Minutes
July 6, 2006
Present: Henry C. Cobb
Norman John Arrison
Daniel Boyer
Patricia Daniels
C. Peter Cole
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Bruce Johnson, SAPA TV
Wes Hazeltine, Road Foreman
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
Barry Newton, Constable
Jack McCarthy
Kathy Coulson
Representative Shand
Peter Korbet
Margaret Palmieri
Derek Palmieri
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:02 p.m. at the Martin Memorial Hall.
Skipped to item #33. Comments from citizens: Ms. Wright said the record boxes for the ancient road information are available at the Town Office and she is trying to get permission through Flo-Ann to get into the cupboards down stairs. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to talk with Flo-Ann to see if the Police Departments information could be moved so Ms. Wright could continue working on the ancient road project. Mr. Melen added that there is information in the Boards packet regarding ancient roads.
Skipped to item #6 c
6. Highway
C) Storm Damage on June 29, 2006: Mr. McCarthy shared photos of the damage on Butterfield Hill Road caused by a recent rainstorm. He said three properties were affected, some debris has been removed but he is asking the Select Board what can be done with the rest of the debris.
Mr. Melen said that on Thursday June 29, 2006 at approximately 1:45 p.m. we received 1.8” of rain in less than twenty-five minutes. The area affected was approximately one square mile including Butterfield Hill Road. He said the three properties affected were Mr. Simone’s, Mr. McCarthy’s and Ms. Corduff’s.
Mr. Hazeltine said so much rain was in the ditch the rain went by the cutouts. He said the stones went into the grates and on top of them which plugged them.
Mr. Cobb asked if the roads were designed for 25 year storms, Mr. Hazeltine said that is what the engineer designed it for. Mr. Hazeltine explained the route the water took instead of the route that was designed; he said the water all come down Reservoir Road through its old path.
Mr. Hazeltine said he estimates it would take one hour with a backhoe and two men two hours at McCarthy’s, two men doing hand raking at the Simone’s for two to three hours and about one hour of clean up at Ms. Corduff’s.
Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen his recommendation. Mr. Melen said it is a decision to be made by the Board because it is on private property.
Mr. McCarthy added the grade of Butterfield Hill road is eight to twelve inches higher than his driveway. He said he feels the bed itself is too high. Mr. Cole explained driveways are built to be lower than the road they come off from for drainage purposes.
Mr. McCarthy said he has a culvert that is totally clogged now. Mr. Hazeltine said that has been full since the roadwork has been done. He said the catch basins did what they were supposed to do.
Mr. Cobb asked the Board’s pleasure. Mr. Arrison said he is concerned with setting a precedence, this is on private property so is not sure the Town should be responsible for clean up. Mr. Cole said he shares that concern and said he understands the residents concerns but the Town is not negligent here, the road was overwhelmed by an act of God. Mrs. Daniels said she agrees we should take care of our portion of the road but not the private property. Mr. Boyer said he agrees it was an act of God. Mr. Cobb said there is a difference between precedence and an exception. He said we spent a lot of time and money on Butterfield Hill and he is willing to make an exception to fix this problem this one time.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to expend Town equipment and manpower as explained by Mr. Hazeltine to remove the debris on private property, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Melen said that even with the work that has been done, this is going to happen again if we get another rainstorm like this. Motion 1-4, motion failed.
Mr. Melen said he received a call from Dana Young asking if the Town will participate in a soil conservation grant regarding the culverts on Wellwood Orchard Road. He said more information would follow.
Mr. Cobb said it appears item 6 b, resident complaint on condition of Wellwood Orchard Road may be related to this recent storm, it looks like it occurred the day after.
Mr. McCarthy asked for the insurance information for the town. Mr. Melen said we belong to the insurance pool through VLCT.
4. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to accept the minutes dated June 15, 2006, Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels noted a correction. Motion passed unanimously.
5. Constable
a) Monthly Report: Mr. Cobb asked how the unlicensed dog list was doing. Mr. Newton said he would be starting to call people in the evenings. Mr. Cobb asked what the next step would be, Mr. Newton said to issue an ordinance violation which gives the owner fifteen days to come in and register the dog. He said after then he could write a civil citation and after three civil citations the dog could be removed from the property. Mr. Melen said we have a number of people that have been to court and have been found guilty but we need to retain an Attorney in order to pursue further.
b) Request expenditure for supplies: Mr. Cobb asked what the overall budget is, Mr. Melen said it is $5,000 and the actual for last fiscal year was $6,800 (34% over). The Board reviewed the list of requested supplies, Mr. Arrison asked Mr. Hazeltine if he had an extra amber light the Constable could use and Mr. Hazeltine said yes. Mr. Melen will work with Mr. Newton to obtain the other items requested. Mr. Cobb said he thought it was the Boards decision to give a generous mileage reimbursement instead of paying for repairs to Mr. Newton’s vehicle. Mr. Melen said that was the decision. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to help Mr. Newton come up with a reasonable mileage reimbursement that is fair and will help with vehicle maintenance.
c) Discuss cell phone: Mr. Newton said the battery is bad and it can not be replaced. Mr. Melen said batteries were still available, Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to get Mr. Newton a new battery.
