Page 11 - 2020 Annual Report

Selectboard Report 2020 Pond village has no legal boundaries, and no legal standing as a governmental entity.
It does, however, have a zip code. The village of Island Pond made an attempt to
Our efforts to revitalize the Island Pond economy and upgrade our local be chartered, or “Organized” separately from the town in 1908, but never completed
infrastructure continue, in order to better serve our residents and attract travelers to the effort. If they had, Island Pond would be run by Trustees, like Barton village,
the village. A Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) grant or Lyndonville. But before we start a movement here, communities that have
for $60,000 with a small match from the town will pay for a $50,000 dock on the created separate village governments have to have two of everything and that costs
park waterfront, big enough for people to sit on and enjoy the scenery or to hitch money. You have two governing bodies, two clerks, two boards of Listers, two road
a boat to while visiting the downtown. That VOREC grant will also pay for a new departments, etc. We think one local government is probably enough.
visitors’ map to recreational assets in the area, and it will pay for a public bicycle
repair station to accommodate the increasing bike traffic into the village. Sincerely,

Soon the Selectboard will choose a professional engineering company to take Brighton Selectboard
us to the next level in plans to replace sidewalks, replace old water lines and old
stormwater lines on Cross Street, and to re-design the main downtown intersection
of Cross & Railroad Streets. The engineering work will be paid for with two other Michael Strait, Chair ‘21 Jeanne Gervais ‘23 Heather McElroy’22
grants of $40,000 each, with an $8,000 match from the town.

Two other big infrastructure needs are imminent as well. Our water treatment
plants and our sewer plant and related equipment are over 30 years old and both
have passed their design lifetimes. Engineering plans are underway for these key
elements of our infrastructure. Please read the Water/Sewer Department Reports on
page 22 for more information. It is likely the town is facing a bond vote in the near
future, but we anticipate there will be significant state and federal funding to help
pay for costs.
Efforts to move all this along have been hindered by the pandemic. But not much
has hindered the pandemic until the recent development of vaccines. Even with
vaccines, medical experts caution that masks and social distancing are still needed
for the time being, and we strongly encourage everyone to do their part to protect
everyone else. We have been fortunate so far but as the virus works its way into
rural communities it is important to know we are not immune. The Selectboard has
had to plan on how municipal functions would get done in the event our employees
contracted the virus, as well as the best way to protect staff and the public.
Town Meeting this year will be by Australian Ballot. The normal floor meeting that
takes place Monday night before Town Meeting will be conducted online. Voters
may call in or attend online. Those who cannot vote in person Tuesday can request
absentee ballots from the Town Clerk.

This year’s tax rate will go down, due to some unexpected revenues and
underspending the 2020 approved budget by about $65,000.

The question our staff get asked more than any other is “What’s the difference
between Brighton and Island Pond?” There are a couple answers to that question.
Because IP is a population center, you will find it on most road maps, but you won’t
see Brighton designated because it is too large an area at 54 square miles. Island

10 Town of Brighton, VT 2020 Annual Report 11