Minutes
Present: Henry C. Cobb
Daniel Boyer
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Edith Stillson
Bonnie D. DuPrey
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
Karen Farnham, Verizon
Arthur Peterson, Verizon
Russ Aldridge
Peter R. DuPrey Sr.
Emery Morse
Brad Stanley
Caleb Hawley, CVPS
Hope Rogers, CVPS
Bill Jakubowski, CVPS
Ron Brooks
Roy Burton
Ralph Goings
Mark Horton
Joanne Morse
Neil Daniels
Joanne Horsey
Harry Temple
DeForest Bearse
Jim MacNutt
Robert RowlandGary P. Lynch
Duane Goings
Edward May
Olive Rumrill
Howard Brooks
Deborah Ostrum, SAPA
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday October 4, 2007 at Martin Memorial Hall.
2. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated September 17, 2007, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. There was not a quorum so this was tabled. Discussion on the minutes dated September 20, 2007 will happen when Mrs. Daniels arrives.
3. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Cobb announced the Chicken BBQ to be held at Martin Memorial Hall on Saturday, October 6, 2007.
Mr. Cobb said we received a certificate from SAPA for our community partnership.
Mr. DuPrey said a lot of people didn’t receive the notice announcing Town functions. Mr. Melen suggested he call Mrs. Fran Wright as the mailing was done by WIT.
4. Upper Falls Covered Bridge Restoration: Mr. Neil Daniels gave Board members photos to look at and asked if they had any questions. Mr. Boyer asked about the metal supports. Mr. Daniels said two types of supports are being used, some will be coming out.
Mr. Daniels said the State has decided not to put any concrete by the abutment but to use layers of rock. Mr. Daniels said we are fortunate to have Wright as the contractor and to have a foreman that is very conscious about the work being done. He said the contractors think the bridge will be open in late December.
Mr. Daniels suggested removing the oak trees on the North side of the bridge. Mr. Melen said the tree warden has looked at them.
Mrs. Daniels asked Mr. Daniels if in his opinion he felt there are any issues that we, the Select Board, should be concerned with. Mr. Daniels said none that Mr. Melen didn’t know about quite some time ago.
2. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated September 20, 2007, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels noted several corrections. Motion carried 3 – 0 with one abstentions.
Moved ahead to #77. Old Business
B. Petitions and Orders for Pole and Wire Locations, CVPS: Mr. Jakubowski said CVPS has a request from the Kibby’s to bring electrical service to their property on Skyline Drive. He said Mr. Hawlen has tried to get easements from two neighbors and one has denied the easement and one request has gone unanswered. He said there was a verbal agreement with the Kibby’s and the Bladyka’s but the easement requirement was unreasonable. Mr. Jakubowski said CVPS is trying to work within the town right-of-way. Mr. Melen asked if all poles were within the town right-of-way, Mr. Jakubowski said yes. Mr. Cobb asked what about the sugar maple trees, Mr. Jakubowski said the middle of the trees would be opened up. Mr. Cobb noted this area is in the town plan as a favorite scenic view and in our town plan it is encouraged to do underground lines.
Mr. Melen said Mrs. Bearse received a phone call from Mr. Bladyka today and he said he has a power line easement already across his property and asked why he needed another one.
Mr. Jakubowski explained CVPS has obligations as a public service company and the Bladyka’s have denied the direct route off the pole on his property.
Mr. Cobb suggested tabling this discussion until October 19, 2007 per Mr. Bladyka’s request. Mr. Arrison asked if CVPS has looked at VTEL’s pole, Mr. Hawlen said all options have been looked at.
After discussion it was decided that once Mr. Bladyka is in town CVPS, the Town and the neighbors should get together and try to reach a mutual agreement. Mrs. Bearse said she is willing to attend as a mediator.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to table discussion until November 1, 2007. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
A. Petitions and Orders for Pole and Wire Locations, Verizon New England, Inc.: Mr. Cobb asked when the dual poles would be removed. Ms. Farnham said the first part of the job has been issued, it is a priority but the second two jobs have to wait for cable TV to finish. Mr. Arrison asked what the possibility of burying lines were, Ms. Farnham said it is a lot more money and the costs gets passed on to rate payers. Mr. Peterson said that typically they do not bury lines in Vermont, it is a maintenance issue too. Mr. Arrison asked if the lines through the woods on Thrasher Road were still active, Mr. Peterson said he doesn’t know how active but assumes some are active.
Mrs. Daniels said that we just said tonight to CVPS that we are going to be asking for site visits before permits are approved and they should pass that message on.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the permit as submitted on September 27, 2007, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison said he wants to see a time line for the entire project as to when the dual poles would be removed. Mr. Cobb asked Ms. Farnham to give a time line to Mr. Melen. Ms. Farnham again stressed that cable TV holds them up so even if they can give a date for their work schedule it is possible cable TV will not be done with their work. Motion failed 3 – 1. Ms. Farnham said other utilities use their poles so she can’t force them to give her a completion date so it may be difficult to project a completion date.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to table the petition until October 18, 2007. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
5. Monthly Activity Reports:
B. Associates in Municipal Property Tax Assessment: Mr. Melen noted they are on schedule.
C. Financial: Mr. Melen said we would discuss this at the next meeting.
6. Treasurer
A. Capital Equipment Borrowing, Grader Purchase: Mr. Melen said the Town Treasurer has negotiated a borrowing agreement with Chitttenden Bank. It would be a balloon payment for $133,000 at 3.8%. Mr. Arrison made the motion to sign the note for $133,000 with Chittenden Bank at 3.8% for the first year. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
7. Old Business
C. Request for Qualifications, Weathersfield Elementary School Re-use Study: Mr. Arrison said he would like to invite Mr. Graham Hunter to participate in this too. Mr. Cobb asked if we will be able to tell townspeople the results of the Phase I study at the Town meeting, Mr. Melen said he is not sure they will be enough to report by then. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to have the architect to be prepared to discuss the results of their study at the Town meeting. Mr. Arrison made the motion to send the request for qualifications for architectural services to the qualified architect firms. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
D. Request to install Solar Photovoltaic Panels at Martin Memorial Hall: Ms. Lloyd Wright said she did some preliminary research and has located some funding opportunities. She said that we need to do an energy audit before applying for any financial help. The consensus of the board was to have Ms. Lloyd Wright talk to Efficiency Vermont and ask for a study to be completed at the Town Hall and the Highway Garage and to pursue the grant alternatives. Mr. Arrison said there is money in the budget to do an energy audit at the Highway Garage already.
