Where Did the Summer Go?
by Anthony Wilson
Where'd the summer go?! Seems like Memorial Day was just yesterday, and here we are barreling toward Labor Day. This summer brought great relief and a return (mostly) to normalcy. To ensure we can continue living as we are today, we must remain vigilant. That means getting vaccinated (and encouraging others within our circles to do the same) and not putting ourselves in harm's way. Christina and I recently forewent a concert to which we had tickets, calculating that discretion was the better part of valor. Another day, Blues Traveler.
The Town of Belgrade was thrilled to offer free weekly concerts (with Christine Poulson's able help) and monthly craft shows on the Village Green this summer. The music continues each Thursday evening through September and the craft shows into October. Visit TownofBelgrade.com for details.
Looking ahead, voters will fill a vacant Selectboard seat on Nov. 2. In March, voters will consider two revamped ordinances governing housing subdivisions and commercial developments. Still looming is a vote on a public water system to serve property owners within Routes 27, 8/11, and 135 whose water wells were contaminated by the former practice of storing road salt on open ground.
As I write this, we are preparing to interview a quartet of qualified library director applicants. We are seeking someone with a passion for the mission of rural libraries, a vision for developing the library's collection and programming, and a commitment to ensuring our library embraces all constituencies while encouraging exploration. (Editor's Note: Since this was written, the Belgrade Board of Selectpersons has promoted longtime librarian Jared Bond to director.)
Lastly, we are studying a possible transition to the same budget calendar as the state, RSU 18, and the county. Doing so would lend clarity to the Town's budgeting process AND result in annual savings of about $20,000. Stay tuned for more on that.
With summer winding to an end, we can look forward to the flourish of fall colors, the glistening of winter snow, and the return of summer in 2022. As always, life is good in the Belgrades.
Anthony Wilson is Belgrade's town manager. Contact him at townmanager@townofbelgrade.com or 495‑2258.
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