Woodstock CT Café

I. Sub-committee objective

At the July 2009 BOF meeting, Chairman David Hosmer appointed a three-person sub-committee consisting of BOF members Cass, Cabana and McCoy, charged with the responsibility of researching the past practices of both the Woodstock Town Treasurer’s office and the Board of Finance, when calculating the annual town budget under Prop. 46.

This action was taken in response to a citizen’s contention that the practice of incorporating emergency and “one time” expenditures into a budget, and the failure to subtract those items from the subsequent year’s budget, is a violation of Prop 46.

II. Research process

The subcommittee held eight meetings over a seven-month period, interviewing former
BOF chairpersons: S. Ahola, S. Boldry, E. Shepard, M. Alberts, S. Rapose and Town Attorney DeCrescenzo.

Each former chairperson received a standardized questionnaire with the following questions:

1. During which years did you serve on the board of finance?

2. What was the procedure used to calculate the annual budget?

3. Were “one time and/or emergency expenditures” which were included in the budget for any given year, then subtracted back out the following year?

4. Were there any unusual circumstances that occurred during your term of service on the BOF?

5. During your term, do you recall if the method of calculating the budget according to Prop.46 was consistently applied or did it change during any particular year?

6. In your opinion, was the level of service provided by the town impacted due to Prop 46?

Each of the answers that we received from the former chairpersons were consistent. This
Sub-committee is satisfied that the formula used to calculate the annual town budget was applied consistently from year to year and with close oversight by the BOF. In fact, Mrs. Ahola, Mr. Boldry and Mrs. Rapose each related that they would sit with the town treasurer and do the math together, so there was never a question as to the method or formula that was used. Each person also stated that to the best of their recollections, “one time or emergency” budget items, if they occurred, were never subtracted back out the following year.

Prop. 46 Subcommittee Report

E. Shepard stated that “by keeping those items within the budget, allowed for a small margin of growth, which helped to offset inflation and the increased cost of doing business as a town. As Prop. 46 is vague in this area, the BOF had to exercise its discretion in this matter”.

III. Recommendations Read the rest of this entry »

from John

There are four images below of the reclaimed asphalt pavement on Pulpit Rock Road taken today during my own site visit. Some may differ with my opinion about this issue. It’s not au naturel. I usually avoid Pulpit Rock Road because I am in a hurry and Pulpit Rock is not meant to be driven at 40 mph. Today I drove the road at between 15 and 20 mph and felt its ambiance which was enhanced when I actually got out of the car. I have no idea where the residents who have not spoken up stand on the issue dirt v. paving or dirt v. RAP but I personally like the natural setting sans RAP. I can see in my mind’s eye my Grandfather in his surrey on this road. Yes, there is hardship in enduring the bumps to get home; but the natural setting stays with you for life. I experienced this when I built my own home in an even more remote setting in Maryland described here. When others eventually moved in and started demanding a paved access road, I refused to cooperate. The reason I had moved there in the first place was to get as close to nature as possible – this was a time when I went back to urban reality each day by commuting to the intense environs of Johns Hopkins Medical Center and then the National Institutes of Health. It was always a relief to get back to my place no matter how much rain or snow.

As you can see, the RAP is less visible in the center of the road but clearly visible on the sides of the road. This is because the traffic carries dirt onto the viscoelastic RAP and it sticks. Some would say that the RAP will become less visible with time. This is also true of the trash deposited on the side of most of Woodstock’s roads which is readily visible if you take a walk. I noticed no trash on the sides of Pulpit Rock Road. Covering up is not my idea of aesthetics.

When I was taking these pictures, a commercial van tore by going at least 40 mph. A cloud of dust trailed the van like a sandstorm. This is the difference between the first and second picture – see the cloud of dust at the top of the hill. The third picture shows the 20 mph speed sign on this section of the road. The speed of that van was a crime.

The only issue I would like to understand better is the cost of maintaining this road versus other roads. Unfortunately The Selectmen have not conveyed this information when making their decision, although as a friend in town said to me, “I doubt the road material usage started as anything sinister, just bad planning and communication with the community. That doesn’t mean that certain groups in town are not waiting to take advantage of any controversy that arises.”
Read the rest of this entry »

From “Leaching Characteristics of Asphalt Road Waste“ – a study from the University of Florida

“The results of this research project indicated that reclaimed asphalt pavement of the nature examined in this study poses minimal risk to groundwater as a result of pollutant leaching under normal land disposal scenarios. The results of the leaching tests indicated that in most cases RAP would pose minimal environmental risk when used as fill in regard to the leaching of the pollutants.”

