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Richmond commission recommends Select Board fund rodenticide-education program with up to $400
Summary
The Richmond Conservation Commission unanimously recommended the Select Board approve up to $400 from the Conservation Reserve Fund to bring a Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) rodenticide–education presentation to the Richmond Free Library, with Bolton and Huntington contributing matching funds.
The Richmond Conservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend the Select Board approve up to $400 from the town’s Conservation Reserve Fund to host a public education event about the harms of anticoagulant rodenticides.
Bob Galvin, a member of the Bolton Conservation Commission who framed the request, said the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) has agreed to present and — if funding allows — could bring ambassador birds. "Upward more than 95% of the bobcats that they tested had rodenticide presence in their system," Galvin said, citing recent testimony to the Vermont House Agriculture Committee about secondary poisoning in predators.
Galvin asked Richmond for an allocation to cover part of a program fee and mileage; he said Bolton had approved $177.50 and Huntington $100 toward the program and that VINS’s program fee is $527.50. He told commissioners the application lists Richmond’s request as up to $400 and that the library rental fee might be waived, in which case Richmond’s share could fall to $350.
Commissioners added language to the motion clarifying that the event would be a public presentation at the Richmond Free Library, that the request is cost-shared with Bolton and Huntington conservation commissions, and that the recommended amount should be "not to exceed $400." Janette Malone and others offered procedural and outreach suggestions; several commissioners urged Galvin, as the applicant, to attend the Select Board meeting where the funding is considered.
The motion, moved by Bob Galvin and seconded by Kit Emery, passed on a unanimous voice vote (Sam Pratt, Kit Emery, Trevor Brooks, Bob Galvin, Janette Malone all voted yes). The commission asked Galvin to provide a final budget showing total project costs and partner contributions when he goes before the Select Board.
Next steps: the commission will forward the recommendation and Galvin will appear at the Select Board to answer questions and provide documentation of receipts if the Select Board approves the allocation.
