PANTON — In recent meetings the Panton selectboard made a number of appointments and began considering how to fill two key openings.
On April 8, the board began dealing with the vacant Panton seat on the Vergennes Union High School board, a position most recently held by Karrie Beebe, and a vacancy on the joint planning commission/development review board, a position most recently filled by Ben Chamberlain.
This week, Town Clerk Jean Miller said there are two candidates interested in each position, and the board will made a decision once interviews are complete.
Both candidates for the planning/zoning position could be pressed into duty, Miller said, because the selectboard might choose to appoint an alternate. The already large Vorsteveld Farm recently expanded, and four of the eight existing board members are now abutters, she said, and an alternate might help the board reach a voting quorum if zoning issues surrounding the farm crop up.
On March 11, the selectboard corrected what it acknowledged was an oversight on Town Meeting Day. Minutes noted that, “The position of Delinquent Tax Collector should have been voted on at Town Meeting.” The board appointed former Selectwoman Barbara Fleming to fill that post.
The board also picked John Viskup as its chairperson, and also recommended him as Panton’s state-appointed health officer. In other moves, the selectboard chose Chris Morris as Panton’s dog warden and Paul Sokal as the town’s representative to Addison County Solid Waste Management District.
Selectboard members in February and subsequent meetings created, with help from state officials, language that they intend to be included in any town zoning approval for seven-lot subdivision being proposed for the Spaulding Road and Lake Street. The board hopes to make sure the town is held harmless for damage to Spaulding Road done by any heavy equipment during the construction phase of the subdivision and what DRB minutes call “the Spaulding Rd. upgrade/maintenance issue.”
According to DRB minutes, that subdivision has been under consideration since November, when an initial public hearing was held. The DRB’s work included a planned March site visit to inspect one of the lots.
The following real estate transfers were recorded in Panton in the past year:
•  March 14, 2014: Arnold Bay Farm LP to Dennis and Vicki Hopper, home and 125 acres, $3.26 million.
•  Feb. 5, 2014: Gregory and Debra O’Bryan to James Choiniere, home at 1223 East Road, $191,500.
•  Dec. 30, 2013: Lisa Preston and Lynn Finch to Michael Preston, home at 4905 Jersey Road, $165,000.
•  Dec. 18, 2013: Biello Trust to Joseph and Rebecca Allen, farm at Jersey Street and Adams Ferry Road, $157,500.
•  Dec. 18, 2013: Biello Trust to Vermont Land Trust et al., development rights on farm at Jersey Street and Adams Ferry Road, $342,500.
•  Dec. 11, 2013: Arnold Bay Farm LP to Dennis and Rosemary Mueller, home at 2838 Jersey St., $210,000.
•  Nov. 15, 2013: Craig Newton and Cherie Angier to Timothy and Judy Hallock, home at 2926 Panton Road, $184,000.
•  Sept. 16, 2013: William and Nancy Polk to Jeffrey Fritz and Bill Funcannon, home at 19 Lake Road, $245,000.
•  Aug. 27, 2013: Marijean Williams and Ruthann Stanley to Helmer Korb, 12.3 acres on Turkey Lane, $410,000.
•  Aug. 3, 2013: Porter Family Trust to Puneet Rikhy, 10.08 acres on Lake Street, $449,000.
•  Aug. 2, 2013: Dale and Cynthia Goddard to Steven and Robyn Mondell, home at 238 Staton Drive, $410,000.
•  March 14, 2014: Arnold Bay Farm LP to Vorsteveld Farm LLP, 1,440 acre farm on Arnold Bay Road in Panton and Ferrisburgh, $3.25 million.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].