Invitation to Bid – For Hauling of Winter Sand

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The Town of Waitsfield is accepting bids for a two-year contract for the hauling of ¾” sand from Varin’s pit in Bolton to the Town garage in Waitsfield. This is for hauling of sand only.

Specifications include but may not be limited to:
• Year one (FY22) is for 2,500 yards;
• Year two (FY23) is for 4,000 yards, though that amount may be reduced in response to a mild winter and/or low usage;
• The contract needs to be completed no later than Wednesday, September 1, 2021;
• Failure to complete the contract by the deadline shall result in penalties;
• Payment will happen in two segments, no earlier than July 1 of each year of the contract – one-half when hauling begins and one-half following completion;
• Contractor shall include a total bid price and the price per yard for hauling from Bolton to Waitsfield;
• Contractor shall provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance to the Town; and
• Contractor shall have the capability of covering loads.

Bids shall be submitted by paper no later than 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Bids shall be marked, “2021 Sand Hauling Bid; ATTN: Rodney Jones, Road Foreman.”

Bids may be mailed to, or left in the dropboxes at:

Waitsfield Town Office
4144 Main Street
Waitsfield, VT 05673

The anticipated date of award is April 26, 2021. The Town reserves the right to accept, reject, or seek modification to any and all bids. For more information, contact the Road Foreman at (802) 496-8897, or [email protected]

Mud Season FAQs

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Each spring, with the advent of mud season, the Town publishes the following set of, “frequently asked questions.”

“The water for which we may have to look
In summertime with a witching wand,
In every wheelrut’s now a brook,
In every print of a hoof a pond.”

– from Robert Frost’s, “Two Tramps in Mud Time”

What is mud season?
Vermont’s unofficial “fifth season,” mud season occurs during the transition from winter to
spring, when the many miles of dirt roads in Vermont become muddy, rutted, and occasionally
impassable. In Waitsfield, nearly two-thirds of the road miles are unpaved.

Why does mud season happen?
Excess water produced by melting snow and ice does not have anywhere to go (the ground may
still be frozen, for example, preventing absorption). With nowhere to go, that excess water mixes
with the road materials to make mud.

What, if anything, can be done about mud season?
Unfortunately, not much. Adding more material to roads would simply make more mud.
Improvements to subsurface materials and drainage infrastructure can help by preventing water
from reaching the road surface, but can be costly to install and would not eliminate mud.
The Road Department works hard to keep roads passable for emergency vehicles and other
traffic. Please be patient, plan ahead, and exercise caution. The Town will do what it can to keep
roads open, but may not be able to in all cases. For better or worse, mud season is a part of life in
Vermont – thankfully this unofficial fifth season is also the shortest.

If I have a question or concern, whom should I contact?
To report an issue, please contact Road Foreman Rodney Jones at (802) 496-8897, or email
[email protected] (through April 9th).

Waitsfield Town Administrator Opening

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The Town of Waitsfield is seeking a highly-motivated, organized, and engaging individual for the position of Town Administrator. The Town Administrator assists the five-member Selectboard with developing and administering the Town’s operating budget, supervising six employees, and overseeing all other aspects of municipal operations, personnel, finances, and public works.

Waitsfield (pop. 1,719) is a vibrant community located in the heart of the Mad River Valley, surrounded by spectacular natural beauty and host to a wide variety of year-round outdoor amenities and activities.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business management, or a relevant field (Master’s degree preferred); excellent written and interpersonal communication skills; a working knowledge of municipal finance and budgeting; and good computer skills. Three years of experience in municipal government or equivalent experience in business administration is desired.

Salary is dependent upon qualifications; the Town also offers a competitive benefits package. A full job description is available by clicking here.

Please apply in confidence with a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references via email to [email protected] with “Waitsfield Administrator” as the subject.

The job is open until filled. Applications may be reviewed as they are received.

EOE.

Town Meeting 2021 – March 2nd, 2021 (official warning, budget, and voting information)

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Town Meeting 2021 will be held on Tuesday, March 2nd, with an informational meeting scheduled for Monday, March 1st at 6:30 p.m.

The official warning can be found by clicking here.

The informational meeting warning can be found by clicking here.

For a primer on the articles and what voters are being asked, please read the document found by clicking here.

