Town of Johnson
Select board Meeting
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Upstairs, Johnson Municipal Building
UNAPPROVED
Select board members present: Eric Osgood - Chair, Franklin Hooper, Doug Molde, Howard Romero.
Others present: Rosemary Audibert; Duncan Hastings, Steve Smith; Road Foreman, Lois Frey from the Historical Society, Jessica Flores; Selectboard Secretary, Jim Tomlinson Jr; Green Mtn. Access TV, Davis Coyer; Basement Medicine.
Eric called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Howard moved to approve meeting minutes of January 18, 2010. Rocky seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
Rosemary gave the Board a letter requesting a tax abatement meeting for next Month. She requested a half hour meeting before the regular meeting in March. All delinquent taxes have been turned over to Sharon Green. Eric asked about any taxes that might be owed by Fairpoint. His concern is the Chapter 11 bankruptcy they filed. Fairpoint has no overdue taxes. Duncan stated that he believes Fairpoint will come out of the bankruptcy fully intending to continue their services. Regarding current taxes: 9.79% of taxes are uncollected for 3rd installment, 6.66% uncollected for 2nd installment, 5.4% uncollected for 1st installment.
Budget status Report: 63% of the fiscal year has passed, and the Town is at 64% expenditures. The Highway Department is at 51%. The annual Town Report will be delivered on Friday, and will go out to residents then. Duncan mentioned that Jessica did put a copy of it on the Town website in pdf format. Rosemary told the board that Dick Perkins has passed away, Chris’ father. His wake is on Sunday at Holcomb funeral home.
Foreman’s Report: Since the last meeting there have been 27” inches of snow. The Highway Department has plowed 10 times and sanded 22 times. We had a significant amount of rain in January, thus they had to sand more than usual. The department was invited to Richmond last week by Milton Cat to look at a grader the Town could buy, if they won the bid. This grader is ahead of the competition as far as operator comfort and design. They also seem to be the most interested in selling the Town the grader. Rocky has expressed concern over ditching. Does the Board want to develop a ditching program? Chris Perkins is on bereavement leave this week due to the passing of his father. Eric asked Steve to work with Rocky on a ditching proposal. Rocky said, come spring, Steve and he will go riding around checking out the problem areas. Details of the grader were discussed. Steve mentioned the importance of efficient fuel consumption. Eric asked how many hours the part time help had thus far. Together, they don’t have 100 hours which saves money. Duncan asked the Board permission to work with Steve on Class II highways. The French Hill culvert project was mentioned. Duncan said that it’s wise to submit a Class II grant application even if we don’t have a Class II priority.
Howard moved to have Duncan apply for a Class II Highway grant. Rocky seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
Rocky mentioned that an ambulance couldn’t get up a Class IV in east Johnson. More to be discussed regarding Class IV roads later. Steve asked about the snowmobile trail that Ellis has requested across the Talc Mill property. He suggested that the select board be careful about where the trail goes and ensure that it’s in fact, just one trail. Duncan announced that the Town was interested in purchasing the Jewett property across from Jolley’s. Duncan asked the Board if it’d be okay to use the Highway department to dig test pits on the Jewett property as it would save the Town money. The selectboard agreed that was the best option.
Administrator’s Report:
#1 Action item: The new Health Savings Account and Flex Account benefits for eligible employees. Duncan read the resolution aloud. Doug asked how long the resolution lasts, as Duncan will retire in a few years. Duncan answered: until the Board rescinds it. Doug asked that the signor portion of the resolution read: “Duncan, or his successor”.
Doug moved to approve the new benefit resolution with the added language. Howard seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
7:25 p.m Planning Commission Report:
Bob Selby reported that they had a meeting with 2 or 3 members of the Ad Hoc Zoning Committee which was fruitful. The consensus was that Duncan’s help was greatly needed and appreciated. The group did a cursory review in light of Duncan’s comments. The proposed bylaws, as written, are burdensome, if it were revised then it could be made more palatable to the public. The Planning Commission will have its next meeting around the time of Town Meeting. They will invite the Ad Hoc Committee as well. The Commission has spent $165 of their allotted $900 budget. They’ll put the remaining money towards a consultant who may be able to revise the proposed bylaws. Bob is currently working with the Lamoille County Planning Commission on finding a consultant. This time it will not be a long and tedious process to prepare the bylaws. Eric asked that Bob come back to the Board when he has a definitive amount of what the consultant will cost. The Board had no further questions.
Administrator’s report cont’d:
#2 Action item: Joan St. Pierre has given her resignation as Selectboard secretary.
Howard made a motion to accept Joan’s resignation. Doug seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
Rocky made a motion to appoint Jessica Flores as the selectboard secretary. Howard seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion Approved.
#4 Action item: Fire Services Contract. Duncan had e-mailed the contract to the Board. The cost is the same as last year.
Howard made a motion for Eric to sign the Fire Service contract for 2010. Doug seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
#5 Action item: Ellis O’hear has requested a snowmobile trail across the Talc Mill property. Duncan asked the Board if they wanted to grant Ellis access across the Mill Park via a snowmobile trail? Ellis has contacted the owner of the property, Luzenac America, and they directed him to the selectboard as the Town leases the property. Luzenac has said that it’s okay with them as long as there is no excavation on the premises as it would trigger an Act 250 application. It is the Town’s responsibility to contact the Act 250 district to see if this trail would be subject to Act 250. Duncan mentioned that it is within the Board’s purview to name exactly where the trail will be. The Board agreed that Ellis will have to come to them with an area map showing where the trail will be. This will be revisited at a later time.
