Minutes
January 25, 2007
Present: Henry C. CobbNorman John Arrison
Daniel Boyer
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Rolly Cann, Budget Committee
Rachel Frank, Budget Committee
Edith Stillson
DeForest Bearse, Land Use AdministratorDeb Ostrum, SAPA
Chief Stapleton
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the Weathersfield Select Board Meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall on Thursday, January 25, 2007.
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 28, 2006, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Correction was noted. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated January 4, 2007; Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated January 11, 2007; Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated January 18, 2007; Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Town Meeting 2007
A. Adopt General Fund Budget: Mr. Cobb said there was an article in the Eagle Times stating that the tax rate was level and asked Mr. Melen to explain. Mr. Melen said the fire truck bond caused the big increase however, as of now there was a large allotment of uncollected taxes that we were using gross figures on not net. He said the reserve funds are now fully covered so we can net out. This itself dropped this portion of the tax rate by 4%.
Mr. Arrison asked how we finished out 2006, Mr. Melen said for the first time we have an undesignated fund balance of $50,000. He noted the delinquent tax is the lowest ever at $356,000.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the General Fund budget for FY08 of $852,144; Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked what changes were made since we last met. Mr. Melen said Land Use, cost of living adjustment, took out additional hours requested for the Listers and Assistant Treasurer. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Adopt Highway Fund Budget: Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the Highway Fund budget for FY08 of $975,081, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Melen said he moved some paving from the budget to the Leahy fund. Mr. Arrison asked the status of that. Mr. Melen said the money is there and he has heard it depends on regulations. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Cobb noted Chief Stapleton submitted a revised proposed budget for West Weathersfield Fire Department, which includes estimated income from fundraising events.
Mr. Melen said he included charts showing tax rate comparisons for the Board’s review, he will include these in the Town report. He noted last year the tax rate was 3.0898 overall per homestead, this year it is 3.4472.
C. Sign Warning for Annual Town Meeting: Mr. Melen said he received a letter from the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council asking for $30. The consensus of the Board was to support their request without putting it on the Warning.
Article #4: Mr. Cann confirmed there are two ways the property tax rebate can be applied to tax payments. Mr. Melen said yes, this could change from a floor vote.
Article #7: Mr. Melen said this is for significant security changes to the Town Office which is required by law. (To protect the records)
Article #8: Mrs. Daniels said Veterans that qualify are exempt on assessment not their taxes. Mr. Melen said this is a floor item and it can be amended.
Article #17: It was noted this will have to be explained at the Town Meeting that this is already our money, just moving to another fund.
Article #20: Mr. Arrison said we should say what the estimated cost of the grader would be or say how much will come out of the reserve fund. It was decided it would include language that the balance will come from the Highway reserve fund.
Mr. Arrison suggested putting the two money articles pertaining to Martin Memorial Hall together (one after the other) on the Warning.
Skip to 8 C & G
8. New Business:
C. Disposal Certification Application Vermont Agency of Transportation: Mrs. Bearse gave the Board an update on the disposal certification application. She said she did a site visit and Mr. Gammel challenged her decision that a zoning permit was needed. She said that there is no written documentation that the site use has ever been changed so at this point they, VT Agency of Transportation, have to prove some prior use to be grandfathered.
G. Proposed Amendments to Interim Zoning Bylaws: Mrs. Bearse asked for the following amendments to the Interim Zoning Bylaws:
6.10.7: The amendment to this section removes the 10-acre threshold for regulatory review of proposed developments on soils that the Natural Resources Conservation Service designates as Prime or of Statewide significance.
7.8: The amendment shifts the responsibility for site plan review from the Planning Commission to the Zoning Board.
9.1.2, 9.1.3 and 9.2.3: These amendments are housekeeping in nature-changing references for site plan review from the Planning Commission to the Zoning Board.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to schedule a Public Hearing to amend Interim Zoning Bylaws on February 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.; Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Motion passed without dissent.
