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The Colchester Sun | Thursday, November 5, 2015
Opinion Letters To The Editor
Perspective
An enchanting Colchester autumn As always, the vibrant colors Colchester’s of fall were not absent in our Chronicler beautiful Colchester. Just driving through neighborhoods is a treat, or walking in one of our parks, or visiting such places as Colchester Inge Pond off East Road or Niquette Bay State Park off Route 2A on Schaefer the way to the Islands. In some of these places an individual tree or small clump of maples is further enhanced by the lyrical sounds of birds, or perhaps it’s the silence itself that allows one to reflect on their good fortune in having chosen to live in this town. Too much? Not really. After 48 years of living here, I still have to catch my breath at the sights, sounds and smells of fall. Of course, at my age, catching one's breath is not that unusual — or infrequent, for that matter, when walking on the pond path or on one of the trails at Niquette's. But I prefer to think it’s because of the views. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this magnificent fall. The snow will be flying soon, which is also pretty, but we'll save that for another day. Speaking of leaves, you may want to remember that this weekend, Nov. 7-8, the Conservation Commission will hold its annual leaf collection at Airport Park. The gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days for residents to drop off their leaves and pumpkins. Leaves in biodegradable bags can be dumped on the pile, but no plastic bags or large branches or grass clippings will be accepted. Volunteer members of the Conservation Commission will be available at the site. In the past, these folks have staffed this event through rain, sleet, hail and snow, so be nice to them. Not only are they there all day for two days, they will also be conducting a bake sale to raise money for the flower planting they do every spring to beautify Colchester all summer. Consider bringing along some cookies for them to sell, or a hot chocolate if it's a miserable day, or at the very least, give them a big thanks for doing this. The Chittenden Solid Waste District hauls the leaves away to Green Mountain Compost in Williston to be turned into compost. Last year, seven 40-cubic-yard loads were hauled away, which totaled 49.82 tons of leaves. Good grief, that's a lot of leaves! Mark your calendars: Nov. 7-8. A new zoning proposal for West Lakeshore Drive was unveiled at an Oct. 13 meeting. The police station meeting room was once again packed following an earlier meeting in May asking for input and suggestions on what locals want to see happen in that corridor. The sum and substance of this new proposal — yet to be approved by the selectboard — was presented in the Oct. 15 issue of the Sun, and can probably be found on the town website. Having attended both sessions, this was my impression of how the new zoning proposal for the W. Lakeshore Drive area between Prim and Blakely Roads was received by those present — primarily area property owners of either residential or business properties. At the spring session, attendees clearly stated that W. Lakeshore Drive should not become overly developed and that it should retain an open, inviting atmosphere — a “sense of space” — and that a solution to ease current traffic problems should be found. After listening to Brandy Saxton, PlaceSense consultant, explain the particulars of the new zoning proposal, one could quickly sense some nervousness in the room. While current property owners would all be grandfathered, the new zoning appeared to restrict incentives to improve or change properties. It’s more complicated than that, of course, and there are lots of new ideas contained in the document, but for resident Tom Robb, who has a house on W. Lakeshore Drive, he felt the new proposal placed restrictions on his property. Mo Germain of The Moorings, said, “These restrictions are too strict — they are tough to swallow. They make all current businesses nonconforming.” Sarah Hadd, Planning and Zoning Director, told me that the comment period is not over, adding, “I’m making myself available to meet with property owners and others one-on-one for the next two weeks (through Nov. 6).” She encouraged folks to continue to express their thoughts since this was still in draft form. Hadd added that the draft is intended to provide property owners with incentives to redevelop in a manner that would complement the vision for the area, not to limit it. The revised draft should be ready by the end of November. Contact Hadd with comments at Shadd@colchestervt.gov. Let me ask you this: Do you like the way W. Lakeshore Drive between Prim and Blakely roads looks? Do you think there is room for improvement? No and yes, from this resident. It’s the traffic on this road that appears to now be moving the issue, but creating a Malletts Bay Village concept has been discussed many times over the years. It’s just my opinion, but something has to be done, and maybe this is a start. Because there are so many veterans living in Colchester, this event on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, might be of interest. The Community College of Vermont will host “Conversations with WWII Veterans” from 3- 4 p.m., in the Janice Couture Room, of CCV (at 1 Abenaki Way in Winooski). A panel of WWII veterans will discuss their military experiences as well as their return to civilian life after the war. The discussion is free and open to the public. Call Colchesterite John Devino for further info – 8635403. And finally, with heartfelt sympathy to both families, a mention of two long-time residents of Colchester who died within six weeks of each other, each at the age of 92 years. Dawn Hazelett (died Oct. 14) and Howard Vanderhoof (on Aug. 30) were classmates at the old one-room schoolhouse (now located at Airport Park). In fact, Howard’s family bought that schoolhouse in the 1930s and moved it to their Spaulding East Shore property where years later it was donated to the town by then owners, Angela and John MacDonald. Dawn and Howard were interviewed by LCATV while sitting in the old schoolhouse about two years ago. They both reflected on their time at school, and Dawn recalled many more interesting stories about the area (that DVD, called “Colchester, A Living History” is available at the LCATV studio in Creek Farm Plaza). Howard was one of the town’s first fire chiefs and owned a local gas station. Dawn and her husband Bill (deceased) co-founded Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation in the mid 1950s. She was an amazing woman in many ways — a sailor, skier, pilot and as sharp as a tack — who clearly loved this town. They both added so much to the fabric of our community and will be terribly missed. Hope everyone had a happy Halloween! God Bless!