Excerpts from the Description of RAP
Asphalt is a natural component of nearly all types of petroleum found in nature. By refining crude petroleum, various components can be separated and recovered, including asphalt. Asphalt has physical and chemical properties that make it of great interest to many engineers. It is a strong cement, extremely durable, readily adhesive, highly waterproof, and considered to be chemically inert. Asphalt is highly resistant to the reaction of many acids, alkalis, and salts. Asphalt is a viscoelastic substance that imparts both controllable elasticity and viscous flow to mixtures of aggregates with which it is commonly combined. Asphalt for pavement construction is called asphalt cement.

Asphalt cement is often added to aggregate to make asphalt concrete for construction of asphalt pavements for highways and parking lots. When these asphalt pavements are removed from a road surface, the by-product is commonly called reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). RAP consists of ground up asphalt pavement. For this study, RAP is defined as all asphalt road waste, large chunks or milled material that has been size-reduced, making it reusable as part of a new asphalt mixture.

…Other uses for the unused RAP have included the following: roadbase material for stabilizing dirt roads, pothole/rut filler, and roadway shoulder material. A proposed alternative for the management of RAP is use as fill material, whether by disposal in asphalt-only monofills or in beneficial reuse applications as clean fill.

Excerpt from the End of the Summary
…In all of the batch tests, measurements of VOCs (volatile organic compound), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and selected heavy metals (Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn) all were below detection limit (BDL) Read the rest of this entry »

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to… change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to ‘clean up’ the bird’s vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arms and said “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”

John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very softly, “May I ask what the turkey did?”

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

With many thanks to Nick McCoy for sharing this on FB

Happy T-day everyone!

For a blast back to the present, this is Governor Rell’s Thanksgiving day proclamation this year:

Now is the time that we, as Americans, surround ourselves with family, friends and those we care most deeply about, and for many of us, it is a time to give thanks to God for the blessings bestowed upon us throughout the year.

We, the people of Connecticut, are privileged to live in a nation where we are free to gather together to celebrate all of the gifts which we have been given, both great and small.

Yet, with all that we have to be thankful for, it is easy to forget and take for granted the fortunate lives we live. This harvest time of year is an opportunity to give thanks and to rejoice in the love, opportunities and freedoms we enjoy.

It is a time to honor the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country, and we must thank them and their families for their sacrifices, especially those who have courageously given their lives while serving our Nation.

Thanksgiving each year is celebrated in the spirit of our forefathers, the early settlers of America, as they sat down to feast together and give thanks for their safe arrival and for surviving the first harsh winter in the New World.

As they gathered to give thanks, they invited their native neighbors to share their ample blessings.

It is at this time that we should come together as our colonial ancestors did in order to enjoy a plentiful harvest and extend our generosity to others.

In this tradition, we should give of ourselves to those who have been given little, offer our blessings to those whose blessings are not as plentiful, and open our hearts and homes to neighbors.

It is a time to gather with family and friends, neighbors and colleagues, to give thanks for all that we have and all that was given us.

It is my hope that all of Connecticut’s citizens will give thanks as we celebrate today and throughout the year.

Therefore, in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut and in keeping with the traditions set forth by Governors of Connecticut since colonial times, I hereby proclaim November 25, 2010, to be a day of

PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.

I urge all our citizens to join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to those who touch our lives everyday and in extending a helping hand of hope to those who need it most.

Thank you governor Rell.

Kevin

Mariah with Uncle Peter’s turkey in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the great state of North Carolina in November 1992.

from Brad 

Wow, this place sure is weird.

Quite a few people here are very quick to jump to wrong conclusions and this immature behavior is not only prevalent, it’s encouraged which is too bad.

By the way John, Brunswick is a County, I stated earlier I live in Brunswick County. The town of Brunswick is in Columbus County, I don’t live there. Why do you think it’s “weird” that I brought up how Kevin got elected? Based on his behavior here and the way he likes to shoot off his uninformed mouth, I couldn’t imagine how a guy like him could possibly win an election unless is was by default. If he got more votes than you did, you must be a Democrat too which means one of you had to win no matter what.

