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Select Board approves $3,000 for VYCC easement, greenlights Juneteenth celebration and multiple community events
Summary
The Select Board approved a $3,000 stewardship contribution to help place a conservation easement on VYCC land, authorized a Juneteenth celebration on the town center lawn, and signed off on a set of event permits and signage including the Holiday Market and farmers-market parking signs.
At its June 1 meeting, the Richmond Select Board approved several community-focused requests: a $3,000 contribution from the conservation reserve fund to help the Richmond Land Trust steward a conservation easement on a Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) parcel; permission for a Juneteenth observance on the town-center lawn on June 19; and a set of event permits and signage for the Richmond Holiday Market and the farmers market.
VYCC representative Breoff described the easement area (the flat field between two monitor barns and adjoining hillside with solar panels) and asked the board to help fund stewardship costs such as annual monitoring, boundary repairs and conservation-easement insurance. Lou Bory of the Richmond Land Trust explained stewardship expenses, including an example insurance premium the land trust pays for legal defense. After questions, the board approved the request.
On events, board members debated how to frame the Juneteenth celebration to avoid implying the town was delegating a political viewpoint; the board adopted amended wording that recognized a Juneteenth celebration "in recognition of a national holiday" and approved the event. The board also approved the December 5 Holiday Market reservation and farmers‑market promotional and parking signage (town center lawn, Volunteers Green, and Cochran Road right-of-way) with volunteer-managed placement and removal.
The board endorsed the Fourth of July committee’s request to authorize up to $6,000 of spending contingent on anticipated revenue and approved parade road closures, a June 13 coin drop fundraiser, and the sale of water and soda at the celebration.
What happens next: Richmond Land Trust will hold the easement and administer stewardship funds; event organizers will coordinate permits, logistics and volunteer placement of signs with town staff.
