Select board Members present: Eric Osgood- chair, Rocky Hooper, Doug Molde.

 

Others present: Duncan Hastings; Administrator, Steve Smith; Road Foreman, Jim Tomlinson Jr. from Public Access television, Jessica Flores; AR Clerk, Lois Frey, Bob Selby; Planning Commission Chair.

 

Eric called the meeting to order at 7:02pm. 

 

The first order of business was to review and approve meeting minutes from July 20, 2009.  

 

Margo arrived at 7:03 p.m.

 

 

Rosemary was not present due to a vacation day so Duncan briefly went over the budget status report. Duncan passed out a one page synopsis of the delinquent taxes for 2008/2009. As of 8/11/09, delinquent taxes owed are $162,000.

 

 Duncan mentioned that the reminder sign out in front of the Town Clerk’s office for the first installment of 09/10 taxes was well received by residents. Jessica concurred that she heard a lot of positive feedback from residents. 

 

Road Foreman’s report:

Since last meeting there has been 2.6 inches of rain. The single axle truck has a new body with a new paint job. It was put into service last week. The old body has been sold and picked up by the new owners. Work on the Reservoir Bridge was completed last week. The Highway department installed 12 large and 4 small cement blocks to form a new abutment. They also replaced the planks on the deck and used the stones from old abutments for stabilization on the brook banks. They seeded and mulched any disturbed soil. This work was completed for less than $4,000. They started work on Gould Hill on the 12^th thanks to the grant money. They are ditching and replacing three driveway culverts. Steve has been keeping Duncan informed of the costs of the project. It looks like they might exceed the grant by fifteen hundred or so which can be pulled from the summer road budget. They’re scheduled to finish Gould Hill Tuesday or Wednesday. The culverts below Patty Gillespie’s, which have drain inlets, and are the responsibility of the Village, will need to be addressed as soon as possible. Chris is about halfway done the roadside mowing. 

 

David Butler arrived at 7:11 pm

 

Discussion continued about culverts and catch basins. Duncan stated that Gould Hill won’t be reclassified until February when the State does their reclassifications. Steve mentioned continuing the ditching up Gould Hill as part of the regular maintenance. The Board concurred.

 

Howard arrived at 7:16 p.m. 

 

Steve asked the Board if they want to mow class IV roads like they did about half a dozen years ago. Discussion of Class IV road maintenance ensued. The Town’s policy RE: Class IV roads was discussed. The Board told Steve to hold off on roadside mowing on Class IV roads until they can discuss it in detail at a future date.

 

Selectboard issues/concerns:

 

Margo received a phone call from Donna Van Marter re: ATV riders on Hoag Road. Apparently the riders have been riding on her land and on the state’s land beside her property. She’s called the Sheriff’s office only to be told that the ATV ordinance is un-enforceable as is. Margo suggested re-visiting that ordinance. Considerable discussion about ATVs and the ordinance followed. Lois mentioned the safety hazard of ATVers on Clay Hill with the beginning of the Fall semester coming up at JSC. There was no consensus to revisit the ordinance. Eric is to contact LCSD about enforcement.

 

Doug requested that the board vote to have the Planning Commission report to the Board at every select board meeting. He asked that they be put on the agenda every month. Howard agreed that a thumbnail report would be helpful, but brevity is wise. Bob Selby, the Commission’s Chair, stressed that communication between boards is key. Duncan made the point that the meeting already runs long with the agendas they have now; he understands the need for communication; could they share meeting minutes? He stressed the need to have Board act on important matters early in the meeting while they are fresh. Eric agreed and said he would work with Duncan to revise the current agenda format. 

 

Administrator’s report:

 

#5) Appointment of the Chair of the Lamoille County Planning Commission member for Johnson

 

#1) Appointing Lynn Lehouillier to Ad Hoc Zoning Committee. 

 

#2) LRSWMD contract. The Board reviewed the current draft of the contract and made a few minor changes to the document. Duncan will forward the Board’s changes to LRSWMD.

 

#3) Amendment to Inter-municipal Agreement between Town & Village to establish a wellhead. This area will become a wellhead protection area, the agreement allows for the extension of sewer & water. Discussion about the amendment to the agreement ensued.

 

David Butler formally requests the Board to discontinue the Class IV portion of TH60. The length of road is .18 of a mile. David states that the road is covered in grass and it goes nowhere. In its stead, David would like to offer the Town an easement on his property which would entail a non motorized recreational path from the edge of the field, along the river, and ultimately to the property leased by the Town for the Rec fields. The process of discontinuance or reclassification of a road was discussed. The board expressed interest in this concept.

 

The Board felt that this exchange would be good in concept; they will continue discussion of this after David makes up an agreement for them to look at.

 

#4) The listers have two errors & omissions change requests- The property of Chris & Jan Perkins has a re-assignment of value of a small outbuilding/shed from non-residential to residential. The Follett Bookstore up on the JSC campus has an increase in business personal property tax from $34,700 to 66,000.

 

#7) The Board will allow Roger Bolio to mow a small portion of Town property for parking at a Family Reunion like last year.

 

#8) The Masonic Hall Clock Tower seems to be leaning. Doug McCarty has taken a look at it and it may take $2500 to jack it up and stabilize. The Board discussed various options but no action was taken. Duncan and Howard are to take another look at it.

 

#9) George Pearlman has offered to supply volunteers from VSC to paint the Masonic Hall clock tower if the Town will provide the paint and a lift. Duncan will contact Johnson Hardware & Rental about lift prices.

#10) The Powerhouse Bridge is back in action and Duncan states that it looks great. Compaction tests have been done and came in at 98% compaction.

 

#12) The Town Fair is October 1^st in Barre. Anyone wishing to attend should let us know ASAP.

 

#14) VLCT Health Trust insurance benefits- Rosemary & Duncan met with a representative regarding a combination of high deductible plans and/or health reimbursement accounts- which are tax-free. The coverage for high deductible plans is excellent. There are options that can be combined to provide coverage equal or better than current plans at considerable savings to the Town. Duncan and Rosemary believe we ought to look carefully at these plans. 

 

Respectfully submitted by,

 

Jessica D. Flores