And no kos, I’m not someone from Woodstock. If you have any proof that I am then please share it with the rest. Otherwise your continued child-like speculation makes you look like an ass.

I thought this blog was a place that encouraged the civil exchange of ideas and opinions but it appears I’m sadly mistaken.

I’m sorry if I offended any of you here with my initial comments regarding dirt roads. As I mentioned before, your Board of Selectmen and road foreman exercised good judgment maintaining the road the way they did and it sure looks like a majority of people in town support them on that. As with any issue, there will be a few whining malcontents like the Loftus (or is it Loftis?) lady and the Rappoport guy but they sound like the type who whine about everything (and Kos too) just on general principles or just because those who made the decisions are in the other political party.

I’ll check back from time to time but I probably won’t bother posting comments because it’s pretty clear that the regular offensive denizens of this place seem to get their jollies out of arguing just to cause trouble instead of engaging in a civil exchange of ideas.

Numbers and Nary reminisced about growing up in the Falls Church/McLean area of Virginia when I mentioned the dirt roads of McLean. Dorinda may also appreciate this. The scenes below are showing my Grandfather, Leland Magill, preparing to take me and my cousin Suzy for a surrey ride on dirt roads in the late 1940s in McLean. We trotted down Grandfather’s long dirt driveway to Old Dominion Drive and then did a sharp right onto Balls Hill Road, a dirt road then which headed toward Seven Corners. I found the intersection of Balls Hill and Old Dominion on Google Maps and if you go to the satellite image, you can see my Grandfather’s long driveway winding up to the house, McLean House, on the west side of Old Dominion where Balls Hill angles off of Old Dominion. It’s all still there. I memorialized my Grandfather at http://miltongardens.com/.
Read the rest of this entry »

from Ken Rapoport

I want to thank PZC for passing a motion for a moratorium on utilizing “ground up asphalt” on designated scenic dirt roads.Apparently, Woodstock’s Board of Selectman approved this procedure by our town road crews-claiming that its use was supported by the State of PA documentation for “best practices” for maintaining dirt roads. Unfortunately for our selectmen- EVERYONE has access to the internet- and clearly- NO documentation exists that necessarily supports this! Most documentation- including Federal guidelines- actually expressly defines the use of this material as detrimental to the environment and upkeep of dirt roads!

Seems PZC took pains to remind all the attendees that “they believed the Selectmen had acted in good faith and had not intentionally violated the Town Ordinance”(re:law) protecting Scenic Dirt Roads.(Seems more appropriate to the sentencing phase of a trial- first degree murder vs manslaughter- but still guilty?!) Regardless- they DID VIOLATE a Town Ordinance- spent taxpayer money in doing so- and will need to spend MORE taxpayer money restoring the road as it was originally! Hopefully- our selectmen will respect our own town laws in the future!

Likewise, I must comment that it was fascinating to see the three mousketeers-Dottie Durst, Fred Rich and Dexter Young (with family relationships to 2 of the 3 selectmen) attempt to sidestep PZC’s responsibility to uphold their own laws- by (1) evoking public safety issues (but how we have managed for 300 years before without ground up asphalt on dirt roads?), (2)suggesting we take our issues up with the Selectmen- not PZC-because PZC doesn’t has jursidiction?, and (3) wanted to do further research(critical delay!) before making any motion- even WHILE the Selectmen and Town Road Crews had scheduled further use of this abominable use of asphalt on scenic dirt town roads!!! While Wyndham Land Trust has set aside close to 150 acres along Pulpit Rock into permanent conservation- these 3 mousketeers continue to simply disregard and negate existing laws protecting the natural resources of Woodstock! From the days of fighting with these 3 over the violations inherent within the original Douglas Subdivision application on Pulpit Rock Road- to the violations of this Scenic Dirt Road ordinance-it has become absurdly obvious that some elected officials are ignoring laws and the will of the people.

Utilizing ground up asphalt is undoubtably an effort at a “major improvement” when placed on a dirt roads. We don’t need to mince words, nor attempt to hide behind “life safety claims” to know that it is JUST PLAIN WRONG and AGAINST THE LAW.

