Weathersfield Select Board
Minutes
April 6, 2006
Present: Henry C. Cobb
Daniel Boyer
Norman John Arrison
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Edith Stillson
Nathalie Whitney
Roland Whitney
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
Deb Ostrum, SAPA TV
Rick Butler
Barbara Thomas
Mike Thomas
Representative Shand
Attorney Chris Callahan
Chief Brown
Westley Hazeltine, Road Foreman
Barry Newton, Town Constable
Gretel Shuck
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.
2. Executive Session 1 VSA (a) (6): Mr. Boyer made the motion to go into executive session under Title 1 VSA (a) (6). Mr. Melen said this is for discussion of documents not open to the Public and recommended inviting Attorney Callahan, Chief Brown and Representative Shand. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
Once the executive session adjourned, Mr. Cobb told the Public they discussed the article that was printed in the Valley News today titled Criminal Freedom Sparks Unease. He said there is word a person convicted of sexual assault that has served the maximum sentence for the crime, may be residing in Town upon his release from prison next week. He said there isn’t much information at this point but the Board and Town will continue to research this with the Vermont Information Criminal Center and they will share additional information as soon as they can.
3. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Butler asked for an update on the Stoughton Pond drainage issue. Mr. Melen said it will be advertised, the boundary adjustments have been made and we are waiting for a response from the State to be granted a deferred subdivision. It was decided Mr. Butler will file for permits and the Town would sign the permits as property owner. Mr. Hazeltine said he can start digging in a couple of weeks but Mr. Butler needs to move his garage first. Mr. Melen said this is land that has been in lease hold for about twenty years. He suggested we do a ninety nine year lease hold within the next few days and then Mr. Butler can go ahead and move his garage. Once the boundary adjustment is done it will be traded for the lease hold. Mr. Hazeltine said this boundary adjustment is a benefit to the traveling public and Town more than it is to Mr. Butler.
4. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated March 23, 2006, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Melen and Mr. Arrison noted corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Board of Liquor Commissioners
First Class Liquor License Renewal Cherry Grove, Inc., dba Giovanni’s Ristorante: Mr. Cobb convened at the Board of Liquor Commission. Mr. Boyer made the motion to grant a First Class Liquor License to Cherry Grove, Inc., dba Giovanni’s Ristorante, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked Chief Brown if there had been any problems, Chief Brown said no. Motion carried 3 – 0.
Mr. Melen said there was also an application for entertainment, this is for interior entertainment only. Mr. Boyer made the motion to grant Cherry Grove, Inc., dba Giovanni’s Ristorante the permit for entertainment. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked Chief Brown if there had been any noise complaints, Chief Brown said no. Motion carried 3 – 0. Mr. Cobb adjourned the Board of Liquor Commission.
6. Windsor County Anti-Cruelty Coalition: Individuals that requested this to be on the agenda are not present, item tabled.
7. Mountainman Duathlon Bicycle Race: Mr. Melen shared the Board’s concerns with Ms. Gretel Schuck. Ms. Schuck said she sent the bicycle safety plan to Mr. Melen. She said she has participated in about forty triathlons and is familiar with them. She said she agreed the junction of Rt. 44 and Rt. 5 is a dangerous intersection and there will traffic control there. She said orange cones and signs will be up about three days prior to the race. The schedule is to run 7.5 K, ride 40 K and then run the last 5 K. The running is done in Windsor; the staging area is at the Ascutney State Park.
Mr. Arrison asked Ms. Schuck if she had talked to the State Police. She said she talked to them and they said to talk to the Sheriff’s Department. She said she has already notified Mt. Ascutney Hospital.
Chief Brown said he is concerned with the junction of Route 44 and Route 5 and also Route 131 near Interstate 91.
Ms. Schuck said that because everything didn’t come together quickly the race is now going to be next year, May 20, 2007. It will be held in the morning, scheduled to start about 8:00 am and should be finished by 11:00 am. She said it would start at the State Park go to Route 44 to Route 5 to Route 131 to Route 106.
Mr. Cobb asked Ms. Schuck to keep us informed through the year. Ms. Schuck said she needs to know this is OK with us now so she can continue to plan. Mr. Boyer asked where there would be an aid station, Ms. Schuck said at the Amsden School Road, which is about ½ way. Mr. Boyer asked if service from the Fire Department or EMT service would be need, she said no.
The Board suggested that Ms. Schuck contact the Vermont State Police and also VTrans as they are concerned with State requirements.
