Town of Danville

Special Selectboard Meeting

Route #2 Project

Minutes March 13^th, 2008

The Selectboard met at the Danville Town Hall meeting room on Thursday March 13^th, 2008. The meeting was warned in the Caledonian Record as well as posted on the usual bulletin boards in town. Michael K. Walsh called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Selectboard present were Marion Sevigny, Doug Pastula, Denise Briggs and Michael Walsh. Also present were Merton Leonard, Senator Jane Kitchel, Tim Ide and the following visitors: from VTrans Ken Robie, Stewart Menard, Robert White, Kevin Marcia, and Gary Santee of Stantec; from the Arts Council Alex Aldrich, Sonia Rea, and Michelle Bailey; Members of the Route #2 Committee (LRC), Mary Prior, Ken Linsley, Crystal Fox, Jeff Frampton, and Thomas Beattie, Interested Citizens; Catherine Beattie, Martin Beattie, Leonard Carson, Catherine Toll, Alice and William Cruess, Barb and Gary Fontaine, Robert Kitchel, News Ch7 Shane Beam and reporter Sally Anderson Cook.

This special meeting was being held after the Vermont Department of Transportation notified the Town and the LRC that due to rising construction cost and changing State priorities, that the State would not be able to cover the additional cost and were requesting that the Town fund some of the projects or eliminate some of the construction so it would remain at the original project cost.

Michael K Walsh opened the meeting by saying that this particular part of the project was started ten years ago. He stated that we went through a lot of turmoil and discussion as to how the road was going to affect the downtown area of Danville. Then the State and the Arts Council got together and formed the Route #2 Local Review Committee to help decide what this project would look like. His concern is if the project does not get started in 2010 they would have to make more cuts and we will end up with no enhancements.

Kevin Marshia VTrans Roadway Program Manager, explained that due to the State’s limited construction funds his department is studying which projects are financially doable and align those projects with reality. His department is here to make this project a little more viable. Rob White VTrans Right of Way Manager explained that although there has been work done in identifying the right of way, that his department is the one that actually deals with acquiring the land needed, and they are now working on that process.

Ted Brady, Senator Leahy’s field representative, stated that the Senator wants the project to live up to the standards that it was designed to meet, its up to the State to find the savings. Arts Council Director Alex Aldrich agreed that the design reflects the desires of the community from all the Local Review Committee meetings, and to start cutting out pieces would loose the public value of the design.

There were various aspects of the design, features, and construction talked about over the course of the meeting. Board member Doug Pastula was quite adamant that the traffic light would not be missed, particularly if the road elevation is not changed. Planning Chair Jeff Frampton added that the State hasn’t committed to reducing any construction costs yet. State Senator Jane Kitchel confirmed that there is a shortage of funds in the State Transportation Department and if cost reductions could be made in the project it would allow the project to move forward. The important date is the end of June to come to some agreement to insure the project will receive funding for the work scheduled in 2009.

Board member Denise Briggs questioned just mow much can be changed without having to go back through the Act 250 process?

Mary Prior President of the Historical Society and the one remaining original member of the Route #2 Committee, was quite active in the discussion and clearly recalls the hours of work and planning that has gone into this design, and to now be asked to disassemble it, is almost to much to comprehend. She requests that the artists also weigh in on this request for costs savings.

As the meeting was winding down, it is noted here that there were no final decisions made that effect the Route #2 Project, except that the next meeting was set for March 26^th at 6:00pm at the Town Hall and would be just the local people discussing the State’s request. Then on April 10^th the state would return for further discussions and cost savings that they will offer, the Board adjourned at 7:22pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Merton Leonard

Clerk of the Selectboard

Town of Danville

Send mail to Mert.Leonard@DanvilleVt.com with questions or comments about this web site.