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(04/17/13 2:36pm)
February 15 marked the beginning of an effort to replace the historic Main Street and Merchants Row bridges in downtown Middlebury.
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) an engineering consulting firm that, according to its website, works to provide “multidisciplinary planning, design, engineering and consulting for some of the nation’s most complex infrastructure and development initiatives,” is leading the project’s engineering-design and environmental-permitting team. Other firms, including Otter Creek Engineering (Middlebury), Landworks (Middlebury), SE Group (Burlington) and GeoDesign (Windsor), are also contributing to the project development process.
Project Manager Mark Colgan of VHB noted that currently there are over 100 people working on the project. There are also many additional community members and business owners who are assisting with input for the alternatives analysis.
A central objective of the project is to improve the overall safety in the Middlebury community as the effort will replace two deteriorating, 93-year-old bridges that create a passageway for the railroad that runs through downtown Middlebury. Colgan noted that in addition to significantly increasing safety by replacing these bridges, the project will “[improve] drainage, roadway geometry [and] aesthetics.” The work will also include repairing streets and sidewalks, upgrading municipal utilities and drainage and allowing for future passenger rail.
Moreover, approximately 1,000 ft. of railroad track will be lowered, allowing for “more efficient movements of freight along the rail line between Rutland and Burlington with increased vertical clearance to handle double-stack rail cars,” said Colgan.
Eighty percent of the project costs will come from federal funds while the remaining 20 percent will be covered by the state, said Colgan. The VTrans Local Transportation Facilities Division will oversee the project, distribute funding to the town and ensure that all state and federal guidelines are followed.
Colgan noted that, with construction planned to begin in 2014, the project is on a very tight schedule. Despite this, the expedited process is not seen as an issue. Since the preliminary stages of the project have already been moving forward quite efficiently, “the Town of Middlebury is optimistic that the project can be completed on a fast-track schedule similar to the Cross Street Bridge, which was completed in less than two years,” he said.
Colgan explained that the “project has many firsts with use of the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) approach and municipal management of such a large project funded entirely by state and federal governments.”
Indeed, the restoration effort will use Vermont’s first CMGC project delivery system. Colgan remarked that the CMGC approach will help the team complete the project efficiently.
One concern is that the project will pose a problem for traffic in downtown Middlebury, particularly since both bridges are located on the busiest rail line in the state. Colgan notes that the project team will focus on maintaining vehicular and rail traffic and minimizing the project’s negative impact on local businesses and historical preservation.
Additionally, the team will implement a public outreach plan. The first public informational meeting was already held on March 28.
“This is a great opportunity for the town to lead the state’s first CMGC project,” remarked Colgan.
(03/20/13 12:39am)
Officials, coaches, corresponding staff and one hundred forty-eight racers traveled across the country to Middlebury this year for the NCAA Skiing Championships. Of course, with this influx of visitors also came an astounding boom in business for the Middlebury community. Andrew Gardner, Middlebury’s nordic ski coach, notes that the event brought in an estimated quarter of a million in revenue to the area between lodging, dining and shopping, among other activities.
While hosting 21 teams was a great opportunity for the surrounding community overall, it was particularly beneficial for local hotels.
Accommodations for the athletes, coaches, officials and support staff began over a year prior to the event. General Manager of the Middlebury Inn Geoffrey Conrad notes that “Middlebury College and the NCAA came to us a year ago and we told them we’d love to be the Host Inn for the event.”
Robin Vaughan, Sales Manager at the Middlebury Courtyard by Marriott notes that teams started booking rooms as early as March 2012 and Conrad adds, “some of the larger teams such as Denver and Utah reserved their rooms immediately after the location decision was finalized.” The smaller teams filled things in closer to the event.
The Middlebury Inn and the Courtyard hosted seven teams each as well as a mix of fans and parents. Conrad notes that in addition to simply housing the athletes the Inn also “hosted a number of dinners and receptions” and “local restaurants were quite popular amongst the athletes.”
