There is a pretty interesting (but very long) article about Vermont's libraries on the Seven Days site, and guess what? West Danville's Charles Brainerd Library is mentioned. I had no idea libraries have updated to the extent they have, according to this article. I confess, I rarely go to any library these days. I used to frequently visit the Cabot library, and when I lived in St. Johnsbury, I used the Athenaeum often. Now, with my computer and all kinds of information available easily accessed by typing in a few words, I really had no idea how much libraries have changed in just the past decade or so. Very interesting. Thanks to Pam for sending along the link (and to Chris for initially sending the link to his mom!)

We've enjoyed a beautiful day today - almost like spring. Sadly, I didn't go outside even once. I intended to, but got caught up with working on photos for the history book - and some other stuff. I plan to stay away from my computer a bit more tomorrow and get out there for at least a nice walk. The weather is going to be mild again tomorrow, so maybe there will even be a sap run. It's getting to be that time!

It is also nearly time for town meeting, so if you need absentee ballots, better give your town clerk a call. Not many days left to get it filled out and back to them to be counted. Here in Cabot we have some interesting stuff coming up. There was a post on Front Porch Forum yesterday I think is worthy of passing on to some who may not be aware of what is coming up at the Cabot meeting. The post is from R. D. Eno and I think he makes some valid points here:

 Stop the Raid on the UDAG Fund; Vote No on Article 15

R.D. Eno, rdeno@fairpoint.net Thistle Hill Rd, Cabot

Election

For over thirty years I have worked to prevent the UDAG (confusingly but never officially renamed CCIF) money we were granted by the Feds ($2 million) in 1987 from turning into a Selectboard slush fund. Now, to my dismay, the Selectboard wants to do just that.

They are asking voters on Town Meeting Day to approve an outright UDAG grant of $300,000 to buy out the leases on road equipment and save the taxpayers $46,000 a year (Article 15 of the Town Warning). I have many reasons for urging voters to reject this request.

FIRST OF ALL, such a grant would be in plain violation of the limitations imposed by the Feds when the grant was made (see: Code of Federal Regulations, 24, ch. 5, §570.207). UDAG funds cannot be used to defray "general operating expenses" or "operating and maintenance expenses" or to purchase equipment. The purchase, operation and maintenance of road equipment are unarguably "general operating expenses." The uses for which the Selectboard is requesting this grant of UDAG funds are explicitly prohibited.

SECOND, such a use of UDAG money is inconsistent with the purpose for which the original grant was made – economic stimulus and development. Buying out the leases on road equipment contributes nothing to local economic development. For over thirty years, the Selectboard (even when I served on it) and other Town agencies have resisted calls to designi a long-term plan for the creative use of UDAG funds. Nevertheless, over the years, the Town has made a number of small grants and several very substantial loans – including loans to itself – from the UDAG pot. Thanks to UDAG money, we were able to restore and renovate the Willey Building, build Cabot Commons Senior Housing and construct the wastewater system, all of which contributed to economic development.

Those major projects were financed with UDAG loans, not grants. A grant of $300,000 would be unprecedented and, indeed, damaging to prospects for economic development by significantly diminishing the UDAG fund.

THIRD, this grant request disguises the fact that the Selectboard acquired a significant amount of equipment without ever requesting approval from the Town Meeting. In the past, the Selectboard has wisely required that all capital purchases exceeding $10,000 be authorized by the voters. This Selectboard decided to end-run that requirement by leasing equipment rather than purchasing. Obviously, it now realizes that leasing rather than purchasing was a bad decision, and they want to avoid facing the consequences by raiding the UDAG fund.

FOURTH, this request comes out of the blue, with no public input or scrutiny. The Selectboard has not bothered to identify the leased equipment; it has not explained why it chose to lease rather than purchase; it has not explained why it changed its mind and now wants to buy out the leases.

FIFTH, this grant would dramatically deplete the UDAG Fund and make it difficult if not impossible to meet UDAG Program obligations already incurred.

Clearly, the Selectboard should have had to courage to ask the Town Meeting to bond for the purchase of equipment they thought the Town needed. How much would the interest on those bonds have cost the Town? Less than the $46,000 a year the Selectboard claims we'll save by buying out the leases? In any case, raiding the UDAG fund to rectify a bad decision is improper, illegal and damaging to the Town's future prospects. I strongly urge: VOTE NO ON ARTICLE 15.