New law ends highway deal

WOODSVILLE—Despite the enactment of a new state law that abolishes the highway revenue- sharing agreement between Haverhill and Woodsville, it may be a few months before any big changes are made.
On June 25, Gov. Chris Sununu signed HB2 into law. The omnibus bill incorporated, among dozens of other independent pieces of legislation, SB26—a bill introduced by state Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren, that essentially eliminates the agreement between the town and the precinct as enshrined in state law.

ZBA approves LP projects

BRADFORD—The Bradford Zoning Board of Adjustment approved two commercial projects on the Lower Plain after brief public hearings on the morning of July 12.
Thomson Fuels won approval to install three 30,000 gallon propane tanks at its property on 339 Waits River Road, which was formerly owned by Green Mountain Power. Stacey Thomson of Orford said he has owned the property, located along the railroad tracks, since 2017.
Over the past two years, Thomson’s timber harvest unit has used the 3.6-acre parcel as a logyard for storing, processing, and retail distribution of firewood to residential customers.

Rec, welfare mulled for stimulus funds

WOODSVILLE—Haverhill Selectboard members discussed how to spend its expected allocation of funds under the federal American Rescue Plan Act during their meeting on July 6.
As part of the $1.9 trillion ARPA, $130 billion will be sent to municipalities and counties across the country. In New Hampshire, $112 million will be spread across the state’s municipalities excluding its five cities if they opt in by a deadline in the coming weeks.
Haverhill Town Manager Brigitte Codling said last week the town alone has identified some $680,600 in eligible expenses. In addition, town officials said they solicited input from the town’s precincts. Woodsville shared a list of projects totaling $390,000 while Mountain Lakes had one around $594,000.

Remote meeting access continues

BRADFORD—The Bradford Selectboard unanimously voted last week to continue to provide remote access to its meetings even after members returned to in-person sessions last month.
Bradford Selectboard Chair Ted Unkles said he is neither enthusiastic nor comfortable with the livestreaming format and he was happy to resume holding the bimonthly meetings of the town’s legislative body at the Bradford Academy. Still, he said he wanted to continue “one way or another” streaming the meetings.

Corinth man ordered to have more treatment

BURLINGTON—An Orange County man, who initially received a nine-month federal prison term for being a felon in possession of explosive materials, had a little over two months added onto his sentence after he admitted he ignored three directives from the sentencing judge.
Mark A. Mattiace, 44, of East Corinth acknowledged in court on Thursday that after he got out of prison that he tested positive in February for both methamphetamines and marijuana—a violation of an order to remain drug-free.

Towns share cruiser after moose crash

ORFORD—Orford’s police cruiser is getting repaired after a moose sideswiped it last month.
Just after 11 a.m. on June 23, Orford Police Chief Jason Bachus was traveling east on Route 25 near the Mount Cube Farm on a routine patrol.
In a brief interview this week about the incident, Bachus said that he was traveling at 41 mph just before the collision. In the moment before that, he had flashed his lights at an oncoming vehicle that was exceeding the speed limit.

Bradford aims to reduce false alarms

BRADFORD—On June 24, the Bradford Selectboard approved two new ordinances to address fire department reimbursement and false alarms.
The reimbursement ordinance identifies incidents, like an unpermitted burn, where the Bradford Fire Department can bill businesses or individuals after a response. The false alarm ordinance states that the fire department will bill businesses and individuals with excessive false alarms for the costs associated with the department’s response.
“We decided to write a policy the right way, instead of waiting until after something happens and then writing a policy for that,” Bradford Public Safety Committee Chair Gary Moore said.

Traffic calming measures under consideration

FAIRLEE—The Fairlee Selectboard is considering measures to lower traffic speeds around Lake Morey and improve pedestrian safety.
The town may lower the speed limit on Lake Morey Road from 30 to 25 mph during summer, add more speed limit signs, or install speed bumps in order to make the area safer for summer crowds, according to Fairlee Selectboard Member Peter Berger.
“There are really dangerous sections [of the road] that people don’t pay attention to,” Berger said. “Curbing behavior is difficult.”

County budget wins approval

NORTH HAVERHILL—A Grafton County operating budget for the next 12 months in excess of $48.7 million was overwhelmingly approved by legislators on Monday morning.
Meeting mostly in person at the county complex, the delegation of state representatives voted 25-1 to approve the spending plan. Rep. David Binford, R-Bath, was the lone dissent. Ten other Republicans joined 15 Democrats to pass the budget. Rep. Russell Muirhead, D-Hanover, was the lone delegation member to not participate in voting on June 28.

Board restores one trash can

BRADFORD—There is a new development in municipal trash collection in downtown Bradford.
Earlier this year, garbage receptacles and recycling bins from several sidewalk locations on Main Street and Barton Street and one in Denny Park were removed after voters approved a budget in March that essentially defunded trash and recycling collection in the downtown and imposed a carry-in, carry-out policy for the town’s parks.
At least some of the the trash cans had been there for more than a decade. The recycling bins were added in response to Vermont’s universal recycling law passed in 2012.