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Selectboard Meeting

January 17, 2005

                               

Attending the meeting:  Lynn Gardner, Andrea Morgante, Jon Trefry, Randy Volk, Rob Bast, Jeanne Wilson, Mike Anthony, Rocky Martin, Jean Isham and Stewart Pierson.

 

Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM

 

Budget Planning Session

Final Review of Budgets:

  1. Rocky Martin addressed the need for additional help for the water & wastewater department.  There are many deferred maintenance projects that are not being addressed due to lack of man-power.  It would also be beneficial to have another person trained in operating the water and wastewater systems.  It is unknown at this point whether the need could be met with a part-time, temporary or full-time employee.  The Board agreed to include an amount of $15,900 in each the water and wastewater budgets for salary and benefits.  The actual duties of the additional employee will be detailed in a job description at a later date.
  2. The Board reviewed a project list for the highway budget.  $29,000 will be included in the budget for summer reconstruction for work on O’Neil Road, Hayden Hill Road East and Turkey Lane.  $62,700 will be included in the capital budget reconstruction for work on Pond Brook Road ($22,700) and to subcontract out for shoulder work ($40,000).  Highway utilities increased to $7,000 and telephone increased to $2,000.
  3. Selectboard professional services increased to $5,000.

 

Finalize Capital Budget:  Road Construction appropriation for FY 05 – 06 changed from $100,000 to $62,700.

 

Finalize Expenditure Summary:  Summary will be updated to represent changes made above.

 

Finalize Revenue Summary:  Property Tax will be updated to represent changes made above.

 

Final Review of Growth in Grand List:  Projected growth of 2.14%

 

Final Review of Tax Rate Projection:  Tax Rate will be updated to represent changes made above.

 

Finalize Warning & Articles:  Rob moved that the Board vote to include an article in the Warning for Town Meeting Day 2005, asking whether general obligation bonds of the Town of Hinesburg in the amount of $145,000 be issued for the purpose of financing the purchase of a new tanker truck for the Hinesburg Volunteer Fire Department.  Seconded by Randy and approved.  A draft warning was reviewed and discussed.  A final copy will be prepared for Board signature at the January 24 meeting.

                                   

Other Business

 

Approve Minutes of January 3, 2005:   Randy moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of January 3, 2005.  Seconded by Jon and approved.

 

 

 

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Green Community Technologies:  The Board received a memo from Melissa Levy of Yellow Wood Associates, summarizing a meeting she had with Rocky Martin and Alex Weinhagen.  During the meeting, six issues were identified as potential projects for the Green Community Technologies Program.  The top priority was a scoping study of an upgrade for the existing wastewater system.  At the January 3 meeting, the Board decided it was not interested in proceeding with Yellow Wood Associates on these projects. 

 

Rocky Martin spoke in support of the grant proposal for a scoping study of an upgrade for the existing wastewater system.  The scoping study would explore alternative as well as standard technologies and would be a broad overview.  Randy voiced his concern that this project would be a waste of funds, and that the Town should hire an engineering firm to complete an engineering study.  Rocky was under the assumption that hiring an engineering firm would be part of the scoping study.  Rob spoke in favor of researching alternative technologies.  Rob moved that Rocky confirm that the proposed scoping study includes the utilization of an engineering firm, and if it does the Board authorize Rocky to spend up to $2,250 from the wastewater account for the Green Community Technologies program.  Seconded by Andrea and approved, with Randy voting against.

 

Update on Nextel Communications Facility:  Rocky reviewed the current proposal for the Nextel Communications facility at the wastewater treatment site on Lagoon Road with the Board, and advised that the draft lease agreement with Nextel Communications allowed for three additional users, without additional lease fees to the Town.  The Board suggested it had no issues with the site plan which allows for additional users.  The lease would need to be renegotiated if additional users were added and the lease fee adjusted accordingly.  The Board discussed average lease fees.

 

Update on Recreation Path Project:  Jon Trefry reported that the committee had met with VTrans on January 6.  Greg Bakos of VHB, Inc. has revised the plan based on decisions made at the previous meeting, which reduced the wetland impacts on CVU Road and Mechanicsville Road.  There are still property owner issues to be resolved.  For instance, allowing room on CVU Road for a right-turn lane at Route 116 would require a larger easement from the property owner.  The project is currently undefined on Ballard’s Corner Road.  Jon reported that it would help move the design forward if the Selectboard made a decision to take over Ballard’s Corner Road between Shelburne Falls Road and the Carpenter Carse Library drive.  The Board instructed Jeanne to look into the procedure for taking over a private road and move forward with the process.

 

Revisions to Town Plan: The Board had previously been provided with a copy of the proposed Town Plan, which included all suggested changes made by individual Board members.  The Board reviewed these suggested changes, and agreed on which changes should be included in the final draft.  Andrea made a motion to warn a public hearing on the revised Town Plan as soon as reasonably possible.  Seconded by Jon and approved.

 

Appointments to Planning Commission:  Terms of appointment to the Planning Commission for Carrie Fenn, Fred Haulenbeek and George Bedard expired this month.  All three had expressed an interest in a re-appointment in writing.  A notice of expiring terms had been posted.  Jon moved that the Board vote to re-appoint Carrie Fenn, Fred Haulenbeek and George Bedard to the Planning Commission for four-year terms, which will expire on January 1, 2009.  Seconded by Randy and approved with Andrea abstaining.