Carolyn D’Luz and Steve Roberts for Lamoille River Food Co-op entered at 7:50pm
#6 Action item: Intent to purchase document for the Jewett property. Duncan has a draft that has been reviewed by the Town’s attorney Dave Barra. He has approved it with some minor grammatical changes. The initial offer to purchase for the 1st year is at no cost to the Town. There will be a $5,000 non refundable payment due after the first year if the Town hasn’t purchased it by then. The agreement is that the Jewett’s can keep the engineering data collected by the Town if the purchase does not occur. This agreement would give the Town an exclusive right to purchase and conduct site tests. The property is 17.3 acres according to the survey. Eric and Duncan have met with the Jewett’s. They’re very interested in the concept of the Town developing a commercial/light industrial park. The asking price is firm at $350,000. There is a right of way across the property for a 30 foot phone line. Duncan presented a map of the property. Water/sewer & electric would be supplied by the Village. Duncan expressed concern over part of the property that is in a wellhead protection zone which would inhibit underground storage tanks for the business that purchases in that section of the property. It’s a developable piece of property. Duncan asked the Board to authorize Eric to sign the option agreement after final approval of the Town’s attorney. If the Town decided not to purchase the property there would be no cost to the Town. The Village trustees thought that the Town should take the lead and they will work with the Town on utilities.
Rocky made a motion to have Eric sign the option agreement to purchase the Jewett property. Howard seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
#8 Action item: USDA Rural development enterprise grant. Lea, Carolyn D’Luz, and Steve Roberts asked the Town to sponsor a grant on behalf of Lamoille River Food Co-op. This is in relation to the Jewett property. They’d like to start a Community market with a bakery, retail food co op market, small working farm, and a compost area. This would be a food center investing in local agriculture. Dave Hallquist was chosen to lead the group on this project. A feasibility study is the next step. A couple RFP’s have come in. The costs for a feasibility study would be $26,500. The applicant can apply for the grant themselves, but if the Town backs them up it would look great for the project. Lea asked the Board for support on this proposal.
Rocky made a motion for the Town to sponsor the USDA grant application for Lamoille River Food Co-op feasibility study. Howard seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
8:00 Tim Torrey from Green Mtn. Access TC:
Tim reports that they have installed an automatic system in Morrisville that records their select board meetings. They set up a couple cameras and use a remote device to work the automated system. They’d like to do the same thing here in Johnson. GMA TV would supply the equipment, the installation, maintenance; all they ask is that the Town buys the DVDs. Duncan asked about the insurance on the equipment. Tim said there was no insurance on the equipment if it is out of their building, but a locked cabinet could be supplied at no cost to the Town.
Howard moved to allow the installation of the cameras and automated recording system. Doug seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
Tim will get in touch with Duncan about an installation date.
Arjay West presented a Campground project with 65 sites on Route 100C:
The campground will be on the former Goslette property. Arjay presented a map of the property and the project. The Act 250 application has been submitted. This will create seasonal jobs for the area. It’ll be great for local grocery stores and convenient stores. Howard was concerned that the campground would morph into a year round trailer park. Arjay responded that the current business plan does not allot for year round potential. Eric and Howard agreed that they don’t want another trailer park in Johnson. Howard asked which market the project catered to. Arjay projects that 10-20% will buy a seasonal pass. The operating season will be from May 15th to October 15th. Doug asked what would be sold at the campground. Camping supplies, basic necessities. River Valley Store will get a lot of business with this new campground. Duncan asked who the operator of the campground will be. Ken Harvey is purchasing the property, but the campground will have its own LLC. It’s Arjay’s plan to have the LLC eventually purchase the property. The Board thanked Arjay for the heads up.
Administrator’s report cont’d.
Action item #7: RFP for engineering services for preliminary site studies on the Jewett property. There were 8 responses from engineering companies. The bids came in from $3520. to $15000. Duncan handed out a spreadsheet of the bids to the Board. Duncan narrowed down his choices to three: Ruggiano ($5200), Cross ($6457), and Otter Creek ($7100). The different proposals of each company were discussed in detail. The funding source for the site studies was discussed. The costs could come out of year end cash on hand. Duncan suggests that the Town should fund this in full, meanwhile submitting the grant application to subsidize.
Howard made a motion for Lea to apply for the USDA Rural Development Grant in conjunction with the Food Co-op’s application, and to accept Ruggiano’s proposal for site tests and evaluation of the Jewett Property for development.
Doug added that the Board should meet with the Engineers first. The Board agreed this was a good idea.
Lea asked the Board if they would approve the $5200 for the Ruggiano’s study, $26,500 for the Food Market feasibility study, $1000 for Lea’s grant administration, and $4000 for the property appraisal. A total of $36,700.
Howard moved to approve the $36,700 for the Jewett property. Rocky seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
Action item #9: The revised budget was e-mailed to the Board, and handed out again at the meeting. The Board agreed that it was fine.
Action item #10: VSC appeal. VSC’s lawyers have requested an oral argument. Dave Barra, the Town’s attorney, will handle this.
Action item #11: Out & About is NOT closing. Duncan has already included that article in the budget proposal.
Action item #13: There are several Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds available. These would allow financing for a Municipality with a 45% decrease in the interest rate. This could help with the development of the Jewett property.
Action item #14: The talc mill park property. Luzenac will provide data on the current act 250 & environmental concerns. There was a slight amount of arsenic in the soil. They monitor it regularly and the amount is under regulations. This site could possibly be a Brownfield site. If the site is a Brownfield then the town could get federal remediation from liability. Doug requested the current act 250 information.
Action item: #15: report from NEMS: Johnson is responsible for 45% of the total call volume which is commiserate with the amount we pay for services.
Doug mentioned the low NECAP scores from Johnson elementary school. He mentioned that this is a wonderful opportunity for community building.
Howard moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:30pm. Doug seconded. Unanimous in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully submitted by,
Jessica D. Flores