Select Board 5-4-06

Select Board Meeting

Minutes

May 4, 2006

Present: Daniel Boyer

Henry C. Cobb

C. Peter Cole

Norman John Arrison

Patricia Daniels

Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager

Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary

Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times

Jason Rasmussen

Roland Whitney

Nathalie Whitney

Edith Stillson

Westley Hazeltine

Edward Barrup

Bill Jakubowski, CVPS

Jason Lyver, CVPS

Clarence Grover, WWVFD Chief

Phil Racine, AVFA

Rick Butler

Deborah Ostrom, SAPA

Barry Newton, Constable

1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:02 p.m. on Thursday May 4, 2006 at the Martin Memorial Hall.

2. Comments from citizens: Chief Grover said there will be an open house at the West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Station on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served and everyone can see the new truck.

Mr. Grover said the new truck is in service but they do not have the plates for it. Mr. Melen said the plates from the old truck are ok to use, new plates are coming.

Chief Grover said he will retire as Chief on May 9th. They will have a general election that night and a new Chief will be elected. He said he will stay on the department. The Board thanked Chief Grover for his service to the Town.

Mr. Butler asked for an update on the land transfer. Mr. Melen gave him the final plat and said no appeal has been filed so this should be all set to go through on the 11th.

Mr. Melen said Mr. Butler could apply for the permits now and the deeds should be available on the 11th.

3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated April 20, 2006, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried unanimously.

Request to Waive Application Fee for Zoning, Edward Barrup: Mr. Barrup told the Board of his financial hardship and asked if they would waive the fee of $200 for the variance. Mr. Cobb asked him if he had a job right now. Mr. Barrup said yes but he has diabetes and the cost of his monthly medicine is more than he can afford so his family helps him with the expense of that. Mr. Melen asked what the addition was for. Mr. Barrup said it is for living space so there is more room for his family to come visit. Mr. Melen asked why the variance is needed. Mr. Barrup said it is needed for the set back. Mr. Cobb asked if Mr. Barrup could pay the expense over four or five months, Mr. Barrup said he could not afford that. Mr. Melen asked who owned the mobile home, Mr. Barrup said it is in his son’s name but he pays the mortgage, taxes and insurance. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Barrup to provide the Board with written documents showing his income and expenses. Mrs. Daniels made the motion to table this until May 18, 2006 at 7:15 p.m. to review Mr. Barrup’s 2005 income tax return and medical hardship expenses showing lack of ability to pay for the permit, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison asked for the paperwork before the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

5. Vermont Agency of Transportation Project

Jason Rasmussen, Regional Planning Commission: Mr. Rasmussen said at the last meeting someone questioned the Route 4 construction project impacting Route 131 traffic. He said he has learned the work is scheduled to start in April of 2007 and go until August of 2007. The bridge will be closed for one week and traffic will be re-routed at that time. There was discussion on the additional traffic traveling Route 131 if they route vehicles there, it was mentioned approximately 250 trucks per day travel Route 4. Mr. Cobb asked if a traffic study would provide the expected traffic count, Mr. Rasmussen said he does not know if a study had been completed yet. Per Mr. Rasmussen’s recommendation it was decided that Mr. Melen will write a letter to see if there is a plan for routing traffic yet.

Mr. Rasmussen shared the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission Project Prioritization list with the Board. There was discussion on the culverts that will be replaced in Town but the work could be done years from now. Further construction to the Park and Ride by Interstate 91 was also discussed. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Rasmussen if he could get a program review of this to see if the original funds are still available.

14. Old Business

All Hazard Mitigation Plan (continued from April 6, 2006): Mr. Rasmussen said the purpose of this plan is to look at what kind of disaster events can happen to a Town. He said this plan is being put in place because the Fed’s say we have to. This is a pre-requisite if we want any funding. Mr. Cobb said two concerns that were not addressed in the plan are potential Hazardous Materials because of the Interstate going through town and also we have a Commercial Tire Dealer in town so there is great exposure there with all the tires. Mr. Rasmussen recommended adopting the plan as it is now and then change and update it as needed. He said we are past the FEMA deadline. A Public Hearing will be held on June 1, 2006 to discuss and adopt the regional plan and Town annex.

7. Weathersfield Center Meeting House Power Line Maintenance: Mr. Arrison said the poles in the Grove are short and old and asked about plans for replacement. Mr. Jakubowski said there is a plan to connect this line to the line north of there which would allow the lines to feed off Springfield. He said this could be several years away. Mr. Arrison asked about work on Goulden Ridge Road, Mr. Jakubowski said this work is in process now. Mr. Jakubowski said when work is done in the Center Grove an engineer could work with the Tree Warden on a plan as to when and how it will be done. Mr. Cobb asked if they had any plan on working there this year. Mr. Lyver said they will be doing some trimming in the fall. Mr. Jakubowski said the Engineer, Chris Howland will get with the Town before doing the work. The Board asked if there were any other projects in Town. Mr. Jakubowski said they are almost finished with Route 131 and there is a small project on Route 5 South.