Moreover, the event seemed to be held at an ideal time in terms of the community’s tourism calendar. The fact that the Skiing NCAAs are held just as the commercial skiing season draws to an end and before spring traveling picks up is an added benefit for hotels and local businesses, says Middlebury’s Alpine Ski Coach Steve Bartlett. Gardner estimates that there were roughly 1,500 spectators at the nordic event on Saturday.
Vaughan remarks that a handful other events such as Winter Carnival, Alumni Weekend, family fall Weekend and, of course, graduation, bring quite a few visitors to the area. “We always appreciate being partners with Middlebury College,” says Vaughan.
While it is certain that these and a variety of other sporting events bring business to Middlebury, skiing events are especially beneficial. The extent to which the skiing championships benefit the community is usually high due to the duration of the athletes’ stay. Bartlett remarks that ski teams stay in Middlebury for almost a week, which is typically much longer than other sports.
Conrad reiterates this point.
“Most of the teams came in over the second and third weekend and stayed through the following weekend, which is an unusually long time for a big event.”
Of course, organizing an event like the Skiing NCAAs is a massive production. Coach Gardner notes, “It’s an honor that Middlebury’s been afforded only five times in the last quarter century and it reflects a lot of work.”
All the added business that the event brought to Middlebury clearly wouldn’t be possible without the help and hard work of many community members. Just to name a few, Gardner notes that Terry Aldrich deserves a ton of credit for his work.
Additionally, Bartlett and Patty Ross “refused to let the little details get lost in the shuffle.” Franklin Dean Farrar was also an immense help in hosting and organizing a banquet for roughly 300 people.
“Overall, this was a huge effort from many, many people and I’m grateful we’ve been able to host it,” says Gardner.
Conrad sums up the event from a business standpoint: “In a nutshell it was a great piece of business for the town of Middlebury and we’re very pleased to have been a part of it.”
(02/27/13 4:42pm)
After 40 years in the library business, Director of Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library David Clark will be retiring next month. Clark noted that he is “lucky because he has really enjoyed his work … other people get into careers that might have been fun at first, but eventually lose interest.” Clark added that in his 40 years of work, he has never had doubts about whether his career was a good fit for him. His job has suited him well and he discovers new and exciting things about it all the time.
Clark’s journey into the business began after his undergraduate years at Indiana University. As a sociology major, he was unsure of what to do right out of college. Conveniently, however, Indiana’s Graduate Library School held the answer. “I had always been drawn to libraries,” says Clark, “so I stayed at IU and participated in their program.”
Clark “got into libraries at a time when there was a scarcity of librarians working in rural areas.” Because of this shortage, Clark received federal grants and scholarships from the Maryland Library Association.
Right out of graduate school, Clark landed his first job in Harford County, M.D., which was, at the time, a so-called “rural area.” Now, ironically, Harford is home to nearly a quarter of a million people.
As branch manager in Harford, he oversaw four different libraries and was also responsible for opening a new facility. This job allowed Clark to “buy new books and start things in a new way.” After playing a supervisory role for 13 years in Maryland and gaining much experience, Clark followed his partner to the Philadelphia area where he helped convert an old elementary school into a new facility for the Indian Valley Public Library.
After Pennsylvania, Clark and his partner moved to Shelburne, Vt. Clark worked for a brief period as the Regional Consultant at the State Library north of Burlington in Georgia. His work involved consulting and advising for all libraries in Chittenden, Lamoille, Franklin, and Grande Isle County.
While Clark enjoyed this work, he noted that there was “something about the bureaucracy of a state organization” that he didn’t like. As a result, Clark searched for a new job. Fortunately for everyone who knows and appreciates Clark’s outstanding work, that “new job” was at Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library.
In all his library experiences, Clark has never been employed as librarian but rather has always played a supervisory role. Nonetheless, Clark “never set himself above doing the most mundane chores of the library, whether that meant mopping a floor or checking in books,” said Chris Kirby, the adult services librarian at Ilsley. “Clark has clearly always been a true team player. His leadership style aligns with the Rotary motto, ‘Service Above Self,’” Kirby added.
During his time at Ilsley, Clark has certainly proved himself to be an outstanding director. Clark, in Kirby’s opinion, “embodies the qualities an organization looks for in a leader: ethical, accessible to both staff and the public, adaptable to change and welcoming to innovation.” Moreover, Clark has been extremely focused on improving the library and its services. “He strives to be at once practical and bold in shaping the direction of the organization,” says Kirby.
