Select Board

Minutes

January 19,2006

Present:                       Daniel Boyer

                                    Henry C. Cobb

                                    C. Peter Cole      

                                    Patricia Daniels

Others Present:            Rachel Frank

                                    Rolly Cann

                                    Delores Mellish

                                    Fred Mellish

                                    Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times

                                    Deborah Ostrom, SAPA

                                    Rick Butler

                                    Edith Stillson

                                    Wes Hazeltine

1.  Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cole called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:06 p.m. at the Martin Memorial Hall.

4.  Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Arrison made the motion to accept the minutes dated December 29, 2005, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion.  Mrs. Daniels noted corrections.  Motion carried 3 – 0, Mr. Boyer and Mr. Cole abstained.

            Mr. Boyer made the motion to accept the minutes dated January 5, 2006, Mr. Cobb seconded the motion.  Mrs. Daniels, Mr. Cobb and Mr. Arrison noted corrections.  Motion carried 5 – 0.

            Mrs. Daniels asked Mr. Melen if he printed the report that showed what was included in the misc. line of the Highway Budget.  Mr. Melen said no; he has not had time.  Mrs. Daniels asked if the email had been sent to the Project Manager regarding the Leahy Fund, Mr. Melen said yes. 

3.  Comments from citizens: Mr. Butler asked for an update on the land transfer.  Mr. Melen said there isn’t an update other than the pins have been put in.  Mr. Melen asked Mr. Hazeltine to follow up with Mr. Rapanotti on the plat.

Mr. Mellish asked the Board to put a Resolution on the Town Warning to thank the men and women of the Vermont Air and Army National Guard for their services.  Mr. Arrison asked if we should include the Reserves.  Mr. Cobb suggests we include all Reserve units.  The consensus of the Board is to add the Resolution to the Warning and include all Reserve units.  Mr. Boyer made the motion to include on the Warning the Resolution presented tonight by Mr. & Mrs. Mellish but include the Reserve units.  Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. 

            Mrs. Daniels said she talked to Mrs. Grover and Chief Grover is scheduled to come home Tuesday.

2.  Joint Meeting with Budget Advisory Committee: Mr. Melen said the General Fund has been changed, the County tax was reduced by $143.  Mr. Cole asked what Grand List was being used, Mr. Melen said he is using the current one as of today.  Mr. Melen said that if everything passes it would go up 2.64%.  As an example if you have a value of $100,000 your taxes would increase approximately $30.    

            Mr. Cann said the Budget Committee met earlier tonight and they did not come up with any changes to this budget but would like to look at efficiency in the future.  Mrs. Frank said that paving hit us hard this year but it needs to be done.  Mrs. Frank said Mrs. Adams could not make this meeting but she supports this budget as well.  It was noted that some of the members have reservations on a few articles but they were articles to the outside agencies. 

            Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve total expenditures out of the Highway Fund for $963,935.  Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. 

            Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve total expenditures out of the General Fund for $783,619.  Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.  Mr. Melen noted this General Fund budget would need to be looked at in six months. 

            Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve total expenditures out of the Solid Waste Fund for $243,570; Mr. Arrison seconded the motion.  Mr. Melen said this would leave the charge at $45 per unit and at $1.50 per punch.  Motion carried unanimously.

            Mr. Melen noted for the record that the Board of Trustees for Proctor Library adopted their expenditures of $38,310. 

            Mr. Melen said he has revised the long-term debt schedule and next year we will discuss a Highway grader with a purchase price around $260,000. 

            Mr. Cobb made the motion to include an article to support the Meals on Wheels Program for $500 once Mr. Melen works with them on the wording of the article.  Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed 5 – 0. 

            Mr. Cole asked if the Town and School were warned for the same time.  Mr. Melen said the school is 6:30 and the Town is 7:30. 

There was discussion on the language in a few articles. 