6. Highway

CY06 Highway Priorities:

Ancient Roads: Mr. Melen said he thought Old Bow Road, Old Weathersfield Center Road and Carley Road were priorities for Ancient Roads. These three roads were discussed and it was decided to start the Hearings on the Old Bow Road. It was said that Ms. Lloyd-Wright and Mr. Aikenhead are working on ancient roads, Mr. Cobb asked them to continue to work on them.

Mr. Melen said the Town should revisit the Class IV Road policy. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to send copies to the Board members for their review.

Activity Report: Mr. Hazeltine shared his list of summer projects with the Board.

Mrs. Daniels asked Mr. Hazeltine if the trees being planted at the Grove were for a private individual. Mr. Hazeltine said no, three were cut and we need to plant two and a private individual is planting one.

Mr. Arrison mentioned the Town needs to put up the stop signs per the stop sign policy.

Upper Falls Covered Bridge Correspondence: Mr. Arrison made the motion to have the Select Board Chairperson sign the letter Mr. Melen drafted to Secretary Terrill regarding the Upper Falls Covered Bridge. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Tenney Hill Road: Mr. Melen said he looked at records back to 1968 and did not find a Town highway off Tenney Hill Road. Mr. Boyer made the motion that Mr. Melen sends a letter to Mr. LeBrun stating he found no evidence of a Town Highway. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Stoughton Pond Survey: Mr. Melen said he talked with Mr. Rapanotti and he did do the survey under contract with the Corp. He said he turned all the information into them and they have not done anything with it. Mr. Rapanotti acknowledged there was a problem and he was going to call the Corp to discuss the survey.

It was the Board’s consensus to have Mr. Melen draft a letter to the USACE saying due to their lack of response we are going to proceed with reclamation across the Dam. The Select Board will review the letter at the next meeting.

8. Request for Child at Play Sign, South Mountain Road

Estelle Bonaceto: Mr. Cole said the past practice has been if the individual purchases the sign we will install it. Mr. Boyer made the motion to correspond back to Estelle Bonaceto that if she pays for the sign the Town will install it per our policy, the Town will make the purchase and she will reimburse us. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

9. Executive Session: Mr. Arrison made the motion to go into executive session for Personnel with the Town Manager and the Constable. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

11. Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District

District Management Proposal: Mr. Melen said he gave the Board a copy of the minutes from the meeting. It was the Board’s consensus to have Mr. Melen go forward with a contractor to develop a plan until a cost analysis could be provided to confirm this is cost effective.

12. Martin Memorial Hall Award Painting/Maintenance Contract: Mr. Melen recommended rejecting the bids as one was received on time and one was received a half hour late and he would like more than one bid. Mr. Boyer made the motion to reject the bids and allow the responders to re-bid. After discussion Mr. Boyer withdrew his motion. Mr. Arrison made the motion to open the late bid. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion which passed without dissent. Mr. Melen said the first bid (received on time) was from Ledgeworks and it was for $6,300. The second bid (received ½ hour late) was from Revered Painting and was for $12,750. Mr. Arrison made the motion to award the bid to Ledgeworks not to exceed $6,300. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

13. Vermont Municipal Bond Bank Application

West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department Fire Apparatus: Mr. Melen said the bond application is complete and ready to go.

15. Town Service Officer Appointment: Mr. Boyer made the motion to appoint Ruth E. Adams to the position of Town Service Officer, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Boyer said Mrs. Adams knows what is involved in this position. Motion carried unanimously.

16. Appointments: (x) Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management Alternate: Mr. Boyer made the motion to appoint Laurence Melen Alternate Representative to the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

17. Sign Treasurer's Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:

General Fund Payroll $12,801.02

General Fund Operating Expense $10,970.14

Highway Fund Payroll $11,805.59

Highway Fund Operating Expense $ 7,105.88

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,336.81

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 3,698.44

Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison asked why the Highway department had overtime; Mr. Melen said he would have to ask. Motion carried unanimously.

18. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Woodstock Rec Center Bridge, Personnel Rules, Class IV Road Policy, Draft Letter to Army Corp of Engineers, Parks and Rec

19. Adjourn: Mr. Cole made the motion to adjourn: Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on May 18, 2005

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Daniel Boyer

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Norman John Arrison

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Patricia Daniels