During his time working in Middlebury, Clark has helped to expand the physical footprint of Ilsley. Not only does the library offer traditional book lending services, but it now also offers frequent lectures and other services, such as helping people obtain income tax forms. Youth Services Librarian at Ilsley Sarah Lawton remarked, “David has created many opportunities for community members to become involved in the library as volunteers, supporters of the Friends of Ilsley Public Library and through participation in public programs. He really draws people in and makes them feel part of the library.”
Since there was no school last week for many Middlebury children, the library offered a series of film making classes that culminated in a final showing on Friday, Feb. 22.
Clark has gone above and beyond, making Ilsley a bustling place that is truly connected to its patrons. “As a director, David has always encouraged his staff members to take initiative, to experiment, all in the interest of the community the library serves,” Kirby said.
But despite the extra programs that the library now offers, one might still wonder whether the need for libraries is diminishing. When asked if, in an age of technological advancement, he has seen a decline in library use, Clark noted that he has actually seen the opposite. In his 17 years at Ilsley, Clark believes that today there are more people using the library than ever. Indeed in the 21st century the way information is conveyed and people are entertained is changing rapidly, but this happens all the time.
Moreover, Clark noted that new technologies open the door to myriad new customer service opportunities. For example, the concept of having a “cloud-based collection” is becoming increasingly more attractive for libraries such as Ilsley. As libraries increasingly deliver digital content, storage requirements can strain their local resources. Libraries are and will continue to adapt to technological change by adopting services such as Amazon’s S3 with Amazon CloudFront and DuraSpace’s DuraCloud.
Whereas libraries would traditionally purchase books and lend them to customers, with these new services, libraries can now provide e-books to customers. Books are not held physically within the building but are instead “in the cloud” said Clark. Libraries can now lease rights or access to e-books on the behalf of customers so they don’t have to buy or lease themselves.
Clark notes enthusiastically that there is so much out there that libraries can offer customers. Today, a Middlebury resident can borrow a rare and specialized book from Australia from a “cloud” server in Salt Lake City, and they can do it all at their local library.
Clark said that he is sad to be retiring at a time when there is so much potential growth for the library’s footprint. Clark will also miss the sociability of the workplace. Over the years, Clark has developed priceless relationships with colleagues and customers that he will be sad to leave behind.
Clark will be greatly missed by his colleagues as well. “I will miss his impressive ability to move from high level thinking to the day-to-day operation of the library,” said Lawton. “He has always made himself available to staff and library patrons and we will all miss his dignified and welcoming presence,” she added.
Clark remarks that he wanted to leave on a holiday, and thus will be retiring on the Ides of March. Despite his retirement, there continue to be many exciting events on the horizon for Clark. As a member of the board of the Opera Company of Middlebury, Clark looks forward to their 10th anniversary season. The 2013 season brings Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, which will be playing May 21 – June 8. Clark is also a member of Middlebury’s Rotary Club. In the past he led a group to South Africa and he hopes to make similar trips in the future.
(02/20/13 3:23pm)
Despite the immense benefits of solar energy — it can be used to generate electricity for domestic, commercial or industrial purposes — recent developments in the solar energy industry are a concern for many residents of Charlotte, Vt.
The Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) recently approved a request by Charlotte Solar to build a 2.2-megawatt solar array in a field on the north side of the Charlotte-Hinesburg Road in Charlotte, Vt.
Many Charlotte residents who live close to the field where the panels will be built are disappointed with the PSB’s decision. Elizabeth Bassett, Charlotte resident and homeowner of 25 years, is particularly upset by recent solar developments.
Bassett was one of six Charlotte residents who hired an attorney, William Ellis, to represent their case.
Bassett and her neighbors have spent a lot of money trying to prevent the solar array request from passing. She and others feel that the town “let them down” by passing the proposal.
Residents of Charlotte have lodged numerous complaints that the Public Service Board has managed the project poorly. At the first and only town meeting, Charlotte residents voiced their concerns to the Selectboard. After this occasion, no further public meetings were held. Bassett notes that the Selectboard was “non-communicative” and “never once had a discussion that wasn’t an executive meeting.”
