BY MAT CLOUSER
BRANDON — The mood was light among members of the selectboard and the public alike on Monday as the Brandon board convened for one of the breezier agendas in recent memory.
On deck for the evening was the solicitation of letters of interest from citizens who would like to be considered for appointment to the board following the recent resignation of Mike Markowski, who cited a lack of time due to work and family commitments. Board chair Seth Hopkins was quick to recognize for his terms of service.
The term for the new selectboard member would run until the 2023 Town Meeting. Letters of interest are due by the next selectboard meeting on August 22. “They can be submitted through the town manager or through any of the selectboard members,” said Hopkins.
In other business, the selectboard:
- Approved a letter of authorization to utilize “Prompt Pay” for the wastewater treatment upgrade invoices to be paid in an expedited fashion.
- Discussed the blinking traffic lights at the Park Street and Route 7 intersection, which were caused by a recent lighting strike and have temporarily disabled the crosswalk, although no specific resolution was made.
- Unanimously approved a letter of interest for the town to be a participant in the Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ Welcoming and Engaging Communities Cohort. The letter indicates Brandon’s interest in being one of the 16 municipalities chosen to take part in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training in an effort to promote those values within the town of Brandon. Sue Gage and Bill Moore were selected as the town’s representatives.
- Heard Dave Atherton’s Town Manager’s Report, which outlined a pre-construction meeting for the new wastewater treatment plant upgrades, where it was decided that construction would begin on September 20; listed an accepted bid of $8945 from Above the Best, LLC for demolition of the property at 389 Newton Road; detailed a Rutland Region Transportation Advisory Committee meeting where a VTrans presentation was given on transportation equity which caused Mr. Atherton to mention that the town might begin work again to add a whistle stop to Amtrak’s new train schedule.
- Heard Mr. Atherton deliver the Rec Department’s report, indicating the massive success of the recent Brandon carnival. Attendance was reportedly high enough that the amusement company signed on for next year’s carnival during the last week of July 2023. Special thanks were given to the event’s “super-volunteers,” Pattie Moore, Sue Danforth, Kas Singh, and Dallas and Jeff Ladd.
