Recently, the DEDC beautification committee discussed ways to enhance Dover’s appearance. They think the town lacks a small village feel, tourists enjoy the small-town character and Dover can present itself in a similar manner. Linda Anelli, of the beautification committee, said “beautiful villages have streetlights” and placing them along Route 100 would be an ideal place to start. “Streetlights can have a calming impact on traffic and they help people recognize the slowing-down areas in the town,” said Anelli.
Anelli also recommended the town switch to solar lights. Solar lights, she said, lack a carbon footprint and save on energy costs. Anelli said the town of Jackson Hole, WY, switched to solar lighting and the change was a success. Dover, she said, could duplicate those efforts. “We’re not reinventing the wheel. This will benefit the town’s long-term future,” said Anelli.
Anelli learned the federal government is offering $50,000 in federal grants for town lighting. She said the $50,000 could buy eight to 10 solar-powered lampposts and could be placed at MOOver stops along Route 100. MOOver general manager Randy Schoonmaker said he supports the proposal and will provide $5,000 in matching funds for the proposal. The selectboard approved the proposal and will investigate whether the lampposts may affect any landowners.
The selectboard discussed the common good education fund, an issue that was tabled at a previous selectboard meeting. In October, Bill Anton, the new Dover School principal, requested matching DEDC funds for pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade Dover School students. The money would be used for a common good education fund. A common good education fund is similar to an individual retirement account and money is invested in a 529 fund, a state-sponsored college savings plan. Up to $300 to $500 a year would be set aside for each Dover School student and the maximum yearly commitment to the program would cost the town $27,000 to $45,000 in matching funds.
Selectboard member Jim Martin requested the town investigate whether the 529 was legal in Vermont. Martin questioned whether one-percent option tax dollars could be used for educational purposes. Town attorney Joe McLean informed the selectboard that the 529 fund does not prohibit post-secondary education funding. Despite the fund’s legality, Martin and selectboard member Adam Levine thought it should include more than just Dover School students. “We should make sure people in this town can earn a better living and create more job opportunities,” said Levine.
Martin agreed. “We have to look at the people here in the valley. If we have to retrain those people, that money should be available to upgrade the population of Dover, the people who live here,” said Martin.
Proponents believe the town should support it because it meets the DEDC criteria for marketing. They add that investing in the students’ educational future may also attract people to move to Dover and send their children to Dover School, and would receive positive publicity. Selectboard chair Linda Holland agreed. “This community wants to give something back. There is something coming back and this is how it trickles back to the town,” said Holland.
The rest of the selectboard remained divided. Selectboard member Colby Dix, a supporter of the common education fund, made a motion for its approval. No second was made and the issue was tabled. The selectboard said they are still open to a common good education fund and they encouraged the DEDC to submit a new proposal in the future.
DEDC member Ken Black and Mount Snow events director Greg Fisher presented an update from two summer events. Mount Snow held a mountain bike festival in early August. Approximately $10,000 was allocated for the event. The event featured family activities and professional mountain bike racing. Mount Snow estimated there would be 8,000 to 10,000 attendees over three days. The total was 5,480, with 75% to 80% of the people from out of state. Fisher said they were “disappointed” but added it won’t deter Mount Snow from hosting future mountain biking events.
The second event was the Mount Snow blues festival. Approximately $13,500 was allocated for the event. The event featured top blues musicians from around the country and Mount Snow estimated 3,600 people would attend over three days. The event drew 2,730 people. Fisher said the event was a success, but the poor weather may have deterred people from attending the event. Occupancy at local inns and lodges was high and the festival received several compliments. “Everyone was happy. There were no complaints, except for one person who said we didn’t have any Guinness on tap,” said Fisher.
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