Minutes
Present: Henry C. Cobb
Daniel Boyer
C. Peter Cole
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels
Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Edith Stillson
Deb Mithoefer
Doris Wright
Jere Wright
John Capozza
Rick Lowan
Barry Newton
Lotte F. Brunner
Larry F. Brunner
William Blake
Mario Bevacqua
Gary Cross
Carol M. Logan
deForest Bearse
Ernest Shand
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Select Board to order at 7:02 p.m. at the Martin Memorial Hall.
2. Comments from Citizens: None
3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting (s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated August 24, 2006, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels noted corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Highway
A. Surveyor’s report on Status of Old Bow Road from Debra Mithoefer, Daniels Survey, P.C.: Mr. Melen said he inquired with Vermont League of Cities and Towns to see if this needed to be a “formal process” and was told it was not required to have a Public Hearing at this time.
Ms. Mithoefer gave a short review of the conclusions found in her report dated July 26, 2006, which all Board members have a copy of. She said there are errors of confusion on the Town road numbers. She said there are three town roads she researched, T.H. #66 (Old Bow Road), untraveled T.H. #67 and T.H. #67 (also known as Old Bow Road). Ms. Mithoefer said that in 1964 the State of Vermont acquired by condemnation from the Town of Weathersfield a portion of T.H. #67 for the purpose of constructing the Interstate. Ms. Mithoefer found that in 1931 the Town of Weathersfield asked for State aid to maintain 1/10th of a mile, in 1947 they asked for more aid for an additional 2/10ths of a mile and in 1974 the Town asked for aid for 6/10ths of a mile. If you measure from the center of Bowen Hill Road westerly and southerly it equals the one-mile of road.
Ms. Mithoefer said that in 1964 the State and Town agreed it was a Town road and she finds nothing indicating the road was ever discontinued.
Ms. Wright asked if the Board would move forward with classification of Old Bow Road and presented the Board with a written request to do so (with signatures of abutting landowners).
Mr. Cobb said he would ask the Highway Committee to look at this report and give the Select Board their recommendation.
Ms. Wright said from mid 1980’s until the 1990’s the Town maintained the road and then they suddenly stopped. Ms Wright asked the time frame we would be looking at. Mr. Melen said the classification requires a Public Hearing, which requires a 30-day notice, it looks like it would be the beginning or mid November. Ms. Wright asked if the Town agreed it was going to be re-classified if they could at least grade it before winter arrived, Mr. Cobb said that is a good possibility.
Skipped ahead to item #10 a.
A. School Consolidation 2006: Mr. Bevacqua gave a preview of work that has been done since November, 2003. He said the School Board asked to create a School Improvement Committee, which was done, and two formal meetings were held. He said the options were to consolidate at the Middle School, consolidate at the Elementary School or search for a new site. The decision was made it would be beneficial to consolidate at the Middle School. He said the next committee started was a School Construction Committee and they started working in late May. He said they reviewed architect plans and have investigated a wood chip heating system. They have a meeting with the State in Montpelier on Monday to present their plans. Mr. Bevacqua said there will be power point presentations for the Towns people on September 25, September 30 and October 16.
Mr. Bevacqua said because we are consolidating two schools we will be eligible for 50% State aid and may be eligible for 90% aid for the wood chip system. He said twenty-two of the twenty-seven schools using the wood chip system have saved up to 47% of fuel bills. He said another fifteen schools are currently applying for the system.
Mr. Cole asked if they had looked at the water and sewer implications. Mr. Bevacqua said Country Estates told them the water is ok and they have room to install an in ground system if needed for sewer. The Board asked Mr. Bevacqua to be careful about water and sewer and be sure the information they have is correct. Mr. Melen said if they need names of a Bond Attorney to let him know and he would get them a list.
Skipped ahead to item 10 d.
10. New Business
D. Land Use Department application for Municipal Planning Grant: Mrs. Bearse said she would like to apply for a Municipal Planning Grant for 2007 which would be used to hire a consultant to look at development and impacts on the Town. She said this would be for a study around the Exit 8 area. Mrs. Bearse said she has the application almost completed and wanted to let the Board know she is working on it. The consensus of the Board was to finish the application.
