Williston Observer

Town appoints board members, Abrahams ousts Duncan for CSWD post

June 30, 2011

Williston’s recent struggle with shorthanded boards and commissions are just about over.
The Selectboard made eight appointments as part of its regular meeting on Monday.

Craig Abrahams highlighted the selections for the volunteer posts with a victory in the night’s only contested race. Abrahams won a spot as Williston’s representative to the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s board with a 3-1 victory over incumbent Joe Duncan.
The two-year term begins immediately.

“With our position as a host community, we’re needing a zealous advocate. And also, quite frankly, we need some new blood,” Board member Chris Roy said at Monday’s meeting, alluding to the fact that CSWD’s administrative office and new compost facility are located in Williston. “I’m impressed with Craig’s initiative.”

Abrahams, a sales manager, was interviewed by the Board four weeks ago and is “very focused” on waste reduction. He belongs to a local citizens’ group known as VOCAL (Vermont Organized Communities Against Landfills). Past articles by the Observer and Vermont Business Magazine have documented his opposition to CSWD’s plans for a landfill in Williston.

“I’m a big proponent of waste reduction and our purpose at VOCAL is a long-term goal of no further landfills in Vermont,” Abrahams said.

Roy made the motion for Abrahams’ appointment. Board members Jeff Fehrs and Jay Michaud also voted for Abrahams. Board chairman Terry Macaig voted for Duncan and Board member Debbie Ingram was not present.

Duncan was then selected to be an alternate on the board, a spot that had been vacant. But Duncan told the Observer on Wednesday that he won’t accept the postition. He’s been involved with the CSWD board since 2004, dating  back to his tenure as the Winooski representative and believes it’s time for a change.

“I’ve seen (Abrahams) show passion about the Chittenden Solid Waste District,” Michaud said. “It’s a raw nerve for the town. It’s critical that a representative from Williston adds things that could be of value … I think Craig will certainly represent Williston the way we want it represented.”

Macaig said Monday that he is concerned that Abrahams’ stance against landfills would create a conflict of interest. He also wanted to give Duncan another chance –other Board members expressed displeasure over Duncan’s attendance record and lack of communication about the new compost facility.

“(Duncan’s) communication had improved. He learned a lot and deserved the chance to go on,” Macaig told the Observer on Tuesday.

Also at Monday’s meeting, David Turner was interviewed and later appointed to a spot on the Development Review Board. Turner, a resident for more than 20 years with a background in engineering, said he “wants to get closer to the issues.” During the 10-minute interview, Turner said he looked at the town plan and believes the town could be spending too much money on land studies.

Turner, who is filling a vacant post, added that he would “like to get his feet wet” on the DRB and then possibly pursue a spot on the Planning Commission.

“(Turner) handled himself well,” Macaig said. “He has a lot to learn but he’s in a good spot. He’ll be with a lot of seasoned veterans.”

Other residents appointed to fill vacant posts on Monday were: Champlain Valley Union High School incoming senior Sam Fontaine (Community Justice Board), Bob Metz (Recreation Committee), Marie-Claude Beaudette (Conservation Commission), Meghan Cope (Planning Commission), and Shannon Hiltner (Planning Commission).

Macaig said the positions had been vacant for a couple of months and filling them is “always a frustrating process,” but that he is pleased with this year’s amount of qualified candidates.

Macaig added that another race, a contested one, will be decided at the Selectboard’s next scheduled meeting on July 11. Selectboard members Roy and Ingram are vying for one spot on the Regional Planning/Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization Commission.

Board Sets Tax Rate

With the next fiscal year beginning Friday, the Selectboard set the FY 2012 municipal tax rate at $.215. The rate is a $.005 more than last year, which equates to a $5 increase in taxes for each $100,000 in assessed property value. The approved rate is the same one that was estimated in March at Town Meeting.

Stalled Circ wears on those stuck in local traffic

June 30, 2011

Larry Currier of Williston explains how rush-hour traffic congestion at the intersection of Industrial Ave. and Vermont 2A causes him difficulty in pulling out of the driveway to the home he has lived in since 1972. (Observer photo by Adam White)

The sign hanging over Larry Currier’s garage reads “Never Better.”

It does not refer to the traffic going past his house on Industrial Ave. in Williston.