d) Sign Agreement for Town Poundkeeper: Mr. Melen said the language has been adjusted and believes it is ok to sign the agreement. Mr. Cole made the motion to authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement to be effective until the next Town Meeting; Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked where in the agreement does it talk about euthanasia, why isn’t it in here? Mr. Melen said he could add the language to reference the euthanasia policy that was presented to the Town. Mr. Cole amended his motion to include the euthanasia policy that was presented to the Board on April 20, 2006; Mr. Boyer amended his second. Mr. Cole amended the motion to change any references to dogs to domestic animals; Mr. Boyer amended his second. The final motion by Mr. Cole was to authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement between the Springfield Humane Society and the Town of Weathersfield once the euthanasia policy information is inserted and all references to dogs is changed to domestic animals, agreement to be effective until the next Town Meeting. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
6. Highway
a) Monthly Report: Mr. Hazeltine added that Thrasher Road paving has been completed, they went over by approximately thirty ton. Mr. Hazeltine said he estimates it will cost $7,000 more to go across the Dam on Stoughton Pond Road. He said this work is scheduled to start between the third week of August and the first week of September.
Mr. Melen said he and Mr. Hazeltine talked to Mr. Butler on Monday and they do not have a problem with where Mr. Butler wants to put the pipe.
b) Resident complaint on condition of Wellwood Orchard Road, Ken Phillips: Mr. Hazeltine said he has not received any calls about this. Mr. Melen said he thought Mr. Phillips would be here to tell us where the location is. The consensus of the Board is to have Mr. Melen send a letter to Mr. Phillips and let him know the Road Foreman will meet with him to discuss this with him.
c) Storm Damage on June 29, 2006: Discussed previously
Land Use: Report enclosed in the Board’s packet
Police: Mrs. Daniels asked Mr. Melen to put Chief Brown on the agenda for the next meeting to discuss the State computer hook up. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to include Representative Shand so we can see what small Towns are suppose to do to financially afford this.
8. Fiscal Year 2007 Taxes
a) Set Due Dates: Mr. Arrison made the motion to set the tax payment due dates to August 23, November 15, February 14, 2007 and May 16, 2007. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which pass unanimously.
b) Set Tax Rate: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the General Fund tax rate of .4301, the Highway Fund tax rate of .4626 and the County tax rate of .0141. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to set the homestead tax rate at 2.14, the non-homestead tax rate at 2.1499 and the local agreement tax rate at .003. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
9. Delinquent Tax Sale, Town Bidding Position: Mr. Arrison made the motion to authorize the Town Manager to bid on the properties for sale at the tax sale to cover the tax fees. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
10. Long Term Debt
a) Sign Note for Highway Department Pickup Truck: Mr. Boyer made the motion to sign the note for $11,950 at a rate of 4.05% with Chittenden Bank for the purchase of the highway department pickup truck. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
b) Sign Municipal Equipment Loan Fund Security Agreement for Highway Department Truck: Mr. Boyer made the motion to sign the note for $7,820 for the final payment of the highway department truck, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison asked where the money for the second half of the new pickup truck was, Mr. Melen said that we’ll take when we get the truck. Motion carried unanimously.
c) Sign Note for Highway Gravel Truck: See item b above.
11. Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department
a) Dry Hydrant Program: Mr. Boyer asked if we had the easements, Mr. Melen said he would check on them and put this on the next agenda.
b) Fire Apparatus Registration, West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department: Mr. Boyer asked if we had the new plate now. Mr. Melen said yes that Mrs. Thomas went to Springfield and got a new plate. He said the transfer registration was mailed to the State on March 23, 2006 but they never received it.
12. Old Business
a) Water and Sewer Study Committee: Mr. Melen will figure out who is in the fire district and will draft a letter to share with the Board at the next meeting
b) Richard Butler Land Swap: Discussed earlier with highway business. Mr. Melen said the deed and lease are recorded and filed.
13. New Business
a) Website Updates, Transfer Station Hours: Mr. Melen said the Sunday landfill hours have been added to the website. Mr. Cobb asked to update all Board members names on the website or remove them. Mr. Melen said it is difficult to get the members names as there are many Boards and he is not sure who the Chair is on each one. Mr. Cobb asked to have an update at the next meeting.
Mrs. Daniels asked about removing the email address links that are on the website, after discussion it was the consensus of the Board to leave them on the site.
b) Schedule of Planned Stewardship Activities: Mr. Melen said there is a copy of the letter received on June 22 for the Boards information in their packet.
c) Request Speed Limit Reduction on Route 106, Wayne and Ann Gammell: The consensus of the Board was to send a letter to have the speed limit reduced on Route 106 per the Gammell’s letter.
14. Policies
a) Town Website Operations Policy-Second Reading: Mr. Boyer made the motion to move the Town Website Operations Policy forward to the third and final reading. Mr. Cole seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
16. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $21,295.02
General Fund Operating Expense $49,478.21
Highway Fund Payroll $20,441.24
Highway Fund Operating Expense $35,897.24
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,474.03
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 4,563.44
Grants $ 3,069.52
Agency Monies $ 821.44
Library $ 17.74
Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
17. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Board Chairperson’s, rural wireless broad band grants, constable mileage reimbursement rate, police computer system, ancient roads, delinquent tax sale, letter for fire district, easement information, final reading of the Town website policy.
18. 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 9:55 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2006.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on July 20, 2006
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Daniel Boyer
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C. Peter Cole
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Henry C. Cobb
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Patricia Daniels