Weathersfield Select Board
Minutes
November 15, 2007
Present: Henry C. Cobb
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Edith Stillson
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
John D. Wright, Jr.
Marita Johnson, Weathersfield Historical Society
Deb Ostrum, SAPA
Gary Lynch
Gregory Henry, Rutland, VT
Scott Rogers
Maxwell Frazer
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. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): No minutes to review
3. Comments from Citizens: None
4. Board of Liquor Commissioners
-Scott Rogers, LLC/dba Ascutney Market. Class II Liquor License and Tobacco License: Mr. Cobb convened as the Board of Liquor Commissioners. Mr. Melen said he has a copy of the purchase and sales agreement between Mr. Rogers and the Ascutney Market. He said a Class II liquor license allows for on site sale of beer and wine for off site consumption.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Second Class Liquor License for Scott Rogers LLC pending the successful transfer of the property, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Melen confirmed Scott Rogers, LLC will be the sole owner of the property. Motion carried 3 – 0.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Tobacco License for Scott Rogers LLC pending the successful transfer of the property. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
Mr. Cobb adjourned the Board of Liquor Commissioners.
5. Request to place historical marker on High Street (Town Highway 69) Weathersfield Historical Society: On behalf of the Weathersfield Historical Society, Mrs. Marita Johnson explained the Weathersfield Historical Society’s interest in placing a historical marker on High Street to mark the site of the crash of the B-29 plane crash on Hawks Mountain on June 15, 1947. She said there is no cost to the Town for this marker however she would like the town highway crew to “install” the marker (which would generate a cost for labor etc).
Mr. John Wright talked about the potential locations of the marker and how he feels this marker would compliment the Weathersfield Veterans Memorial Monument.
There was discussion that if the marker is on the eastern side of the Green it would be within the State right-of-way not the town’s.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the concept of the marker and to approve the placement within the town right-of-way, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison urged the Historical Society to put it on the inside of the chain. Mr. Cobb asked what their timing was, Mrs. Johnson said in the spring. Mr. Arrison amended his motion to authorize the Chair of the Select Board to sign the letter giving the Board’s approval. Mrs. Daniels seconded the amendment which passed without dissent.
6. Petition to reclassify portion of Roberts Road (Town Highway 54): Mr. Arrison said he and Mr. Hazeltine met on November 8th and walked the road. He said some of the section is narrow but the visibility is good. It was confirmed that the very end of the Class IV section is already classified as a trail which leads to Route 5.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to have a public hearing and a site visit on January 5, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
7. Monthly Reports:
A. General Fund: Mr. Melen said we are under budget so far
B. Highway Fund: Mr. Melen said the target is 33.34% and we are at 59.58% because $209,000 is set aside for the grader purchase.
C. Solid Waste Fund: Mr. Melen said we are under budget
D. Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District-Small Electronics Collection Program: Mr. Melen said the District received an offer to co-fund a collection program for small electronics but the State turned it down.
E. Fiscal Year 2009 Budgets
1. Projected Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): Mr. Melen said to date the cost of living increase is at 2.8% according to the consumer price index. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to run the numbers on an increase of 3.5%, the consensus of the Board was to look at the numbers with the higher increase.
2. Insurance Projection: Mr. Melen said as of January 1, 2008 the Health Trust got a much better deal by separating out the Vision Coverage. He said there will be two plans available and both are less than what we are paying now. He said for a family the Basic Plan will be $45 less a year and the Enhanced Plan will be $34 less a year. The Board said it would make sense to go with the Enhanced Plan however, Mrs. Daniels asked to see comparables for each package. Mr. Melen also mentioned this would be available to non-covered employees as a buy-in if we wanted to offer it to them. The consensus of the Board was to offer this since there is no cost to the Town.
8. Old Business
A. Vermont League of Cities & Towns Loss Control
1. Highway Garage: Mr. Melen said Mr. Hazeltine has met with the Loss Control specialist and Mr. Hazeltine will be giving Mr. Melen a report. Mr. Arrison said Mr. Hazeltine has done the easy inexpensive recommendations already.
2. Salmond Covered Bridge: Mrs. Daniels asked what the problem was with this; Mr. Melen said the approach guards.
B. Vermont Emergency Management Agency-Continuity of Government Plan: Mr. Melen said he has no recommendations for the Select Board member positions.
C. Volunteer Recruitment for Budget Committee: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to nominate Gordon Eglintine and Glenn Fisher to the Budget Committee, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels asked Mr. Melen to be sure the members receive the budget information with ample time to review the information before a meeting. Motion carried 3 – 0.
D. National Incident Management System FY2008 Baseline Survey – State of Vermont Homeland Security Unit: Mr. Melen asked to table this item.
E. Proposed Spay/Neuter Assistance Program: Mr. Melen asked to table this item.
F. Calendar Years 2007 – 2008 Priorities Schedule: Mr. Melen said he is not sure what this is for. Mr. Cobb said the Board was supposed to do a self evaluation in October so we need to discuss this at our next meeting.
9. Ordinance and Policies
A. Solid Waste Fee Assessment Policy: Mr. Melen gave a revised policy to the Board to review and it will be discussed at the next meeting.
B. Road Surface Cut Policy: Mr. Melen made changes based on past discussions and the Board will review these and discuss again at the next meeting.
10. New Business:
A. Request to Approve Private Road, Maxwell Frazer: Mr. Melen said Mr. Frazer is considering buying undeveloped land off South Mountain Road and his house would be the third house so it will be a roadway instead of a driveway. Mr. Frazer said the way he looks at it the Wyman’s house is really the third house. Mr. Melen said it was previously decided the Wyman’s house is the second house so it was decided it didn’t have to be brought up to town standards when they built.
Mr. Cobb said he feels we need a legal opinion, an attorney’s assessment and recommendation. After discussion, Mr. Arrison and Mrs. Daniels agreed. Mr. Melen will follow up with our attorney and this will be discussed again on December 6, 2007.
B. Town Energy Coordinator Program: Mr. Melen said he feels we should appoint Ms. Lloyd Wright to be our municipal energy coordinator. Mrs. Daniels made the motion to appoint Ms. Julia Lloyd Wright our Municipal Energy Coordinator. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which carried 3 – 0.
C. Vermont Municipal Bond Bank, Debt Service Schedule of Payments: No discussion, Mr. Melen said we were not included.
D. Town Report, Select Board Report: Mr. Cobb said he has asked Mr. Cole to submit this report and he said he would.
11. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $16,842.28
General Fund Operating Expense $14,470.96
Highway Fund Payroll $14,028.62
Highway Fund Operating Expense $68,675.94
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,699.11
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $11,328.01
Reserves $ 106.51
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion which carried 3 – 0.
12. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Max Frazer, Solid Waste Fee Policy, Road Surface Cut Policy, Spay/Neuter Program, Budget, Strategic Plan/Evaluation, Pam & Floyd Buck.
Recessed for birthday cake for Mr. Cobb (and Mr. Arrison).
13. Executive Session, Acquisition or Sale of Real Estate: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to go into executive session to discuss the acquisition or sale of real estate. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
14. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board December 6, 2007
__________________
Henry C. Cobb
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Norman John Arrison
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Patricia Daniels
Appendix
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 ROW for underground utilities
10/18/07 Economic Depreciation Factors from AMPTA
11/01/07 Designation of Emergency Shelter and Power Supply