Dear Middlesex Neighbor,
Town Meeting Day decisions are coming up! On Town Meeting Day (March 4, 2008), many issues will be discussed and voted on at Town Meeting (starting at 4:15 p.m.). In addition, several items will be voted on by Australian ballot in the voting booth. According to state law, Australian ballot may not be discussed at Town Meeting while the voting booths are open, so NOW is the time to learn more about them. Please attend the:

Informational Meeting on Tuesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.,
Middlesex Town Hall; and Fire Station Open House (from 6:30 on).

At the Informational Meeting, you can sit down, have some cider, and ask the Selectboard any questions you may have about the proposals. You can also stop in at the Fire Station Open House behind Town Hall that evening anytime after 6:30 to tour the building with Fire Department members. Below is some background information on two Australian ballot items.

1) LAND PURCHASE FOR NEW FIRE STATION: “Shall the Town of Middlesex authorize the purchase in fiscal year 2007-2008 of Lot #4 in the Welch Park for an amount not to exceed $115,000 for the purpose of building a new fire station and authorize the Selectboard to borrow this sum for a period not to exceed 6 years?”

Selectboard’s Explanation of Fire Station Need
Middlesex is currently served by a Volunteer Fire Department with approximately 25 members and two stations. After a study by the Facilities Committee, the Village station has been identified as being too small, structurally unsound, and lacking a fire egress for the second floor. Headroom is insufficient and the building is not energy efficient. It is not feasible to renovate the current building. The Facilties Committee has reviewed options including a combination fire station and town facility, building a fire station on the former Morse property, and an alternate building site. 

Feasibility of Project:
After review of options, the Building Committee has recommended to the Selectboard that the Lot#4 at Welch Park be purchased in anticipation of building a new Fire Station in 2009. It is the intention of the Selectboard, pending approval of the land purchase, to submit a funding proposal to Middlesex voters for construction of the fire station at the November 2008 General Election. It is anticipated that the total bonding request for this project, including the cost of the land, will not exceed $950,000. 

Long Term Benefits:
Building a new fire station will strengthen Middlesex’s volunteer fire department by enhancing retention of existing personnel and the ability to recruit new personnel. Our volunteer fire department provides extremely cost-effective fire and emergency service to Middlesex and surrounding communities. Also, the new fire station location is next to town land bordering the Winooski River. The new station will facilitate the development of that town-owned land for recreational purposes.

2) TOWN PLAN: “Shall the Town of Middlesex adopt the Middlesex Town Plan 2008?”

The Middlesex Planning Commission submitted a draft Town Plan to the Selectboard in July.  The Selectboard reviewed and revised the plan, and held a public hearing in January, 2008. The Selectboard recommends approval of this revised Town Plan. A copy of the proposed Town Plan is available at the Town Clerk’s office, or at the Middlesex website: www.middlesex-vt.org.

There are many opportunities to learn about Middlesex-related issues.
Please mark your calendar!

• Informational Meeting about Fire Station Proposal (and other Town Meeting Day issues)
Tuesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m., Middlesex Town Hall
Have a conversation with Selectboard members about articles to be addressed on Town Meeting Day. On the same evening you can stop in at the Fire Station Open House starting at 6:30 p.m. Fire Station is located behind Town Hall in Middlesex village. 

• Informational Meeting about Kellogg-Hubbard Library
Tuesday, February 19, 5:30 p.m., Middlesex Town Hall
Discussion about the Library’s request for town funding. Executive Director Martin Hahn and library board members will be present to answer your questions.

• Rumney School Public Budget Discussion Meeting
Thursday, February 21, 6:30 p.m., Middlesex Town Hall

• Rumney School Public Budget Discussion Meeting
Monday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m., Rumney School Library

• U-32 High School Annual Budget Information Meeting
Monday, March 3, 6:00 p.m., U-32, Room 131

This notice brought to you by the Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee and the Middlesex Selectboard. For more information, please contact: Town Clerk: June Lakin, 223-5915 Selectboard: Peter Hood, (h) 223-6518, (w) 223-9644; Bill Callnan, 223-5794; Mary Just Skinner, (h) 223-7123, (w) 229-0200; Mary Hood Alexander, (w) 229-1000; Walter Kelley, 229-0693; Cindy Carlson, Clerk, (h) 223-3297, (w) 496-2080.
E-mail addresses and additional contacts available at: www.middlesex-vt.org.