The Woodstock Selectboard voted to, in principle, unless things really change, to go with pre-buy fuel oil price of $3.35.9 to heat the Town Hall this coming winter season. This price was part of a decision to continue buying fuel from Dead River, which is the current vendor for the town.
Selectboard members, like many private Woodstock residents, hemmed and hawed about whether the price might go lower, whether to wait and not lock-in until the summer driving season is over (noting the price of gasoline is running about $3.75 a gallon) or just gamble and go with a fixed current price. Town Manager Phil Swanson recommended going with the $3.35 price, “I don’t see prices coming down.” Finally, Bruce Gould stated the obvious, “There is no crystal ball” when it comes to fuel prices.
In other matters, at its most recent meeting this week, the Selectboard said it would approve a jump from one percent to three percent as a penalty charge for homeowner declaration errors. This fee would concern property owners who mis-identify themselves “resident” t rather than” non-resident” in an effort to save money on their Town of Woodstock taxes.
In approving the change, Selectboard members said they didn’t want to make things difficult for those who honestly make a mistake saying they are resident or non-resident but they do want to discourage deliberate efforts by those trying to circumvent the system to the detriment of town coffers. Phil Swanson also noted that Listers were not interested in being “residency cops.” However, the State of Vermont recommended the increase to three percent which the Selectboard had the authority to approve or disapprove.
Woodstock Early Bird 