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Town of Plymouth, Vermont Select Board – Regular Meeting Monday, July 17, 2023 @ 6:00 PM Community Center Meeting Room Agenda
Topic: Plymouth Select Board Meeting
Time: July 17, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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1. Call to Order and Introduction of Those Present:
2. Consideration of Any Changes, Additions or Removals to Agenda:
3. Approve Meeting Minutes:
   a. June 19, 2023 – Regular Meeting
4. Discuss and Approve adding Town Clerk as authorized signer to Citizens Bank & M&T Bank Accts:
5. Highway Report:
6. Review and Possibly Approve RFP for Billings Bridge #40 Project:
7. Short-Term Rental Discussion, if People Have Questions:
   8. Vermont Bond Bank – Grant Approval:
8. Town Clerk & Treasurer Updates:
   a. Land Records Online
   b. Direct debit forms to set-up automatic payment of real estate taxes
   c. Agenda Email – if you want to receive the Select Board Agendas provide Town Clerk with your
   email address.
   d. Tax bills will be going out in the next few weeks.
9. Mail and Warrants:
10. Other Business:
11. Possible Executive Session:
12. Adjourn:

Water may not be safe to use for drinking, cooking or cleaning after a flood. During and after flooding, private water systems (wells or springs) can become contaminated with microorganisms — such as bacteria, sewage, heating oil, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals, and other substances that can cause serious illness. Community members should assume their water is contaminated if floodwater has reached their well or spring.

However, free drinking water test kits are available. Call 802-338-4724 to order free drinking water test kits to find out if a well or spring was impacted by floodwater.

You can find more post-flood drinking water guidance on this page: https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/drinking-water/after-flood-drinking-water-guidance

Additional information on how to stay safe when returning to a home or business after flooding is on the Health Department’s website and is being updated regularly: HealthVermont.gov/Flood

Vermont Department of Health

Environmental Health Division, Town Health Officer Program

802-863-7220

AHS.VDHTHO@vermont.gov

The Plymouth Memory Tree is here for all Plymouth residents affected by the flooding. We are accepting applications for recovery assistance, including to repair damaged homes, driveways, wells, septic systems or support the replacement of lost vehicles. Please find our application at the Plymouth Town Office or online here (link to the pdf)

Please see resources below, and remember now is the time to remain safe. The water is still moving quickly, and it has debris (metals, glass, waste, etc).

Resources:

1. ANR Flood resource: https://anr.vermont.gov/flood
2. State of Vermont Flood Resources: https://www.vermont.gov/
3. Volunteer: Register at Vermont.gov/volunteer and you will be contacted as volunteer opportunities are coordinated through the State of Vermont.
4. VT Language Justice Project:  The following resource for non-English speakers to access flood safety information. ASL videos coming soon. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0uaGz81U–7XiSGftCBdoSMS29hPv3il
5. Roads: For a list of state road closures visit https://newengland511.org/. 
6. Forecasts: Vermonters can track river forecasts and levels athttps://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=btv.
7. Alerts: Residents are encouraged to register for a Vermont Alert account at www.vtalert.govto receive up to the minute safety warnings.

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

Waking up on Tuesday morning it was nice to see the sun. The devastation, not so nice. Yet, even during the rain, neighbors were calling and checking on each other, expressing concern and offering assistance. Some places were relatively unscathed, but others suffered severe destruction. Those below the bridge on Dublin Rd were hard hit. Perhaps at a later time, their stories will be told. Anyone with equipment and two hands rushed to restore the bridge and help clean up the Echo Lake Inn, the church, plus the flooded homes. A spirit of cooperative prevailed and the bridge is passable with caution. Hopefully gawkers will not see that as an invitation to drive through, however. Please heed this plea.

Our pristine Camp Plymouth State Park flooded from several directions and renters in the cottages needed to be evacuated. Traveling north on Rte 100 toward the Union today, water is still running across the road in a couple of places, with crews hard at work. Many driveways have disappeared and even more basements have been flooded.

Some people may find it demoralizing, but just like after “Irene”, folks are pulling together and compassionately meeting needs. I don’t have a list of resources yet, but hopefully can pull one together with help. In the meantime, praying the forecasted rain will not cause any additional damage. Holding all of you in my heart.

The three lakes in Plymouth (Woodward, Amherst and Echo) are very muddy and there is a lot of debris. The lakes need to cleanse themselves and all swimming areas need to be checked once the water clarity improves. Swimming in any of the lakes is strongly discouraged until water clarity improves and water testing for bacteria levels is done.

Al Poirier

Plymouth Emergency Management

Here is the situation as of 4 AM this morning for major routes.  Same report as last night but with correction on Hale Hollow Access and Sawmill Road access.

1) Route 100 N is open from Ludlow to after F&W..

2) Route 100 S is open from F&W to Ludlow.

3) Route 100A is open.

Town Roads

    Kingdom Road is closed from Scout Camp Road to Chapman Road

    Chapman is  accessible to about 743 (there is no access to Dix Hill).

   Hale Hollow is accessible

    Accessibility to Hawk East still needs to be verified . There is definitely some access but many unknowns.

    Sawmill Road is not accessible

    Johnson Farm Road is not accessible.

All other roads have access but there may be some gaps. All roads have erosion and washouts so driving with extra care is essential.

Will refine the details tomorrow.

Al Poirier

Plymouth Emergency Management

Jul 11

Here is the situation as of 4 PM this afternoon for major routes. Not a perfect listing but kind of gives an idea of where we are at.

1) Route 100 N is open from Ludlow to after F&W..

2) Route 100 S is open from F&W to Ludlow.

3) Route 100A is open.

Town Roads

Kingdom Road is closed from Scout Camp Road to Chapman Road
Chapman is accessible to about 743 (there is no acccess to Dix Hill).
Accessibility to Hale Hollow is in question due to the first bridge from 100A
Accessibility to Hawk East needs to be verified tomorrow. There is definitely some access but many unknowns.
Johnson Farm Road is not accessible.

All other roads have access but there may be some gaps. All roads have erosion and washouts so driving with extra care is essential.

Will refine the details tomorrow.

Al Poirier
Plymouth Emergency Management

We are trying to get a road situation in Plymouth but that probably won’t happen until late today.

Here is the situation as of 9 AM this morning for major routes. 

1) Route 100 N is closed after F&W if you are leaving from town hall.

2) Route 100 S is closed at the intersection of route 100A if you are leaving from town hall.

3) Route 100A is open.

4) Route 100 from Echo Lake Inn to Hawk is open.

5) Route 100 from Echo Lake Inn to 131 is open.

All of the above routes need to be driven with caution as there are wash outs and erosion on the sides.

6) Kingdom Road is closed from Scout Camp Road to Chapman Road. 

You can use VT 511 to see major road closures. New England 511| 511 Traffic | Commuter Information

Will try to have a more detailed picture later today.

Al Poirier

Plymouth Emergency Management

We have closed the emergency shelter at the community center. We did not have anybody to shelter. If you are in need of sheltering call Al Poirier 802-236-5046.

If it’s an emergency dial 911

Al Poirier

Emergency Management Director