Protecting the pond This was the third year that the Winooski Valley Park District (WVPD), with support provided in part by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, hired greeters to inspect boats entering and exiting Colchester Pond. These funds come from the Aquatic Nuisance Control program, and they support projects that help to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Colchester Pond is one of the few remaining ponds in the area that has not been infested with Eurasian Milfoil. Park staff is hoping the greeter program can be one tool to educate park users about the negative impacts of invasive plants and what needs to be done to stop their spread. Greeters worked four-hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer. Canoes, kayaks and flat bottom row boats made up the 262 boats that were inspected. Colchester Pond does not allow boats with motors, so the majority are of the car-top variety. Although we did not find any questionable plant material on any boats entering or leaving the pond this season, staff accomplished a lot of educational outreach, not only to the 262 boaters we talked with, but to many hikers, fishermen and other users of the natural area. On busy days 30-40 people would walk past our greeter table and check out our information display. Many boaters and other park users were unaware of the threat of aquatic invasives and what could be done to limit their spread. Aquatic invasives often “hitchhike” on boats, trailers or other gear from one infested water body to another. It is very important to wash your boat, empty all compartments and tackle and check your boat trailer for pieces of plant material before visiting a new body of water. Boaters visiting Colchester Pond had made trips to 25 different water bodies previously. If you would like to help the WVPD monitor Colchester Pond for aquatic invasives next summer or participating in the Vermont Invasive Patroller program next year, contact TimLarned@WVPD.org. Tim Larned Winooski Valley Parks District Pipeline promises translated I have been pondering the meaning of what Vermont Gas and the Department of Public Service mean when they use catchy lines and phrases to convince the Vermont Public Service Board and Vermonters that the Addison “Natural” Gas Project is actually in the interest of Vermonters and current Vermont Gas ratepayers. Here is what I have come up with as a translation guide for those who are as confused as I was. What Vermont Gas says: “On-schedule”; What Vermont Gas means: “Two years late.” What Vermont Gas says: “On budget”; What Vermont Gas means: Twice the proposed cost.” What Vermont Gas and the Department of Public Service say: “We have an MOU”; What they mean: “We have a Method for Outmaneuvering Unimportant people.” What Vermont Gas says: “Our MOU caps the cost to ratepayers for pipeline expansion at $134 million”; What Vermont Gas means: “We’ll only charge ratepayers $134 million if the weather is beautiful, and landowners waive their constitutional rights to due process before their land is seized through corporate-friendly eminent domain.” What the Department of Public Service says: “Our MOU caps the cost to ratepayers for pipeline expansion at $134 million”; What the department means: “We have sold out the public interest for $13 million more than what Vermont Gas swore this project would cost at their last cost estimate increase in July 2014.” What Vermont Gas says: "The benefits outweigh the costs.”; What Vermont Gas means: “It's OK to force each of our 48,000 current customers to pay an average of $8,000 extra over 25 years to build this pipeline and then pass on the majority of any resulting savings on to a handful of new industrial clients.” What the Department of Public Service says: “The benefits outweigh the costs.”; What the department means: “Trust us. We are doing the right thing for Vermonters, but don't look too closely at the numbers.” What the department says: “We advocate for the interests of ratepayers and the public”; What the department means: “We advocate for Vermont Gas and the governor’s position because they know better what's good for Vermonters." What Vermont Gas says: “Pipeline natural gas is cheaper and cleaner”; What Vermont Gas means: “It’s cheaper for Gaz Metro to take Vermont Gas customers to the cleaners than to pay for its own darned pipeline.” What Vermont Gas says: “This is about bringing choice and opportunity to Addison County.”; What Vermont Gas means: “We’re giving Addison County families the opportunity to pay huge upfront conversion costs to switch to another dirty fossil fuel instead of giving them access to a bridge fuel or cleaner and cheaper options like heat pumps ... and we are convincing them
The Colchester Sun General Manager Suzanne Lynn
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its their choice!” What Vermont Gas says to landowners: “Our easement deed protects homeowners because it only mentions one pipeline.”; What Vermont Gas means: “Properties are protected right up until we propose the next pipeline and get another certificate of public good rubber stamped by the Public Service Board." What Vermont Gas says: "We're filing for eminent domain as a last resort."; What Vermont Gas means: "We have been waving the eminent domain weapon around all along ... We are just now putting the gun to the temples of those who are still resisting. We only call it a last resort because we really don't want to pull the trigger as it will cost us a bunch of money and time as well. ” What Vermont Gas says: “Vermont Gas respects landowners and our customers.” What that means: Nothing! Jane Palmer Monkton Vermont leadership needed on carbon tax
I personally believe that Vermont has another great opportunity to lead our country in the direction of progress by enacting a tax on carbon pollution.
