Present: Henry C. Cobb
Daniel Boyer
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels

Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Wes Hazeltine, Town Superintendent
Edith Stillson
Deb Ostrum, SAPA

1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department.

2. Comments from Citizens: Mrs. Daniels said she recently attended an ancient road seminar and it is very evident the Select Board members are the drivers and they need to hold a meeting soon to tell the people involved where the Select Board wants to go with this issue. She said the Select Board should meet with the Ancient Road Committee, Historical Society, Zoning, Planning and Conservation Committees.
Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to give the Select Board information at the December 7th meeting and to focus on the purpose and objectives.

3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to table this until the Board has had time to review the minutes from November 2nd and November 4th. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.

4. Monthly Reports
Highway Department: Mr. Hazeltine said he picked up the new truck yesterday from Town of Killington, he said he would like to purchase a new sander for this truck and will talk to Mr. Melen about this. He said they are wrapping up ditch and culvert work then they will work on Old Bow Road. He said he is pretty comfortable with the amount of winter sand they have at this time.
Mr. Arrison asked how much he got the truck for from the Town of Killington; Mr. Hazeltine said $36,500.
Mr. Hazeltine said he received a check today for $1,400 from scrap metal and box board/newspaper.
Land Use Department: Mr. Melen said we have about $25,000 in legal fees so far for legal action against owners of property on Route 5 along the riverbank. He said the permit applied for was for a shed and the building is a house and it does not comply with setbacks. Mr. Melen said it is up to the court to set fines, legal fees come from the fines collected. He said it is going to mediation now.
Mrs. Daniels said we need to take zoning violations seriously and if that means going to court we need to do that, people can not just do what they want to.
Police Department: No report

Mr. Melen noted $162,000 is outstanding for taxes this quarter, $226,000 for the year.

5. Request for Reduction of Rental Fee for Town Owned Property
Kenneth and Janice Young: Mr. Melen read the letter received from Mr. & Mrs. Young as well as an email received from Mr. Cole since he wasn’t able to attend this meeting.
Mr. Arrison asked the amount they are currently paying; Mr. Melen said $500 per year. Mr. Arrison asked how many acres, Mr. Hazeltine said he believes there is 15 acres.
Mr. Cobb asked if there was a written document, Mr. Hazeltine said this is a verbal agreement.
Mrs. Daniels asked if he was current with his payment, Mr. Hazeltine said he owes a year or two.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to enter into a written contract with Kenneth and Janice Young to rent the land for $1 for calendar year 2007 providing they pay the back fees. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

6. Request for FY08 Appropriations
Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire: Mr. Melen said they are asking for an increase of $800. The consensus of the Board was to put this on the ballot.
Maple Leaf Farm: Mr. Melen said we received a new request from Maple Leaf Farm. Again, the consensus of the Board is this should go on the ballot.
Mrs. Daniels said she would like Mr. Melen to send a letter to these two organizations explaining the process to get on the ballot.

7. Old Business
A. Upper Falls Covered Bridge Restoration: Mr. Melen said this is moving along. Mr. Hazeltine talked to an abutting property owner and we’ll have the last construction easement that we need tomorrow.
B. Cady Hill: Mr. Hazeltine said the flashboards are out and the Beaver Dam is out. After discussion, Mr. Cobb recommended to cut the bill in half. Mr. Boyer made the motion to resubmit a bill to the property owner for $2,000 since there is the possibility of the Beaver Dam causing one of the wash outs however, he is responsible for future damage. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked if we are saying he needs to manage his own Dams, Mr. Melen said yes and that he can’t put the flash boards back in. Mr. Boyer amended his motion to include that in the future the property owner maintains the Dam so it will not cause any more damage to the road, Mr. Arrison seconded the amendment which passed without dissent.
C. Resolution Calling for the Repeal for the Vermont Statewide Property Tax: Mr. Melen shared the Resolution he drafted calling for the Repeal of the Vermont Statewide Property Tax with the Board and noted the changes he made. The consensus of the Board was to table this discussion until they have time to look at it.
D. Procedure on Utility Easements: Mr. Melen asked to table this discussion.
E. Employee Heath Insurance: Mr. Melen said as of last week the Health Trust entered into an agreement with Cigna effective Januarys 1, 2007. Mr. Arrison made the motion to send a letter to the VLCT Health Trust for their work on our behalf and bring it before the Board for signatures on December 7, 2006. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
F. Internet Access Policy Revisions: Mr. Melen asked to table this discussion.
G. Ancient Road Grant: Mr. Melen said the application was mailed last Thursday asking for $5,000.

8. New Business
A. Beaver Dams, Impact on Town Roads: Mrs. Daniels said there is a law out there that gives the Town the right to notify property owners that they are responsible for damage if there is damage to Town property and they don’t let the Town remove the Dam. Mr. Melen provided the Board with information regarding this explaining the Select Board may petition either the State Transportation Board or the Superior Court for help if necessary.
Mr. Hazeltine said there are twelve beaver ponds in Town that they watch. The two of concern are on Upper Bowen Hill Road and behind the Perkinsville Elementary School. Mr. Arrison asked if the two he was concerned with are active, Mr. Hazeltine said yes.
Mrs. Daniels said we need to look out for ourselves, and is asking that we are pro-active.
Mr. Melen suggested going to the Fish and Wildlife Department first to get their recommendation.

9. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $ 14,902.01
General Fund Operating Expense $858,406.40
Highway Fund Payroll $ 15,044.83
Highway Fund Operating Expense $ 48,067.51
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,606.45
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 10,953.89
Library $ 56.54
Reserves $ 2,082.60
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.

10. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: ancient roads, budget workshop, collection of taxes, Vtrans weight on Lavigne bridge, property tax rebate system, beaver dams, internet policy, easements, resolution for the statewide appeal.

11. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board was adjourned at 8:21 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2006.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board December 7, 2006

______________________
Henry C. Cobb

_______________________
Norman John Arrison

________________________
Patricia Daniels

Appendix

Dispatch Contract
Mobile Home behind Bow Church
Fire District letters and meeting
Tenney Hill
Visit from Michael Smith
Name of Chairpersons of various committees
Disposal certification application, VT AOT
Internet policy
Resolution calling for the repeal of the Vermont statewide property tax
Procedure on utility easements
Beaver Dams
Collection of taxes
Property tax rebate system
Ancient roads
Vtrans-Lavigne bridge
Budget workshop