Present:
Henry C. Cobb
Daniel Boyer
C. Peter Cole
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present:
Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Deb Ostrum, SAPA
Edith Stillson
Jason Rasmussen
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
Michael Thomas
Barbara Thomas
Emery Morse
Joanne Morse
Barry Newton
Chief Brown
DeForest Bearse
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.
2. Comments from citizens: Mr. Barry Newton expressed his gratitude to the
Select Board for going out of their way to reclassify Old Bow Road in November
and thanked Mr. Hazeltine and his crew for getting the road ready before winter.
He also commended Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department for their response to his
chimney fire and then again two weeks later for a medical emergency at his residence.
Ms. Lloyd Wright asked the town to look at running town vehicles on Bio-diesel.
Mr. Michael Thomas handed out the latest Rapid Response Plan and asked the Board
to review it and get back to him as soon as possible with any corrections. Mr.
Arrison asked what had changed; Mr. Thomas said just names and phone numbers.
It was the consensus of the Board that they would discuss this at the next meeting
and respond back to Mr. Thomas on Friday, January 12.
Mr. Thomas mentioned there is a Local Emergency Planning Commission meeting
next Wednesday at the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department at 7:00 p.m. for anyone
who would like to attend. And, on January 27, 2007 there will be a regional
hurricane disaster seminar at the Howard Dean Center in Springfield. Registration
begins at 9:30 and the seminar is from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Mr. Emery Morse asked the Select Board to consider talking to the State of Vermont
about putting No Parking signs from the Exit 8 off ramp to Tenney Hill Road.
Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to write a letter to the State requesting signs to
be installed.
Mrs. Daniels said that she and Mr. Melen have the names flagged in the computer
system for the mailing that needs to go out to the Ascutney Fire District members.
She said she would like to add this to this to the agenda on January 18th so
the letter can be approved and mailed. Mr. Melen said there were 316 properties
that would receive the letter.
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meetings: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve
the minutes dated December 7, 2006, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Corrections
were noted. Motion carried 3 – 0, 2 abstentions.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 14, 2006;
Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 21, 2006; Mr.
Cole seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried 4 – 0,
1 abstention.
4. Ancient Roads
Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission Jason Rasmussen, Transportation
Planner: Mr. Rasmussen explained that the Legislature passed this law to try
and address the issue of if an old road existed or not. If on July 1, 2009 a
road is not on a Town Highway map, is not a trail or not identifiable then it
becomes an unidentified corridor. In 2015 all unidentified corridors will be
discontinued. He noted all Class IV highways and trails will be included when
the State determines how many Highway funds a Town receives. The Regional Planning
Commission recommends having this process accomplished by February 10, 2009
so they don’t become unidentified corridors. He said there is a chance
a Town would have to pay (the landowner) to get the right-of-way back if it
is not classified as a road before July 1, 2009.
Mr. Rasmussen said approximately sixty applications were received and after
the applications that were completed poorly were thrown out, two Towns from
each region were funded through a random draw. Mr. Rasmussen said there may
be other grants available and he is willing to help apply for grants with us
if we would like. Mr. Cobb said allocation of the grant was handled poorly.
Awards should have been granted based on merit not a random draw. Ms. Lloyd
Wright said we should talk to Mr. Shand. Mr. Arrison said he has talked to Mr.
Shand briefly and he said there is a slim chance of more money being available.
Mr. Rasmussen said it might help if Mr. Melen calls Jonathan Croft at the Agency
of Transportation.
Ms. Lloyd Wright said they have come up with twenty-three roads so far. Mr.
Arrison suggested the Select Board look at the list and prioritize the twenty-three
that they have come up with.
It was decided that the Select Board would look at the maps and list on or before
the February 1, 2007 meeting. Mr. Melen will invite all parties that should
participate in the Ancient Road project to attend that meeting.
5. Monthly Reports:
Associates in Municipal Property Tax Assessments: Mr. Melen said as requested
by the Board information on the assessment is included in the Board’s
packet. He said they are still working in Perkinsville and people are calling
to set up a time to meet with the assessors. Mr. Arrison asked when would we
see some of their product, Mr. Melen said the Lister’s are communicating
with them already.
Highway: No report available
Land Use: District II Environmental Commission, Application for Telecommunications
facility: Mrs. Bearse said Verizon Wireless has filed an application for installing
a cell tower at Getaway Campground on Route 5. She said the Act 250 Public Hearing
is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 9:30 am. There will be a site
visit and balloon test that morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Town has warned
a joint planning commission and zoning board of adjustment meeting on January
22nd.
