Vermont Standard
8/6/15
By Curt Peterson
Standard Correspondent
KILLINGTON — When Killington Pico Area Association’s Vince Chiarella stood to make an announcement at the select board meeting Tuesday evening, he unfurled a huge mock-up of a check for $15,000 payable to the Town of Killington. This got everyone’s attention.
“KPAA and the Moran Family Foundation have joined together to make this donation to a restricted fund for plantings beautifying Killington Road so the work the town has begun can be completed,” Chiarella said.
The Moran family, Town Manager Seth Webb later explained, has a second home in town and wanted to support the project with KPAA. Webb photographed the selectmen posing holding the check with Chiarella.
The Fire Department Facilities Committee gave a detailed report, including slides, from its July 15 visit to inspect Williamstown’s newly finished fire station. Webb pointed out that Williamstown’s fire department faced many of the same issues that confront the Killington squad, so seeing how their new facility solved the problems would be valuable education.
Resident Vito Rasenas said: “You’ll notice in the slide that Williamstown’s new station has five bays. We will need seven because we have more equipment than they do.” One of the new bays is used for their Rescue Squad and holds two ambulances.
The original cost estimate for the facility was $3 million. A local businessman donated the land and, with careful planning and efficient design, the final cost to the town was $2.3 million. One major savings was to widen the garage door openings, which made backing the trucks inside safer and easier. It also eliminated the cost of putting doors on both sides of the building for a “drive-through” effect.
Andy Rosenblum explained that eliminating the extra doors allowed Williamstown to use the back wall for utilities, storage and a changing area, and the wider doors provided more maneuvering room between vehicles.
“They also hired a clerk-of-the works to oversee construction on a full-time basis,” Rosenblum said. “They believe he saved them more than his salary ($30,000) by keeping an eye on what was going on.”
Chet Hagenbarth, Killington’s road foreman, added that having someone co-manage the job along with a general contractor might save a mark-up on subcontractor costs by allowing the town to pay them directly.
KVFD president Steve Finer said Williamstown built in long-term savings in the new facility as well.
“They installed a new pellet-burning heating system and provided storage space for the fuel supply. Their heating bill went from $12,000 a year to $3,500,” Finer said.
Rosenblum said the building also used solar panels to provide hot water.
A two-story brick section is attached to the metal garage building. It houses offices, a “day room” that can be used as an emergency shelter in case of disaster, a kitchen, a public meeting room with handicapped access, and a small holding area that is used by the local sheriff and the state police when needed.
Hagenbarth thinks that Killington might use the same architect who designed the Williamstown station, have him add two bays and calculate an updated building cost estimate when and if the town decides to float a bond issue to finance a new facility.
“The Williamstown building is 9,800 square feet,” he said. “We would just be adding about 2,500 more square feet to the garage area. This could save us up-front costs.”
Select board chair Patty McGrath said she heard the Williamstown people held one of the votes deciding whether or not to build the new facility in the old facility, forcing the residents to see how inadequate the old building was. The vote came out 80 percent favorable, 20 percent against building the new station.
Finer said the Killington department is hoping to have the local Rotary Club hold one of their meetings at the old fire station, and to host a couple of Open Houses so the public gets a taste of how badly a new facility is needed. He also clarified that, while both the selectmen and he had referred generically to the fire department crew as “guys” throughout the discussion, the Killington squad includes women firefighters and women EMTs, and that some serve in both roles.
On a related issue Seth Webb reported one financing source had quoted a 2.84 percent interest rate for financing the new $360,000 fire truck.
“This is a really good rate,” he said, “but I think we might be able to do even better.”
The board passed a motion approving financing the new truck at a 2.84 percent interest rate, or less if available.
Webb also had good news about financing the new $190,000 singleaxle dump truck for the Road Department.
“For that we have two interest bids – one for 2.59 percent and another for 2.25 percent,” Webb said.
“I assume you want a motion to approve financing at the 2.25 percent rate, right?” quipped selectman Chris Bianchi.