The FY22 budget and FY22-FY26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), along with other supporting documents (such as debt service and reserves tables) can be found by clicking here.

Information on Town Meeting 2021, including how to vote by Australian ballot, can be found by clicking here. The Town, due to COVID-19, is switching for one-year only to Australian – or paper – ballots. The switch is enabled by Act 162 of 2020, and it is seen as the safest, most accessible way to hold Town Meeting in 2021.

To see if you are registered to vote in Waitsfield, you can click here to view the voter checklist, or visit the, Vermont Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page” site by clicking here.

In addition to the formal public informational meeting on March 1st, the Board may host other opportunities to discuss the budget and warning articles at other meetings in February. Please check this website for updates and information.

A copy of the Harwood Unified Union School District warning for 2021 can be found by clicking here.

2020 Annual Reports Are Available!

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The 2020 Annual Report is available. A digital copy can be accessed by clicking this link.

Physical copies can be picked up from marked containers in the following locations:

  • The Waitsfield Town Offices (the “back” door, by the parking lot).
  • The Waitsfield Elementary School (outside the main entrance).
  • The Joslin Memorial Library (outside the main entrance).
  • Mehuron’s.
  • Shaw’s.

You can also request a copy to be sent to you, either digitally or by mail. To have a copy sent to you, please contact the Town Clerk by email ([email protected]) or phone (802-496-2218, x3).

WAITSFIELD TOWN OFFICES – CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH 04/15/21

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*The closure was extended 3/16/21, in accordance with Addendum 12 to Amended and Restated Executive Order 01-20.

Due to the continued prevalence of COVID-19 in Vermont, and in an effort to fully comply with Governor Scott’s recently issued Addendum 12 to Amended and Restated Executive Order 01-20, the Waitsfield Town Offices will remain closed to the public.

The extended closure is anticipated to last through April 15th, 2021, though it may be extended again at that time if there is a public health need. 

Waitsfield residents can request appointments for time-sensitive business, such as obtaining a marriage license. Existing research appointments will remain in place, and the Town will continue to schedule time in the vault for researchers (still only one at a time). Whenever possible, researchers may request copies of land records, tax bills, etc., sent via fax or email when the book and page can be provided. Town staff will determine to what extent assistance can be offered to researchers, based on request and general availability. 

Town employees will continue to work and be available to assist whenever and however possible (while maintaining strict adherence to all public health measures and recommendations). Please check the website for information, call (496-2218), or email with questions or concerns.

The Town Garage remains closed to the general public.

The Vermont Department of Health’s (VDH) website remains one of the best, most comprehensive, places to get information on COVID-19 in Vermont. Click the link here (https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19) to visit VDH’s page. 

For additional information, such as an updated look as to how Vermont’s doing, visit the Vermont Dashboard (https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/current-activity/vermont-dashboard). 

REMINDER — Appointments needed for access to land records, vault, for research

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Anyone wishing to conduct land records research, which includes access to the Town’s vault, must make an appointment.

The appointments are required as part of the Town’s COVID-19 opening and operation protocols.

To book a time, please contact either Town Clerk Jennifer Peterson (496-2218, x3; [email protected]) or Town Treasurer Sandy Gallup (496-2218, x2; [email protected]).

FY20 Audit is Available

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The FY20 audit features a second consecutive “unqualified” opinion from the auditors – the best audit outcome the Town can achieve. Improving audit outcomes was one of the key goals in the Town’s overall effort towards improving its fiscal well-being.

The Town’s audit was performed by Montpelier-based Sullivan, Powers and Co., P.C.

To view the audit, letters, and a summary by Town Treasurer Sandy Gallup, please click here.

Openings on Town Boards, Committees, and Commissions

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Interested in volunteering for or serving in the community? The Town of Waitsfield has the following board, committee, and commission opportunities:

Conservation Commission – two vacancies; one two-year term expiring March 2021, and one two-year term expiring March 2022.

Planning Commission – one four-year term (expiring March 2024)

Water Commission – one two-year term (expiring March 2022)

Dog Warden – one one-year term (expiring March 2021)

If you are interested in applying, please submit an email stating your interest and applicable professional or personal experiences to [email protected].

Please contact Town Administrator Trevor Lashua with any questions at [email protected] or (802) 496-2218, x5.