Minutes
September 21, 2006
Present: Henry C. CobbNorman John Arrison
Daniel Boyer
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Edith Stillson
Ernest Shand
Betty Brooks
Rodney Brooks
Barry Newton
Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times
DeForest Bearse
Jere Wright
Doris Wright
Will Hepworth
Larry Brunner
Carol Logan
Rick Logan
Peter Daniels
Wes Hazeltine, Highway Superintendent
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at the Bow Baptist Church on September 21, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
2. 7:00 P.M. Public Hearing Proposed Amendments to the Interim Zoning Bylaws: Mr. Cobb called the Public Hearing to order, Mr. Melen read the Public Hearing notice for the record.
Mrs. Bearse said the purpose of the amendments is to establish the regulatory review process for public facilities and to establish where in the town they will be allowed to locate.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Proposed Amendments to the Interim Zoning Bylaws as presented. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mr. Cobb closed the Public Hearing.
3. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Newton said on Saturday, September 30th at 8:00 am VINS is looking for volunteers to help move a flight cage from Woodstock to Quechee and anyone who would like more information to please contact him.
Julia Lloyd Wright asked that anyone interested in helping on the Ancient Road project to leave your name at the Town office, as meetings will be starting soon.
Mr. Shand said there would be an Auction on October 21, 2006 behind the Ascutney Union Church and Martin Memorial Hall to benefit the Veterans Memorial Monument. Preview will be from 9:00 am – 10:00 am with the auction starting at 10:00 am. Mr. Cobb said auction items as well as volunteers are needed.
Mrs. Daniels said she has been approached by a few people that there is an old mobile home located behind the Bow Baptist Church and she believes it is on Town property. Mr. Melen said he walked out there this evening and yes, it is in the Town Highway right-of-way. The consensus of the Board is to work this back to see who the owner of the mobile home is and how it got there so it can be removed.
4. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to accept the minutes dated September 7, 2006, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels noted one correction. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Highway
A. Old Bow Road Highway Committee Report: Mr. Arrison said the Highway Committee met on September 18, 2006 on Old Bow Road and looked at the problem spots and discussed the survey. The Town Highway Committee recommends to accept the report prepared by Daniels Survey dated July 26, 2006 and to schedule a public hearing to reclassify the road.
Mrs. Daniels made the motion to accept the report prepared by Daniels Survey dated July 26, 2006 and the finding that Old Bow Road a Town highway from the end of the current Town Highway 66, to the western boundary of Interstate 91. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mrs. Daniels made the motion to schedule a site inspection and public hearing for Saturday November 4, 2006 at 9:00 am for the purpose of classifying the roadway now known as Old Bow Road, from a point .61 miles from the intersection with Town Highway 51 (Bowen Hill Road) going easterly approximately .70 to the boundary of the Interstate 91 right-of-way, as a Class 4 Town Highway pursuant to 19 VSA 302. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
Mrs. Wright asked if this meant the Town could grade the road now. The Board explained the public hearing has to be held first and a decision has to be made by the Board as to the classification of the road before the Town could grade the road.
B. Stoughton Pond Road Storm Drain Project: Mr. Hazeltine said the drain is in and there is only a little work left to be done. Mr. Arrison said he went by yesterday and it looks good. Mr. Arrison said he saw Mr. Butler out there and he is “relieved” it is in and it went well.
C. Riley Drive Storm Water Drainage System: Mr. Melen said we have received the report from Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and there is no maintenance needed at this time. He said they would be letting us know about permitting. Mr. Arrison questioned who was responsible for this and Mr. Melen said that he believes when Steve Smith deeded us the land we may have acquired the permit with it.
D. Murray Flats: Mr. Peter Daniels said he believes we will need a stream alteration permit to remove the current hydrant. Mr. Boyer said the Fire Commission said we might be able to put a hydrant on the other side of the bridge. It was decided to have Mr. Hazeltine call for a permit to remove the hydrant as soon as possible before any damage is done.