Concerns about the solar array’s potential impact on home values are abundant.
“You can’t tell me that 14 acres of metal surrounded by a fence a few hundred feet away from a home isn’t going to decrease the house’s value,” said Bassett. Moreover, many residents voice concerns that the solar array will disrupt their “view shed.”
The Town of Charlotte hired David Raphael — owner of LandWorks, a firm that conducts aesthetic assessments — to review the proposal on behalf of the town.
“The project, with some specific mitigation measures implemented, and approval conditions with regard to siting, operation and decommissioning, satisfies the criteria and standards in place for aesthetics and land use,” said Raphael.
After reviewing available materials, critiquing layout, providing and addressing conformance with community standards, Raphael says that the project passes aesthetic standards.
While Raphael believes the PSB made the right decision given the circumstances of both the site and the proposal, he does not dismiss the neighbors’ worries. He remarks that there are justifiable concerns regarding placing a large-scale solar array in an agricultural open space; for example, fields no longer being available for agricultural use and industrial elements being incompatible in a rural agrarian landscape.
“The immediate neighbors are the most distressed by these types of projects, and they certainly have some basis for that — the look, feel and sense of place in a neighborhood can be altered by large scale energy projects such as this one,” said Raphael.
Residents who live close to the solar array are further peeved that the solar energy benefits an out-of-state corporation. The field where the panels will be installed is owned by the trust of Clark Hinsdale Jr., whose son is working with an out-of-state developer (Massachusetts-based American Capital Energy) to build the panels.
Indeed, according to Raphael, “the developers see a financial return from such a project.” With plenty of sunlight, the property is certainly ideal for such a project.
However, many who live close to the targeted field believe the Massachusetts corporation does not value Vermont’s beauty and the many generations it has taken to nurture the land.
“This is simply the wrong project, in the wrong place, at the wrong time,” said Bassett.
The question then becomes, what would be the “right” place for such a project?
Bassett suggested that solar panels should be installed above a parking lot, such as those that were installed above the parking lot of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Burlington in January 2012. The lack of consideration of such an idea exposes a real problem in the Vermont PSB system — out-of-state developer come in with plans and the PSB cannot make alternative suggestions, explained Bassett.
This plan will have an impact that spreads well beyond the town of Charlotte. Raphael noted that it will undoubtedly create a precedent for large-scale solar installations in rural agricultural settings and adjacent to residential neighborhoods.
“Unless the town changes its town plan and corresponding zoning, it does open the door for future installations of similar size and placement,” he said.
Bassett added that a lot of people are angry and scared — if a 14-acre industrial solar is installed in a field like this, there is no place that is safe.
Bassett noted that the energy and pollution problem is a global issue, and installing an enormous solar array in a small Vermont town isn’t the solution. Opposition to the solar development project, Bassett added, does not imply a lack of responsibility to clean up the environment and promote sustainable energy.
(01/23/13 2:31pm)
On Jan. 1 University of Vermont became one of the first public universities in the country to ban the sale of bottled water on their campus. Bottled water will not be sold in vending machines, or through retail, concessions, catering or residential dining.
Many believe that there is no need for the sale of bottled water. The UVM Office of Sustainability reinforces this point, assuring that “Vermont provides safe, clean drinking water to campus.” In their opinion, providing bottled water from outside communities is unnecessary.
How will this new policy affect the students? According to some UVM students, the transition to plastic water bottles won’t be very difficult. UVM senior Kristen Valerio noted, “I am glad the water bottle ban is in effect,” though, “personally I have never needed to buy bottled water on campus.”
Valerio is not alone. UVM senior Aileen Lennon and UVM first year Joe Voelker echoed Valerio’s response, remarking that they too are unaffected by the ban because they use reusable bottles. It appears that most of the UVM student body already owns reusable water bottles. Voelker added that using a reusable bottle is good for multiple reasons.
“It’s cheaper and I learned tap water is usually healthier and better for the environment … so why not?” Said Voelker.
