BRISTOL — Bristol residents may soon get a chance to weigh in — officially — on a proposed Vermont Gas project that would bring natural gas service to the town.
On Monday night the Bristol selectboard continued a discussion that had begun at its April 16 meeting, about whether or not it was possible, or desirable, to conduct a survey of town residents to determine their interest in signing up for gas service.
“Nothing was agreed, but it was a good discussion,” said Town Administrator Valerie Capels.
Residents Ian Albinson and Wendy Wilson pitched their idea for a survey and pledged to have a draft ready by the next selectboard meeting on May 14, said Sally Burrell.
Selectboard member John “Peeker” Heffernan suggested that putting the question up for a vote might not be a bad idea, Burrell said.
Though such a vote would be limited to registered voters, Heffernan cited several benefits, among them a sense of anonymity, Capels explained.
Selectboard chair Peter Coffey thought Vermont Gas was OK with slowing down the license agreement process if the selectboard wanted to let folks have a vote, Burrell said.
OTHER BUSINESS
Also at Monday’s Bristol selectboard meeting:
Board members learned that the Downtown Development Board, which is a division of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, has awarded a $100,000 grant to the town of Bristol for its Main Street sidewalk and lighting project.
The final of four major projects to improve Bristol’s downtown will upgrade and repair vintage lamp posts along Main Street and replace more than 700 feet of old brick pavers with stamped concrete to match the concrete installed during previous upgrades, said Capels.
Separately, the selectboard passed a motion to support an initiative by the Bristol Hub Teen Center and the Bristol Recreation Club to raise funds for a new and improved skate park.
Reach Christopher Ross at [email protected].