Minutes
December 15, 2005
Present: Daniel Boyer
Henry C. Cobb
C. Peter Cole
Norman John Arrison
Patricia DanielsOthers Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Rolly Cann, Budget Committee
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
Rick Butler
Barry Newton, Constable
Chief Brown
Michael Smith
Debra Ostrum, SAPA
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cole called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:06 p.m. at the Martin Memorial Hall.
2. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Butler asked the status of the septic and water at the Town Garage. Mr. Melen said he doesn’t have any new information yet. Mr. Butler asked if the surveyor knew the pins could be moved. Mr. Melen thought they were set after the new map was out. Mr. Butler said they were set before the new map, Mr. Melen said he will let the surveyor know.
Mr. Melen asked the Board if the Solid Waste Facility should be open on Monday the 26th since it would be closed on Sunday, Christmas day. The consensus of the Board was no. Mr. Melen said he would post notices that they are closed.
Mr. Newton said he received a call from a gentleman in Town that had a stray cat and had contacted Springfield Humane Society. He was told by Springfield Humane Society that they do not take animals from Weathersfield. Mr. Newton asked the Board to do something about this, as they should be willing to take animals from Weathersfield residents. Mr. Cole asked Mr. Melen to call the Humane Society and discuss this. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to also talk to TARPS about taking animals.
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the minutes dated November 17, 2005, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb noted a correction. Motion carried 4 – 0, Mr. Cole abstained.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 1, 2005; Mr. Cobb seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels noted corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Water and Sewer Study Proposal, Michael Smith: Mr. Smith recapped his previous discussion that was with the Board regarding a water and sewer study for the Town. He said it was previously discussed that we would look to Windsor for pumping sewage and receiving water for Ascutney and in Perkinsville thought perhaps the sewage main could be extended down Route 106 into North Springfield. He remembered leaving the meeting with the understanding a committee would be formed to discuss a project that would best fit the Towns needs.
Mr. Melen asked if Grant money was available. Mr. Smith said the State has revolving funds and charges a 2% administrative fee for sewer projects and believes similar loans are available for water. Mr. Smith said loans are available for planning right through construction. If the Town doesn’t move forward with construction then they would start paying the loan back however, if you move toward design the planning advance gets rolled into the construction loan and you start paying one year after completion at 2% interest for 20 years. Mr. Smith said this is a loan, he doesn’t know if grant money is available. Mr. Arrison said the loans would have to be paid back by a limited number of users, he feels this would be very expensive. Mr. Smith said the study could include a cost analysis plan.
Mr. Melen said he has talked to Representative Shand and he is concerned that sooner or later Country Estates will have a system failure and nothing can be done. Mrs. Daniels noted that there was a good size piece of land by Representative Shand’s residence being sold for development, which will be a water and sewer issue. Mr. Melen noted the school is talking about combining the two schools in Ascutney, which would require more water. He also noted the Post Office is on their own well because when it was built there was not enough capacity for them. Mr. Arrison asked if Country Estate could abandon the system. Mr. Melen said they could petition the Public Service Board to do so.
Mr. Cobb suggested starting a meeting the first of the year. He said he does not feel the Select Board should lead this, the Planning Board should but if they are not willing to then the Select Board should. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to send a letter to the Planning Board to strongly suggest their participation and also we need to ask Representative Shand to join us so he can help us with State aid.
Mr. Smith said the Committee could do the following: review the Town plan, establish potential service areas, establish the needs, evaluate waste water disposal alternatives, evaluate water storage alternatives, discuss fire protection, develop overall facility costs among other things. Mr. Smith said the study would be able to provide the Town with soil conservation mapping, history information on failed septic systems, an implementation schedule and would be able to prioritize the needs.
Mr. Cann said he feels we need to come up with some very rough cost figures to see if this will work, this should be done as quickly as possible into the discussion. Mr. Cole agreed but said you can’t ask for State funding until the study is underway.
