In honor of Millicent

MEXICO -- As a tribute to Millicent Mann, a plant with a plaque in her honor will be placed in the same Mexico Greens she helped to beautify for so many years.

Mann, 97, passed away on Feb. 6, 2013. The Board of Selectmen held a moment of silence at their meeting on Feb. 12 in appreciation for her years of dedication to the community.

Board member Byron Ouellette said he had a discussion with Garden Club member Sheryl Gallant, who will pick a spot at the Mexico Greens for a plant and plaque he said he will pay for. Board Chairman Richie Philbrick said he will share the $35 cost.

"She was just wonderful. I think it'd be a nice thing to do,” noted Ouellette.

Mann served two terms as a long time member of the Town and Country Garden Club. She was involved in the Mexico Planning Board and the Beautification Committee, and was a charter member of the Mexico Historical Society.

Mann was named Mexico Volunteer of the Year in 2005, and was the River Valley Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 1999.

In other business, selectmen voted the dedicate the upcoming town report to Roland Berry, the former Mexico fire chief who passed away on Jan. 19. They also agreed that Norbert “Norbie” Gallant would be presented in the “In Memoriam” section of the report.

The cover for the town report will be a picture of the highway department's plow truck decorated for the Christmas in the Valley parade.

The board agreed to allow resident Rich Vitale to reopen the Mexico Fitness Center in the town recreation building if he provides the board with a certificate of insurance beforehand.

Vitale told the board the earliest he could open the center is Friday, March 1, because it would “give him time to find volunteers, get stuff set and do some cleaning.”

Selectmen discussed whether they should give Vitale a six-month trial period to evaluate his performance. Vitale explained that if he were to open the Fitness Center, his insurance would require a one-year policy.

Selectman Peter Merrill said, “We all agreed to give Mr. Vitale a fair chance. I think we should give him a full year to prove himself. He has a solid plan, and he should have a chance to get it in place.”

Town Manager John Madigan agreed, adding that “if he starts in March, he's going to lose some business in the summer, when gyms are typically slow.

“I say we wait until September, when gym membership usually picks up, and see where he's at,” Madigan added.

Chairman Richie Philbrick said that even if they give Vitale a year to get the Fitness Center up and running, he'd still like to meet with him in six months to “see where the business stands.

“Once you bring in the certificate of insurance to us, on March 1, you can rock and roll,” Philbrick told Vitale.