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Topic: Plymouth Select Board Meeting

Time: May 20, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

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Meeting ID: 851 8363 3072 Passcode: 709001

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1. Call to Order
2. Consideration of Any Changes, Additions or Removals to Agenda
3. Approve Meeting Minutes
4. Citizen Comments
5. Appointment of New Town Treasurer
6. Review and Approve Liquor License(s)
7. Review and Possibly Approve Cost for Placement of American Flags on Poles in Plymouth
8. Ratification of the M&T Bank Line of Credit Current Expense Note and Exhibit A
9. Review Grader Quote
10. Animal Control Officer / Nuisance Dog Hearing
11. Discussion on Benefits for Employees
12. Reminder of Billings Road Bridge Closure
13. Sign Warrants and Review Mail
14. Next Select Board Meeting Date
15. Possible Executive Session
16. Adjourn

Registered Voters in the Town of Plymouth are asked to attend a Special Meeting Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. in Town Hall Auditorium regarding the following:

1. To see if the legal voters of the Town of Plymouth will vote to exempt the property owned by Bethany Birches Camp, Inc., located at 2610 Lynds Hill Road (parcel # 000167) from the educational portion of their property taxes for a period of 5 years commencing with the 2024 tax year.
2. To take comments from the public on the draft Town of Plymouth zoning ordinance that was approved by the Planning Commission after a warned public hearing on February 6, 2024, and presented to the Selectboard at their regularly scheduled meeting on March 18, 2024.

The Town Clerk/Treasurer’s Office will be closed on Monday, May 20, 2024 as work is being done on the building. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

The Billings Road bridge will be closed starting Wednesday, May 15, 2024 for approximately four (4) weeks.

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

5/13/24

Today is Monday and the sun is shining brightly. I was away last week and came home to find everything green and leafing out. Unfortunately, the black flies seem to be enjoying the weather as well!

Reading seems to be on the agenda this week. Tonight, 5/13 there will be a discussion of The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh at 6 PM at Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow.  On Wed, 5/15, a zoom discussion of The Women by Kristin Hannah is on tap for the Plymouth Book Group at 6:30 PM. This book provided a striking look at the nurses who served in Vietnam. Not for the faint of heart, but important insights were presented. We will also be choosing books for the next several months.  Everyone is welcome.

Here is some important news from Tiffany and Chris from Camp Plymouth State Park: Restoration of grounds and roads at Camp Plymouth State Park is underway! Please do not walk in the park now as it is an active construction zone. Crews could be here any day of the week working. Please do not let your dogs run over reseeded grass and all dogs need to be on a leash. Crews and staff are working hard getting the park ready for opening on Friday, May 24th. We appreciate your help in letting the work continue as quickly as possible. Please tell your friends and neighbors who may not see this post. We cannot wait to welcome you all back on 5/24!

Rejoice Sherry said the Historic Site will be ready to open on 5/24. There will be a student music recital at the Notch on 6/23. She has some young musicians ready to perform, but would like to have a few more. The families will have free admission to the Site that day. Call Rejoice at (802) 636-7824‬ for more information.

New store offers pre-packaged and cut-to-order handcrafted cheeses, other gourmet foods, and gifts.

Grafton Village Cheese invites the public to help celebrate the Grand Opening of their new Okemo Valley Retail Store over the Memorial Day Weekend. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce will kick off the event Friday May 24th at 12 noon. The celebration will continue Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 6pm, wrapping up Monday at 12 noon. Each day will include cheese and gourmet food samples, live entertainment, daily raffles and kids’ activities.

The new store is conveniently located at 2568 VT Route 103 in Proctorsville, just east of downtown Ludlow. “We are thrilled to have joined the Okemo Valley community and are excited to welcome locals and visitors into our beautiful new space”, says Sherry DiBernardo, the Company’s Retail Manager. In addition to Grafton’s line of aged and infused cheddars, and cave-aged specialty cheeses, the Okemo Valley Retail Store offers a carefully curated selection of other cheeses from Vermont and around the world. Visitors will also find a wide selection of wine, beer, gourmet food products and handcrafted gifts.

As one of Vermont’s legacy cheese producers, Grafton Village Cheese Company has been handcrafting award-winning cheeses using unpasteurized milk from small family farms for over 60 years. As a subsidiary of The Windham Foundation, the sale of our cheese helps fund initiatives that promote rural prosperity and preserve Vermont’s cultural legacy.

About the Windham Foundation
Headquartered in Grafton, Vermont, the Windham Foundation is an operating foundation engaged in philanthropic, charitable, and educational activities. Since its inception in 1963, its mission has been to promote the vitality of Grafton and Vermont’s rural communities through its philanthropic and educational programs. Its subsidiaries, the Grafton Village Cheese Co. and the Grafton Inn, contribute to these endeavors as mission-driven businesses.

Contact: Sherry DiBernardo at 802-246-1000, sherry.dibernardo@graftonvillagecheese.com
For more information, visit our website: www.yourplaceinvermont.com.

The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit, member-driven association and the voice of 300+ businesses and the communities of 12 Towns & Villages in South Central Vermont from the VT Scenic Route 100 Byway to Interstate Route 91, and surrounded by Okemo, Ascutney & Magic Mountains. OVRCC provides advocacy, support, and unified regional marketing to promote and enhance businesses in the region as well as the four-season economy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Carol Lighthall, Executive Director, Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
clighthall@yourplaceinvermont.com 802-228-5830
—

Leah Krieble
Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce57 Pond Street Ste #8 – PO Box 333Ludlow, VT 05149802-228-5830

lkrieble@yourplaceinvermont.com

www.yourplaceinvermont.com

5/4/24

I noticed that some of the roads have been cleared of litter – great job on GreenUp Day! Flowers are pushing through the rubble remaining from the flood last July, birds are singing and there seems to be a feeling of hope and new beginnings as we proceed into May. I was a bit dismayed by some hail on the deck last week, but that seems like a distant memory!

