Dry Hydrants In Braintree OK’d

Dry Hydrants In Braintree OK’d

By M.D. Drysdale

Since the town of Braintree has now agreed with Randolph on how much they owe for fire protection services, Randolph selectmen decided last week to respond in kind.

They went along with the suggestion by Kermit LaBounty, head of the Fire Services Committee, that Randolph will help build two dry hydrants in Braintree—which could in turn help the Randolph fire departments.

Through its fire department budgets, Randolph has been helping to fund a campaign to install dry hydrants throughout rural parts of the town. The hydrants connect to a pipe leading to, typically, a farm pond or even a river. They allow the fire department pumpers to draw water directly from those water sources. Otherwise, the department must send tankers for miles, often into the village, to fill up at regular hydrants.

“It saves us both time and money,” LaBounty told the selectboard last Wednesday. “If you can save a mile (of travel to a water source), you can save yourself ten minutes.”

Town Manager Gary Champy had originally been cool to the idea, since Randolph funds would be expended in Braintree. But LaBounty defended his request vigorously before the board.

“Now that Braintree is paying 100%, we thought it was a good project,” he said of the Braintree dry hydrant. He noted that whenever the department becomes aware of a new pond, they approach the landowner to see if they’ll agree to a dry hydrant installation.

Selectboard Chair Larry said the request “seemes justifyiable, since we are providing protection.” Selectman Joe Voci agreed, saying Braintree “has stepped up, they’ve paid their dues, and they deserve full service.” Carol Flint agreed, as well, and the vote was 3-0.

Selectmen Dennis Brown and Stephen Webster were not able to be present for the meeting.

Metcalf Dedication

In other news, it was noted that the 2009 Town Report will be dedicated to longtime Randolph Village School Principal Stephen Metcalf, who died last month at the age of 62.

The board also supported the writing of a letter in favor of re-building the village bulletin board on Main Street. The bulletin board was on the property of Rite-Aid, which needs a letter in order to approve it, Champy said.

Susan Mills of Randolph Center is organizing a school project to build an attractive new message center, he said.

Selectman Voci responded briefly to the letter that had been sent to the board by the Randolph Energy Committee the previous week. The letter had complained vigorously that the selectboad and town manager did not seem to seek or value the committee’s input, in particular regarding the two new big energy proposals before the town—methane-created electricity at the landfill, proposed by Carbon Harvest Energy, Inc., and a central wood heating plant for the village, proposed by the Biomass Research Center (BERC) in Montpelier.

“I think it would be a good idea for the whole board to talk about the direction of committees,” Voci said. “A discussion would help Gary also in knowing the direction of the board.”

It was agreed that such a discussion will be scheduled for the future.