E. Cady Hill Road: Mr. Melen has typed a letter to the landowner and the letter and copies of bills have been sent to him.
Mr. Arrison asked the status on the dump truck bid, Mr. Melen said the bid request is not finished yet. Mr. Arrison said he is concerned the bids are not out yet and asked this to be looked at soon.
General Fund: Mr. Melen said we are in good shape
Highway Fund: Mr. Melen said we are below target (prior to Stoughton Pond Road)
Solid Waste Fund: Mr. Melen said we are below target
Mr. Melen said we are where we should be for this time of year and our cash flow is in very good shape. Mr. Hazeltine said we received a $1,100 check for scrap metal, Mr. Cobb encouraged the public to bring their scrap metal to the recycling center.
7. Old Business
A. Animal Control Ordinance Revisions: Mr. Melen said the recommendation is to delete the seven-day re-appeal period. It was the consensus of the Board to remove that wording and present a draft at the next meeting.
B. Town-Wide Revaluation Contract Proposal: Mr. Melen asked to discuss this in executive session under contract negotiations.
C. Land Use Department Application for Municipal Planning Grant to Fund Interchange Master Plan: Mr. Melen read the Resolution for Municipal Planning Grant and said this needs to be approved and signed by the Select Board in order to apply for the grant.
Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Resolution for Municipal Planning Grant as presented. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
D. Ascutney Fire District Letter: Mr. Melen said the sample of the letter is enclosed for the Board, he said that we still need to work on whom will receive the letter. Mr. Cobb asked to include information about the well head area. Mr. Arrison recommended doing only one mailing; we should include the date of the meeting in the first letter mailed. Mr. Cobb asked to include in the letter what is expected of the ratepayers. Mr. Melen said he has information from Rural Water Association and may be able to make a hand out from that information.
Mr. Shand asked who qualifies as a ratepayer. Mr. Melen said ratepayers are individuals from the Village north to the Town of Windsor town line, south to Wilgus State Park west to the I-91 corridor and east to the Connecticut River.
E. Tenney Hill Logging Access Agreement: Mr. Melen said he talked with Mr. Norton and they will meet in a week at the Tenney Hill property. He said the State has abandoned the idea to use the existing roadway but they are still in the process of doing the project and using a different route out of the area.
F. Fire Commission Dispatch Contract with Town of Windsor: Mr. Melen said he and Mr. Boyer met with Windsor Select Board and they are still working on the next contract. Mr. Melen said we received the invoices for last year and he recommends paying the per call fee at this time but not the contract fee. The consensus of the Board is ok to pay the per call fee.
Mr. Melen noted the easements for the dry hydrants are out.
8. Notice of Vacancy
Representative to the Mt. Ascutney Subcommittee of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions: Mr. Melen said we received a letter from Steve Walasewicz and he wanted to mention that we still do not have a active representative to the Mt. Ascutney Subcommittee of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions. The Board said they will try and think of someone to fill this position.
9. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Reports as follows:
General Fund Payroll $13,416.66
General Fund Operating Expense $20,552.75
Highway Fund Payroll $13,316.29
Highway Fund Operating Expense $40,948.60
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,639.05
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $14,165.41
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
10. Executive Session: Mr. Arrison made the motion to go into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and real estate. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
12: Adjourn: The Select Board came out of executive session at 9:16 p.m. Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. on September 21, 2006.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on October 12, 2006
___________________
Henry C. Cobb
____________________
Daniel Boyer
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Norman John Arrison
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Patricia Daniels
Appendix
Agenda Items to be discussed:
Visit from Michael Smith (carried forward from August 24, 2006)
Fire District letter
Dispatch contract
Cady Hill
WWVFD replacement hydrant and stream permits
Abandoned mobile home behind Bow church
Highway truck bid specs
Name of Chairperson for various Town committee’s (did we ever do this?)