SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – At the Monday, March 23, selectboard meeting, Springfield town manager Scott Pickup gave an update on four properties the town had acted on to address persistent public safety concerns and respond to neighbors’ complaints.
78 Valley Street was the location of a March 6 police raid resulting in five arrests, including that of the homeowner. Pickup told the board that the house had been boarded up, secured, and posted, and they would begin to address the list of violations with the property owner pending his release from police custody.
The property located at 10-12 Central Street, previously reviewed by the board, was found to be in violation of a litany of health and safety infractions, both exterior and interior. Pickup reported that the owner had been cooperating slowly, and that removal of trash and debris remains ongoing. A follow-up walkthrough with Fire Chief Paul Stagner and the Vermont Division of Fire Safety is being planned, and Pickup said he expected to have a status report at the April 13 selectboard meeting.
Regarding the remaining two properties in question, the owner of 516 Spencer Hollow Road has been given 30 days to remove an unregistered camper from the parcel, and town attorney Steve Ankuda has been reviewing the legally complicated situation pertaining to the ownership of 482 Seavers Brook Road and will advise the town on next steps.
The selectboard approved the “Fourth Fridays” summer-fall concert series hosted by Springfield on the Move (SOM), which will take place on Main Street each fourth Friday, from May 22 – Oct. 23, from 5-8 p.m., featuring live performances in the park, local vendors, and family-friendly activities.
Also given the green light was the annual Springfield Alumni Day Parade. The parade will be held on June 20, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., and will proceed up Clinton and Main streets, ending at Riverside Middle School. This year’s theme is game shows.
Pickup presented the board with some information about the purchase of a new body-camera system for the Springfield Police Department. The proposed contract would be between the town and Axon operating systems, a fully integrated body-worn and in-car camera system using cloud evidence management.
The board unanimously approved the proposed 10-year contract, at a total cost of $338,256, to replace the failing system currently being used by the department. The town retains ownership of its data, which can be migrated should they ever change vendors. Pickup explained that the first year’s cost would be about $16,000 for implementation, then annual costs would increase to roughly $33,000 per year, with modest escalation over the term.
Kelly Stettner, founder of the Black River Action Team, made a request of the board to consider changing the grass height in town-owned spaces to promote environmental stewardship. The effort, known as Raise the Blade, would keep green spaces mowed to 3 inches, which Stettner advised encourages the growth of deeper roots, provides natural fertilizer, and helps soil retain water to reduce nutrient runoff into local waterways. The board agreed to give the suggestion a try, pending any negative feedback from residents. Pickup promised there would be educational outreach to make people aware of the change of policy.
Board member Tara Chase announced that SOM will be hosting the annual Easter-egg hunt on April 4, at The Commons Park, starting at 11 a.m.
The board will meet on April 13 and 27.