Select board members present: Eric Osgood - Chair, Margo Warden, Doug Molde, Howard Romero.

 

Others present: Rosemary Audibert; Duncan Hastings, Steve Smith; Road Foreman, Jessica Flores; Selectboard Secretary, Jim Tomlinson Jr; Green Mtn. Access TV, Davis Coyer; Basement Medicine, Greg Denton from GW Tatro, Bill Neddie from Krebs & Lansing.

 

Eric called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 

 

Duncan suggested changing part of the meeting minutes from February 17^th to read: Duncan and Steve Smith will work together on Class II highways and bridge & culvert grant applications. 

 

 

Rosemary gave the Board her budget status report. Overall the Town is at 69% of the budget and we’re ¾ of the way through the fiscal year. Eric mentioned that the cost for winter roads is down. Rosemary received reappraisal money from the state last month. The Recreation Committee brought in some money from their ski program. Delinquent taxes: the Town tax sale is on April 8, 2010 at 2:00pm upstairs at the Municipal Office. Rosemary asked if a member of the Board could be present. Margo agreed. Rosemary signed a contract with ACS to conduct the microfilming of land records. They will begin in April. Rosemary has Tobacco & Liquor license applications for the Board to look over. This will be discussed under action items on the agenda.

 

Rosemary reported that 75% of the current taxes are in which is right where we normally are.

 

Steve Smith’s Road Foreman’s report:

 

Since last meeting we have had 31” of snow, 18” of which fell on February 24^th. The Highway Department has plowed 9 times and sanded 14 times. Steve is continuing to look at graders, and will look at a Volvo 940 tomorrow. This will be the last grader they look at before trying them out. These tryouts will begin as soon as mud season is over. Once a grader has been chosen then it will take 6 weeks for delivery. Steve has already had two inquiries about selling our current grader outright. Steve asked the Board how they wanted to handle selling the grader. Duncan suggested soliciting bids. This was discussed briefly. The consensus of the Board was is solicit bids for the grader beginning in May, with a possession date of July 1^st. 

 

Last week Ray installed two new entrance doors on the garage.

 

The Board recessed at 7:15 pm to finish with the Tax Abatement Hearing.

The select board meeting continued again at 7:25 pm. 

 

Bob Selby, Planning Commission’s report:

 

The Planning Commission met again with the Ad Hoc Committee.   Together, they passed a measure to revisit the Town zoning bylaws. Bob continues to work with the Lamoille County Planning Commission on the revisions necessary to present them to the public again. Duncan mentioned that Lea is working on a Municipal Planning grant application and she can actually do the Town Plan update in house. Duncan also mentioned that Lea was able to get two transportation Enhancement grants, one for the Town, and one for the Village. The Town grant is for the feasibility study for a Recreation Trail on David Butler’s property. Doug asked Bob to look again at the subdivision regulations. 

 

Bob left at 7:35 pm. 

 

Administrator’s Report:

 

Action item #4. Tobacco & Liquor license approvals: the new owners of Grand Union, Hudson River supermarkets, had applied along with Aramark, RL Vallee, Jolley’s, VT Plus Life (DJ’s), and The Hub. 

 

Action item #1. Lamoille Housing Project on School Street. The engineers need to do an open cut trench instead of the directional boring, as required under the Town issued R.O.W Permit; they have presented the Town with a detailed proposal for constructing the open cut trench. Duncan and Steve Smith are okay with their proposal and recommend an amendment to the permit, which would incorporate the new proposal submitted by Krebs and Lansing.  

Bill Neddie from Krebs & Lansing and Greg Denton for GW Tatro were at the meeting to answer the Board’s questions. Bill stated that the entire project was slated to be finished in the fall of next year. 

 

Duncan mentioned Highways #43 & #71, West Settlement Rd and Sweetser Rd. The Agency of Transportation is fixing a bridge over Smith Brook. Vtrans was unable to find the ROW width in the land records. Vtrans requested that the Town indicate the ROW width. Duncan stated the normal ROW width is 3 rods, or 49.5 feet.

Action item #2: Letter of support for VT Telecommunication Authority. Google is expanding their infrastructure and is trying to get a feel for who might be interested in hosting their expansion. VT Telecomm. requested a letter of support from every Town in Vermont so that they can let Google know that Vermont wants in. Lea has written a letter of support for the Board.

 

Action item #6. Class IV Road Policy. Duncan handed out copies of the policy and a VLCT Model Class IV Policy. Duncan pointed out that the current policy provides for no maintenance other than is required by statute. The Road Commissioner has asked Steve to maintain some Class IV roads. Steve Smith asked the board what he should do. Duncan stated that the Road Commissioner has no independent authority over the Road Foreman, except as granted to him by the full Selectboard and cannot order the Road Foreman to do something that goes against the adopted Class IV Policy of the Selectboard. The Board can amend their Policy to include providing assistance in emergency situations, or other limited maintenance if they desire to do so, but once adopted, the Policy must be uniformly applied.    It is very important not to deviate from the policy once approved. The Board agreed that Steve should follow the adopted Class IV road policy. No action was taken on the model road policy. Eric asked that Duncan keep this on the agenda for next meeting for when Rocky was back and the Board can discuss changes Rocky would like to see in the Policy.

 

The select board meeting resumed at 8:25 pm.

 

Action item #3. NEMS contract. This needs to be signed by Brad Reed.

 

Duncan added that the Town does now have a signed option to purchase agreement with the Jewett’s. 

 

Action item #5. The Supreme Court has granted oral argument in the VSC appeal. Eric will attend on Thursday, March 18^th.

 

Duncan mentioned the Butler easement for the Recreation Trail project. Since Lea received the grant for the feasibility study, the easement should be completed soon. The consensus of the Board was to have Doug contact David Butler’s lawyer David Polow to see if it can be moved forward. 

 

Jessica Flores, Wellness Coordinator:

 

Jessica presented the results of the Town’s Wellness program. Last year employee participation was at 25%, and this year it’s at 60%. Jessica asked the Board to approve VLCT’s monetary incentives to the eligible employees again this year. Last year the eligible employees received over $1500 from VLCT, for actively participating in the Wellness Program and meeting the Town’s requirements. Jessica goal is to get over $4000 this year for the employees. 

 

Eric mentioned that he got a call Saturday night at 9:30 from Ron Bushnell about ATVs on Tree Farm Road. The ATV ordinance was discussed. Duncan suggested posting the ATV ordinance in the local paper. The Board directed Duncan to do so.

 

Doug suggested welcoming the new owners of Grand Union. Duncan will ask Lea get in touch with Hudson River Supermarkets.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted by,

Jessica D. Flores