BRISTOL — The Bristol selectboard spoke with the Bristol Rescue Squad about improving the emergency response system at their Monday, June 6, meeting and entertained summer issues ranging from the hours of the farmers’ market to liquor licenses for this weekend’s music and street festival, Pocock Rocks.
Bristol Rescue Squad member Carolyn Knight explained to the selectboard that many Bristol residents, particularly in rural areas, don’t have the number of their address posted on their homes. Having the big green-and-white signs displayed prominently makes it easier for the rescue squad to find a home when responding to a medical emergency.
If an address is unmarked, the rescue squad may not be able to find sick or injured individuals, explained Town Administrator Bill Bryant.
“If you haven’t put a number up, please put one up,” Bryant said. “If you want to buy one from the rescue squad, call 453-2513.”
In other action, board members discussed their priorities.
The first priority, Bryant said in recapping the meeting, was to push reconstruction of three bridges over the New Haven River. Those bridges are: the “Stoplight Bridge” on Route 116 South, the South Street Bridge and the Hewitt Street Bridge. A second selectboard priority that Bryant mentioned was to find a way to extend the town’s septic system. According to Bryant, the issue is figuring out how to finance the desired system, which would cost a half-million dollars.
The third and final stated priority was to figure out how to develop the 30-acre plot of town-owned land between Stony Hill Road and Lover’s Lane on the right side of Routes 17 and 116 heading east.
Selectboard member Carol Wells is refining the board’s “Top Five Priority List” and will present it at the board’s next meeting, which will be on Monday, June 20.
Also at last week’s meeting:
•  Mary Simmons, representing the Bristol Farmers’ Market, informed the selectboard that the market would run every Saturday until October from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the town green.
•  Mark Maguria, manager of the Bobcat Café and Brewery, began getting liquor licenses in order for Pocock Rocks, obtaining necessary town approval for alcohol vendors on the street.
•  The Bristol Recreation Club announced that its half-marathon event would be scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3. The selectboard approved this time and more information will be provided as planning proceeds.
•  The selectboard is looking to update the town’s website to enable residents to pay certain fees via the Internet.
•  The Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ Health Trust, which Bristol is a part of, is working with each of its member towns and cities to help find the best and most affordable health care options. In the past the Health Trust has provided a blanket policy that it has chosen for its members.
Reporter Andrew Stein is at [email protected].