Back to item 5.
5. Board of Liquor Commissioners
A. Suspension of Tobacco License Petro Stores, Inc. Mr. Melen said their license was suspended for failure to complete the required education process but this was recently rescinded so this is for informational purposes only.
6. Fire Commission
Mr. Boyer gave Mr. Melen a check for $500 from Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department for the HazMat fund.
Mr. Boyer said West Weathersfield wants to do a coin drop and in order to do so Vtrans requires the Select Board to authorize Chief Brown to sign the application. Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the application for a coin drop on October 7, 2006 on Route 106 by the intersection of Route 131 and have Chief Brown sign it indicating it will not create unnecessary traffic or safety hazards, Mr. Cole seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb said with it being a mandatory stop on Route 131 he feels Route 131 would be safer. It was discussed Route 106 is actually more safe because of the visibility. Mrs. Daniels said she feels it should not be where it is a mandatory stop because people would feel they have to stop for the coin drop. Mr. Arrison asked they contact area businesses. Motion carried unanimously.
Dispatch Contract with Town of Windsor: Mr. Boyer said the Fire Commission does not agree with the contract as written. Mr. Melen said neither does he and he has sent a letter to Windsor with a number of questions. A few concerns are there is no severance language, it does not mention dispatch for the ambulance, it does not clearly indicate the fee etc. Mr. Melen said this will be on the agenda again.
A. Riley Drive, Stormwater Drainage Status: Mr. Melen said there is no update on this.
B. Meadow Lane, Highway Committee Report: Mr. Arrison said the Highway Committee met and looked this location. They recommend that the Town does not take over the section of road that Mr. Kudlinski has asked us to. The main concern is the degree of slope. Mr. Arrison made the motion that a letter is sent from the Town Manger to Mr. Kudlinski denying his request, Mr. Cole seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
8. Monthly Reports (reports shared with the Board, no discussions)
9. Old Business
A: Animal Control Ordinance Revisions: Mr. Melen said the Town Counsel is still reviewing these.
B. Town-Wide Revaluation Contract Proposal: Mr. Melen said draft #1 is in the Boards packet, draft #2 has been started.
C. Request for Reimbursement for Loss of Livestock: Mr. Boyer made the motion to reimburse Ms. Celia Arrison $20 to be taken out of the dog license fees for the two chickens killed by an unknown dog. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed 4 – 1 (one abstention).
D. Land Use Department: Discussed previously
1. Deputy Health Officer: Mr. Arrison made the motion to recommend the appointment of Mrs. Lynn Esty as Deputy Health Officer. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Mr. Cobb noted the Weathersfield Memorial Committee was discussing locating the memorial in the area of the Salmon Bridge however, since the Salmon Bridge Committee is opposed to this that location will no longer be considered.
11. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Reports as follows:
General Fund Payroll $ 15,716.24
General Fund Operating Expense $831,781.79
Highway Fund Payroll $ 13,874.33
Highway Fund Operating Expense $ 8,540.05
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,952.70
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 1,885.16
Agency Funds $ 494.00
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mr. Melen said the General Fund is high because the school quarterly payment is in there. Mr. Cobb asked what the Accuvote was, Mr. Melen said it is software for the voting program. Mrs. Daniels asked if we could bill the owner of Bear for the cost associated with him, it was the consensus of the Board to send Mr. Metcalf a bill for the expenses. Motion carried unanimously.
12. Next Meeting’s Agenda Items: Old Bow Road, dispatch contract, animal ordinance, Riley Drive, Municipal Planning Grant, Evaluation Contract, Cady Hill (billing landowner for damage).
13. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:34 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Sargent
Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on September 21, 2006
____________________
Henry C Cobb
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Norman John Arrison
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Daniel Boyer
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Patricia Daniels
Appendix
Agenda Items to be discuss:
Visit from Michael Smith (carried forward from August 24, 2006)
Fire District letter (carried forward from August 24, 2006)
Old Bow Road
Dispatch contract
Animal ordinance
Riley Drive
Municipal Planning Grant
Evaluation Contract
Cady Hill
WWVFD replacement hydrant