Wind power will come before Woodstock voters

WOODSTOCK — Voters will be asked to weigh in on wind power during the next town meeting.

On February 1, 2011, Dawn Hall, representing the Friends of Spruce Mountain presented the Woodstock Board of Selectmen with a proposed warrant article.

The article asks "Shall the town vote to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a committee of Woodstock residents to develop an ordinance that will require a minimum setback distance between an industrial wind turbine and a residential structure of a nonparticipating owner?"

The proposal is in response to Patriot Renewable's plan to build a series of wind turbines on Spruce Mountain in Woodstock. It would not affect this already-town-approved project, but would apply to future proposals.

Selectmen unanimously approved placing the article on the warrant. Ronald Deegan said "Go ahead and place it on the warrant. The taxpayers ought to make these types of decisions."

Resident Hank Foreman initiated discussion on another ordinance, pertaining to when the town should accept roads for winter maintenance purposes. Selectman Carl Young noted that "only two roads have been accepted since 1979." All agreed the matter should be looked into.

Bob Hand,from PACE (ambulance service) presented a report on their calls in Woodstock for 2010. Last year they responded to 123 calls in Woodstock. Average daytime Tone to on-scene response time was 8.8 minutes; nighttime 16.4. PACE has an ambulance and crew stationed in Woodstock during the day.

December and August were the busiest months, with 24 and 19 calls.

Hand praised the local fire department, calling them "wonderful to work with."

Town Manager Vern Maxfield reported that the various appeals of the Spruce Mountain wind project have been denied by the Department of Environmental Protection, and their decision will be public on Thursday.

Maxfield also described the Conservation Commission's work on an "Open Space Plan" as ongoing and "not quite ready for Town Meeting." He said it is a wonderful inventory of Woodstock lands.

The New England Forest Rally will be July 15 and 16 this year. The organizer has urged someone to set up a hot dog stand on Concord Pond Road for the weekend.

The town received more paperwork from the State about the replacement of a culvert on Route 232 near Cushman Hill. The state is wondering whether there are any historic properties in the area of the soon-to-be-replaced culvert. This "project" has been in the works for over a year.

As part of the effort at cutting costs for Woodstock Elementary School, Selectman Bruce Korhonen offered to have the town plow the school at an anticipated savings of $3,000 a year "as long as they (the district) don't spend it somewhere else. Cut WES $117,000 and use the $3,000 at that school."

The next regular Board meeting will be on February15, 2011.