Situations like this- created by both the Selectmen and PZC undermine the rule of law- and the confidence in our local government. In speaking with a local resident about this situation before the PZC meeting- he declined to go- suggesting that the “only way he will deal with Woodstock is to send lawyers-no one listens to the citizens anyway, and much better for his mental health!”
Sad but often so true!

Thankfully- we still have a quorum of reasonable people on PZC- but I am now not so confident in our selectmen?!

There is a PZC site walk on Sunday (Nov 21 @ 8am) at edge of the paved and dirt section(west of Meehan Road intersection) along Pulpit Rock-and the public has been invited

All citizens want is simply a level playing field with boards evaluating issues where special interests in town are involved -and/or adherence to our laws is required. When are our elected officials going to recognize this- without the cost of lawsuits to remind them?

I hope the Selectmen reach into their own checkbooks to pay for the restoration of Pulpit Rock- why should the citizens pay twice? Or maybe they should all offer to resign for breaking the law?

My 2 cents.

Ken Rapoport

from Dorinda

A thought or two about the dirt road issue. This issue is close and dear to my heart as I’ve lived my life under the influence of a dirt road, Smith Road in West Woodstock to be exact. My profession was education, my avocation writing. That tiny strip of brown dirt that defines the edge of our fields has been ever present throughout my family’s life. It has helped defined so many moments of our life.

I would like to share with the Cafe readers a few lines from one of my developing projects about growing up beside a dirt road. The following quote is from its introduction and I hope it reflects the importance of preserving these unique treasures.

“… It’s that magic that inspired this guide (Along the Acorn Trail). We were fortunate that as life unfolded, our mother continued to infuse “her children”, and there were many beyond our immediate family, with an inherent love of both walking and the natural world. She taught us to see and appreciate more than just the obvious, to relish in the worth of the common and seemingly mundane, to see back into the past by the clues visible in the present and to anticipate the future through the messages that nature was continuingly writing, one day at a time.”

On a shelf in a cupboard where I keep precious things, sits a tiny wooden container, its contents a cap-less acorn and a tiny scrap of paper. The simple, but precisely penciled message, inscribed years ago by mother, reflect the magical moments that a walk on a dirt road can inspire.

“October 10, 2001-Acorn that fell into my pocket as I walked on Smith Road. A season when there were very few acorns. A treasured moment for F.J.D.”

Florence Johnson Dodge (Mom served on Woodstock’s Conservation Commission)

Each of us has a plethora of personages within us, some we are familiar with and others that lie dormant and unnourished. Walking a dirt road, apart from the health benefits, provides the traveler with a venue to unfetter those other interests, to become for a short time the historian, naturalist, artist, or the detective that sleeps within us. Such walks give permission to return to a simpler, child-like place of wonder and inquisitiveness. …” Dorinda Dodge Lundin

Hope to see a crowd Thursday

from Ken Rapoport

Can I say- “here we go again?” Many of the same cast of characters on PZC today that were present back in 2004 when Douglas Builders were attempting develop an 8 lot subdivision off Pulpit Rock adjacent to a steep gradient. If that had passed-we would have already had a highway with double yellow line along the entire length of the road!

Nonetheless, I am happy to announce since that time- close to 150 acres along Pulpit Rock are in the process of gaining permanent conservation status with Wyndham Land Trust. One parcel was donated in memory of my wife who died of colon cancer in 2000 at the age of 42- called the “Linda J Rapoport Memorial Preserve”. And recently, Avis Spaulding helped facilitate another 50+ acre donation to Wyndham Land Trust which will be called the “Spaulding Family Preserve” If you really want to know what Pulpit Rock Road looked like 200+ years ago- take a walk down the abandoned Caulkins Road- with best access off Joy Road- but it also intersects Pulpit Rock! This old abandoned road will eventually be protected forever by Wyndham Land Trust. Many of these roads follow original Native American trails!

If Woodstock wanted to really take advantage of its natural assets-why wouldn’t we consider making Pulpit Rock Road (or other scenic roads?) “Primary pedestrian access” (walk, bike, horse have primary right of way)- in this case connect it to Sweet Evalina’s, Bowen House, Woodstock Inn, and maybe even further down to Woodstock Fair Grounds? We certainly wouldn’t need to pave or use ground up asphalt -save money in maintenance and would probably increase the value of our entire community.

