New facilities planned, old bridge decaying

WOODSTOCK — Town leaders are discussing the possibility of closing Johnnie's Bridge.

In response to correspondence from Greenwood about possibly replacing the bridge, Selectman Ronald Deegan commented that he had rerouted school buses last year so as to avoid the decaying bridge. The option of just removing it and blocking the road at either end was discussed. All agreed it would save Greenwood money.

The Seventh Day Adventists have filed a plan to demolish the existing buildings on Perkins Valley Road in favor of constructing a new facility of some 10,000 square feet. This single story building is to contain both the school and the church, as well as their existing food pantry.

A carpentry crew, who "did a wonderful job of repair" will not return to perform work for Woodstock, according to Town Manager Vern Maxfield at Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Selectmen.

The crew had been called in to fix sagging eaves on the town garage it built last year. Evidently, when it went to Western Maine Supply to pick up materials, it also purchased some tools on the Woodstock account.

When the bill was questioned, the crew boss paid cash at the town office to reimburse the town.

Maxfield will file a claim with the town's insurance carrier for a portion of the $900 repair cost.

Other than some minor repairs to the plow trucks, the highway crew and vehicles have weathered the latest storms in fine shape.

The fire department has "been awfully busy with mutual aid" reported Maxfield.

Although Maxfield had estimated Woodstock's tax burden to Oxford County at $120,000, it is actually $128,490 for this year. He joked that when he got the bill and saw Bethel Town Manager Jim Doar, he told him that the increase was to pay the Sheriff's Department for covering Bethel.

Another bill is for $14,700, which represents Woodstock's share of Code Enforcement Officer John Gauthier, whose salary is shared with Greenwood and Hanover. A total of $15,000 had been budgeted.

The town audit will be reviewed at the next regular meeting on March 15. The Town Report will be available on March 18 and the proposed budget will be finalized next week. Town Meeting is March 28 this year.

After adjourning, the selectmen and Maxfield went to Greenwood for a closed executive session with their counterparts for a Greenwood and Woodstock Transfer Station meeting to discuss personnel issues.