BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – The Rockingham Selectboard held its regular meeting on Monday, May 5, in the lower theater of the Rockingham Town Hall.
As interim Town Manager Alex Torpey prepares to leave his temporary role with the town, Development Director Gary Fox has agreed to fill in until new Town Manager Aaron Patt comes aboard. In that capacity, Fox announced that the town was looking into using artificial intelligence (AI) software specifically created for municipal government meetings to record minutes.
“MuniMins,” Fox explained, “focuses on motions and who made them. It has voice recognition and identifies who’s speaking.” Fox said they were reviewing the service that evening, with Betsy Thurston also taking minutes, then comparing transcripts to test the software’s accuracy.
Torpey had mentioned to Fox that other municipalities have tested this software out with positive results, and Rockingham was able to get into the beta testing program, which, for now, is free of charge.
A new Level 3 EV charger is scheduled for installation on June 30, at the Waypoint Center. This replaces the previous charger, which was damaged after being hit by a vehicle. The cost, not to exceed $69,893.98, will be reimbursed by insurance. Integra Energy, based in Albany, N.Y., was contracted to install and maintain the charger and accompanying software.
HB Energy Solutions will remove the defective fire alarm control panel (FACP) and peripheral equipment at the Rockingham Town Hall, install a new FACP and the components that work within the fire response system, and review the basic operation and maintenance with town staff. HB Energy will work with Mammoth Fire Alarms to program, commission, and test the system. The cost is estimated at $56,344.
A group of University of Vermont (UVM) civil and environmental engineering students presented the selectboard with their U.S. Route 5 and Vermont Route 121 Intersection Improvement Study, as part of UVM’s capstone program. The capstone teams partner with businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities to design working prototypes to address challenges faced by local communities.
Problems that the UVM seniors had identified included pedestrian connectivity and safety, truck access, parking, shifting traffic patterns, and aesthetics. By communicating with the businesses in and adjacent to that intersection, the team heard specific concerns from business owners and researched solutions.
The students noted there are no crosswalks at the northbound and eastbound legs of the intersection, and the existing walk signals are mistimed and too short a duration for the crossing length. Additionally, since the intersection serves as the gateway to Bellows Falls Village, preservation of the historic fountain in the center island was factored into the approach.
After presenting alternative options they had considered, the team’s recommendation was to focus primarily on pedestrian improvements. This plan would feature mainly new sidewalks and crosswalks, interior island expansion, and pedestrian signals. It would not address or improve large truck accessibility.
The students felt the town could apply for transportation alternative grants from the State of Vermont to cover some of the cost and encouraged continued gathering of public feedback on any proposal.
Senior Solutions Executive Director Mark Boutwell attended Monday’s meeting to speak to the board about the variety of services the organization provides to area seniors, their family members, and service providers.
Board Chair Rick Cowan had asked the board to consider a request to move town social service funds away from Dartmouth Health Home Care (DHHC) and reallocate that money to Springfield’s Senior Solutions. Although DHHC is a nonprofit, some residents have taken issue with salaries for the company’s top executives in excess of $300,000.
Funding streams supporting Medicare and Medicaid benefits for seniors have reportedly become unreliable, and programs like Meals on Wheels and veterans services are being disrupted. Organizations such as Senior Solutions face growing challenges to continue to provide these lifesaving services.
The board did not act on the fund reallocation immediately, but will consider the possibility, as well as others. Cowan said one alternative would be to funnel the money into the budget for the fire and rescue department.
The next regular meeting of the selectboard will take place Tuesday, May 19, at 6 p.m.