WOODSVILLE—With several questions about fire departments going to voters next month, Haverhill Town Manager Brigitte Codling last week presented her vision for the background and future of a town fire department.
Currently, three of the town’s precincts—Haverhill Corner, North Haverhill, and Woodsville— independently operate their own fire department and maintain their own fire station, although all rely on town funds.
NEWBURY—Newbury residents seized on a meeting with state officials last week to voice their fears over a proposed juvenile detention facility in a former bed and breakfast. Chief among those concerns: What happens if there’s an escape or another emergency in a town without its own police or emergency responders?
“This proposed detention facility threatens my perception of Newbury as being a safe place to live and run my business,” said Joanne O’Meara, who was among the residents who turned out for a Zoom meeting on Feb. 11.
WEST FAIRLEE—Fire officials said a family of three barely escaped with their lives after a fast-moving fire destroyed their historic split-level home at 3207 Blood Brook Road on Feb. 8.
The fire was called in at 10:19 p.m., and within minutes dozens of firefighters and equipment from at least nine mutual aid communities had converged at the scene to battle the blaze.
Fortunately, the husband and wife and their 10-month-old child were able to vacate the burning house by the time firefighters arrived, said West Fairlee Deputy Fire Chief Zach McNeal.
“They barely made it out the smoke was so heavy,” McNeal said.
TOPSHAM—The location for the town’s new garage is once again the top issue for voters.
Topsham has been looking to build a new town garage for over a decade. The current building, located along Tabor Branch in East Topsham, is cramped and underequipped. Several initial proposals were rejected by voters or vetoed by state regulators.
Then, at a special town meeting in January 2017, voters approved $43,000 for an 11-acre lot on Peterson Road near the intersection of Ben Dexter Road and Willey Hill Road. The site is centrally located between East Topsham and West Topsham. Residents approved the purchase in a 30-16 vote.
BRADFORD—In an atmosphere charged with anticipation, the Bradford Armory was abuzz with chatter, tears and hugs on Saturday as Vermont National Guard soldiers departed for a year-long deployment abroad.
Approximately 80 soldiers were given the big send-off by well-wishers at the armory and beyond. Flags, horns and sirens, balloons and “thank you” signs and banners enlivened Main Street and the Lower Plain as scores of people from throughout the area turned out to support the Guard members and their families.
The National Guard unit of Bradford will be part of Task Force Avalanche within Operation Spartan Shield, a U.S. Department of Defense operation in the U.S. Central Command.
BRADFORD—It’s a town meeting season unlike any other in the past. With COVID-19 upending traditional practices, municipalities have been given some flexibility on how to conduct their annual town business meeting.
But Zoom meetings and Australian ballots are not the only features for town meeting this year. In several area towns, there will be competitive races with multiple candidates standing for selectboard seats.
In Bradford, there are five candidates in all seeking a spot on the board. Incumbent Carole Taylor is the only registered candidate for a seat with a two-year term.
WELLS RIVER—Several positive COVID-19 cases in the community prompted pre-k-12 Blue Mountain Union School to move to remote learning on a full-time basis for the next three weeks.
At least five people with Covid were within the school building last week.
In a letter posted on Facebook, Orange East Supervisory Union Superintendent Emilie Knisley said none of the cases confirmed last week were a result of in-school transmission. Knisley did not return a voice mail.
ORFORD—It appears that changes implemented over the past two years have resolved budgeting problems that led to an $800,000 deficit in 2018-2019.
Early on in the Rivendell Interstate School District’s Feb. 4 board meeting, professional auditor Tyler Paine briefed the board on the district’s finances for the year ending June 31, 2020.
In that period, the firm found new as well as recurring issues that they identified as “deficiencies” in Rivendell’s business practices.
Paine noted that thee audit of the district’s finances was the “smoothest one we’ve had this year.”
“There’s no [further] planning or consideration needed from the district at this point,” Paine said. “Any comments or suggestions have been well-received by financial administrators.”
NEWBURY—Less than two years after the Oxbow Senior Independence Program celebrated its 30th anniversary, its day program has had to call it quits. The adult daily services program is yet another victim of the coronavirus pandemic.
OSIP was founded in 1987 with a dual mission. The organization provides subsidized, independent housing for older adults and adults with disabilities at three properties in Newbury and Wells River.
Built in 1988, the Montebello Hill Apartments in Newbury has 15 units. Spear House Apartments and Spear House in Wells River opened in 1992 and have 18 units, according to Robin Barone of Newbury. She has been the chair of the DOSIP board of directors for almost 23 years.
WELLS RIVER—The governing body of Wells River Village is bereft of a quorum after the resignation of one member and the sudden passing of another.
The village, incorporated in 1888, is an independent subdivision within the town of Newbury. It maintains a municipal water and wastewater system and its own highway department serving a village population of approximately 399 people, according to the 2010 census.
A three-member board of trustees oversees these services and a village clerk, holding an annual meeting and elections the third Tuesday each March.