Constable Thorn resigns
GUILFORD — GUILFORD - The town's long-time constable, Walter Thorn, resigned from the position on June 8, Selectboard Chair Sheila Morse announced at the June 27 regular Board meeting.
She and the other Board members unanimously voted to accept Thorn's resignation and thanked him for his many years of service to the town.
According to advice Morse said she received from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the town must advertise the position for at least two weeks before appointing a new constable. Interested parties can contact the Town Offices for more information.
Town Administrator Katie Buckley assured residents and visitors “the town is not left vulnerable in any way” with the lack of a constable.
“In Guilford, this office is rarely, if ever called upon,” she wrote in an email to The Commons. “We have a contract with the Vermont State Police” for law-enforcement, Buckley wrote, adding, “We have an active Dog Officer who enforces our dog ordinance. Since our remaining ordinances mainly involve motor vehicles, [the State Police] could enforce them on the town's behalf."
Although Thorn resigned as constable of his own accord, the constable's cruiser was forced into retirement at the June 27 Board meeting, and the Board unanimously voted to authorize Town Administrator Katie Buckley to sell the car.
Citing advanced age, high mileage, and lack of usage, Morse said the Board decided to discontinue maintaining the vehicle during the Fiscal Year 2017 budget meetings.
Shumlin appoints Buckley
GUILFORD - Governor Peter Shumlin recently appointed Town Administrator Katie Buckley to the Vermont Downtown Development Board, a division of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
As Buckley explained at the June 27 regular Selectboard meeting, the Downtown Development Board decides statewide downtown and neighborhood center designations, and provides rehabilitation tax credits and grants. This Board has representatives from many top state agencies, Buckley said, including the Agency of Transportation and the Agency of Natural Resources.
“It's great exposure for Guilford,” Buckley said of her appointment, adding, “it's great networking."
“Congratulations to Katie,” Selectboard Chair Sheila Morse said, noting, “this Downtown Board appointment is a pretty important position."
Buckley brings in bucks
GUILFORD - Town Administrator Katie Buckley announced the town secured $60,000 in grants from the Agency of Transportation's Better Roads Program.
At the June 27 regular Selectboard meeting, Buckley said the money will help the town comply with Act 64, the state's recently-passed clean water bill.
Buckley applied for the two grants - one for $20,000 and one for $40,000 - in April after working with Road Commissioner Dan Zumbruski, officials at the Agency's District 2 office, and members of the Windham Regional Commission.
The money will help fund stone-lined ditching and culvert work on Sweet Pond and Stage Roads.
Buckley noted the town has money left in reserve, from funds received from Tropical Storm Irene, which can be used to comply with Act 64. Between those funds and the grant money, “you probably won't have to touch other funds” for the road work, she said.
Board Chair Sheila Morse noted Buckley, who returned as Town Administrator in January, has brought in so much grant money to the town, “she is already ahead of herself because this is way more than we pay her."
Finding money for the town “is some of my favorite work to do,” Buckley said.