E. Medical Information Privacy Practices for Emergency Responders: Mr. Melen said he obtained copies from Chester and feels this should come through the Fire Commission. He will send what information he has obtained to Mr. Boyer.
F. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program: Mr. Melen said Weathersfield has been asked to host a one-day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program in 2008. He said the two possible sites are the Transfer Station or the Highway Garage and he recommends the Highway Garage. After discussion it was the consensus of the Board to have it at the Highway Garage.
G. Vermont Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Shelter Program: Mr. Melen said he received questionnaires asking us to identify the emergency shelters in Town and if we have emergency generators. It was decided to state that Weathersfield Elementary School is our emergency shelter and that we need a generator, as it does not have one.
H. Sale of Surplus Town Property/Real Estate. Mr. Melen said we have a piece of property listed with Muse Associates and the agreement has expired, does the Board wish to renew the agreement? The consensus of the Board is to renew the agreement however, take out the clause that states it needs to be a primary residence. Mr. Boyer made the motion to have the Town Manager sign the agreement for one year with Muse Associates; Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison asked if the agent was exclusive, Mr. Melen said no. Motion carried unanimously.
8. Ordinances and Policies
A. Ordinance Regulating Objectionable Noise, second reading: Mr. Melen said he adjusted the ordinance per the Board’s request (shooting range and exemptions for farming). Mr. Cobb said we received a letter from Garrett Baxter (Senior Associate, Municipal Assistance Center/VLCT) concerning regulating shooting ranges. According to the League’s position we have no right to reduce or limit an existing shooting range in any way. The ordinance we are looking at right now would pertain to a new shooting range.
Mr. Arrison asked if our current zoning addressed shooting ranges and their noises. Mrs. Bearse said new regulations would apply for a new range or if the current range wanted to expand. The consensus of the board was to leave the language in the new ordinance in case a new shooting range wanted to come into town. Mr. Cobb said we should research what a substantial change would be for the current range.
Mrs. Horsey questioned if assault weapons were considered sport weapons, Mr. Cobb suggested checking into this too, he asked Mr. Melen to get a legal opinion.
There was discussion that there was a previous agreement made between the range and the residents in the area. Mr. Melen said this did not have anything to do with the town, they were not involved in this agreement.
Ms. DuPrey gave a letter to Mr. Melen from a resident that could not attend this meeting to share with the Board.
On behalf of the Select Board, Mr. Cobb encouraged the range and residents to discuss the noise issue and try to reach a mutual agreement.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to table this until October 18, 2007. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
B. Proposed Road Surface Cut Policy: Mr. Cobb said for clarity this should apply along town roads and across town roads. Who approves the road closure, how long the road can be closed and who is responsible for traffic control should also be addressed. Mr. Boyer made the motion to table this until October 18, 2007. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
C. Regulation of All-Terrain Vehicles on Town Highways: Mr. Melen said this was for information only.
D. Solid Waste Fee Assessment Policy: It was discussed that owners with more than one non-contiguous parcel in common ownership shall not be assessed more than one fee.
9. New Business:
A. Statutory Requirement for Public Notice: Mr. Morse suggested removing old notices when a new one goes up, he said there are sometimes several old notices still posted after the meetings have been held.
Mrs. Daniels said next time that we send out a similar notice like for the special town meeting we need to send it first class mail not bulk mail.
Mr. Arrison suggested trying to obtain a DVD of our meetings from SAPA and keep it at the Library.
10. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follow:
General Fund Payroll $17,237.75
General Fund Operating Expense $28,785.04
Highway Fund Payroll $13,859.31
Highway Fund Operating Expense $24,403.27
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,693.63
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $11,444.98
Grants $ 24.97
Agency Monies $ 622.50
Reserves ` $ 6,196.50
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
11. Next Meeting Agenda Items: Verizon, auditors, noise ordinance, road cut policy, ATV’s, Solid Waste Management assessment.
12. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m. on Thursday October 4, 2007.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on October 18, 2007
___________________
Henry C. Cobb
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Norman John Arrison
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Daniel Boyer
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Patricia Daniels
Appendix
Tenney Hill (forestry management)
Name of chairpersons of various committees
Internet policy
Procedure on utility easements
Ancient roads (continue working on)
Sign posting policy
Use of Perkinsville Elementary School
Capital asset inventory
No Parking Signs by Thomas residence
No Parking signs on Route 131 near exit 8 and Tenney Hill
Review and increase of land use fees
Martin Memorial Hall/Town Office Building (where one ends and the other begins)
02/27/07 New Map for Town Report
03/08/07 Procedure for handling of complaints and citizen inquiries
05/03/07 Emergency communication
05/03/07 Radio Station designation for emergencies
08/16/07 large gathering permit
08/16/07 Welch – National Historic covered bridge grant
09/06/07 Annual SWMF – waive?
09/06/07 Letter to Senator Lahey
09/06/07 ROW for underground utilities