Vermont has a unique history of being the first state to recognize systematic problems in this country and pass progressive legislation to act upon it. Vermont’s leadership on these issues has often paved the way for other states to take similar action. We were the first state to abolish slavery in 1777. We were the first to legalize civil unions. And just recently Vermont became the first state to mandate the labeling of genetically modified food products. I personally believe that Vermont has another great opportunity to lead our country in the direction of progress by enacting a tax on carbon pollution. Climate change is real, and Vermonters have already experienced its effects firsthand during Tropical Storm Irene. Devastating events such as Irene will only become more common over the years to come if action is not taken to combat climate change immediately. By enacting a tax on carbon pollution in Vermont, we will be the first state to hold carbon polluters accountable for their emissions, and the external costs they create. The revenue that is generated from the tax will be then be used to cut other taxes we already pay, subsidize the weatherization of Vermonters’ homes, and fund renewable energy alternatives. It is not rocket science, it is just common sense. Let us have Vermont take up a leadership role and encourage our legislators to pass the carbon pollution tax proposal! Connor Pelletier Burlington And now, the carbon tax I hope you have seen the proposed statewide carbon tax proposal that will be formally introduced in January in the Vermont Legislature. The willingness of the Legislature to propose this tax tells me no one is listening to the voters at any level — still. The state is overtaxed in every area. Taxes need to be cut. That means budgets cannot continue the upward spiral in town and across the state. The Colchester School Board and Selectboard have yet to get the message. Both boards continually look to increase budgets no matter what solutions are available to them. The taxpayers continually have to pick up the tab because the boards do not seem to have the willingness to do the tough things. Cuts never have been more necessary in both budgets. The selectboard raised taxes for everyone in the form of a local sales tax, so they could reduce the tax bills by a little. Well no one is actually tracking how much savings we are seeing because of the 1 percent sales tax. Each of us can subtract from the savings in your property taxes the additional amount you paid in taxes due to this increase. Depending how much business you do locally, you may find that you did not save what you thought you would save, not by a long shot. The town’s unused property should be sold and the proceeds used to retire current capital debt. And for the school board, there needs to be an elimination of teaching positions to get the student-teacher ratio up where it is affordable. The lack of activity in the budget-cutting arena, with a school population that has been decreasing overall for years, is unacceptable. Michael Wilson Colchester Support trapping policy changes I wonder how many Vermonters realize that trapping is allowed in the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge in Brunswick. As if that isn’t surprising enough, I was recently made aware that Canada lynx, a species protected under the Endangered Species Act, calls part of this refuge, specifically Nulhegan Basin, home. The lynx is in danger of becoming caught in traps set for other species, in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Not only are traps inherently cruel and inflict prolonged suffering, they are indiscriminate and result in non-target catches of wildlife each year. The Canada lynx is truly a magical looking animal with long tufts of fur on their ears and comically huge feet, which allow them to traverse deep snow. Lynx closely resemble bobcats, which may be legally trapped. A trap that will catch a bobcat can catch a lynx. There is an opportunity for Vermonters to comment on U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan and request that trapping be banned in this part of the refuge. If the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service allows trapping on this land, given the knowledge that an endangered species lives there, it is terribly irresponsible and not upholding their obligation to protect the lynx. Please take a moment and show your support by signing and sharing the petition with your friends and family. We need the Vermont community to show, through action, that we want a more humane Vermont for our wildlife. The petition is available at http://chn.ge/1WcCTBY Sophie Bowater Protect Our Wildlife volunteer Middlesex