MIDDLEBURY — At their June 12 meeting, members of the Middlebury selectboard delayed reconstruction of South Street after bids for the work came in much higher than expected (see story in June 14 Independent), plus they discussed a number of other issues.
Specifically, in other action last Tuesday, the Middlebury selectboard:
•  Unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Marion Guild as a designer of the Emma Willard monument at the intersection of Routes 7 and 125 across from the Congregational Church of Middlebury. As reported last month in the Addison Independent, Guild — now 94 — was never given credit for designing the prominent monument that pays tribute to one of Middlebury’s most iconic citizens, the late Emma Hart Willard. Willard is recognized for starting women’s collegiate education in the United States.
The monument was erected back in 1941, with Guild’s then-boss getting the credit. Guild’s family pressed for recognition, which she has now received. She is currently recovering from a fall, but wants to visit Middlebury in the near future to receive her belated accolades and visit the monument.
“It shows how long it can take for justice to be done,” Selectman Victor Nuovo said.
•  Heard concerns from Fire and Ice Restaurant ownership about insufficient signage letting people know the popular restaurant remains open in spite of construction work on Seymour Street.
Seymour Street has been closed to through traffic as work continues on a road-related phase of the Middlebury fire station makeover. But the most prominent sign to date, posted at the intersection of Elm and Seymour streets, says “Road Closed.” But the road remains open for visits to business that call Seymour Street home, including County Tire, Fire & Ice and the China House restaurant. Fire and Ice officials got so frustrated they placed a temporary sign on a telephone pole stressing the business was open.
The selectboard agreed to take steps to better notify residents that Seymour Street businesses remain open. The road is expected to be back open to through traffic by the end of the month.
•  Received a petition from Creek Road residents about what they said was a large hole in the road and unprecedented high water during rainstorms.
Reporter John Flowers is at johnf@addison