It was the consensus of the Board to start meeting in February with a goal to be able to have information at the Town meeting. A meeting is scheduled for February 2, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at the Martin Memorial Hall, Representative Shand will be asked to attend.
5. WWW.Weathersfield.Org, establish standards for announcements posted on the website: Melissa Snyder was present to discuss her understanding of what is and what isn’t posted on the website. Mr. Cobb made the motion to have the Town Manager write a website use policy with input from Melissa, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels said she does not want to see our website go any further than to just offer information. She does not want the site capable of paying tax bills, looking at assessments, etc. There was discussion about where the site should go in the future. It was also suggested that Mr. Melen work with Melissa to be sure there is enough money in the budget next year for her work. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Financing for Wheeled Loader: Mr. Melen said the note is with Chittenden Bank for $130,000 at 3.65% interest. Mr. Arrison made the motion to sign the note with Chittenden Bank for $130,000 at an interest rate of 3.65%. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
7. Joint meeting with Budget Committee:
A. Windsor County Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Discussion: Mr. Melen said we received a revised proposal and their operational budget went from $763,000 to $908,000. There was discussion about their budget, Mr. Melen noted he would attend their meeting in January when they discuss their budget.
B. Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste District Calendar Year 2006 Budget and Assessment: Mr. Melen noted our assessment has increased approximately 5.7%. Mr. Arrison asked if the State chipped in anything, Mr. Melen said no.
C. Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations: Mr. Melen said that a rather large number of organizations have not responded, they have until next Thursday to respond.
D. Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Discussion: Mr. Melen said Chief Brown is here to discuss his budget. Chief Brown said he thinks it would be good for the Town to have extra patrol for the extra 10 hours he asked for, this would be for speed and traffic patrol from the two part timers. Mr. Melen noted that sooner or later the State Police would say we have enough coverage between the Chief and the two part timers that they will not cover our area. Chief Brown said that is happening already, they are only responding to emergency calls. Mr. Arrison asked if the State Police barracks were fully staffed, Chief Brown said no. Mr. Arrison asked Chief Brown if he responded to many false alarms from burglar systems, Chief Brown said only a few. Mr. Arrison noted the State was asking for a fee, we might want to consider this too if it becomes a problem. Chief Brown said he is asking for two more hours for the VIBRS Clerk because there is more paperwork being required.
Mr. Melen said the Highway Fund is up to 1.01 million and the General Fund is now down 2.41% from last year. He noted the Highway increase is driven by paving Stoughton Pond Road, Thrasher Road and Amsden School House Road. There was discussion on whether Amsden School House Road needed to be repaved at this time. The consensus of the Board is to see a list from Mr. Hazeltine on priorities of paving and possibly take Amsden School House Road off the list.
Mr. Cole asked Mr. Melen to let us know how much is left of the Leahy Fund money.
There was discussion about guardrail replacement, Mr. Melen said they would only do spot fixes. There was discussion about pulling some out if they are not going to replace them and if the Town is liable to fix/replace them.
Mr. Melen said another big hit is diesel fuel with a 20% increase.
Mr. Cole asked if the drainage on Stoughton Pond Road would be done this year, Mr. Melen said yes, some money from Butterfield Hill Road would be moved over for that.
8. Veterans’ Memorial Committee: Mr. Cobb went over and explained the sole source justification he would like the Board to approve and then recused himself as a Select Board member. Mrs. Daniels made the motion to approve the Sole Source Justification for Tribute Artistry, LLC with corrections made and the date changed, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison said he would like to see the committee operate outside of the Town Government. Mr. Cobb explained what the $2,000 went to and there was discussion why the Committee was operating within the Town Government and that they would be coming to the Select Board when deciding where the Memorial would go and what would be said on the Memorial. Mrs. Daniels asked if a trail had been made through the taxpayer’s property where the rocks were. Mr. Cobb said no, there was a road there already and they were hoping to pull the rock out soon but Mr. Hazeltine has not looked at it yet. Motion carried 4 – 0, Mr. Cobb abstained.
