Killington Board OKs Design For Donated Bridge

Vermont Standard

By Curt Peterson

Standard Correspondent

killington — Only three residents braved tough driving conditions to attend the Dec. 1 select board meeting, but they had questions about improvements proposed by the killington Pico Area Association that include replacing a bridge that’s part of the Gateway Project walkway.

The Gateway Project has been an ongoing dream in killington for more than 20 years, and only recently has expansion of the walkway picked up momentum. KPAA had come to the board some time ago proposing to replace the walkway bridge over Miller Brook that is across killington Road from its intersection with Dean Hill Road, with a covered bridge.

“It’s a decorative project,” said outgoing Town Manager Seth Webb.

The conversion will be privately funded with monies raised through KPAA efforts. When the work is completed, the new bridge will be donated to the town. For that reason the board required certification that the roof of the bridge would be able to hold up under the weight of heavy snow, and that the structure would be able to withstand high winds. KPAA hired Sellers Trebal Structural Engineers LLC from Shelburne to design the bridge and to certify its worthiness. Webb presented the engineering report and final design to the Board for approval.

Webb explained that the finished bridge would be gifted to the town by KPAA, which means the town will be responsible for maintaining and repairing it in the future.

Resident Charlie Holland asked why KPAA hadn’t included some kind of perpetual care funding for the bridge when they were raising the money.

“So far $5,000 has already been raised for construction,” Webb said. “If the board accepts the engineers’ plans and certification, KPAA will obtain bids from contractors for doing the work, and continue with fundraising until they have the amount needed. Then work can start.”

Selectman Chris Bianchi said the bridge will be a gift that will be part of the town’s walkway, that it will be an improvement and that the town will naturally be responsible for its upkeep.

“At this point, we’re just approving the design so KPAA can move ahead on the project,” he said.

The motion to approve the design, based on STSE’s plans and certification, passed unanimously.

Dick Horner, who has been appointed interim town manager, attended the meeting. Horner will serve from Dec. 31 when Webb’s resignation becomes effective, until Webb’s permanent replacement actually takes over the position. The board expects that will take place in February or March 2016.

Webb reported that the Vermont League of Cities and Towns has received 55 applications for his job so far. The VLCT Municipal Assistance Center has been handling advertising for the position, sorting, vetting and grading the applications, and will have presented their findings to the

search committee in time for a Dec. 8 meeting, which will begin at 3:30 p.m. Abby Friedman, who manages the center, will be available to the committee remotely via Skype.

Selectman Ken Lee had some questions regarding the fire department’s budget proposal for next year.

“I see a request here for $1,000 for something called handheld battery chargers. I don’t even know what they are or what they’re used for,” he said. “And $1,700 for snowshoes. Do we really need that many snowshoes?”

Chairman Patty McGrath couldn’t give Lee an answer about the battery chargers, but opined that the snowshoes were for killington Area Search and Rescue, which has become part of the fire department.

“They are trying to make it unnecessary for the responders to use their own personal gear,” she explained. “And if they have to go into the back woods, they need to have enough snowshoes.”

The selectmen all agreed the Fire Department and KASAR should include more details when requesting specialized equipment so the board knows what it is authorizing. Webb promised to find out more about the specific items Lee questioned.

The budget discussion ended with good news for killington taxpayers, according to the selectmen, as the proposed 2016-2017 municipal tax rate will rise less than 2 cents.

“We managed to keep spending very close to 2014 levels,” Webb said.

Resident Jim Haff objected to the method of reporting bond revenue and obligations, although he agreed in the end that all the funds were accounted for. The board will take up the Capital Plan at their next meeting, which Bianchi said should clear up any misgivings about treatment of the bond debt and how the borrowed funds are being used.