Minutes
December 20, 2007
Present: Norman John Arrison
Daniel Boyer
Patricia Daniels
C. Peter Cole
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Edith Stillson
Deb Ostrum
Wade Masure, VLCT1. Call to Order by Chairperson: In the absence of Mr. Cobb, Mr. Arrison called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at Martin Memorial Hall.
2. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 6, 2007, Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels noted corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated November 1, 2007; Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Boyer withdrew his motion; Mrs. Daniels withdrew her second. Mr. Boyer made the motion to table the minutes dated November 1, 2007 until the next regular meeting. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 13, 2007; Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Comments from Citizens: None
4. Vermont League of Cities and Towns
A. Health Trust, Inc. Leader Program. Wade Masure, Member Relations Representative: Mr. Masure attended the meeting to present the Board with an incentive check for $3,226 for the health incentive program and to recognize everyone’s efforts. Mr. Masure said 2007 was the first full year of the program and approximately seventy-seven towns participated. He said the refund is capped at 4% and noted that PACIF Trust is starting a similar program for workers compensation cost.
B. Property & Casualty Intermunicipal Fund, Inc. Consent to Rate Application and Disclosure Statement: Mr. Melen said PACIF has always included an exclusion for pollution and asbestos but now they would like us to acknowledge the exclusion by a signature. Mr. Cole made the motion to authorize the Town Manager to sign on behalf of the Town of Weathersfield. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
5. Fire Commission
Emergency Dispatch Communications Services: Mr. Melen said he does not have the rates yet but gave the Board a copy of the Contract between the Town of Weathersfield and the Town of Hartford for their review. He said according to the local newspapers the Town of Windsor Select Board has voted to abolish the dispatch center in Windsor and he was able to confirm that with Chief Cushing today.
Mr. Boyer said he is concerned with the communications/electronics expense. Mr. Arrison said the Repeater Association has a meeting scheduled next week and they hope to have a consensus at that meeting as to what they will do. He said that if they leave as a group then all equipment goes with them.
6. Town Sponsorship
Weathersfield Food Shelf: Mr. Melen said he has received a request from Betty Adams for an agency accounting number. He said the food shelf needs to find a sponsorship and he and the Town Treasurer do not see any reason why they can’t use our Tax ID #. This will be used for the purpose of tracking when the State delivers food. Mr. Melen also said that they have been using our office for mail drops, telephone and faxing for the last two years but we should make this official. Mr. Cole made the motion to sponsor the food shelf with the Town Tax ID # and be the reception point for facsimile, telephone and mail drops. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Melen asked the Board if they would support a Merry Mulch Program at the solid waste facility on Saturday and Sunday January 5th and 6th. He noted a local Eagle Scout is collecting Christmas trees for the cost of at least one can of food for the food shelf and he would like us to do the same. The consensus of the Board was to do this program at the solid waste facility.
7. Old Business
A. National Incident Management System – Implementation Plan for Vermont: Mr. Melen asked to table this discussion until he received the input from the Emergency Management contact person.
8. Ordinance and Policies
1. Solid Waste Fee Assessment Policy: Mr. Melen asked to table this until he can get with Mrs. Daniels on the wording of the policy.
2. Adopt Road Surface Cut Policy: Mr. Boyer made the motion to adopt the Road Surface Cut Policy as written. Mr. Cole seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
9. New Business:
A. Weathersfield Highway Garage Weatherization: Mr. Arrison said there is $25,000 in next years budget listed under wood boiler and even if we don’t go with a wood boiler he urged the Board to leave this in the budget for insulating etc. He said at some point the current furnaces will need to be replaced and we need to start thinking about this during the budget process.
B. Windsor County Budget, Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009: Mr. Melen said looking at this it is about a 1% increase. He noted they will be having a budget meeting and he will attend the meeting.
It was noted that the Murray Flats Bridge is closed until further notice. Mr. Arrison said that on Tuesday an over weight vehicle went across the bridge and it is now closed indefinitely. Mr. Melen said the damage consists of deflated I-Beams, broken cross members, broken deck etc. He said VTrans has looked at the bridge and pretty much the only thing that is not damaged is the abutment. They recommend rebuilding the bridge from scratch and buying a pre-cast concrete deck. Mr. Melen said he has talked to Roger Gilman from Miller Construction and he will go look at the bridge and give us an estimate. Mr. Melen said the company that owned the truck has admitted fault and their insurance company will respond to the cost.
Mr. Arrison said he thought we had adopted a policy on how to handle citizen’s complaints against a Town employee but according to Mr. Melen we haven’t. Mr. Melen said the citizen needs to take their complaint to him and then if they are still not satisfied it will go to the Select Board.
10. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $14,897.08
General Fund Operating Expense $23,301.13
Highway Fund Payroll $16,623.83
Highway Fund Operating Expense $62,860.27
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,960.32
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $13,536.80
Grants $ 348.61
Reserves $ 952.92
Library $ 361.62
Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mr. Melen noted the large payment in the highway fund was for the loan payment on the loader. Motion carried unanimously.
11. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Budget. Mr. Melen noted the CPI is now at 4.6%, the consensus of the Board was to look at this increase separately.
12. Adjourn: Mr. Cole made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. on Thursday December 20, 2007.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on January 3, 2008
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Patricia Daniels
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Norman John Arrison
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C. Peter Cole
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Daniel Boyer
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
12/06/07 Valley Fiber Service
12/20/07 Dispatch Contract