5.  Monthly Reports: Mr. Melen said we have expenditures in the General Fund that we need to do the revenues for, other than that the cash flow is the cash flow.

• New Business:

A. Request for Training Monies from Listers’ Education Funding: Mr. Boyer made the motion to direct the Chair to sign the approval for Mr. Golding for $50 to attend training.  Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. 

B. Waste Disposal Proposal for Post-New Hampshire/Vermont Solid Waste Project Wheelabrator Claremont, Co., L.P.: Mr. Melen said he is not pleased with this but it is for information purposes only.  Mr. Cole noted that the Board has received this and decided to pass over it. 

C.  Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: Mr. Melen said this is for notification purposes, no action is required. 

D. Municipal Planning Grant: Mr. Melen said we received a grant from the State for $7,000 to re-do the Zoning By-laws.  The Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission has submitted their contract to do the work, the contract is for $5,000.  Mr. Arrison made the motion to authorize the Town Manager to sign the contract between the Town of Weathersfield and the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission for $5,000 for the purpose of updating Zoning By-laws.  Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. 

7.  Old Business:

            A.  Excess Weight Permitting: Mr. Melen said we need to identify what roads we do not want over weight trucks on, and we need to file this with the State by February 10th.  The Board agreed to have Mr. Melen and Mr. Hazeltine put together the list and the Board will look at the list at the meeting on the 2nd of February. 

            B.  Assignment of License for Encroachment into Right-of-Way for 244 Henry Gould Road:  Mr. Melen said that the notice of intent was published in the newspaper of record on December 21, 2005 and January 18, 2006 and a copy of the notice was sent to Mr. Brockett and his Attorney via certified return receipt mail.  No oppositions have been received.  Mr. Boyer made the motion to authorize the Town Manager, as agent, to sign the encroachment license from Mr. Brockett; Mr. Arrison seconded the motion.  Mr. Melen noted the license has been reviewed and accepted by Town Counsel.  Motion carried 5 – 0.

• Review draft of Warning for Annual Town Meeting: Reviewed earlier this evening. 

8.  Appointments:

(i) Animal Control Officer: Mr. Newton gave the Town Manager and Board members a copy of the application for Animal Control Officer received from Derek Gurney.  Mr. Newton said he would be his Assistant, he can not issue tickets only warning notices and he would not be able to impound animals but he could pick up strays.

Mr. Arrison asked if this position had been filled before, Mr. Melen said yes. 

Mr. Cobb asked if this is a paid position.  Mr. Newton said yes at $9.00 per hour.  Mr. Melen said this is a casual on call position, the last person received approximately $500 per year.   

            Mr. Newton said he would like him to have a cellular phone.  Mr. Cole said the majority of the calls should go to Mr. Newton.  In the past the Animal Control Officer wasn’t the primary person, he only assisted the Constable.  Mr. Melen said Lynn passed her cell phone onto the Animal Control Officer when she went out of Town. 

            It was decided to invite Mr. Gurney to meet with the Board on February 2, 2006 at 7:15 p.m. in executive session to discuss this position.

9.  Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:

                        General Fund Payroll                                                           $12,528.69

                        Highway Fund Payroll                                                           $16,417.63

                        Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll                        $  1,301.33

                        General Fund Operating Expense                                              $  9,440.88

                        Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense            $  8,810.06

Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed 5 – 0.

            Mr. Cobb made the motion to go into executive session for the purpose of acquisition or sale of real estate and to discuss personnel.  Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. 

            Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn at 10:39 p.m.  Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.  The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. on January 19, 2006.

                                                                                                Respectfully Submitted,      

                                                                                                Lisa Sargent 

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on February 2, 2006

                                                                                                _______________________

                                                                                                Henry C. Cobb

                                                                                                ________________________

                                                                                                Daniel Boyer

                                                                                                _________________________

                                                                                                Norman John Arrison

                                                                                                _________________________

                                                                                                Patricia Daniels