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Proposed Revision of Sec. 503 of Windham Zoning Regulations
Proposed Revision of Sec. 503 of Windham Zoning Regulations
The Windham Planning Commission has proposed that Sec. 503 of its Zoning Regulations, which pertains to Timber Harvesting, should be revised and amended.
Currently, Sec. 503 reads as follows:
To minimize environmental impact, improve wildlife habitat and maintain the productivity of the land:
- Trees shall not be felled into or across streams. Logging debris dropped into streams and ponds shall be promptly removed.
- Slash will not be left within 50 feet of property lines, any town road, established recreation trail, pond, lake or stream and 100 feet from buildings.
- Commercial loggers must secure a permit prior to beginning logging operations.
The state (specifically the Vermont Agency of Natural resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation), not the town of Windham, has the authority to regulate and enforce acceptable logging practices. Therefore, the first two enumerated entries in Sec. 503, as it is currently written, do not belong in town zoning regulations. Item #3 is vague and does not specify the kind of permit that is required or from whom it should be obtained. Additionally, in recent years logging operations sometimes have begun in Windham without the Select Board or Road Crew having any advanced notice, awareness of the size and scope of the operation or its possible effect upon town roads.
In an effort to correct the deficiencies noted above, the Planning Commission has proposed rewriting Sec. 503 (Timber Harvesting) to read as follows:
Before any logging operation which involves the use of Windham town roads may begin, the following three conditions must be met.
- Loggers and other contractors operating heavy equipment on Windham town roads must secure an overweight permit from the Town Clerk. Proof of liability insurance is required in order to get an overweight permit.
- Loggers or contractors who plan to use access roads and town roads to
transport logs must post a $500 bond at the Town Office. Approval of the Road Foreman is necessary before a bond may be returned.
- After the first two conditions are met, the landowner, or a contractor specifically designated by the landowner, must get an access
permit signed by the town Road Foreman. The access permit is available at the Town Office or may be downloaded from the town’s website (www.townofwindhamvt.com). An appointment with the Road Foreman
may be scheduled by contacting the Town Clerk (802-874-4211.)
The current Zoning Regulations are available via the link below or the town office.
Windham Huge Tag Sale
The Windham tag sale will be held on Saturday May 28 from 9am until 3pm Check it out !
Selectboard needs Volunteers for Committee on ARPA funds
The Town of Windham has been awarded $120,000 through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and decisions need to be made about how to spend it. Officially, the ARPA funds serve to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
The Selectboard is creating a committee to decide how to use this money, as there are many options, everything from assisting households, small businesses, and nonprofits that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, to investing in needed broadband infrastructure. Some other options include promoting tourism, supporting artistic endeavors, providing educational services, and funding climate mitigation efforts, such as buying an electric school bus or installing solar panels.
A diverse group is wanted to serve on Windham’s ARPA committee – young parents, retirees, those of all ages, business owners, educators, environmentalists, artists, broadband enthusiasts, health care providers, members of the WCO – those who care about the well-being of our town.
If you would like to serve on the committee, please contact George Dutton at georgedutton@gmail.com or Michael Pelton at michael.herbert.pelton@gmail.com.
Windham Town Meeting Results
We had a total of 205 ballots counted for today’s Town Meeting. Please see the results of the Town Meeting below (the most votes received for a particular article or candidate are marked in bold) :
Article 1: To elect a Town Moderator for the year ensuing.
MICHAEL McLAINE 198
Write-Ins 2
Blank 5
Article 2: Shall the voters accept the Town Report prepared by the Auditors?