For those who do not have their own reusable water bottle, finding one likely will not be a hassle; many times throughout the year, the UVM student center gives out water bottles for free. “Students should not find themselves inconvenienced by the ban,” says Lennon.
Maggie Galka, a junior at UVM who was involved in the water bottle ban hopes that once students are accustomed to using reusable water bottles, they will carry that practice beyond their campus.
“It is the intention of the bottle ban that anyone uses reusable water bottles on campus and that hopefully they can extend that behavior wherever they go,” said Galka. “Using a reusable water bottle is one of the easiest ways you can reduce waste that ends up in a landfill. It also reduces your energy consumption and therefore your carbon footprint a great deal. While many students and faculty members avoided buying bottled water before the ban, the ban really serves to change UVM culture about reducing unnecessary waste.”
While there are already many filling stations in Davis, the UVM student center, the school has plans to add even more. Drinking fountains all across the UVM campus will be replaced with water bottle fillers. The school hopes to install a total of 75 fillers. Valerio, who previously used water fountains to fill up her bottle, believes the fill stations will be more convenient.
But the transition from fountains to fillers is a concern for some students. Lennon, a frequent user of the filling stations, explains that the stations are convenient, as they are typically connected to water fountains. However, in her opinion, to turn a water fountain into solely a fill station doesn’t seem right.
“The idea isn’t to punish those who forget their water bottles,” she added.
Some even consider the fill stations purely unnecessary. When asked how he feels about the filling stations, Voelker said, “I think it’s a waste of money. Stupid. Dumb. Silly. Baffling. Buffoonery.”
Although student reactions to the filling stations are clearly mixed, most agree that the water bottle ban is a good move. Lennon remarked that despite the mild inconvenience, at the end of the day, everyone is fully aware that the ban is for a good cause.
This should not come as a surprise, since the water bottle ban was a student-initiated project. The proposal to ban bottled water was started four years ago by Vermont Students Toward Environmental Protection (VSTEP), a student-run organization created in 1988 to address environmental issues and promote UVM’s recycling program.
Many students were involved with the initiative. For instance, Lennon remembers “signing a few petitions for them [VSTEP] and discussing the ban.”
Indeed, VSTEP gathered over 1,000 signatures from UVM students in support of a sustainable beverage system. In fall 2011, the SGA formally voted and approved the ban.
Lennon, along with many others, is pleased with her school’s decision.
“I am very proud of my school for taking this step,” She said. “We are an environmentally conscience community where a large portion of the student body works hard to reduce their own eco-footprint, so it’s great that the school heard our voices and made a change.”
UVM’s contract with Coca-Cola expired June 30, 2012. Now that the 10-year exclusive contract has ended, UVM dining services can purchase the beverage mix of their choice through national contracts.
The UVM Office of Sustainability believes wholeheartedly that the termination of bottled water sales will reduce the amount of waste generated by the purchase and disposal of plastic water bottles. Some students are skeptical of the impact that the water bottle ban will have. For instance, Lennon is unsure to what extent plastic bottle consumption will decrease. She believes it is idealistic to think banning plastic water bottles will automatically cause those who relied on them to bring their own bottles to campus. “Reality may be that they just buy another plastic-bottled beverage,” says Lennon.
(01/16/13 10:37pm)
During a public meeting at the Monkton, Vt. Firehouse on Jan. 10, Monkton residents did not hesitate to voice their opinions. The meeting provided the Monkton community with an opportunity to converse with senior management of Vermont Gas Systems (VGS).
Last December, VGS applied to extend a natural gas pipeline that currently runs from Canada to Chittenden County. While this is beneficial for the recipients of the gas, the Monkton community is not pleased with the plan. The pipeline’s extended path is proposed to run through the rural town, down Pond Street and Monkton Road; the Monkton residents themselves will not be receiving any gas.
“We [VGS] are here with an open mind to discuss how to solve this problem together,” noted Steve Wark, communications director at VGS.
After VGS representatives presented the details of their plan, Ken Wheeling, the town moderator, opened the floor for discussion.
One concerned Monkton resident stepped forward, asking “How many hundreds of feet will the pipeline be from the jungle gym?”
