Londonderry sets eyes on sculpture to snowboardmaker Burton

By Bruce Frauman
© 2016 Telegraph Publishing LLC

Londonderry may become the home of a new monumental cast bronze sculpture to honor Jake Burton Carpenter, founder of Burton Snowboards, on the 40th anniversary of the birth of the sport.

Mimi Wright told the Londonderry Select Board on Monday, Oct. 3 that she was called by New Jersey artist Jason Dreweck, who was also considering Stratton and Stowe mountains as other possible sites for the sculpture. Wright, one of the first three employees of Burton Snowboards, convinced Dreweck that “it had to be Londonderry.” The snowboards used to be made in a small house on Route 100 in Londonderry that burned several years ago.

Wright said she met with Planning Commission member Sharon Crossman and Dreweck to locate the best site for the sculpture. They agreed that the northside of the Genser property, where the Outlet Barn stands empty, “is the ideal place.” Former Town Administrator Kevin Beattie is working to have the demolition of building completed by winter.

Asked by Select Board chair Steve Prouty if this use would be allowable, Crossman responded that Kevin Geiger of the Two Rivers Regional Commission, who would administer the funds that Londonderry would receive after the buildings are demolished, wrote that he thought it could be.

Annie Campbell, head of the Londonderry Arts and Historical Society, said, “We would try to make this a cool destination.”

Wright said she thought the 30-foot long by 16-foot high by 9-foot wide sculpture (shown as “Self Made” at www.jasondreweck.com) would be “hugely unifying to the town.” While the cost of the sculpture hasn’t been revealed, a smaller one created by the artist for Muskegon, Mich., cost $50,000, according to the Muskegon Chronicle. Funding would come globally from private donations and grants. The board agreed unanimously to support the pursuit of the sculpture, and Board member Bill Wiley said he would be happy to be among the first to contribute.

From budget requests to policing panel

In other action, the board, acting on a suggestion from Town Administrator Stephanie Thompson, agreed to require each organization asking for money from the town budget to submit a copy of IRS form 990, which outlines revenue, expenses and balance sheet.

Last year, the town approved one article totaling $32,700 to help fund 23 organizations. Eight other organizations were approved for funds on separate articles and one was denied funding.

A proposal by Miles Waite of Waite-Heindel Environmental to test three wells in the vicinity of the proposed salt shed as well as make other water quality evaluations was approved by the board at a cost of $1,540. The money will come from surplus funds from the highway department.

Several members of the board will meet with Patrick Griffin of Enman-Kesselring Consulting Engineers to determine the exact location of the proposed salt and sand shed.

Also:

• The board agreed to send out a request for proposals for two generators to provide electricity to the Flood Brook School and the Twitchell Building so they could serve as emergency centers.
• A grant was extended so bids could be requested for landscaping at 4345 Main St., a FEMA buy-out property in South Londonderry.
• And the annual Halloween event was approved for Saturday, Oct. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. at the town hall. It will be organized by the Phoenix No. 6 Fire Department. No parking will be allowed on the street.

And finally, Tina Labea said The Jungle Book movie will be shown at Pingree Park at 6:30 pm. on Saturday, Oct 8. Paul Gordon said the Policing Committee is holding an information meeting at the Twitchell Building at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 12.