Mrs. Bearse noted the Town is retaining an engineer, Mr. Melen said the Town
can retain this at the applicants expense.
Mrs. Daniels made the motion directing Mr. Melen and Mrs. Bearse to file an
entry of appearance before the District II Environmental Commission; Mr. Boyer
seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison said cellular pines don’t work ascetically
when they are 40’ above the tree line. Mr. Melen said he questions if
it is necessary to go 40’ above the tree lines. Motion carried 5 –
0.
Police: Chief Brown had given written report, no comments noted.
6. Old Business
A. Emergency Services Dispatch Contract: Mr. Boyer said the Fire Commission
met and they do not want us to sign the contract as it reads right now. Mr.
Boyer said they have previously agreed to a two year contract not one. The $31.50
per call price should be that until the end of the contract period not the end
of the first year. And, they thought it was $600 for the Town not $600 for each
department. Mr. Melen said he recommends that we re-work the contract and send
it back to them. Mr. Arrison said he talked to West Windsor and they wrote their
own and took it to Windsor and got it done. Mr. Boyer said that he has heard
no one has the same contract. The consensus of the Board was to have Mr. Melen
re-write it and show it to the Fire Commission for approval.
Mr. Boyer asked Mr. Melen to put the dry hydrant work out to bid and said he
would have the easements soon. After discussion it was decided that the bids
would go out and then we will prioritize the hydrants for the money that we
have available. Mr. Melen said we should be able to award the bids at the February
15th meeting.
7. New Business
A. Weathersfield Elementary School Possible Alternative Uses: Mr. Cobb said
in his opinion there is a cost with the new school construction that was overlooked
and that is what will happen with the Elementary School. He feels it is the
School Boards obligation to do an alternative study for uses of the Elementary
School.
Mr. Melen said he has forwarded the Barr and Hoisington deeds to Town Counsel
for opinion. After discussion it was decided to wait and see what Town Counsel
says about how the deeds read and then contact Mr. Bevacqua (again).
B. Equalized Education Grand List Vermont Department of Taxes: Mr. Melen said
he has asked the Listers to review this and they have not responded to him yet.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to table this item for discussion until January 11,
2007. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
C. Policy on Elective Highway Warning Signs: Mr. Melen said sometimes we charge
the individual that requests the sign and sometimes we don’t. The Board
agreed to continue to look at each case separately. Mr. Melen will write a basic
policy saying that the individual that wants the sign comes before the Board
to make the request.
Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to ask Mr. Hazeltine to review the stop sign list and
let the Board know on January 18th what signs have not been put up yet.
D. Property Taxes Direct Debit Payment: Mr. Melen asked if we wanted to accept
credit cards for tax payments. He said the Town of Shelburne negotiated a no
fee to the Town deal through Chittenden Bank but the individual pays the fee.
He said the software we have for tax administration allows for us to take funds
ten days before the payment is due via debit for those that sign up to participate.
The consensus of the Board was to investigate the credit card options but to
adopt the debit card option.
E. Select Board Procedure for Calendar Year 2007: Tabled until February 15th.
8. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve
the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $13,677.32
General Fund Operating Expense $10,847.35
Highway Fund Payroll $20,096.41
Highway Fund Operating Expense $ 8,604.39
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,624.28
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 2,949.56
Agency Monies $ 169.53
Reserves $ 8,691.45
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
9. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Budget. We will look at the revised budget for the General Fund, Highway Fund and Solid Waste Management Fund. Also, the Listers, the Treasurer and the Fire Chiefs will be here.
10. Executive Session, Personnel: Mr. Arrison made the motion to go into executive session for personnel. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
11. Adjourn: The Select Board came out of executive session at 9:57 p.m. Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:58 p.m. on January 4, 2007.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board January 25, 2007
___________________
Henry C. Cobb
____________________
Daniel Boyer
_____________________
Norman John Arrison
______________________
Patricia Daniels
Appendix
Dispatch contract
Mobile Home behind Bow Church
Fire District letters and meeting
Tenney Hill
Visit from Michael Smith
Name of chairpersons of various committees
Internet policy
Disposal certification application, VT AOT
Procedure on utility easements
Beaver Dams
Collection of taxes
Property tax rebate system
Ancient roads
Sign posting policy
Use of Perkinsville Elementary School
Town Manager search (July, 2007)
Ambulance contract (May, 2007)
Select Board procedure for calendar year 2007
No Parking Signs by Thomas residence
District II Environmental Commission, application for telecommunications facility