Minutes
December 7, 2006
Present: Henry C. CobbNorman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Rachel Frank, Budget Committee
Rollie Cann, Budget Committee
Deb Ostrum, SAPA
Edith Stillson
Wes Hazeltine, Highway Superintendent
Chief Brown
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Select Board to order at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday December 7, 2006 at Martin Memorial Hall and noted Mr. Cole and Mr. Boyer were absent.
2. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Melen said per Julia Lloyd Wright the fence viewers are involved with a dispute between two landowners. They will be discussing the issue with Town Councel. Mr. Arrison asked why we were involved and Mr. Melen said because the fence viewers establish fence lines.
Mr. Melen also said that we did not receive the Ancient Road Grant because they were drawn at random, guidelines were not established on how to disburse the grant money. Mr. Melen thanks Julia Lloyd Wright for her hard work.
Chief Brown said he met with one of the landowners on the fence issue and he does not see how the fence viewers can establish the fence line in the way that they did. They just put a pin in and eye balled the fence line while putting pins in. He said he was up there for a complaint a pin had been moved but with the way the pins were put in it is hard to tell if a pin had been moved. He said he believes the issue is resolved as he was told by the landowner that he would not take apart the fence as long as it did not get moved.
Mr. Arrison said he went there and he concurs with Chief Brown.
Mr. Melen said he believes different stories are being told. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to call the landowners to see if the issue has been resolved before spending any money talking to Town Councel.
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated November 2, 2006, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated November 4, 2006 from the Public Hearing; Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated November 4, 2006 from the Special Meeting. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated November 16, 2006; Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Categorical Disposal Facility Certification: Mr. Melen said Mrs. Bearse did some research and it started to be used without a permit a few years ago. Mr. Arrison asked that we direct Mrs. Bearse to pursue use of the land without permits, Mrs. Daniels and Mr. Cobb agreed. It was the consensus of the Board to have Mrs. Bearse make them apply for permits.
5. Monthly Reports
A. General Fund: Mr. Melen said we are at the end of period five. Our target is 42% and we are a little high at this time.
Mrs. Daniels said it is in your best interest to let them in and get the appraisal information correct to begin with. Mr. Hazeltine and Mrs. Frank did not remember the card actually telling you to call and make an appointment but Mr. Melen said people are calling to make appointments.
6. Town Treasurer
Sign Renewal of Loader Note: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to renew the loan for the Loader for the amount of $104,000 at the rate of 4.15% with Chittenden Bank. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed 3 – 0.
A. Annual Town Meeting Schedule: Mr. Melen explained the schedule of meetings for regular Select Board and with the Budget Committee.
Health Insurance: Mr. Melen said he received the final rates for fifty and fewer eligible employees yesterday and also received a proposal from Blue Cross Blue Shield. He said the Blue Cross Blue Shield proposal was higher than the Cigna offer. Mr. Melen proposes to accept the program with the vision rider. He noted the new program is different than the current one and there is more out of pocket expense for Doctor appointments.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to stay with Health Care Trust through VLCT and Cigna. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion which passed 3 – 0.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to offer the vision rider being offered by Cigna to the Town of Weathersfield employees, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Cann asked if the employees would prefer help with the out of pocket expenses vs. the vision rider. Mr. Melen said the vision rider is only $1.62 per month. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Melen said the plan is VLCT HP-V 1020 and the rate is $484.61 per month for single, $961.21 per month for couple and $1308.43 per month for family.
Long Term Debt: Mr. Melen said the scheduled new capitol purchase will be the grader and we should be able to do a five-year note instead of a bond. Mr. Melen noted the Library would be coming in to borrow funds. Mr. Hazeltine said the backhoe will need to be replaced soon and it was not listed, Mr. Melen said he will get with him on that and revise the sheet.
C. Mileage Reimbursement: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to follow the IRS guidelines for mileage reimbursement rates at 48.5 cents per mile, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
D. United States Army Corp of Engineers Contract: Mr. Melen shared the Army Corps of Engineers Contract Service fees with the Board. The consensus of the Board was this is ok pending change of the mileage fee to 48.5 cents per mile.
Lavigne Road, Town Highway 102: Mr. Arrison made the motion to post the Lavigne Road bridge at 16,000 lbs, 8 Ton, maximum allowed by Title 23 vsa 1932. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
9. Old Business
A. Resolution calling for the Repeal of the Vermont Statewide Property Tax: Mr. Arrison made the motion to sign the Resolution calling for Amendment of the Vermont Statewide Property Tax. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
B. Procedure on Utility Easements: There was discussion on the Select Board approving underground utility work done by property owners. Mr. Cobb recommended Mr. Melen and Mr. Hazeltine work out the form and see if it can be part of the highway access permit, all on one piece of paper.
Beaver Dams and Ponds: Mr. Melen said we received a letter from Sarah Wunsch who owns property with a large beaver dam on it. He has contacted Kim Royer and he and Mr. Hazeltine will meet with her on December 12th and look at the beaver dams throughout Town.
Mr. Hazeltine said he met with Dan Austin and Ken Duffey and it looks like the work on Gird Lot Road is just off our Right of Way. Mr. Dana did not want any poles in his sugar orchard so that is why they went down one side of the road. He said Mr. Austin agreed he forgot to give the Town a print of the poles before doing the work. He said quite a few trees were cut in the Right of Way but some were dead and there was a lot of brush trimmed so it looks really cleared.
Moved ahead to 10B.
10. New Business:
B. Request to Post Horse Crossing Sign Thrasher Road: Mr. Cobb said he asked for this to be an agenda item because now the pavement is completed traffic is speeding on this section. Mr. Arrison and Mrs. Daniels both feel the person requesting the sign should pay for the sign and either come before the Board or write a letter to the Board with their request. Mr. Cobb would like this to be an agenda item; he feels we need to have a sign policy. Mr. Cobb will relay the message back to the property owner that they need to contact the Board themselves.
Direct Debit Receipt Program: Mr. Melen said the new software will allow the Town to take tax payments from ones checking or savings account five days before the due date. He said we should start thinking if this is something we would like to offer.
State Education Property Tax Rebates: Mr. Melen said next year the State of Vermont will not mail the rebate check to the individual they will send a lump sum to the Town. The Town needs to adopt a policy on how the funds will be applied to the payments and we need to have this an article at the Town Meeting. He said it could be applied to the first installment payment and then any left could be applied to the future payments or we could split it between the four payments and apply an equal amount to each installment. A decision was not made tonight; it needs to be made before the warning is completed.
C. Personnel
Request to Amend Participation Standards for Cafeteria Program: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to amend the participation level in the Cafeteria Program to employees working 10 hours a week on a regular basis. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
D. Letter of Appreciation to VLCT Health Trust: Mr. Arrison made the motion to sign the two letters, one to Bill Shepeluck and one to Steven Jeffrey thanking them for their work. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
11. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $21,823.82
General Fund Operating Expense $43,440.15
Highway Fund Payroll $21,194.93
Highway Fund Operating Expense $43,386.40
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,599.79
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 3,884.70
Reserves $ 6,209.42
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb questioned the payments to Stateline, Mr. Melen said they are parts for the Mack Truck. Mr. Arrison mentioned they are using Home Depot a lot and he would like to support local businesses. Motion carried 3 – 0.
13. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on January 4, 2007
______________________
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
Internet policy
Disposal certification application, VT AOT
Procedure on utility easements
Beaver Dams
Collection of taxes
Property tax rebate system
Ancient roads
Budget workshop
Sign posting policy