8. Review All Hazard Mitigation Plan
Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission: Mr. Melen suggested tabling this until Mr. William Kearns could be present. Mr. Thomas said the plan has to be adopted by the Town then it will be sent onto the State. He said Mr. Kearns wrote the plan, both fire chiefs and he have looked at it already. Mr. Melen will give copies to the Board and Mr. Thomas so they can review it and a Public Hearing will be set for May 4, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
9. Highway
A. Vermont Municipal Equipment Fund Approve Application: Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the Vermont Municipal Equipment Loan Fund application. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
B. Vermont Class II Roadway Program Approve Grant Application: Mr. Boyer made the motion to sign the grant application between Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Town of Weathersfield for the amount of $64,000. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
C. Vermont Highway Aid Certification Certify FY07 Highway Expenditures: Mr. Arrison made the motion to sign the Annual Financial Aid Certificate. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
10. Monthly Reports
Constable; Mr. Cobb asked how the dog registration is doing, Mr. Newton said the registrations are up this year, he will get a list from Flo-Ann of those who did not re-register. Mr. Arrison asked Mr. Newton if he was transporting to Lucy McKenzie now, Mr. Newton said when there is room, as we do not have a contract with Springfield right now.
Highway Department: Mr. Arrison asked how the grader was doing. Mr. Melen said the grader is back and sounds worse than when it went in for repair. He said he and Mr. Hazeltine met with the new District Representative from CAT and they are discussing the amount of money the Town has put into it. Mr. Cobb asked if it was time the Board sent a letter, Mr. Melen said not yet because he thinks they have her attention since they will be buying a new grader in 2008 and their reputability is not very high with this Town. Mr. Melen mentioned Putney is buying a grader and Volvo was low bid by $50,000, he said he is getting copies of their information to review.
Mr. Cobb mentioned he drove Butterfield Hill and it looks in good shape to him.
Land Use Department: Mr. Melen said Mrs. Bearse’s report was included in the packet, she is very busy.
Police: Report was included in the packet.
11. Old Business
A. Fire Commission West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department Fire Apparatus Extended Warranty: Mr. Melen asked to table this until next meeting. Mr. Boyer said the Fire Commission elected officials and he is the Chair and Chief Spaulding is the Vice Chair. He mentioned they do not have a recording secretary but Mrs. Thomas is considering the position. At their last meeting they talked about the rapid response plan and dry hydrants on Skyline drive, Cascade Falls Road and Bow Pond. Mr. Melen suggested the Fire Chiefs look at the State Audit Web Site, Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to email the site to Mr. Boyer to pass along to the Chiefs.
Mr. Cobb said Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department responded to a Haz Mat spill at Weathersfield Middle School and he was impressed with their thought process and how it was handled. Mr. Thomas asked why Emergency Management wasn’t notified, Mr. Cobb said he did not know and to ask Chief Spaulding.
B. Application for Credit Proctor Library Board of Trustees: Mr. Arrison said this could be taken off the agenda.
C. Personnel Rules and Regulations: Mr. Melen said this request is from the Highway crew. He asked if the Board wanted to meet with all Highway employees or if they want one person to come in. Mr. Cobb said it is an open meeting and they can all come or they can designate one person to speak on their behalf. Their concern is the policy was changed so if they take a sick day it does not count toward overtime pay. Mr. Arrison said he would like to see a copy of the Personnel policy that pertains to the employees, he hasn’t seen a copy of that yet.
12: New Business
Select Board 2006/2007 Goals: Mr. Cobb said his priorities are the Water/Sewer study, Ancient roads, Personnel and Web Site policies and Town inventory. Mr. Arrison said he would like to discuss Upper Falls Bridge and Mr. Boyer said he noticed the stop signs have not been installed so that project has not been completed. Mr. Cobb said we need to prioritize and set time lines. Mr. Boyer also mentioned noticing a lot of dead or leaning trees that need to be taken down. Mr. Cobb asked for Board members to write down their goals to discuss at the next meeting.
13. Appointments:
iii) Budget Committee: Mr. Arrison made the motion to appoint Rachel Frank to the Budget Committee. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
vix) Emergency Management Director: Mr. Boyer made the motion to appoint Mike Thomas the Emergency Management Director. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
x) Parks and Recreation Commission: Mr. Arrison made the motion to appoint Susan Boyer to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
xi) Pound Keeper: Tabled until more information is available.
xix) Weathersfield-is-Togethersfield: Mr. Arrison made the motion to appoint Betty Adams to the Weathersfield-is-Togethersfield committee. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
14. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $12,534.12
General Fund Operating Expense $17,339.28
Highway Fund Payroll $14,995.19
Highway Fund Operating Expense $18,415.08
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,337.40
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 1,324.45
Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
15. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Reservoir Road update, Windsor County Anti-Cruelty, Select Board goals, bid awards, grader, fire truck extended warranty, highway employees, pound keeper.
16. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. on Thursday April 6, 2006.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on April 20, 2006
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Henry C. Cobb
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Daniel Boyer
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Norman John Arrison