Woodstock Early Bird The Early Bird Gets the Worm: earlybirdtips@gmail.com

Town Manager Phil Swanson used the Village Trustees meeting last night to remind Woodstock residents and businesses that there is a noise ordinance and that means no motors,wackers, jackhammers or other equipment should be heard before 7:00am.

Swanson also addressed the issue of pesticide use in the Village. He noted that residents have a right to use pesticides on their property. However, the Village requires residents to fully inform their neighbors of their pesticide use. Some residents obviously do not want contact with pesticides and the Village requests those who are applying them (or the businesses they hire) to inform neighbors in a timely manner.

In other business…Trustees decided to help prevent left turns from Elm Street onto Central Street by putting in one small “delineator” or post to help guide citizens and visitors to the right towards the Green. While some trustees asked for two or three delineator, Chair Candace Coburn said it was fine to start with one and see if that has an effect in reducing the left turns into traffic. Trustee Chris Miller said he didn’t think any posts are needed but seemed accepting of just one to start.

The Village Trustees took up a request from the Billings Farm and Museum for a plastic sandwich board to be placed on the Green to advertise their various programs. Trustees reviewed current ordinance and ruled this would not be allowed since sandwich boards are only to advertise on the actual property where the event is to take place.

Truth in reporting here…Woodstock Early Bird took off her journalist hat to speak as a Woodstock resident to say that despite all the events and activities that take place on the Green, she still appreciates and values the Green as a place of nature, that is grass, trees, birds, flowering shrubs and people sitting quietly on benches. Woodstock Early Bird tripped over the personally offending plastic sandwich board while walking the dog and wondered if the Green would soon be littered with informational placards. Trustees listened. Woodstock Early Bird then put her reporter hat back on.

On the placard topic, Trustee Eric Nesbitt noted that the Billings Farm had put out their Quilt Show sandwich board on the Green before getting approval, although Woodstock Chamber of Commerce’s Beth Finlayson said she had told the Billings Farm it would be okay. It was noted the non-profit does get lots of advertising space in other locations throughout the Village.

Boy Scouts Camping out on the Green? Maybe. An art show event in September requires early set-up. Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Director Beth Finlayson inquired as to whether the Boy Scouts could serve as an overnight security force to protect the art work on the evening before the event. After batting around the topic a bit, Village Trustees suggested Finlayson and the Boy Scouts flush out the idea a bit more (Did I mean flesh out? I was thinking about their questions about sanitary facilities during their encampment…). For this year, Woodstock Police Chief Blish said he would park a police vehicle beside the Green and increase patrols on that evening. In addition the Woodstock Chamber will provide their own security. Related to the art show event, Trustees gave the Change the World Kids their approval for their conservation-oriented chalk drawing activity on some Village sidewalks.

And speaking of the Village Green, Trustees gave their thumbs up to accepting a gift of a park bench with a plaque in memory of recently deceased Derek Cooper. Chair Coburn said it was a wonderful idea and that she and others mourn for him, that he was a great kid and this would be a great idea.

Finally, road work begins on Prospect Street starting on Monday.