Bennington better hope there’s enough rhubarb pie to go around as the town may celebrate its 175th anniversary along with the annual festival next year.
Recreation Director Bethany Craig broached the idea to the Select Board at its Wednesday meeting. Craig said she was looking to partner with the rhubarb festival next June for the celebration.
“I think it would be great to combine the two events to have a weekendlong event,” said Craig. “The more we could do at different places around town, the better.”
The board also dealt with a dispute with Stephen Stockwell, who owns property on the class VI portion of Mountain Road.
Neighbors to the property have complained that Stockwell altered the terrain on his property in a way that directs water flow into the road, which has washed out some of the road material.
The Select Board ordered Stockwell to work with Road Agent Gary Russell in order to remedy the issue. At the meeting, Russell said the best way to correct the problem is to create an earthen berm to recreate the stone wall Stockwell had taken down.
The board met with Fire Chief Mike Roina, who said he was looking to set up a revolving fund so the town can have a means of properly charging people when they go out on EMT detail.
Town Administrator Dee French asked Roina if he had enough staff to send to events while also having enough to service the town, to which Roina replied yes.
The town is going to look into how to start a revolving account.
French believes that a Town Meeting vote is the only way to start the fund but Roina said it can be a Select Board vote.
After meeting with Josh Beckmann of Beckmann Construction out of New Ipswich, the Select Board agreed to have him re-roof the fire department.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.