In fact, there are days when traffic is so bad that Currier cannot even turn left out of his own driveway, and instead makes a right and drives several miles out of his way rather than fight two lanes of unyielding motorists. Other times, he simply stands at the edge of his lawn near the corner of Industrial Ave. and Vermont 2A, and surveys the bumper-to-bumper congestion stretched in every direction.

“There’s almost no way to describe how bad it has gotten,” said Currier, who has lived near the intersection since 1972. “Car after car, just sitting there idling.”

Much like those cars, the potential solution to Vermont 2A’s traffic problems is going nowhere fast. Though the Federal Highway Administration has green-lighted the project through a Record of Decision authorizing its development, the Circumferential Highway has stalled at the state level, according to Vermont Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles.

“Though not insignificant, the Record of Decision is only one step in the process,” Searles said. “It is permission to proceed with development, not an order to proceed. We do have the Federal OK for this project, but there is still much, much more to talk about.

“Even after all these years, a fresh look at what we’re trying to achieve is still necessary.”

But those whose everyday lives are most impacted by local traffic issues have seen enough.

Dick Allen has lived on Bittersweet Circle in Williston for 14 years, and said that it has been “nearly impossible” to exit the road onto 2A during peak traffic hours. Allen thinks that the successful completion of the Circ would “take at least 50 percent of the traffic off 2A.”

“If they had done this the way they were supposed to, it would have been finished 20 years ago – and probably at about one-tenth of the cost,” Allen said.

In fact, the rising price tag of the Circ project is what has caused it to grind to a halt, according to Searles. He estimates the cost of the approved A/B Boulevard Alternative at $60 to 80 million, not counting “anticipated legal expenses” stemming from the approximately 560 acres of wetlands and wildlife habitat that would be impacted by the project.

“There is no doubt that this project would end up back in court and, in fact, the state has recently received a letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency threatening to veto the project,” Searles wrote in a letter to the Observer. “The state now finds itself in exactly the same place as we were in 2002: two federal agencies with diametrically opposed positions, with a costly legal battle again on the horizon.”

But residents wonder about environmental impacts caused by the existing traffic conditions, and why they haven’t received similar attention from groups like the EPA.

“What about all the exhaust from those cars that are sitting at a stoplight while it changes three (or) four times?” Currier said.

When it comes to impact, no one would be more affected by the Circ than the local landowners whose property would abut the proposed four-land, divided boulevard.

William Burnett’s family has owned Cherry Hill Farm on Williston Rd. since 1869, and the A section of the Circ would fall within 500 feet of the original farmhouse on the property.

Yet Burnett has, from the start, been in favor of the project – despite having had similar construction in the past change the face of his family’s farm forever.

“When the (Interstate 89) came along, it took away 11 acres and split the farm in half,” Burnett said. “It took away our water supply, and left us with a 54-acre parcel that we had no access to.”

Burnett said that his family ultimately gave up that land rather than continuing to pay taxes on it. Nearly 40 years later, he supports the construction of the Circ Boulevard for two primary reasons.

“There’s no way you can be opposed to it, because they will take your land by eminent domain – which they did,” Burnett said. “But I also realize the value that it has to the state. In all this time that it hasn’t been built, there is much more traffic in front of this house.”

Searles said that while the greater traffic issue in Williston and the surrounding area involves “a lot of moving parts,” those parts are all “moving very fast,” and he expects “something substantive to be determined by January.”

But those stuck behind the wheel of traffic-locked cars in Williston don’t share that same optimism.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’ll live long enough to see any of it get done,” Allen said.

Federal approval leads Williston planners to explore impact

The Circumferential Highway through Williston didn’t hit a dead end after all – it is apparently just taking a detour.

This section of U.S. 2 in Williston – located between the Williston Fire Department and the village – was left abandoned when construction of the Circumferential Highway stalled. The newly-approved plan calls for at-grade signaled crossings here and at Mountain View Rd. (Observer photo by Steven Frank)

Williston town planner Ken Belliveau gave a detailed presentation to the Planning Commission on Tuesday outlining the specifics of “Build Alternative 17,” a version of the Circ plan that the Federal Highway Administration has authorized the Vermont Agency of Transportation to proceed with developing. The reworked version of the highway project is designed to connect Interstate 89 in Williston with Vermont 117 and 289 in Essex.

The alternative plan – also referred to as “Circ A/B Boulevard” – entails construction of an initial portion of highway extending north from I-89 and terminating at Mountain View Road in Williston. This “A” portion of the Circ would include at-grade, signaled crossings at U.S. 2 and Mountain View Rd., and comprise two travel lanes in each direction separated by a 16-foot median.

