Weathersfield Select Board
Approved Minutes
October 6, 2005
Present: Daniel Boyer
Henry C. Cobb
Norman John Arrison
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Wes Hazeltine
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Edith Stillson
Peter Korbet
Richard Butler
Bob Dickinson, Vets Memorial
Fred Crowley, Vets Memorial
Sandy Chase, Vets Memorial
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
Deborah Ostram, SAPA TV
DeForest Bearse, Land Use Administrator
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall. He noted that in Mr. Cole’s absence he would be Chair. Mr. Melen noted Mrs. Daniels is absent as well, they are both out of State.
2. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Korbet said there seems to be a disconnect on crosswalks as the Ascutney one is missing from the Agenda again. Mr. Melen said this is because there is nothing to report on that one. Mr. Korbet then asked about the blind person sign and Mr. Melen said it is in the works.
Mr. Butler said he is here about the road drainage issue on Stoughton Pond Road. Mr. Melen said this is scheduled to talk about under the Highway monthly report section.
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meetings: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated August 18, 2005. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated September 15, 2005; Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Boyer noted corrections. Motion carried 3 – 0.
4. Veterans Memorial Committee: Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Arrison to moderate the discussion since he is the Chair on the Veterans Memorial Committee. Mr. Cobb then introduced members of the committee that were present. He stated Sandy Chase and Bob Dickinson are working on finding sources for funding. Fred Crowley has been providing lots of thought on this project and deForest Bearse is the secretary. Mr. Cobb said that about a year ago Myrtle Baker asked the Select Board to figure out what to do to replace the wooden memorial that was in Ascutney. A committee was started and they looked at the current memorials in Town, they also sent out a questionnaire asking Townspeople for their input. Out of the 2000 questionnaires that were sent out 110 were received back (another one was received back tonight). There were two articles established for funds to work on the study. The committee is looking at two options at this time. The first being a Memorial to be made out of Weathersfield stone and the second is a Teaching and Educational Exhibit. At this time it still needs to be decided where the monument would go and what should be on the monument. Tribute Artistry has created a drawing (free of charge) which Mr. Cobb shared with the audience. They have located 2 out of the 3 stones they would like to build the 3 stone memorial that would stand approximately 10 feet tall. The committee has hired Tribute Artistry to make a three dimensional exhibit to take to people to ask for donations. They are estimating the memorial would cost between fifteen and thirty thousand dollars. The committee is looking to do this without using taxpayers money.
5. Monthly Reports:
-Constable (report included in packet)
-Highway: Mr. Hazeltine was present and said Butterfield Hill is coming together and they are continuing to work on Thrasher Road. They are doing some slope work on Charlie Johnson’s field. In the next two weeks Jarvis & Sons Construction will do the ditching. Mr. Hazeltine said the Transfer Station is working extremely well.
Mr. Hazeltine said he has talked to Mr. Butler about the water issue on Stoughton Pond Road and they have talked about the land swap. He said that at this time they need to drive some test rods where the pipe will be run to be sure there is not ledge. Mr. Butler said his well casing is down below twelve feet so it doesn’t seem like there will be a problem. Mr. Cobb asked what the process was for the land swap. Mr. Melen confirmed with Mr. Butler that he understood water would be there. Mr. Melen said he thinks the State will treat this as a boundary adjustment. There was discussion about what part of the land would be swapped. Mr. Melen said it would need to be re-surveyed. He said part one is a portion of the land would be transferred fee simple and part two is the land will have to be surveyed for leasehold. There was discussion as to where the fence is now and what section of the land would be included in the lease vs. the fee simple.
Mr. Korbet mentioned he didn’t feel a 90-day notice was enough time for the landowner to vacate the property since he has animals there. Mr. Cobb said we could give the landowner 180 days notice.
Mr. Arrison confirmed the Town is paying for the survey and Mr. Butler was paying for moving the barn.
Mr. Cobb asked the time frame. Mr. Melen said it would depend on the surveyor’s schedule. Mr. Hazeltine said the construction cost would be minimal so it may be able to happen in this budget cycle.
The consensus of the Board is to have Mr. Hazeltine do the testing and then go ahead and have the survey done.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to send a letter of Thanks to the Johnson family for letting us use some of their land during the reclamation of Thrasher Road. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
-Land Use: Mr. Melen said Mrs. Bearse is proof reading the Town plan before sending it to the printers. Mr. Korbet asked if any corrections to the technical inaccuracies that were brought up at the Public Hearing were included. Mr. Melen said what was adopted goes to the press.
Mr. Korbet asked Mrs. Bearse if she could give an update on Monday’s meeting of the Planning Commission. Mrs. Bearse said when they met they discussed the Perkinsville Village Center designation which is a program offered by the State. There are benefits if we acquire this designation. The Regional Planning Commission asked the Planning Commission if they would be interested in applying and they decided yes. The Regional Planning Commission will present further information to the Select Board. Mr. Arrison asked if there were any disadvantages to this, Mrs. Bearse said not that she is aware of. Mr. Korbet said he was surprised to hear about this since it wasn’t in the Town plan. He said they didn’t get the word out about this meeting. Mr. Cobb suggested he attend the next meeting and tell that to the Planning Commission.
