Wanted: Applicants by Oct. 12 for town committees, & other town announcements
Oct. 7, 2023 | By Lisa ScagliottiThere are several important announcements from the Waterbury town offices this week.
Volunteers needed for committee positions
Volunteers are needed to fill openings on several town boards with an application deadline of this Thursday, Oct. 12.
The Conservation Commission has three vacancies. The group meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month. More information including meeting agendas and minutes are on the commission’s page on the town website.
The Housing Task Force has openings for three members with background experience in areas such as community advocacy and communications, being a landlord and/or short-term rental owner, data analysis, construction contracting and land use law. The group meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month. Its meeting agendas and minutes are on the town website.
In addition, the Select Board recently decided to form a new board called the Natural Disaster Preparedness Committee. The July flooding prompted the move to create a group that is charged to research and develop the best possible level of preparedness for Waterbury with regard to future natural disasters.
There are five spots to fill for this committee. Its schedule for meetings has not yet been determined. Anyone with questions regarding this group may contact Select Board member Kane Sweeny at kane.sweeney@waterburyvt.com.
Applicants interested in any of the committee positions are asked to please complete this online application and return it to the Town Clerk by Thursday, Oct. 12.
Animal Control Officer opening
The Town of Waterbury is again seeking an individual interested in serving as the town’s Animal Control Officer. The position for the past several years had been vacant until mid-May when the board appointed Ariel Mondlak to serve in the role.
Mondlak oversaw just one case that reached the Select Board for a hearing involving a dog on Stowe Street that bit a neighbor’s dog this summer. The board held a hearing on July 17 in the case, issuing a letter afterward directing the dog’s owner, Amy Scharf, to work on dog training, keep the dog enclosed and supervised and on leash when out of its enclosure. It also carried a reminder for all dogs to wear a collar with tags.
Municipal Manager Tom Leitz told the Select Board last week that Mondlak had submitted her resignation for the position citing time commitments.
The Animal Control Officer position is part-time and compensated based on time spent on cases. More details are in the online job posting.
Dec. 5 special town charter vote
Waterbury voters will be asked to go to the polls for a special election on Tuesday, Dec. 5, to decide whether to adopt a two-article town charter. The warning for the special vote is posted on the town clerk’s webpage and under Town Notices on Waterbury Roundabout’s Public Notices page.
The charter would contain just two articles. The first would allow the town to levy 1% local option taxes on sales, rooms and meals, and alcohol. The second article would clarify the municipal manager’s role in hiring town staff members.
Prior to the vote, two public informational meetings will be held on Monday evenings where voters can learn more about the ballot item. The meetings are scheduled for Oct. 30 and Nov. 6, both starting at 7 p.m. at the town offices.