May Birthdays: Amber Bergey 5/27, Marcia Bender 5/10, BettyAnn Hayward 5/15, and Julia Baldwin 5/18. Sorry I missed Kathy Lynds on 4/29. Congratulations to all! 

At the recent Tyson Ladies Aid Meeting, the group scheduled a work day at the library with the plan of opening over Memorial Day weekend. There are lots of entertaining activities for various ages coming up at the Fletcher Memorial Youth Library, Ludlow.  Check it out!

Springfield Area Parent Child Center Playgroup Tuesday 10:30-12:00pm

Ages Birth-6 (Older Siblings are Welcome) Playgroups provide parents and children with opportunities to socialize, learn and have fun in a safe environment led by parent child center specialists. 

Spring Story Time Wednesdays 10:30am-11:15am April 10th – June 5, 2024

Best Suited for Ages 5 and Under Each week focuses on early literacy activities, stories, songs and ends with a craft or science exploration. Great for your child to socialize and meet new friends and for adult caregivers to connect.

No School Today Movie Matinee Tues May 28, 2024 1:00-3:00pm Snacks provided

Monday Night Multiage Crafts May 6, 2024 5:00-6:30 Ages 12 to Adult Shrinky Dinks Use shrinking plastic to make a keychain, magnet, charm, jewelry etc. 

After School Drop in Crafts Thursday May 9th and 23rd 3:00-4:30pm Ages 6 & Up

May 9th- Birdhouse Cards- Make a fun and unique card for Mother’s Day,

May 23rd- Tin Foil Doodles- Drawing on tin foil for one of a kind art creation

Someone sent me the information noted below. Wonder if it is factual? “Not everyone wanted to be part of the United States when the Revolutionary War broke out. Vermont, for instance, declared itself an independent republic from 1777 to 1791, due in part to ongoing disputes with neighboring New York, which claimed the land as its own. The future Green Mountain State adopted its own constitution and operated as a de facto independent country. In addition to having its own currency and postal service, Vermont also abolished slavery on July 2, 1777 — the first American colony to do so.”

Town of Plymouth, Vermont Select Board – Special Meeting Friday, May 3, 2024 @ 8:30 AM Municipal Building Meeting Room Agenda

1. Call to Order:
2. Board to Approve and Sign Resolution with M&T Bank:
3. Adjourn:

4/29/24

It has been a windy world lately. Sunday was beautiful and seemed to promise that spring may actually be here. Folks were out trying to pick up sticks, rake debris and generally beautify their yards. A few sprinkles on Monday are keeping down the dust!

I understand that Chris and Tiffany have returned to Camp Plymouth State Park. As with most places devastated by the July flood, there is lots of work still to be done. They are hopeful that the park will be ready for a Memorial weekend opening and are leaf-blowing and chasing geese away as I write!

GreenUp day is 5/4 throughout the state and Plymouth will be participating. Per Angela, ABLE Waste will have a dumpster behind the town building to collect the special green bags on Saturday. These bags may be obtained at the town office. Call Angela (802-500-1815) if you can’t get there during regular hours. Only those green bags with roadside litter should be put in the dumpster.

Don’t forget that the Plymouth Historical Society is open on Sundays from 2 to 4 PM. The exception will be 5/11 instead of Mother’s Day, 5/12. It is located at the former Plymouth Elementary School building on Rte 100 and has an amazing collection depicting our rich town history.

                                                   WARNINGS

Public Notice of Hearing Before the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustmentof the Town of Plymouth will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 7 P.M. In the auditorium of the Plymouth Town Hall, located at 68 Town Office Rd., Plymouth VT to consider a Conditional Use zoning Permit and Zoning

Applicant: Daniel Nugent.   Location: 29 Campground Rd. Parcel ID: 000297

Proposal: New 12 x 21’ addition and a 8 x 12 addition to existing shed

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

4/21/24

Well, I thought the bears were out and wandering about, so seeing one in my yard on my Blink the other night was not really a surprise. A neighbor mentioned he has heard them singing recently. Spring brings many creatures to the fore. While walking around Amherst last week, there were numerous turtles sunning themselves, their shells glistening before they became spooked and they dove into the water. The barred owls are also making their presence known. I have recently installed Merlin on my phone and have been enjoying learning the various calls of birds chirping on my walks.

The Plymouth Book Group met last Wednesday and chose The Women by Kristin Hannah for the 5/15 discussion. Subsequent selections will be discussed at that meeting.If you enjoy reading & discussing books, also consider joining the dialogue regarding The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh at Fletcher Memorial Library on Monday, 5/13 at 6 PM.

I was not able to attend the 4/15 Select Board meeting, but it appears that the dog ordinance modification was tabled for another time. I understand there was a lengthy discussion about the petition for a revote on Town Meeting approval to exempt Bethany Birches Camp from paying the education portion of their property tax. The date has been set for Tuesday, 5/21 at 7:00 PM. Only residents attending the meeting may cast a vote. Please note that minutes from these meetings are available on the town website.