-Police: The light bar for the new police vehicle was discussed and it was suggested this should be done as soon as possible.
Mr. Cobb asked to see a break out on revenue on recycling. Mr. Boyer said he would like to see expenses of getting rid of what we pay to get rid of. Mr. Cobb said he would like to see how much revenue is generated from scrap metal. Mr. Korbet said we should look at how much we are charging residents that turn in scrap metal. Mr. Melen said this is done on a punch ticket, there is not a way to track it.
6. State and Town Highways:
1. Reduction of speed Limit Request, VT Route 131: Mr. Melen said the State recommends having the speed limit at 35 mph from just about Larry Moore’s house to the Junction of Rt. 106 and Rt. 131.
2. Request for Crosswalk, Maple Street and Quarry Road: Mr. Melen said this is not in Town, it is in a Village plus in a designated school area so it should be coordinated with the school. He will talk to Mario about it next week. Mr. Cobb asked him to update the Board with the results of their conversation.
B. Gird Lot Road: Mr. Melen said this is currently a class three road. With the traffic study results it indicates it is connecting Towns, may want to change it to a class two road. The consensus of the Board is to move forward reclassifying it to a class two road. Mr. Korbet asked if the road or the shoulders would have to be upgraded, Mr. Melen said no.
C. Wellwood Orchard Road Request to Increase Police Patrol: Mr. Melen said this request has been turned over to the Police. Mr. Arrison asked if they could document when they are patrolling the road. Mr. Arrison also asked Mr. Melen to communicate back to Kathy Callan-Rondeau that the Board has discussed the issue and we will have the Police Department do a radar survey.
7. Old Business:
A. New England Municipal Resource Center (NEMRC) Proposal for Town Accountant Services: Mr. Melen said NEMRC approached Putney because they have never had an accountant. Shortly after our accountant left they gave us a proposal for 8 hour a week for $25,000 a year. We had our accountant working 24 hours a week and Mr. Melen said we could not work with only 8 hours a week. He said we are in the process of interviewing so hopefully will hire someone soon. The consensus of the Board is to search and hire our own accountant.
B. Proctor Library Parking License: Mr. Melen said he heard there was a minor legal change in the document from the owners Attorney, it is in the client’s hands. There was discussion about who has the papers now and who is representing whom. Mr. Cobb suggested if this isn’t resolved before the next Board meeting to have our Attorney attend the meeting and update the Board.
8. Policies and Ordinances
A. Alcohol and Drug Testing Policy, Second Reading: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the second reading and move to October 20, 2005 for the final reading. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Personnel Rules and Regulations1. Group Insurance: Mr. Melen said he is recommending employees that don’t qualify for Group Insurance be able to purchase it through us at their expense.
2. Retirement System: This states we are complying.
3. Sick Leave Bank: Mr. Melen said this is new language. Mr. Cobb said he would like to look at the accrual policy at the same time. Mr. Korbet asked if this would affect an accounting issue if the day’s used/given were during a different time of year at a different pay wage? Mr. Melen said no. The consensus of the Board is to move this to the first reading.
C. Stop Sign Ordinance, Second Reading: Mr. Boyer made the motion to move the Stop Sign Ordinance to the third reading with the two changes noted. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
9. New Business:
A. Appoint Deputy Health Officer: Mr. Melen asked to table this to the next meeting.
B. Southern Windsor/Windham County Solid Waste Management District Town of Westminister correspondence: The Board reviewed the correspondence and agreed it sounded reasonable but Mr. Arrison said he would rather discuss with a full Board. Mr. Cobb asked if there was a down side, Mr. Melen said he didn’t know of any. The consensus of the Board is to table this until the next meeting.
C. Mileage Reimbursement: Mr. Arrison made the motion to change our mileage reimbursement effective October 1, 2005 to 48.5 cents per mile. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
D. Planning Commission Resignation Stephen A. Walasewicz: Mr. Melen said he has joined the School Board therefore, has resigned effective immediately. Mr. Boyer made the motion to accept the resignation of Stephen A. Walasewicz with regret. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked to send a letter of appreciation. Motion carried 3 – 0.
10. Appointments: Mr. Melen said deForest may have an applicant for the Conservation Committee.
11. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $18,797.77
General Fund Operating Expense $10,252.01
Highway Fund Payroll $21,793.24
Highway Fund Operating Expense $44,003.69
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,666.43
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 1,735.05
Reserve Funds $ 2,000.00
Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which carried 3-0.
12. Next Meetings Agenda Items: Land transfer, light bar, money break out on scrap metal, accountant, alcohol and drug testing policy, stop sign ordinance, deputy health officer, Wellwood Orchard Road radar study.
14.Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Korbet asked why the Ascutney crosswalk was going ok but the Perkinsville one is being questioned. Mr. Melen said he did not have an answer. Mr. Korbet asked if the Select Board was going to re-visit the Ascutney Fire District. Mr. Melen said we are going to have to. Mr. Cobb said we need to set up a sub committee, we need a member from the Planning Commission. Motion carried 3 – 0. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on October 20, 2005
_______________________
Daniel Boyer
________________________
Henry C. Cobb
_________________________
Norman John Arrison