minutes read.
Town buys chair for festival
Selectmen March 18 heard in new business that the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Mountain Chair Madness, in which Adirondack chairs will be decorated by local artists and sponsored by local businesses, individuals, and organizations.
According to the chamber's executive director, Adam Grinold, 17 chair sponsors have committed so far, and they can work with the artists on the design. Each artist receives $200 when a chair is completed.
The chairs will be on display throughout the area, Grinold said, noting that this project is a great way to enthuse locals and visitors to shop and support Dover.
The chairs will be auctioned at the end of the event, and those who purchase the chairs can keep them.
Grinold also requested the town sponsor a chair at Dover Park for $1,500. On a motion by Holland, seconded by Baltrus, the board unanimously agreed to expend $1,500 for a chair for Dover Park.
Posters, kiosk to help with economic development
The Selectboard on March 18 heard from Economic Development Director Ken Black, who discussed a promotional poster for the Guilford Welcome Center.
Dan Baliotti, award-winning photographer and multimedia producer, and co-owner of Dover Hill, jumped in via conference call to present a poster depicting a Mount Snow winter scene among photos of local inns and businesses.
According to Black, most people passing through stop at the visitor center to find a place to stay, Dover lacks a presence there, and a poster would help boost visibility to the area.
“Inns pay the tax money, and need an economic-development shot in the arm. ... Dover is not a one-dimensional place, [just] skiing and golf, etc.,” read the meeting minutes as ostensibly quoting Black.
The poster would be one of three, joining versions for fall and summer, Black said.
Following discussion of scope and aims, on a motion by Holland, seconded by Baltrus, the board unanimously agreed for the chair to sign “amendment #1 for enhancement agreement contract E8066.”
Also on a motion by Holland, seconded by Baltrus, the Selectboard approved adding a fourth information kiosk, at Carinthia, Mount Snow, for $795.
Devin Logan festivities got $300 from town
Mount Snow reduced the amount of money it sought from the town in funding banners, flags, and signs to honor West Dover's Devin Logan on March 22.
Originally requesting $500 for a band, Mount Snow reduced the request to $300, and this was approved unanimously.
Logan made history when she earned a silver medal in the Olympic debut of slopestyle skiing at the 2014 Sochi Games.The event is a hybrid of snowboarding and freestyle skiing, with competitors performing the stunts and spins that snowboarders do in the halfpipe - only on skis instead of a board.
Logan, who also became Twin Valley High School's first Olympic medalist, shot into second place with a solid first run. She finished behind Canadian Dara Howell, who scored an impressive 94.2 in her first run and went on to win the event's first-ever gold medal. Teammate Kim Lamarre took the bronze.
Banners were distributed to local businesses to display on parade day, and a proclamation and key to the Valley were presented to Devin at Mount Snow.
On a motion by Baltrus, seconded by Holland, the board also unanimously agreed to waive the sign permit fee for the parade and associated activities.