Present: Daniel Boyer
Henry C. Cobb
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
DeForest Bearse, Zoning Administrator
Edith Stillson
Julia Lloyd Wright
Peter Korbet
Gene Adams
Chief Grover
Wes Hazeltine
1. Call to Order: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:02 p.m. at the Weathersfield Center Meeting House. Mr. Cobb noted Mr. Cole was absent therefore he will be Chair.
2. Public Hearing Proposed Amendments to the Town Plan: Mr. Cobb called the Public Hearing to order at 7:03 p.m. Mr. Melen read the notice of the Public Hearing into the record. Mr. Korbet asked if we needed to be sworn in, Mr. Cobb said no.
Mrs. Bearse said the purpose of this Public Hearing is to hear comments on two amendments. She asked the Board to address only those two amendments and consider them separately, as they are different. Mr. Cobb asked how comments that were documented would be carried forward. Mrs. Bearse suggested discussing them with the Planning Commission at a later date.
Mrs. Bearse said the first amendment is on page 53, it originally said traditional uses such as a General Store for example should be a permitted use. It has been amended to read traditional uses such as General Store for example shall be a permitted use. Mr. Cobb asked the difference between should and shall. Mrs. Bearse said should is fuzzy, shall can be dealt with as it is a more powerful term. There was discussion on the wording. Mr. Melen said as part of the Zoning Bylaws they would have to define the word traditional. Mrs. Bearse said that if the Board submitted their suggestions on the wording, there would have to be another Public Hearing. There was discussion about conditional uses, Mrs. Bearse gave examples of conditional uses and stated gas stations require conditional use permits.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the proposed amendment to Section 2, Part A, last sentence on Page 52. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison said he would rather leave the wording as it is. Mrs. Bearse said if it is voted down, the language remains as is.
Mr. Korbet said he submitted a revised set of notes, 9 pages, to the Board tonight. Mr. Cobb said the Board had reviewed his previous notes as well as listened to his previous comments.
Motion Carried 3 – 1.
Mr. Melen said language in Section 4 on Page 81 has been changed as it deals with the Solid Waste District. Mr. Cobb noted the definitions were refined. Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the proposed amendment to Part 4, Page 81 first paragraph. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mrs. Bearse said this change is in reference to Child Care Facilities and it is a necessary change to bring the plan into compliance with Chapter 117. Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the proposed amendment to Part 4, Page 82 first paragraph. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed 4 – 0.
Mr. Cobb noted on Page 87 there are three separate changes. Mr. Melen said these are recommendations. Mr. Boyer made the motion to adopt the recommendations X, Y and Z on Page 87. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn the Public Hearing; Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Ms. Wright asked what X, Y and Z in the above motion pertained to. Mr. Cobb explained. Motion to adjourn the Public Hearing carried 4 – 0.
3. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Melen said he recommends having a Public Hearing on Drumlin Road on Saturday the 22nd of October. There could be a site visit at 9:00 am and the hearing could follow at 10:00 at the Highway Garage. The consensus of the Board was to schedule the Public Hearing as Mr. Melen proposed.
4. Review minutes from Previous Meeting: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to approve the minutes dated September 1, 2005 as submitted, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels noted corrections. Mr. Melen provided information on the time the Board adjourned from executive session. Motion carried 3 – 1 (one abstention).
5. Monthly Reports: Mr. Melen said all Purchase Orders that have been issued already show as being expended therefore the numbers are artificially inflated. Mr. Cobb asked to see a “snap shot” as to what scrap metal etc. is doing at the landfill. Mr. Melen noted the balance sheet for the reserve funds is enclosed in the Boards information.
Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Hazeltine for an update on the Roads. Mr. Hazeltine said Thrasher Road was done Monday and Tuesday. They have started moving catch basins onto Butterfield Hill. They are having trouble with the backhoe, as it isn’t big enough to lift. He has a contractor willing to help at $25 per hour plus $210 a day for the rental of the equipment which is less expensive than hiring a contractor if that was ok with the Board. The consensus of the Board was that is ok. Mr. Melen said he received a call from Mrs. Carolyn Johnson to say Thank you to the Highway crew for an excellent job on Thrasher Road. Mr. Melen said it was determined that there is a drainage problem on the Kidder property and that will need to be corrected. Mr. Hazeltine said basically that they would just put in a dry well on his property.
Mr. Hazeltine said the grader has a loud whining noise in the pump and he has spoke to CAT about it, they will be looking at it soon.
6. New Business:
A. Discuss Town Pound Options: Mr. Melen said he would like to table this item until the Constable can be present. Mr. Cobb said he would like more than one alternative.
B. Sale of surplus fire apparatus: Mr. Arrison said he brought this up because the Highway department is about done using the truck. Mr. Boyer asked if it functioned adequately with calcium. Mr. Hazeltine said it worked fine but the tank won’t last long with putting calcium in it, we’d have to put a plastic tank on it so it may be better to put a plastic tank on a regular town truck. Mr. Hazeltine said he has talked with Gene and Sonny about it and appreciates the offer but feels it may be cheaper to buy a poly tank and put it in a Town truck instead of adding to the fleet.
Mr. Melen said he is not sure who owns the vehicle, he will have to obtain a copy of the title. Chief Grover said it would have to be sold as a farm truck. The consensus of the Board is to sell the truck and have West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department keep the proceeds.
Mr. Korbet asked if the Town should give WWVFD a quick claim deed. Mr. Boyer made the motion to direct the Town Manager to write up a Quick Claim Deed relinquishing all interest in the 1979 truck to WWVFD. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Chief Grover said he talked to Scott Reed at the beginning of the week and he said the chassis should be in the production line the end of this week. He said they met with Valley Fire and went through each item on the body. Mr. Boyer said the truck might be able to be delivered to the department at the end of January or beginning of February.
C. Weathersfield/Ludlow Revolving Loan Fund: Mr. Melen said he recommends transferring the Weathersfield/Ludlow revolving loan funds to N.C.D.O. He read a resolution to be signed by the Board members if they agreed to transfer the funds. Mr. Cobb asked the balance. Mr. Melen said it totals $236,071.43. Ms. Wright asked how many outstanding loans there were Mr. Melen said eleven. There was discussion on the pros and cons of transferring the money. Mr. Boyer made the motion to sign the Resolution for Vermont Community Development Grant Funds. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
8. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Warrants as follows:
General Fund Payroll $15,730.84
General Fund Operating Expense $37,432.77
Highway Fund Payroll $12,550.45
Highway Fund Operating Expense $36,991.98
Solid Waste Fund Payroll $ 1,877.49
Solid Waste Fund Operating Expense $14,079.87
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
9. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Mr. Melen said there would be a special meeting on September 22, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. It will begin with discussion with the constable and there will be a Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m.
10. Adjourn: Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on October 6, 2005
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Daniel Boyer
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Henry C. Cobb
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Norman John Arrison
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Patricia Daniels