MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 meeting held at the Middlebury Rec. Center:
No new birthdays were announced by John this week, but the Club later sang Happy Birthday to "T" for turning 80 during a recent getaway.
John announced the following two wedding anniversaries:
Cari on Sept. 17 (39 years)
Heather on Sept. 18 (18 years)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Geoff:
The food crew for the CSAC bocce tournament at the Middlebury Rec. Field should arrive on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9 am unless Geoff scheduled you to arrive later.
The Age Well noon meal assembly projects at the Middlebury Rec. Center will start weekly on Wednesday, October 5.
Club volunteers for the Window Dressers service project are encouraged to sign up on the app that Geoff sent to them ASAP so that he can have a good idea of how many more community volunteers will be needed throughout the project.
Buzz:
Looking for help on Friday afternoon (Sept. 16 - 5:00 to 5:30 pm) to erect the tent ahead of Saturday's bocce tournament at the Middlebury Rec. Field.
Nancy:
Thanked the volunteer crews for placing and retrieving flags over the Labor Day holiday period.
The 6-7 flags in East Middlebury defaced by black spray paint appear to be a random act of vandalism and will be replaced.
Jim Needham also mentioned a complaint from a community member about the flags sometimes overhanging onto sidewalks, which might need tending to in the future on some routes.
Mike:
New auction solicitation brochures are available. Please see Mike at subsequent breakfast meetings. A pdf of this brochure is expected to be available soon.
Rotarians still interested in soliciting for the auction are asked to email Mike to sign up before visiting businesses.
The auction is scheduled to go live on Oct. 15 and conclude at 10 pm on Oct. 29.
Auction items will be dropped off at Mike's house, not Maureen and Geoff's house like in prior years. Please call Mike first before dropping off items at his home.
John Barstow:
Thank you to Geoff and Maureen for their work in putting together this morning's breakfast in addition to those at previous special locations.
Excited to announce a "Bring a friend to Rotary" breakfast scheduled for October 19 at the Middlebury Inn. Not a traditional membership breakfast, but a way to introduce friends and community partners to Rotary. John B. and Maureen are spear-heading the event.
Paul Horn:
Passed out paint sundry gag gifts as a thank you for his crew's hard work this summer repainting the Bandstand on the Middlebury Green.
A new presentation sign for the Bandstand is now in the works.
Sergeant-at-Arms: Fines and Happy Dollars
Fines:
Rebecca, Judy, "T", and Bill Cunningham were among Ben's recipients of fines for tardiness and/or missing nametag infractions.
Happy Dollars:
Eric - Thank you for the sympathy card for Louisa Tripp regarding the recent loss of her grandmother. Also, to honor the life and legacy of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
David - For John's help with his flag route.
Liz - We're living in a remarkable and historic time period for today's youth.
Grace Martin (Rebecca's daughter) - Happy that her best friend recently returned to school after recovering from a bout with Covid!
Max - Happy that he knew where to go today to get to the breakfast meeting!
"T" - Happy for a recent visit to northern Ontario. Became a first-time grandfather on August 31! Also thankful for the rare opportunity to have met Queen Elizabeth II back in 1957.
John Barstow - Happy to preside in Spence's place this week while he and Fran get some well needed rest and relaxation at one of Vermont's state parks.
Lyn - After an incredible summer, she's glad to be home!
GUEST SPEAKER - Brian Carpenter
"T" introduced the Chair of the Middlebury Selectboard Brian Carpenter who is also the General Manager for Champlain Valley Equipment on Exchange Street. "T" highlighted Brian's military service accomplishments, including becoming a Brigadier General while serving in the Vermont National Guard. Brian's father also served in our club over many years and was a past president.
Brian spoke of the Selectboard's newest and most recent agenda items:
The rail bridge project is officially complete.
Most new business slots in the Middlebury downtown have been filled, with the exception of 51 Main Street and the old Ben Franklin's property. Ideas regarding the 51 Main Street property are encouraged to be voiced to the Town.
Passenger rail service in Middlebury continues to grow, exceeding initial expectations.
A weekly Thursday afternoon market at the new downtown market place has grown significantly to around 45 vendors.
The BMP/ACCOC will host a classic car show on Sunday, Oct. 16 from 2-8 PM at Triangle Park.
Increased housing and access to childcare are now the two top priority items for the Town. Middlebury College has been an invaluable partner with both priorities while not being a significant beneficiary of the ongoing solutions, according to Brian.
Designated neighborhood development areas are being actively pursued for new housing in Middlebury since they do not need Act 250 permitting from the State of Vermont.
The Washington Street/Court Square infrastructure upgrade project is expected to finished soon with road paving starting as early as next week.
A new infrastructure upgrade in the Washington Street Extension/Colonial Drive area is now ongoing.
The Town is in the process of purchasing the former Maverick gas station property along Court Street with the intent of redoing the Court Street/Monroe Street/Charles Avenue two-light intersection to help reduce traffic congestion during school hours. A proposed redesign is available to view of the Selectboard website.
A South Street infrastructure project will be paid using ARPA funding.
The Town is working with the airport near East Middlebury and other interested parties about possible upgrades to facilitate business development and a new hangar. This will not result in a larger runway or larger aircraft flying into the airport.
Renovations to the wastewater treatment plant are planned.
Increased water storage capacity is planned for the Chipman Hill area.
Renovations and expansion plans for the Ilsley Public Library are also in the works.
Brian also updated the club about the Town's management of three staffing departures this year and briefly mentioned the "vibrant, active, and sustainable" efforts of the Town's Energy Committee before the meeting was adjourned.
Cow Tag – 36 (Helmut!)
MINUTES SUBMITTED BY STEVE WILLIAMS (substituting for Sylvie)
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