Town of Bennington 1998 Annual Report
The Select Board meets at 7:15 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month
at the Vermont District Court Building on Veteran's Memorial Drive. All meetings are
televised locally and are open to the public. In addition to the thirty-two business and
budget meetings held in 1998, the Select Board members attended numerous
community functions, and tried to respond to the concerns of Bennington's citizens.
Tom Bluto stepped down from the board after serving for three years, and Ronal Hall
was elected to fill his seat. Sheryn Brush and Lodie Colvin were reelected, so these
three members will now serve until 2001. The newly elected members carried the
message to the board that the citizens wanted to see a leadership role taken by the
Select Board with regards to economic development initiatives. As a result of that
public mandate, the board responded with the following throughout the course of the
year.
- Three forums were held to hear the concerns of the business and professional
community.
- The Select Board adopted a resolution to support the efforts of the Bennington
Economic Development Committee (BEDC) which was formed as a means of
coordinating economic development entities already at work in the Bennington
area.
- The elimination of the machinery and equipment tax was endorsed by the board
and supported by the voters.
- The Bennington Business Roundtable was formed.
- Funds were badgeted to support the Roundtable efforts.
- An economic development mixer was sponsored by the Roundtable and the
Select Board bringing George Wimmer, a successful industrial developer from
Sodelis, Missouri to share his expertise with local business leaders.
- A one-year moratorium (07/01/98 - 06/30/99) was approved regarding the
parking meters dowmtown.
- The Board is considering a Development Review Board as a way of restructuring
the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board.
- The Board listened to and supported Southern Vermont Natural Gas
Corporation's proposal to bring natural gas to Bennington.
- The Board is continuing its efforts to Improve the transportation infrastructure for
Bennington by keeping the Bennington Bypass (weSt, east, and south) in the
forefront of the minds of the state legislature, as well as maintaining an
awareness of the local and state benefits of the southem connection by rail
upgrades to link Albany to Bennington to Rutland to Burlington.
In addition to economic initiatives, quality of life in our community is to be enhanced by
the efforts of citizen Alicia Romac, who is recruiting volunteers to make a Community
Built Park a reality. The Select Board has conditionally allowed the citizens to design
the park using Willow Park as the location.
We are now on line with E911, enhanced emergency locatable address system. The
post office now must complete its preparation for full implementation.
The citizens of Bennington supported the Federal Building on South Street as a Police
facility, so a general contractor has been selected, and the bidding and, design phase is
under way.
And, finally, the board has supported the funding for the headquarters for Bennington's
Bicenquinquegenary, the 250th anniversary of the signing of our charter as the first
recognized community in what would become the State of Vermont.
Serving on the Select Board is a privilege. The members of the board work hard to
earn your trust. We appreciate the confidence you have placed in us. With your
continued interest and support, Bennington will remain a special place to live and raise
a family.
Respectfully submitted,
Lodie Colvin, Chair
© Copyright 1999, Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Bennington. All rights reserved.
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