 

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Appointment to Development Review Board:  Terms of appointment to the Development Review Board for Tom McGlenn, Ted Bloomhardt and Howard Russell expired this month.  All three had expressed an interest in a re-appointment in writing.  A notice of expiring terms had been posted.  Jon moved that the Board vote to re-appoint Tom McGlenn, Ted Bloomhardt and Howard Russell to the Development Review Board for three-year terms, which will expire on January 1, 2008.  Seconded by Randy and approved.

 

Appointment to Recreation Commission:  Term of appointment to the Recreation Commission for Anne Frost expired this month.  Anne had expressed an interest in a re-appointment in writing.  A notice of expiring terms had been posted.  Jon moved that the Board vote to re-appoint Anne Frost to the Recreation Commission for a three-year term, which will expire on January 1, 2008.  Seconded by Andrea and approved.

 

Resignation of Alternate to the Development Review Board:  Andrea moved that the Board vote to accept the resignation of Carrie Fenn as Alternate to the Development Review Board.  Seconded by Rob and approved.

 

Resignation from Recreation Commission:  Andrea moved that the Board vote to accept the resignation of Kevin Francis from the Recreation Commission.  Seconded by Rob and approved.

 

Correspondence from Town of Shelburne / Dispatch Costs for FY 05-06:  A letter had been received from the Town of Shelburne, outlining dispatch costs for FY 05-06.  The cost per call is $28.50 (a 3% increase over the rate of $27.67 for the current year). For the Police Department, they had estimated a call volume of 1000 calls annually, for a cost of $28,500.  The actual call rate for the past two years for the police department has been 700 – 800 calls dispatched by Shelburne.  The Board signed a letter to the Town of Shelburne, stating that the Town has appropriated $22,000 for police dispatch fees, which is the appropriate amount for the normal call volume. 

 

VTrans 2005 Certificate of Highway Mileage:  Randy moved that the Board vote to sign the VTrans 2005 Certificate of Highway Mileage.  Seconded by Rob and approved.

 

VTrans 2004 Bridge Inspection Reports:  Inspection Reports were received for Bridge #10 (Silver Street over Laplatte), Bridge #11 (Silver Street over Lewis Creek), Bridge #6 (Charlotte Road over Laplatte), and Bridge #9 (Hollow Road over Hollow Brook).  The Board signed a letter to VTrans, acknowledging the Town’s receipt of reports, but disagreement with the rating for Bridge #10 (Silver Street over Laplatte).  The report rates this bridge at a 6 (six) or satisfactory for deck, superstructure and substructure.  This rating is contrary to previous bridge inspection reports for the same bridge.

 

Correspondence from Lt. Alan Buck of Vermont State Police / Citizen Advisory Board:  The Town received a letter from Lt. Alan Buck of the Vermont State Police regarding establishment of a citizen’s advisory board and requesting recommendations of interested citizens (1 – 3) to represent the town on the advisory board.  Chris Morrell had previously suggested Landon Dennison as a possible representative.  Other suggestions made at the meeting were Kathleen Patten and Val Spadaccini.  Jeanne will contact all three to see if they are interested.

 

 

 

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Correspondence from David Emmons / Noise Complaint:  Mr. Emmons had written a letter to the Selectboard on behalf of his father, Paul Emmons, regarding noise generated by vehicles (audio systems and exhaust systems), as well as vehicle speeds on Birchwood Drive.  The Board is not generally in favor of enacting a noise ordinance, due to the limited number of complaints.  The Board directed Jeanne to prepare a response letter for the next meeting, to investigate noise regulations in other towns and to request the police department be proactive in addressing speeding vehicles.

 

Outgoing Correspondence

 

The Board signed a letter of appreciation to Holly Russell for 25 years of service as recording secretary to Planning Commission and Development Review Board.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Jeanne Kundell Wilson

Hinesburg Town Administrator

s bridge at a 6 (six) or satisfactory for deck, superstructure and substructure.  This rating is contrary to previous bridge inspection reports for the same bridge.

 

Correspondence from Lt. Alan Buck of Vermont State Police / Citizen Advisory Board:  The Town received a letter from Lt. Alan Buck of the Vermont State Police regarding establishment of a citizen’s advisory board and requesting recommendations of interested citizens (1 – 3) to represent the town on the advisory board.  Chris Morrell had previously suggested Landon Dennison as a possible representative.  Other suggestions made at the meeting were Kathleen Patten and Val Spadaccini.  Jeanne will contact all three to see if they are interested.

 

 

 

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Correspondence from David Emmons / Noise Complaint:  Mr. Emmons had written a letter to the Selectboard on behalf of his father, Paul Emmons, regarding noise generated by vehicles (audio systems and exhaust systems), as well as vehicle speeds on Birchwood Drive.  The Board is not generally in favor of enacting a noise ordinance, due to the limited number of complaints.  The Board directed Jeanne to prepare a response letter for the next meeting, to investigate noise regulations in other towns and to request the police department be proactive in addressing speeding vehicles.

 

Outgoing Correspondence

 

The Board signed a letter of appreciation to Holly Russell for 25 years of service as recording secretary to Planning Commission and Development Review Board.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Jeanne Kundell Wilson

Hinesburg Town Administrator

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