9. Highway Department:
A. Damage to Town highways: Mr. Melen asked to table this since Mr. Hazeltine was not present.
B. Computer: Mr. Melen said they could buy one now for $800 or one in FY07 for $1200. It was discussed the computer is used for e-mail and the weather. Mr. Cobb made the motion to table this item. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
10. Old Business:
A. Sign Stop Sign Ordinance: Mr. Boyer made the motion to sign the stop sign ordinance. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
B. Verizon Wireless, Request for Telecommunications Facility easement: Mr. Melen said the Town has been approached by Verizon Wireless who handles wireless service along I-91, they are asking us to do a long term lease on 10,000 square feet of property on Tenney Hill. Mr. Arrison said he would like the lines to be buried, Mr. Boyer agreed. Mr. Cobb suggested having an open hearing to allow the citizens the chance to express their concerns. Mr. Melen said they are asking what we want, what we like and what we don’t like about the preliminary drawing. They want to hear our concerns then they will address them. Mr. Melen said they have to go through Act 250 so there will be time for citizens to express their concerns. The Boards concerns were they want the line to go underground, they want the road itself to be returned to near its original condition, they would like green or brown fencing (not galvanized) and also would like to know the significance of the circle on the drawing.
C. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation Request for Right of Way on Tenney Hill Pond Property: Mr. Melen said they found the public water supply and they feel it’s been abandoned for about 15 years, they have paperwork that shows it was discontinued in 1996. Mr. Melen will get copies of this document. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to give a copy to the Chase’s once available.
D. Ascutney Crosswalk Request, Correspondences from Vermont Agency of Transportation: Mr. Melen said per a recent e-mail they are looking into this. Mr. Cobb asked to continue this item on the agenda.
11. New Business:
A. Health Care and Rehabilitative Service Request for Fiscal Year 2006 Funding: Mr. Melen said they did not get their request in last year so the Board told them to ask once we were into the year. The consensus of the Board is sorry. Mr. Melen will send a letter that it was not appropriated and it is not available.
B. Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department: Mr. Melen said there was a debriefing last night on the evacuation. Mr. Cobb asked how we get feed back. Mr. Melen suggested inviting the Emergency Management Coordinator to attend the next Select Board meeting.
C. Encroachment into right-of-way 244 Henry Gould Road: The consensus of the Board is to go ahead and post the notices for 244 Henry Gould Road.
D. Personnel, Town Manager: Mr. Arrison said he has talked with the Town Manager and has asked for a log of the Town Manager’s office hours. Mr. Melen said he has a salaried position and legally this is not required, he said he does keep a log for himself and since September he has averaged 42.75 hours a week. Mr. Arrison said he has reasons he would like a log on file. Mr. Melen said he does not have a problem if someone wants to look at the log he keeps but finds it offensive to have to keep one for the record. Mr. Cobb said the issue is the Town Manager isn’t here during the business hours that the Town Office is open to the Public. The Board did not agree to have Mr. Melen keep a log of his hours worked.
12. Appointments: Mr. Melen said there are no appointments to be made but again, we need to fill the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District Representative position as soon as possible. Mrs. Daniels said she would like to know who is on her annual report committee.
13. Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $15,475.27
General Fund Operating Expense $17,975.51
Highway Fund Payroll $16,417.63
Highway Fund Operating Expense $13,798.89
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,427.64
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $15,127.72
Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
14. Next meeting’s Agenda Items: Emergency Management Coordinator, Website, Budget, Verizon, Crosswalk and AVFD.
15. Mr. Arrison made the motion to go into executive session for the negotiations and compensation of an employee. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Boyermade the motion to adjourn. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday December 15, 2005.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on January 5, 2006
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Daniel Boyer
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Henry C. Cobb
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C. Peter Cole
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Norman John Arrison
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Patricia Daniels