Select Board approves Velco easement to access Andrews Community Forest; payment and allocations read into record

The Richmond Select Board approved a utility easement with Vermont Electric Power Company (Velco) May 19 that grants access to power-line maintenance across the Andrews Community Forest.

Town staff described the compensation structure read aloud at the meeting as a per-linear-foot easement fee and a $2,500 maintenance payment to the town for trail repairs. The town also noted a nominal attorney-fee deposit would be recorded. During the meeting a motion spelled out the proposed allocation: a maintenance payment of $2,500, the easement payment as read at the meeting (transcript numbers contained inconsistent formatting), $54.50 toward legal fees, and the remainder directed to the Andrews Community Forest Reserve Fund with $2,500 earmarked for trail repairs. "This ultimately is approving an easement in return for a payment and that payment will be split up," a board member summarized.

The motion appointed the town manager as the town's agent to execute the easement documents. The board approved the motion by roll-call vote.

Note on numeric transcription: the board discussion included specific dollar figures but the recorded transcript contains inconsistent numeric formatting for the easement amount and the derived residual amounts; staff told the board they would allocate funds across a general revenue account and the Andrews Community Forest Reserve Fund as described. The town clerk or manager will publish final executed figures in the recorded easement documents.