A motion to do so passed.
Webb reported that the Black family on McClellan Road has notified the town they wish to exercise a permit they were issued allowing them to install a second driveway to their property. He admitted that allowing two driveways to one residence has never been a standard procedure, but the fact that the permit was granted on Oct. 17, 1983 was more of an issue.
According to various accounts and memories, the Blacks were originally granted two access ways because they had more residents trying to park at the house than one driveway could accommodate. They constructed one, and, according to Chet Hagenbarth, just drove over the second until the small ditch was filled in.
Some years later the Blacks apparently stopped using the second driveway, and weeds and grass grew over it so it has become invisible. Hagenbarth said his road crew was doing some ditching work at the site and opened up a functional ditch where the driveway had once been used. This inspired Ms. Black to notify the town she wants to install a culvert and re-establish the driveway she was permitted to use almost 32 years ago, like people wanting to use ancient roads that were once traveled but have faded away.
Hagenbarth said when the permit was granted a culvert had to be installed “if needed.” Now, he explained, the state has culvert specifications that could be required if modern regulations are applied to the old permission.
Chris Bianchi, reading a copy of the original permit, said, “This permit says it expires in two years if not acted upon.”
A discussion ensued over whether the Blacks’ alleged use of the driveway years ago constituted exercising the permit, thus voiding its expiration. In the end Webb pointed out there are three choices: “We can say yes, you can re-install the driveway and the town will provide what work is necessary regarding the ditch and culvert, we can say, yes, you can re-install the driveway, but you have to do the work yourself and install a culvert according to modern code, or, we can say, no, this permit is no longer valid, you have to reapply for permission to build a second driveway.
The board decided to advise the Blacks to reapply.
“We’re not trying to deny the Blacks their driveway,” Bianchi said. “We just want to make sure this is done right.”
Standard Correspondent
KILLINGTON — When Killington Pico Area Association’s Vince Chiarella stood to make an announcement at the select board meeting Tuesday evening, he unfurled a huge mock-up of a check for $15,000 payable to the Town of Killington. This got everyone’s attention.
“KPAA and the Moran Family Foundation have joined together to make this donation to a restricted fund for plantings beautifying Killington Road so the work the town has begun can be completed,” Chiarella said.
The Moran family, Town Manager Seth Webb later explained, has a second home in town and wanted to support the project with KPAA. Webb photographed the selectmen posing holding the check with Chiarella.
The Fire Department Facilities Committee gave a detailed report, including slides, from its July 15 visit to inspect Williamstown’s newly finished fire station. Webb pointed out that Williamstown’s fire department faced many of the same issues that confront the Killington squad, so seeing how their new facility solved the problems would be valuable education.
Resident Vito Rasenas said: “You’ll notice in the slide that Williamstown’s new station has five bays. We will need seven because we have more equipment than they do.” One of the new bays is used for their Rescue Squad and holds two ambulances.
The original cost estimate for the facility was $3 million. A local businessman donated the land and, with careful planning and efficient design, the final cost to the town was $2.3 million. One major savings was to widen the garage door openings, which made backing the trucks inside safer and easier. It also eliminated the cost of putting doors on both sides of the building for a “drive-through” effect.
Andy Rosenblum explained that eliminating the extra doors allowed Williamstown to use the back wall for utilities, storage and a changing area, and the wider doors provided more maneuvering room between vehicles.
“They also hired a clerk-of-the works to oversee construction on a full-time basis,” Rosenblum said. “They believe he saved them more than his salary ($30,000) by keeping an eye on what was going on.”
Chet Hagenbarth, Killington’s road foreman, added that having someone co-manage the job along with a general contractor might save a mark-up on subcontractor costs by allowing the town to pay them directly.
KVFD president Steve Finer said Williamstown built in long-term savings in the new facility as well.
“They installed a new pellet-burning heating system and provided storage space for the fuel supply. Their heating bill went from $12,000 a year to $3,500,” Finer said.
Rosenblum said the building also used solar panels to provide hot water.