Back to #5
5. Monthly Reports:
General Fund: Mr. Melen said we are at 55%. He noted he has ordered a new server through the State contract. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to have Competitive Computers look at the wiring when they come to install the new server.
Highway Fund: Mr. Melen said we are at 56%.
Solid Waste Fund: Mr. Melen said for the first time in seven years we are under budget.
6. Sale of Surplus Town Equipment:
A. 1999 Ford Ranger 4X4: Mr. Arrison made the motion to award the bid for the 1999 Ford Ranger to Gene Adams for $1800, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
B. 1989 Mack R690T: Mr. Melen said we received six inquiries but no bids. He said he advertised it in the Eagle Times and through VLCT. He said the Dealer thinks we can get between $15,000 - $18,000 but we should sit on it for now (because of no snow). The consensus of the Board was to sit on it for now.
7. Old Business
A. Weathersfield Elementary School: Mr. Melen said the Superintendent was going to email Mr. Cobb, Mr. Cobb said he has not received the email. Mr. Melen said he received a draft of a legal opinion today and it shows the school owns the old school and the little square of land that sits around it and it also owns the addition but the land belongs to the Trustees of Public Funds. Mr. Melen said the school could abandon the building and it would go to the Town or the Trustees of Public Funds. He said when he receives the official legal opinion he will send a copy to the Superintendent. Mr. Melen noted there are two controlling bodies here, the school board and the Trustees of Public Funds.
B. Town Highway 67, Abandoned Mobile Home within Right-of-Way: Mrs. Daniels showed photos of what was there and what is left at this time. Mr. Melen said he recommends sending formal notice to the person who demolished it and tell them they have 15 days to remove the rest of it or the Town will remove it and bill them. Mrs. Daniels made the motion to send formal notice via certified/return receipt mail to the person who demolished it and tell him he has 15 days to remove the rest of it or the Town will remove it and bill the cost to him. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Melen said he would notify Chief Brown that there is now a truck there in the Town Right-of-Way and he can have the vehicle removed.
8. New Business
A. Ascutney Fire District: Mrs. Daniels noted a typo in the letter. There was discussion on revising the letter to include the date of an informational meeting. It was decided (if the school is available) there will be an informational meeting on Saturday March 10, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. and this information would be included in the first letter that is mailed.
B. Highway Department:
Uniform Rental Service Agreement, Foley Services: Mr. Cobb said this is not clear, there are no prices given. It was decided to table this item until further information is provided.
Traffic Sign Project: Mr. Melen said Mr. Hazeltine could not be here tonight, it was decided to table this until he is present.
D. Vermont coalition of Municipalities Invitation to Join: Mr. Arrison made the motion to not join the Vermont Coalition of Municipalities. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
E. Federal Emergency Management Grant, Emergency Power Supplies: Mr. Melen said he forwarded this to Mr. Thomas. Mr. Cobb asked to put this on the agenda again to see if anything was done with it.
F. Town Health Insurance Coverage, Domestic Partnership Benefits: Mr. Melen said he needs to know if the Board wants to include insurance for domestic partners. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to see what other municipalities offer and what defines a long-term relationship and who is considered a domestic partner. He also suggested asking Legal advice as to what else we have to deal with other than insurance.
9. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: None
10. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: (See appendix)
11. Adjourn: Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on February 15, 2007
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Henry C. Cobb
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Daniel Boyer
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Norman John Arrison
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Patricia Daniels
Appendix
Dispatch contract
Mobile Home (and truck) 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 (review and prioritize 23 roads)
Sign posting policy and what stop signs have not been installed
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
Dry Hydrant bid
No Parking signs on Route 131 near exit 8 and Tenney Hill
Review and increase land use fees
Chief Spaulding look at Old Bow Road
Weathersfield Elementary School
Uniform Rental Service Agreement
Insurance for Domestic Partners
Federal Emergency Management Grant