BY ANGELO LYNN
PROCTOR — In a quick meeting Monday night, the Proctor selectboard moved to make Town Manager Michael Ramsey the town’s credit supervisor to handle delinquent water bills, approved spending about $2550 for a digital speed control sign on South Street coming into town from the south on Route 3, as well as a list of other discussion items.
Following weeks of discussion on how to manage the town’s delinquent water bills, the selectboard approved a motion to make Ramsey the credit supervisor, giving a town staff person authority to manage the water disconnects and payment agreements. The task had previously been with the town’s treasurer, which is an elected town position rather than a member of the town’s staff.
The move came after weeks of discussion with other towns about how they handled the issue, as well as discussions with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. The vote to approve the measure was unanimous.
In a discussion about how to control the speed of vehicles coming into the town, Ramsey had researched digital signs that flash a vehicle’s speed notifying oncoming traffic of the speed they are going with a flashing display. The attention-grabbing signs are reported to be effective at reducing the speed of traffic coming into town, which has been a concern coming south on Route 3 as well as the northerly entrance on Route 3. The sign would be stationary, not mobile,, and affixed to a pole
“I think it’s a good idea to try this and see how it works,” said selectman Tom Hogan, adding that if it were successful, the town might consider getting another. After discussing the pros and cons of various tactics, the selectboard approved the purchase of one digital traffic sign for $2,550.
The selectboard also discussed how it might use the town’s ARPA funds, amounting to $238,000 they have in the bank now and another stipend of that same amount that is forthcoming. More concrete proposals will be discussed at the next meeting.
In the manager’s report, Ramsey rattled off a list of current items he’s working on and dealing with, including:
• continuing to fill the role of Interim Zoning Administrator, though he is looking for an assistant in the town manager’s office to fulfill those duties;
• noted the sheriff’s office would provide two officers for the town’s Memorial Day Parade, which starts at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 30;
• received the state’s approval of the towns Local Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• applied for an emergency town highway grant for about $180,000 worth of damage done to Florence Road because of the recent storm event;
• released bids for the HVAC system for the town office, and making improvements to the town’s infrastructure to expand access on the Gorham Bridge Water service project;
• heard a complaint about the marble office building near the town hall not being as secure (some windows are at times left open) as it should be, and the complainant had concerns about vandalism. Ramsey said he would contact the property manager and have them address it;
• noted a recent house fire on South Street, and expressed his “condolences to the family for their loss” and expressed his thanks to the fire fighters who responded to the scene and went into the burning house to check to be sure no one was inside.
In other news, the recreation department noted the pool is set to open June 13, and that the skating rink will open on May 30, with music.