Properly managed land use (hello PZC and Board of Selectmen?) like Scenic Roads create increased value for everyone in town.

Ordinances are similar to laws – so why can our public representatives not take the time to follow them? It is just frustrating to have our elected representatives not following the rules! So, again, we need have petitions and wait for the “public comments” section of a meeting – to hold them accountable for upholding our laws! But what I miss even more are the “sneers and smirks” of some board members when the public does comment – because really folks – who really knows best?!

Hope to see a crowd Thursday

Please attend the Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting at 7:30PM Thursday Night, November 18th

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
MONTHLY MEETING
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010
WOODSTOCK TOWN HALL, Room 1 – 7:30 P.M.

MINUTES
I. MONTHLY MEETING
a. Call to Order – Meeting was called to order at 7:34 by Chair Jeff Gordon
b. Roll Call – Dave Fortin, John Anastasi, Dr. Jeffrey Gordon, Fred Rich, Syd Blodgett, Dexter Young, Dorothy Durst (8:20 p.m.)
Absent: Ken Goldsmith, Seth Spalding, Joseph Adiletta, Gail Dickinson
Staff present: Delia Fey, Town Planner/ZEO, Tina Lajoie, PZC Clerk

Item V. SCENIC ROADS

Fey begins discussion with her evaluation. She states that she visited the road along with a few individuals who reside on the road on October 6. Her report and summary, based on her visit, was provided to PZC and extra copies were on the table for public review. She made six recommendations to the highway department and reiterates that they are only recommendations because this does not fall under her purview as the Town Planner/ZEO.

Public comment:

• Norma Jean Loftis, 104 Pulpit Rock Rd – A letter was sent to Chair Gordon on 09-23-2010 and it is read for the record. “Subject: Alarming activity on Pulpit Rock Road”. She does not believe the activity is in keeping with the spirit of the Scenic Road Ordinance or that it is justified to continue this type of maintenance and asks for BOS and PZC to re-evaluate the techniques for dirt road maintenance.

• Jean Pillo, Smith Road, comments that she is speaking as a private resident and not on
behalf of the Conservation Commission. She states that her property is on one of the town’s 15 scenic roads and that this ordinance was enacted in 1986 to maintain the rural nature of these named roads. There was a petition to the PZC asking for restrictions to these roads as to widening, paving, removal of stone walls and mature trees. She believes that the recycled asphalt being used to maintain these roads violates the Scenic Road Ordinance and is requesting the PZC’s intervention with the Highway Department in issuing a cease order at this time. Alternate techniques should be studied and instituted. (Her letter is read for the record and available.)

• Leslie Sweetnam, Smith Road – He reads a letter from Jock McClellan who could not
attend the meeting, for the record, regarding his concern for the maintenance work on scenic roads. He states that the work violates the ordinance and is requesting that the use of this recycled asphalt be discontinued.

• Jackie Bondy, Sherman Road – She resides on a scenic road and expresses her concern
regarding the work on the scenic road, how it violates the ordinance, and the unintended
negative consequences to Sherman Road from the paving of an intersecting road in town.
This paving has now caused drainage to flow onto Sherman Road and onto their property
which deposits silt through their stone wall that eventually flows down to the Still River.
She asks for the town to use caution, develop a better engineered plan that considers the
consequences of such work.

• Arthur Bondy, Sherman Rd – He reiterates his wife’s concerns with the work that was done near Sherman Road, a scenic road, and would like the asphalt that was placed around the corner to Sherman Road to be removed as it violates the ordinance.

• Alexandra Lyman, Route 169 (Corner of Rte 169 and Roxbury Rd which is a scenic road). She relates to PZC that three years ago this milled asphalt was placed on Roxbury Road the entire length and during the winter this material ended up on lawns and had to be raked back into the road. The road was truly black and she believed it was an oil based product and the run off down the steep hill could have an impact on the farms located below. A requirement of scenic road designation is that the road be unpaved and therefore this material and activity violates the ordinance.