A two-story brick section is attached to the metal garage building. It houses offices, a “day room” that can be used as an emergency shelter in case of disaster, a kitchen, a public meeting room with handicapped access, and a small holding area that is used by the local sheriff and the state police when needed.
Hagenbarth thinks that Killington might use the same architect who designed the Williamstown station, have him add two bays and calculate an updated building cost estimate when and if the town decides to float a bond issue to finance a new facility.
“The Williamstown building is 9,800 square feet,” he said. “We would just be adding about 2,500 more square feet to the garage area. This could save us up-front costs.”
Select board chair Patty McGrath said she heard the Williamstown people held one of the votes deciding whether or not to build the new facility in the old facility, forcing the residents to see how inadequate the old building was. The vote came out 80 percent favorable, 20 percent against building the new station.
Finer said the Killington department is hoping to have the local Rotary Club hold one of their meetings at the old fire station, and to host a couple of Open Houses so the public gets a taste of how badly a new facility is needed. He also clarified that, while both the selectmen and he had referred generically to the fire department crew as “guys” throughout the discussion, the Killington squad includes women firefighters and women EMTs, and that some serve in both roles.
On a related issue Seth Webb reported one financing source had quoted a 2.84 percent interest rate for financing the new $360,000 fire truck.
“This is a really good rate,” he said, “but I think we might be able to do even better.”
The board passed a motion approving financing the new truck at a 2.84 percent interest rate, or less if available.
Webb also had good news about financing the new $190,000 singleaxle dump truck for the Road Department.
“For that we have two interest bids – one for 2.59 percent and another for 2.25 percent,” Webb said.
“I assume you want a motion to approve financing at the 2.25 percent rate, right?” quipped selectman Chris Bianchi.
A motion to do so passed.
Webb reported that the Black family on McClellan Road has notified the town they wish to exercise a permit they were issued allowing them to install a second driveway to their property. He admitted that allowing two driveways to one residence has never been a standard procedure, but the fact that the permit was granted on Oct. 17, 1983 was more of an issue.
According to various accounts and memories, the Blacks were originally granted two access ways because they had more residents trying to park at the house than one driveway could accommodate. They constructed one, and, according to Chet Hagenbarth, just drove over the second until the small ditch was filled in.
Some years later the Blacks apparently stopped using the second driveway, and weeds and grass grew over it so it has become invisible. Hagenbarth said his road crew was doing some ditching work at the site and opened up a functional ditch where the driveway had once been used. This inspired Ms. Black to notify the town she wants to install a culvert and re-establish the driveway she was permitted to use almost 32 years ago, like people wanting to use ancient roads that were once traveled but have faded away.
Hagenbarth said when the permit was granted a culvert had to be installed “if needed.” Now, he explained, the state has culvert specifications that could be required if modern regulations are applied to the old permission.
Chris Bianchi, reading a copy of the original permit, said, “This permit says it expires in two years if not acted upon.”
A discussion ensued over whether the Blacks’ alleged use of the driveway years ago constituted exercising the permit, thus voiding its expiration. In the end Webb pointed out there are three choices: “We can say yes, you can re-install the driveway and the town will provide what work is necessary regarding the ditch and culvert, we can say, yes, you can re-install the driveway, but you have to do the work yourself and install a culvert according to modern code, or, we can say, no, this permit is no longer valid, you have to reapply for permission to build a second driveway.
The board decided to advise the Blacks to reapply.
“We’re not trying to deny the Blacks their driveway,” Bianchi said. “We just want to make sure this is done right.”
Killington select board accepts a $15,000 donation by the Moran Family Foundation and KPAA for beautification on Killington Road. Pictured here from left are select board chair Patty McGrath, select board members Chris Bianchi and Ken Lee and KPAA representative Vince Chiarella.
Curt Peterson Photo
“KPAA and the Moran Family Foundation have joined together to make this donation to a restricted fund for plantings beautifying Killington Road so the work the town has begun can be completed.”
Vince Chiarella of Killington Pico Area Association
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