By Lani Duke
updated
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 09:19 AM
All four RCSU pricipals IN JOB DISPUTES
Rutland Central Supervisory Union's four principals seem to all
have had disputes with their employers. Rutland Town principal
Patty Beaumont was first to resign in late February, followed by
June Sargent of Proctor High and now Nancy Erickson of Proctor
Elementary. Erickson's resignation is effective June 30.
West Rutland principal Juanita Birch-Clay has been having
difficulty with her school board too; she has been told she must
meet a specific condition of employment to be re-hired for the
coming year.
There appears to be no unifying factor triggering these
difficulties.
WIND POWER QUESTIONS
West Rutland cmmunity members met recently to discuss their
concerns about a wind-powered project proposed for the top of
Grandpa's Knob. They want to know how it will affect the town's
property taxes, whether there will be blasting on the ridgeline to
site the wind turbines, and how the road and the sites will affect
local wells and farms.
The project would place as many as 20 wind turbines on the
Grandpa's Knob ridgeline in West Rutland, Castleton, Hubbardton and
Pittsford. It would put a large taxpayer in West Rutland.
While residents look for more information, developer Reunion Power
doesn't have a lot of data available yet. Reunion purchased the
project from previous developer Noble Environmental Power in late
2009. Managing director Steve Eisenberg has said his company is
still putting the project's needs together, deciding the number of
turbines and where they should be installed, plus the roads to
service them. Reunion Power plans a May public meeting in West
Rutland.
CUTTING DRUG DEMAND
An anticipated drug treatment center would help cut the amount of
illegal drugs entering Rutland, interim police chief James Baker
said.
Although police can investigate drug-related crimes, they cannot
lessen the demand. A drug treatment clinic, dispensing methadone
and possibly other addiction treatment substances, would lower the
demand.
Methadone treatment satisfies the physical craving for drugs such
as heroin and prescription painkillers without providing a "high"
when administered in proper doses.
Getting an already proposed methadone clinic up and running is a
project filled with obstacles; the first hurdle is finding an
acceptable site to place it. A site on Park Street has seemed
fairly suitable, but officials from the nearby Vermont Achievement
Center have expressed concerns about safety and traffic routing.
Other possible locations have included the former Video World
building on South Main, and a number of buildings on Woodstock
Avenue. A credit union occupying part of the South Main site
objected to sharing a building with a clinic; the Woodstock sites
have insufficient parking space, Tom DePoy told assembled aldermen
and health and law enforcement officials.
Parking availability is a strong plus for the Park Street site, as
is being away from downtown congestion.
VEDA loans help Rutland businesses thrive
A Vermont Economic Development Corp. (VEDA) loan for $346,000
enables Rutland Plywood Corp. to finish a wood-fired co-generation
plant. The plant already in place currently generates 285 kilowatts
per hour, operating around the clock, seven days a week, enough to
power 300 homes a year.
It burns 15,000 tons a year of wood waste left over from its
manufacturing operation, which makes hardwood laminates for
snowboards, hand tools, musical instruments, knitting needles,
gunstocks, and many other everyday products. In addition to the
electricity the plant produces, it also makes steam used as part of
its manufacturing operation. The electric power is sold to Central
Vermont Public Service.
In all, VEDA issued $10.4 million to finance a variety of business
ventures across the state. Among the loans is $300,000 to Rutland's
Crash Palace, an auto body repair business; the funds help it buy
the property it is currently leasing.
Playground reopens
Meadow Street Playground is scheduled to reopen after having been
closed through the winter. The play surface has been removed and
replaced after city workers removed mud and other washed in debris
from tropical storm Irene; the tennis court and basketball court
had to be power washed.
Playing on the adjacent fields, however, will have to wait until
turf grows in and matures, Rutland Recreation Department
Superintendent EJay Bishop has said.
"The back fields, where the softball fields are, will remain
closed until the turf has grown in and matured to the point where
we're comfortable with it," Bishop said Thursday. The mud has been
removed, the fields have been aerated and fertilized - also true
for Giorgetti Park fields. Infields still need to be rebuilt, and
reseeding will have to wait until soil temperatures warm until the
soil warms up to 55 degrees.
Shelvey retires
Alan Shelvey, commissioner of Rutland City's Department of Public
Works, plans to retire in April. City engineer Evan Pilchowski will
step into the position once the aldermen confirm his appointment,
but Shelvey will remain working for the City on a part-time basis
through the summer.
LANI'S PICKS
Saturday, April 7-Easter Egg Hunt in Depot Park, downtown Rutland,
starts at 10 a.m. for children age 10 and under. Also an Easter Egg
Scramble at Jump for Fun, 1 Scale Ave. Howe Center Building #10.
Also starts at 10 a.m. BYOB (bring your own basket or bag).
Saturday, April 7-Dr. Strangelove comes to the Big Flicks at the
Paramount Theatre film series. 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10-Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce April mixer
closes Wales Street for a pig roast sponsored by Roots the
Restaurant and Earth Waste Systems.
Thursday, April 12-Spring Job Fair at U.S. Army & National
Guard Reserve Center, Post Road, 1-4 p.m.
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