“you get used to anything”
We had two sunny days back to back this week, so I’m back to loving life again. If you are already sentimental for winter, I highly recommend North of North on Netflix.
We have some special meetings coming up next week as we are set to close on the Aqueduct. But for now, here’s what’s going on:
Economic Development
As I wrote in my last update, the Selectboard is developing a job description for Economic Development Director. I thought I’d give a quick refresh on why this role is important.
If you saw my video for WCTV, you know that most of the symptoms Woodstock is currently experiencing are because we don’t have enough housing. We have near to no housing opportunities for teachers, nurses, firefighters, town employees, not to mention the folks who work in the shops, restaurants, and cafes in Woodstock. We know that area employers have been in the housing business for years, renting and purchasing homes for their staff, because otherwise it would mean cutting back on operating hours and/or services. We know that our aging community members are staying over-housed, in homes that don’t match their needs and are increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible, because there is no smaller housing available. We know that we are facing mounting infrastructure costs due to years of underinvestment. We need more households to help us absorb these increasing costs. Every day we don’t have new housing units costs our community in economic productivity and increased costs of services. How much longer can you afford to live here if we don’t add new housing? Can you afford to live in a community where your car can’t get reliably serviced? Where your roads can’t get plowed early enough for you to go to work? Where you go even longer than you do now without seeing a doctor or a dentist? Where your business can’t stay open because your staff lives an hour away? Where you can’t find reliable childcare?
We are already living this reality to varying degrees. I am hopeful that by hiring someone full-time on bringing development to Woodstock, we can add more housing than we’ve historically been able to, through the free market or with previous iterations of housing incentives.
Lights, baskets, action!
Did you ever think we could spend so much time talking about flower baskets? The Selectboard received a request from the Chamber of Commerce to fund the maintenance of hanging flower baskets in the Village. This request comes after last month’s emergency request to fund the soil in the baskets. Despite what the Chamber proffered in the meeting and on the unofficial petitions they submitted, the funding of the baskets was granted last year with the agreement it would be the last year they were to be funded from the Economic Development and Community Fund. This came before the pausing of Community Grants and the redirection of the Economic Development Commission. Since the Chamber failed to raise the funds, we are here (yet again) discussing them. The Selectboard voted to include costs for the baskets and the Christmas lights in the Village in our operating budget, which will be voted on next Town Meeting day. Hopefully we can split it with the Village as the Trustees developed an actual objective tied to Village beautification last year.
Why does this matter? For a lot of reasons, but mainly, because the Economic Development and Community Fund should not be a piggy bank we break every time we want to fund something outside of the budget process. I have no doubt baskets and lights add to the charm of the Village (and to a point a fellow board member made last year, distract people from the poor condition of some of our downtown buildings), but they will not solve the real economic issues we are facing - they do not add housing, nor make us resilient against extreme climate events, nor insulate us from national economic policy.
The bell is tolling for the old way of doing things in Woodstock. And though it appears to some that the Selectboard is ringing said bell, it is the world around us demanding we adapt. I hope the Chamber can be a better partner and help us meet the moment. I know our businesses and our community deserve it.
FEMA
Speaking of changing climates, the board voted to approve the FEMA buyout application for Woodstock Farmer’s Market. Those who lived through Hurricane Irene and Bummer Summer 2023 know this stretch of land is particularly susceptible to flooding. The board approved the buyout application for Dead River property that abuts the Farmer’s Market a few months ago. The buyout process is a long one, and this is just the first step. The Farmer’s Market has no immediate plans to move. If and when they do move, I hope we can reimagine this stretch as something beneficial to the community as the land returns to the floodplain.
Reading/watching:
*discuss*
Bills, bills, bills
Property taxes are due May 2nd
Sewer bills are due May 30th