• Norman Jean Loftis would like her observations noted for the record that the paving done on Meehan Road recently continued onto the intersecting scenic road (Pulpit Rock Road). Some of this pea gravel material was placed onto this scenic road. She would like this situation remedied.

• Letter of October 21, 2010 from Leila Philip and Garth Evans was read into the record by Chair Gordon. Request for cease and desist for any work on Pulpit Rock Road at this time.

• Letter from BOS dated October 6, 2010 was read into the record by Chair Gordon.

• Letter to John Navarro from Conservation Commission is in the record and can be provided to public if requested.

Good morning Jeff,

As a resident of Pulpit Rock Road I am very seriously concerned about the Woodstock highway department’s methods of maintaining this road. As you know, Pulpit Rock Road is predominantly a dirt road and it is our town’s first designated scenic road. I am particularly outraged at the current activity and I ask for your immediate intervention as Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The highway department is currently cutting back and into both sides of the road to widen it, specifically in areas of slope to build trenches to improve water runoff.  Additionally, the department has very recently used an asphalt conglomerate to pave a section of the road. I believe these activities are in violation of the local and state Scenic Road Ordinances.  These actions are not justified by the ‘good cause’ clause and do not insure increased safety by travelers on the road.

I discussed these concerns with John Navaro, maintenance foreman, and First Selectman Alan Walker on Tuesday of this week. Several residents have contacted Town Hall to voice their thoughts on these issues. I have also notified the Conservation Commission who will discuss the topic on Monday, September 27th at their monthly meeting.

I have lived on the road for 14 years and have watched how the town has slowly but clearly modified and elevated maintenance methods to more aggressive treatment of the road. The end result of these actions is an unquestionable widening of the road in sections, an altering of the scenic nature and aesthetic value of the road and an increase in the erosional forces upon the road causing more serious and sustained damage.  Specifically, the road is being widened to build one large trench in several areas of greatest slope to channel rainwater away from the road and attempt to minimize erosion. This action removes water holding vegetation, and creates large unsightly channels to collect rainwater. During heavy rainfall, these large trenches funnel tremendous volumes of water with increased velocity, causing even greater road surface erosion. In turn, the travel portion becomes narrower, the entire road bed becomes even wider, the trenches deepen, and the road requires maintenance more often. This practice must stop. These actions exacerbate road erosion rather than prevent it, and rapidly increase the degradation of the road, rather than preserve it.

Very recently an asphalt mix was added onto a swath of dirt road commencing at the crest of the hill at Smith’s farm and extending over 75 feet westward past the base of a shared driveway. This activity clearly increased the width of the road. Widening of the road or adding any paving on a protected unpaved scenic road is prohibited by Ordinance. First Selectman Walker disagreed with me on both of these points. He indicated to me that the material is not asphalt, and it would blend into the dirt in no time.  I respectfully disagree. The material placed on the road is a refined oil based product mixed with dirt. The black color of the material is indicative of its content. John Navaro confirmed the material composition. This composite is a paving material.

Alan Walker told me that they will use this technique on all Woodstock scenic roads. John Navaro has also shared with me the plan to lay asphalt in the ditches and then provide a layer of calcium chloride to further help reduce erosion. Calcium chloride is a soluble salt – if used in this manner, the runoff will ultimately make its way into Taylor Brook, an environmentally sensitive waterway. This should not happen.

Jeff, I am sure you are very familiar with the State and Town Scenic Road Ordinances and the protection language for scenic roads. The town can not continue these actions on scenic roads without scheduling a public meeting and notifying all abutters and property owners.

John Navaro is very sympathetic and open to more discussion. I encourage discussion with him and between members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of Selectman, the Conservation Commission and the public as soon as possible. We need to agree on methods to maintain and preserve the road for the public’s use, and at the same time intelligently plan a realistic maintenance program moving forward. We also need to consider a remedy for the damage that has been done to stay in keeping with the Woodstock Plan of Open Space and Conservation. In the interim, I ask that all maintenance activity on Pulpit Rock Road cease until the Commission can review these complaints and act accordingly. I strongly suggest the Commission schedule a site walk as soon as possible to witness the changes in the width of road and its appearance, and assess the damage caused by the most recent activity.

Please call me if you would like to discuss further at 974-1155. Thank you for your attention to this very serious issue.