The “B” section of the project – which would continue north from Mountain View Rd., cross a newly-constructed bridge over the Winooski River and connect with the existing southerly portion of VT 289 – would reportedly be completed as a subsequent project in the future.

“The Circ A/B Boulevard offers the best balance of addressing the congestion, safety and mobility needs of the area, while minimizing environmental and community impacts,” stated a release on a Vermont Agency of Transportation web page dedicated to the project.

Belliveau’s presentation outlining the specifics of Alternative 17 to the Planning Commission included the expression of concern about how it would impact the town of Williston.

Belliveau warned that the initial completion of just the A Boulevard under the proposed phasing schedule could pose problems in terms of local traffic, particularly in the vicinity of Mountain View Rd. He pointed out that well-documented concerns already exist about the intersection of Mountain View and North Williston roads, and the Circ could exacerbate that situation through a spike in transient traffic.

“In my opinion, there’s the risk … (that) if you have this new interchange with 89, and it terminates on local roads, do those roads now become attractors (for traffic)?” Belliveau said.

“We could see a net increase of traffic in Williston … of people just passing through to get access to this roadway,” he added on Wednesday. “From the perspective of the town, that’s a concern.”

Many local residents have echoed that concern during the Circ’s planning process in letters and e-mails posted on its website, www.circeis.org.

“If the Circ comes through Williston, we will move out of town before the construction even begins,” wrote Sarah Francisco of Brennan Woods Drive. “While it would alleviate traffic problems as they are now, it would eventually add more traffic problems in the future.”

Planning Commission member Michael Alvanos questioned the prioritizing of the A Boulevard over the B, suggesting that flip-flopping the construction schedule might better serve the Circ’s intended purpose of alleviating traffic pressure on high-volume intersections such as the five corners one in Essex Junction.

Belliveau identified two factors as likely impacting that decision. The first is difficulty in securing the required Section 404 permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for issues pertaining to the approximately 560 acres of wetlands and wildlife habitat that would be affected by the project. These areas are more prevalent in the northern half of the proposed A/B Boulevard right-of-way.

Vermont Rep. Sue Minter, the state’s deputy secretary of transportation, acknowledged on Thursday that pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency has contributed to the Circ project’s current “stalemate.”

“That is something that we need to work out, before we end up going down a path pursuing something that we know will end up in court,” Minter said.

The second factor is the influence on the project from IBM, which already maintains its own bridge over the Winooski River at its facility entrance on VT 117.

“If you were paying attention during Governor Shumlin’s press conference (on May 20), he identified the regional Chamber of Commerce and IBM as who he had consulted prior to making his announcement,” Belliveau said. “Extrapolating from that, you would build A before B because it would create … a real improvement for (IBM’s) transportation options.”

Commission member Drew Nixon said that while he recognizes the A Boulevard’s potential value to IBM’s operations, but disagreed that it warranted the proposed construction schedule.

“Obviously, there’s value to the town of Williston to keep IBM here, and happy,” Nixon said. “But I think you have to build all of (the Circ), or none of it. I can’t see spending all that money on half a solution.”

A call for comment to IBM’s facilities department in Essex was not returned.

Build Alternative 17 would also impact operations of existing and potential future facilities of the Chittenden Solid Waste District on Redmond Rd. in Williston. Planning commission member Jake Mathon brought up prior comments by Selectboard member Chris Roy about how “the dump and the Circ were linked, and that seems to have been forgotten as dozens of years and a number of administrations have gone by.”

Belliveau said that the town’s planning department “would like to see the CSWD get direct access from the Circ,” and questioned whether it fits the vision of Williston’s Comprehensive Town Plan to “support one without the other.”

The Circ project appeared indefinitely stalled when Gov. Shumlin announced at a press conference in Williston that “the original plan is never going to be built.” Shumlin cited cost as a mitigating factor in that decision, and that issue is at least partially addressed by the delayed A/B phasing of the Boulevard plan.

The green light for that plan came after the FHWA published a Final Environmental Impact Statement following the required two public hearings on the issue last August. The FHWA then issued a “Record of Decision” on the process, which allows the Department of Transportation to proceed with final design, permitting, property acquisition and construction.

“By our issuance of a ROD for this project, we are herein granting location/design approval for the proposed action,” wrote FHWA Environmental Program Manager Ken Sikora in a letter to Vermont Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles. “You may proceed with the further development of the project.”

