By Michael Sharkey
This letter was sent to the Waitsfield Select Board regarding signage for the new town offices and plowing costs for our sidewalks.
In my humble opinion, the $1.6 million building is all the sign you actually need.
We had a town office sign on the old office. Why can that not be used if you really think we need it? The address can be changed or maybe we do not need the address on the sign. This would serve as a sign as well as a historical connection to our old office.
We have many artists and craftsmen in Waitsfield and the Mad River Valley. Why not have a contest for design and construction including the Yestermorrow School or maybe someone would donate an acceptable design and construction?
Before any money is spent, all methods of zero cost should first be considered. Spending $8,000 for signage seems outrageous.
As you know, we are paying $14,250 per mile for our approximately 0.2 mile of sidewalk plowing which equals about $2.75 per foot. The new town hall adds approximately 130 feet (50-foot sidewalk in back and 80-foot entrance, 60 in back and 20 in front ) – $2.75 x 130 = $357 additional cost per year at the rate we now pay. We already are paying for the front sidewalk which is included in the $14,250, which as you know I think is outrageous.
It is true we do need professional cleaning of the new office? As far as the landscape, is there any way to consider volunteer mowing as the lawn seems very small to me? The town could try getting a free walk-behind mower through Front Porch Forum. My experience says there are 20 weeks a year at the most mowing is required. If a schedule is made for the season, you might get 10 folks to each mow twice a season (I would do it twice). If there is anything required with the plants, I think we have a club in The Valley that could handle that.
I think we could try this method for the first season. It would be great if it worked; if not we could bid it out the following year.
Sharkey lives in Waitsfield.