Best regards,

Norma Jean Loftus
104 Pulpit Rock Road

Minutes

Board of Selectmen

Regular Meeting

September 16, 2010

7:00 PM – Room A
Present: Allan D. Walker, Jr., Chandler Paquette, D. Mitchell Eaffy

Others Present: Diane Miller, Everett Cowley, Seth Spalding, Chad Hart, Sherry Abate Witkowski, Steven Witkowski, John Navarro, Josh Walsh (WINY Radio), Claire Hopkins (Woodstock Villager), and Julie Woodland
Item 4b. Discuss Highway Foreman’s dirt road treatment proposal

John Navarro explained that the Town has procured approximately 1500 cubic yards of millings from the Town of Ashford. Navarro proposed using an asphalt reclaiming machine to combine millings with gravel on the dirt road, followed by grading and rolling. This process should stabilize the road surface while maintaining the appearance of the gravel road. The Town of Thompson has tried this process with success. The Selectmen agreed to this proposal and left it to Navarro’s discretion as to which roads would be improved first.

There was no vote on this item in the minutes.

Adopted: April 22, 1986
Effective: May 15, 1986

SECTION 1 Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-149(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes (P.A. 81-401), the Planning Commission may designate town highways or portions of highways as scenic roads. No state highway or portion thereof may be designated as a scenic road under this ordinance.

SECTION 2 The Planning Commission shall consider designating as a scenic road only those town roads which are free of intensive commercial development and intensive vehicular traffic and which meet at lease one of the following criteria:

2.a It is unpaved,
2.b It is bordered by mature trees or stone walls,
2.c The travel portion is no more than 20 feet in width,
2.d It offers scenic views,
2.e It blends naturally into the surrounding terrain, or,
2.f It parallels or crosses over brooks, streams, lakes or ponds.

SECTION 3
3.a When a highway is to be considered for designation as a scenic road, the Planning Commission shall schedule a public hearing on the proposal. Hearing notices and deadlines will be in accordance with the provisions of Section 8-26(d) and (h) and 8-26(e) of the Connecticut General Statutes. The Planning commission shall notify the Selectmen, the highway foreman, and owners of lot frontage abutting the highway or portion of a highway of the proposed designation and scheduled public hearing.
3.b Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall vote on the proposed designation. No highway or portion of a highway may be designated as a scenic road under this section unless the owners of a majority of lot frontage abutting a highway or a portion of the highway agree to the designation by filing a written statement of approval with the Town Clerk of the Town of Woodstock. The designation shall become effective upon such date as the Planning Commission may establish.
3.c The scenic road designation may be rescinded by the Planning Commission, using the same procedures and having the written concurrence of the owners of a majority of lot frontage abutting the highway.
3.d Any person aggrieved by a designation of a highway or a portion of a highway as a scenic road pursuant to this Section by the Planning Commission may appeal such designation in the manner in utilizing the same standards of review provided for appeals from the decisions of Planning Commissions under Section 8-28.

SECTION 4
4.a No road which has been designated as a scenic road under this ordinance shall be altered or improved, including but not limited to, widening of the right of way or of the travel portion of the road, paving, changes of grade, removal of stone bridges, straightening, removal of stone walls, and removal of mature trees, except for good cause determined by the Planning Commission. Prior to the Planning Commission approving any alteration or improvement of a road designated as a scenic road under this ordinance. The Planning Commission shall schedule a public hearing on the proposed alteration or improvement. The Planning Commission shall notify the Selectmen, the highway supervisor, and owners of lot frontage abutting the highway or portion of the highway designated as a scenic road of the proposed alteration and improvement and scheduled public hearing. Hearing notices and deadlines shall be in accordance with the Provisions of Section 8-26D and 8-26E of the Connecticut General Statutes. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall vote on the proposed future alterations and improvements and shall state the reasons for any such approved alterations or improvements in its minutes.
4.b Any highway or portion of any highway designated as a scenic road shall be maintained by the Town, in good and sufficient repair and is in passable condition. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit a person owning or occupying land abutting a scenic road for maintaining and repairing the land which abuts the scenic road if the maintenance or repair occurs on land not within the right of way, paved or unpaved on the scenic road.

SECTION 5
This ordinance will become effective 15 days following its publication in a newspaper having circulation in the Town of Woodstock.