Anxiety about the natural gas line’s proximity to the elementary school was just one of myriad concerns voiced by the townspeople. Monkton resident Kevin Corrigan, noted the pipeline would undoubtedly decimate property values.
Another resident remarked that, sadly, the common phrase “Not in my backyard” applies literally to the Monkton residents’ yards. Fences, foliage and historical trees will be removed from the pipeline’s path. Residents noted that crops will be damaged and Monkton’s aesthetic beauty will be ruined.
Frank White, a resident of Willsboro, N.Y. expressed grave concern for Lake Champlain.
“It’s beyond just the backyard!” he declared.
One resident and mother was so distraught that she couldn’t even tolerate attending the meeting. She wrote a letter stating that her young girl’s bedroom will be only 20 feet from the pipeline. Her letter was read aloud: “If my welfare or the welfare of my children matters at all, please consider changing this proposal.”
Todd Weaver articulated a common frustration at the meeting: “They [VGS] are coming and taking and we’re not getting anything.”
Weaver was one of many residents who had environmental engineers show up uninvited on his property to inspect the proposed route. Weaver remarked that the request he sent to VGS to be left alone was completely ignored.
Many residents voiced similar complaints. Monkton resident Renee McGuinness even presented VGS with notices against trespass from disgruntled townspeople.
Throughout the meeting, attendees shared several personal stories.
Monkton resident Mike Bayer noted that he will suffer greatly, as his well lies directly in the pipeline’s path. He added that the pipeline “will do a lot of damage to a lot of homes for the purpose of making money somewhere else.”
Shocking to many residents is the fact that the “somewhere else” that Bayer refers to is not even in the state of Vermont. Only about 30 percent of the gas will go to Middlebury and Vergennes, while 70 percent is intended to serve International Paper’s Ticonderoga mill across Lake Champlain in New York.
Tim Lyons, vice president of marketing and sales at VGS, remarked that there is “no way to build on the other side.”
David Sharpe of the Vermont House of Representatives also spoke at the meeting. He assured the people that they “have support in the legislature.” Sharpe hopes the pipeline issue can be resolved without legislature interference but noted that, if not, the government would certainly get involved. Sharpe emphasized that an acceptable route will be found.
As the meeting wrapped up, Don Gilbert, president and CEO of VGS commented on the productivity of the meeting.
“As hard as it has been to hear these concerns, it has been helpful,” said Gilbert.
He noted that VGS wants to continue working with the Monkton community to find an alternative route.
The Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) route is one such alternative. VGS’s initial plan for the pipeline route was along a utilities corridor owned by VELCO.
“There are a number of areas on the VELCO corridor where construction can be done without the concerns that we are seeing here in Monkton,” noted a VGS representative towards the end of the meeting.
Thus, it seems that this initial route still remains a viable option.
The question of whether the VELCO route would truly be a better option sparked debate at Thursday’s meeting. Like the residents affected along the Monkton route, many residents along the utilities corridor expressed concern for their homes and safety. Corrigan advised the town to hold a referendum to further discuss the topic. To him, it was clear that the line would be pushed back and fourth between the VELCO and Monkton routes, as residents in both locations were upset.
Many at the meeting agreed that transparency was not a primary aim of VGS. Many locals were angry that they had not even been aware of Thursday’s meeting until neighbors had mentioned it to them. One woman noted angrily that it should be the responsibility of VGS to notify the town of informational meetings. Corrigan added that homeowners on the VELCO line also didn’t know about the meeting.
While complaints regarding VGS were numerous, the company’s senior management responded apologetically.
“Are you [VGS] human?” asked one woman.
Gilbert responded that indeed they were. “We want to work with you and I want to apologize right up front,” added Gilbert.
VGS suggested holding another open-house so individuals could look at route maps, ask questions and spend more time discussing the topic.VGS acknowledged that it will not be possible to satisfy everyone, but a better solution is perhaps attainable.
VGS will have a meeting with regulators during the third week in January and, if they can get permission, they are open to route realignment. One female resident asked VGS to “please take the humanistic piece of this back to your decision makers.”
VGS management hopes to resolve the issue of routing through Monkton by the end of January.