Minutes
February 1, 2007
Present: Henry C. CobbDaniel Boyer
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
Grace Knight, Weathersfield Historical Society
Westley Hazeltine, Road Superintendent
Julia Schmitz
Edith Stillson
Peter Korbet
Chris Harris, Weathersfield Conservation Commission
Jaime Wyman
Carl Wyman
Deb Wyman
Deb Ostrum, SAPA TV
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:04 p.m. on Thursday February 1, 2007.
2. Comments from citizens: Mr. Melen said he has a request from Jaime Wyman asking the Select Board to sign off on her variance.
Mr. Wyman said there is not a new right-of-way, the current right-of-way is being re-described in the deed. He said there is currently one resident using the driveway, Jaime will be the second. And, Mr. Ronald Jarvis is willing to sign off on the plot plan regarding the relocation of the house.
Mr. Cobb asked if they were working on a time constraint. Mr. Wyman said the mediator is trying to satisfy the courts time. Ms. Wyman said the next court date is February 13th and they need the documents before then.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to grant the sign off on Vermont Environmental Court Wyman Variance Application, docket #107-S-06Vtec pending the sign off by Mr. Jarvis, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen what Mrs. Bearse’s recommendation is. Mr. Melen said that on Tuesday she was satisfied with the results. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to authorize the Town Manager to sign on behalf of the Town. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to table this discussion until there is time to review the minutes. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
4. Town Meeting 2007, Sign Warning for Annual Town Meeting: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve and sign The Warning as presented, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to explain Article # 6 and 7. Mr. Melen said Martin Memorial Hall is to maintain the building in accordance with the benefice. Town Office improvements is to be used for the Town Office part of the building. Mr. Hazeltine asked if that included the new addition, Mr. Melen said he is not sure. Mr. Cobb suggested to do research as to where one “building” ends and the other starts. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Monthly Reports:
Ancient Roads Workshop: Ms. Lloyd Wright said they have collected all the maps they could and have given them to Mrs. Bearse. She said Mrs. Bearse has them on paper and on dvd. Ms. Lloyd Wright said they came up with a list of twenty-five roads to review. Mr. Melen said he and Mrs. Bearse looked through the list and it went down to seven then they added three more.
Mrs. Knight read the list of the original twenty-five roads and noted Mr. Melen’s comments that some have been thrown up, some were never laid out as a Town Road and some were seized by the Feds. After discussion fourteen roads remained on the list.
Mr. Cobb suggested looking at the maps, highlight the fourteen roads on the best map and look at them in their entirety. Ms. Lloyd Wright said they’ve talked about splitting up the roads to committee members (2 or 3 each) and each member will check and document everything along the way then Mrs. Bearse will put all the information on an excel spread sheet.
It was decided to look at the fourteen roads identified tonight, research each one to be sure they were Town Highways and they weren’t discontinued already, walk the roads then start having Public Hearings.
There was discussion on Crown Point road, Mr. Cobb suggested that we look at this road, the Board agreed to add this to the list.
Ms. Lloyd Wright said as of now the committee consists of herself, Willis Wood, Grace knight, Steve Aikenhead, Neil Daniels, Martha Hennessy, Pat Daniels, Bob Lacasse, Lynn Houghton, Chris Harris, Julia Schmitz and Peter Korbet.
Highway Department: no question on written report
Land Use: Mr. Melen went over Mrs. Bearse’s report since she was not present.
6. Old Business
(i) Uniform Rental Service Agreement: Mr. Melen asked to table this again as the revised contract has been received.
(ii) Traffic Sign Project: Mr. Hazeltine said more than ½ of the stop signs are up.
(iii) Upper Falls Covered Bridge Restoration Final Plans: Mr. Melen said on January 29th he received a document for the final plans on Upper Falls covered bridge from the State of Vermont. He said the estimated project cost total is just over 1 million dollars. It was decided that Mr. Melen should review this document with Mr. Hazeltine, Mr. Neil Daniels and Mr. Warren Tripp.
C. Federal Emergency Management Grant, Emergency Power Supplies: Mr. Melen said the Town did not submit an application. Mr. Cobb asked if Mr. Melen knew where the generators are needed, Mr. Melen said at the schools and the Town Office.
7. New Business
A. Vermont Legislature House 116 Write-Off of Property Tax Overpayments and Underpayments: Mr. Melen said this is for informational purposes only, Rep Shand has introduced it.
B. Fiscal Year 2006 Audit: Mr. Melen said the Management Discussion and Analysis is required and was prepared by Chris. Mr. Melen said the Statement of Revenue expenditures and changes in fund balances reduced the deficit by $106,076. We have erased the deficit that has hung over the Town’s head for several years. Mr. Melen said a letter went out from the financial staff that we disagree with 06–1 (un-reconciled cash assets) and 06–3 (reserve fund assets and accounting).
Mr. Melen said 06-2 (inventory) will remain on there, it has occurred every year. He said we would have to close down building by building and count every item to do the audit. He mentioned the auditors want it because all capital assets should be accounted for and assigned a value and he thinks we should have it for inventory purposes. Mr. Cobb suggested we put this on the list of Select Board agenda items.
8. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $13,305.05
General Fund Operating Expense $21,596.22
Highway Fund Payroll $15,882.68
Highway Fund Operating Expense $ 9,958.56
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,707.29
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 590.46
Grants $ 142.82
Reserves $ 6,196.50
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Melen said the Grant was a repayment to the State. Mr. Boyer questioned the legal fees of $1300, Mr. Melen said some was for Emergency Health Orders, some was for the Wyman case and some was for the Baptistella case. Mr. Boyer questioned the payment to Cricket Paint & Auto, Mr. Melen said it was a muffler for West Weathersfield Fire Department but one was bought and one was returned. Mr. Cobb questioned the payment for mowing, Mr. Melen said it was for last summer, we have been waiting for his W-9. Motion carried unanimously.
9. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: ancient road map, domestic partner insurance, Foley contract, executive session, plastic recycling, Perkinsville Elementary School, Town Meeting.
Mrs. Daniels asked to put the warrants after reviewing the minutes on the agenda.
10. Adjourn: Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on February 15, 2007
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Henry C. Cobb
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Norman John Arrison
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Daniel Boyer
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Patricia Daniels
Appendix
Dispatch contract
Mobile Home (and truck) 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-completed?
Property tax rebate system-completed?
Ancient roads (continue working on)
Sign posting policy
Use of Perkinsville Elementary School
Town Manager search (July, 2007)
Ambulance contract (May, 2007)
Select Board agenda items/procedures for calendar year 2007
1) Capital asset inventory
No Parking Signs by Thomas residence
Dry Hydrant bid
No Parking signs on Route 131 near exit 8 and Tenney Hill
Review and increase of land use fees
Chief Spaulding look at Old Bow Road
Weathersfield Elementary School
Uniform Rental Service Agreement
Insurance for Domestic Partners
Martin Memorial Hall/Town Office Building (where one ends and the other begins)