Circ project manager Ken Robie of the Vermont Agency of Transportation said on Thursday that while the FHWA’s Record of Decision “gives VTrans the authority to move forward with development,” the state has not committed to any action in regard to the plan.

“It allows us flexibility to build it as we can,” Robie said. “But it doesn’t require us to build it, or build it within any specific amount of time.”

Belliveau said that he has engaged in correspondence regarding the project with Searles and Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization executive director Michele Boomhower, but neither has revealed any definitive timetable for it.

“They are just going to build A for the time being,” Belliveau said. “They might build B in the future, but nobody knows when that would be. There is really no time frame for any of this.”

June 23, 2011

A Father’s Day excursion to Catamount Family Center in Williston gave (from right) Derek, Riley and Porter Burkins of Jericho a chance to crank out some mountain biking fun together.

June 23, 2011

The listings below are a small sample of needs from more than 200 agencies, available by going online to www.unitedwaycc.org and clicking on “Volunteer.” If you do not have computer access, or would like more information about the volunteer opportunities, call 860-1677 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

FLOOD CLEAN UP

Colchester-Milton Rotary is organizing its community to assist with the clean up from the unprecedented flooding of the Colchester waterfront. The two-day effort will help remove debris from neighborhoods, beaches, and preserve the 27 miles of shoreline.

Professionals will be on site with heavy equipment. Volunteers will gather on June 25 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and June 26 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), parking at Colchester High School and middle school. Transportation to the staging area, water and food will be provided. Volunteers can fill out the online form located at http://bit.ly/ldlIyi.

HELPING RONALD

Ronald McDonald House charities is looking for volunteers to greet visitors to the family room at Fletcher Allen, offer compassionate support, help with daily operations and make referrals to available resources for families as needed. Three-hour shifts between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., seven days a week. Weekend volunteers are especially needed. Volunteers are also being sought to make cookies, prepare a dessert or plan and create a dinner meal for guest families at the house. Dinners may be prepared in Ronald’s kitchen. Cooks and bakers are asked to provide the ingredients.

SUMMER YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

A number of local groups have volunteer opportunities for teens this summer:

Bike Recycle Vermont – skilled artists and crafts people are needed to turn old bike parts into fun and functional objects, and art for a new fundraising venture. Two hours a week, minimum age 15. Front desk staff is also needed, minimum age 16.

Chittenden Community Action – volunteers needed to post flyers around Burlington, Winooski and Essex Junction. One hour a week. Minimum age 13.

Lake Champlain Committee – help stuff and seal envelopes for a fundraising campaign. Minimum age 14.

Richmond Land Trust – learn about and remove invasive silver maple-ostrich ferns during plant removal workdays. Up to three hours a day. Minimum age 14.

Sara Holbrook Community Center – assist an experienced English Language learner teacher, working one-on-one with immigrant and refugee children, chaperoning field trips, etc. One day a week, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 28 to July 30. Instead, a volunteer could help with a summer camp for elementary school children once a week, July to mid-Aug., must be able to swim. Minimum age 16.

Vermont Respite House – bake cookies, brownies, cakes or sweet breads for hospice in Williston. Minimum age 12.

Winooski Valley Park District – help with trail maintenance, removing invasive species from natural areas, and park clean up. Volunteers must wear shoes that can get wet and bring sunscreen, bug spray and plenty of drinking water. Two to three-hour shifts. Minimum ages 12 to 16, depending on project.

MUSIC DAY CAMP

The Vermont Youth Orchestra Association needs volunteers for a music day camp from June 27 through July 1. Volunteers will supervise afternoon activities from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., set up and clean up activities, etc. Teen volunteers must be ages 15 to 17.

MOVIN’ ON

Community Health Center of Burlington is moving into their new location on Riverside Avenue and needs volunteers to help disconnect, move and reconnect computer equipment, telephone equipment and other moving tasks. Professional movers will move the big items. Volunteers should be able to lift, bend and move, tech background helpful but not necessary. July 1, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

KICK-OFF EVENT

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is hosting its start-up dinner for 175 crew and guests on Friday, June 24, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help with dinner prep and clean up, registration, parking, etc.

FOR THE TEENS

The Winooski Underground Teen Center needs volunteers to help cook and serve a meal for 30 Winooski children, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. They also need assistants to work with staff to oversee center, maintain safety and interact with teens; Tuesday or Thursday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. or 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.