YES 182; NO 5; Blank 18
Article 3: To elect all Town Officers as required by law:
Town Clerk, 3-year term:
ERIN KEHOE 43
ELLEN McDUFFIE 156
Blank 6
Town Treasurer, 3-year term:
ERIN KEHOE 62
KATHY SCOTT 138
Blank 5
Selectperson, 3-year term:
RONALD COHEN 32
ASA GOODBAND 50
ERIN KEHOE 25
MICHAEL PELTON 91
Write-in 2
Blank 5
Lister, 3-year term
WILLIAM CASEY 147
Write-in 15
Blank 43
Auditor, 3-year term
PAT McLAINE 177
Write-in 4
Blank 24
Constable, 2-year term
JOE LAMSON 18
JAMES LAWLER 9
Write-ins 12
Blank 148
Delinquent Tax Collector, 1-year term
RUSS CUMMING 81
PAUL WYMAN 117
Blank 7
Windham Ctr. Cemetery Commissioner, 5-year term:
WILLIAM CASEY 36
DEANNA PARKER 27
Write-ins 18
Blank 124
W. Windham Cemetery Commissioner, 5-year term:
PETER NEWTON 34
Write-ins 22
Blank 149
N. Windham Cemetery Commissioner, 5-year term:
CAROL MERRITT 20
Write-ins 29
Blank 156
Library Trustee, 5-year term:
MAUREEN BELL 189
Write-in 4
Blank 12
West River Modified Unified School Director, 2 years of a 3-year term ending in 2024
CRYSTAL CORRIVEAU 104
RORY ROSSELOT 63
Write-in 18
Blank 20
Article 4: Shall the voters authorize the Town Treasurer to collect current taxes?
YES 190; NO 6; Blank 9
Article 5: Shall the voters set the due date for property taxes as postmarked on or before October 31, 2022?
YES 192; NO 6; Blank 7
Article 6: Shall the voters authorize General Fund expenditures for operating expenses of $236,413, of which $229,662 shall be raised by taxes, and $6,751 shall be applied from FY2021 non-tax revenue and budget surplus? Voted 2021: $229,662
YES 187; NO 11; Blank 7
Article 7: Shall the voters authorize Roads Budget expenditures of $488,568, of which $482,500 shall be raised by taxes, and $6,048 shall be applied from FY2021 budget surplus? Voted 2021: $488,568
YES 190; NO 11; Blank 4
Article 8: Shall the voters appropriate $30,000 for the New Road Machinery Fund? Not Voted for since 2020
YES 175; NO 24; Blank 6
Article 9: Shall the voters appropriate $90,000 for Repaving and $15,000 for the Bridges and Large Structures Fund? Voted 2021: $90,000 for Repaving and $15,000 for Bridges and Large Structures
YES 177; NO 23; Blank 5
Article 10: Shall the voters establish a Maintenance & Improvement Reserve fund for The Meeting House and transfer $5,000 from FY 2021 non-tax revenue and budget surplus?
YES 175; NO 23; Blank 7
SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING
Article 1: To elect a Moderator for a term of one (1) year.
MICHAEL McLAINE 194
Write-in 3
Blank 8
Article 2: Shall the voters accept the Town Report prepared by the Auditors?
YES 186; NO 7; Blank 12
Article 3: To elect all other officers required by law to be elected at the Windham School:
School District Treasurer, 1-year term (ending 2023)
KATHY SCOTT 48
ERIN KEHOE 21
Write-in 13
Blank 123
School District Director, 3-year term (ending 2025)
ABIGAIL PELTON 150
Write-in 16
Blank 39
Article 4: Shall the voters authorize the School District to compensate the School Directors $750 each as included in the proposed School Budget for 2022-2023?
YES 163; NO 30; Blank 12
Article 5: Shall the voters of the Windham School District approve the school board to expend $434,000 which is the amount the school board has determined to be necessary for the ensuing fiscal year? It is estimated that this proposed budget, if approved, will result in education spending of $19,990 per equalized pupil. This projected spending per equalized pupil is 17.87% more than spending for the current year.
YES 112; NO 85; Blank 8
Article 6: Shall the voters of the Windham School District authorize the moving of the operational surplus, if any, from FY 2022 to the Capital Reserve Fund?
YES 158; NO 32; Blank 15
Congratulations to all of the Candidates, and thank you to all of the election workers who stayed late to count the ballots. Here’s hoping that next year will be in-person.
Take good care of each other.
Signing off for the last time as Town Clerk,
Mike McLaine
—
Windham Town Clerk
Windham Town Office
5976 Windham Hill Road
Windham, Vermont 05359
Tel: (802)-874-4211
Fax: (802)-874-4144
https://townofwindhamvt.com/
Special Selectboard Meeting – Town Meeting Informational 2-19-2022
For the video and text files of the meeting – see the two parts in the Select board meeting minutes