Selectboard Meeting

January 16, 2006

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Attending the meeting; Rob Bast, Andrea Morgante, Jon Trefry, Randy Volk, Howard Russell, Jeanne Wilson, Donna Constantineau, Mike Anthony, Roger Kohn, Stewart Pierson.

 

Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m.

 

Budget Planning Session

 

Revisit Highway Budget

Vehicle Fuel Expense – increased to $35,000

           

Excavator and Loader -discussion on leasing vs. purchasing.  Questioned was if the number of years of the lease agreement is open.   If financed Rob would like to see if it can be financed over a period of 4 years.  Randy feels it is better to purchase the loader and lease the excavator.  Jeanne will look into the financing questions.

           

 Silver Street Reconstruction – the plan from the scoping study for improvements to the hill has a $790,000 projected cost.  Rob raised the question of funding for a project of this size.  Jeanne advised they would need to have a bond vote by Australian ballot.  Andrea said the Town could see if this would qualify as a safety project with VTRANS.  Another suggestion would be for the State to acknowledge this as a major vehicle route that carries more traffic northbound than Rt 116.  Rob said the Town should exhaust all other avenues of funding before calling for a bond vote.

Roger had the alternate suggestion to solve part of the problem by raising the road some on the North end.  It was agreed not to include the $20,000 for Silver St reconstruction in the budget at this time.

           

Pond Brook Road – put in at $89,000 for a 21 ft wide base coat.  Next year will request $61,000.  The Board members discussed the 18 ft vs. 21 ft width.  Donna said it would be nice to be able to keep the road as a walkable road.  Narrowing is being discussed as a means of traffic calming in the village and she feels the Town should do whatever is possible for traffic calming in other areas of Town as well.

Fog lines for the road were brought up.  The money in the budget for fog lines is not specified for any certain road.

Andrea asked if the Board thought this should be presented as a separate warned article at 21 ft wide. Howard, Andrea and Jon agreed to warn as a separate article.  Randy was not in favor of separating this.  The Board agreed to warn for now and will discuss again if desired.

Other Items – Blacktop planned is portions of North Rd for 1400 ft and portions of Hollow Rd for 1750 ft.

                       

 Revisit Buildings & Facilities Budget

Town Hall – main level flooring - Jeanne located the quote from the flooring company which did not include sub floor. The Board still wants to look at possible use of timber from the Town forest – will keep amount at $25,000.

                       

Town Hall Parking Lot – reduced to $1,000 to pave only the handicapped area and $4,000 to cover cost overruns for the Town Hall site work.

                       

Gravel Path at Hart & Mead – include in Town budget at $7,200.

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Revisit Recreation Budget

            July 4th Expense – no additional funds requested for 06-07

           

Revisit Planning & Zoning Budget

            Professional Services – all projects will remain

                       

Revisit Police Budget

            Dispatch Expense – increased to $26,000

            Actual Physical Fitness Expense for FY 04 – 05.  Decreased 06-07 request to $1,000 to better reflect past actuals.

                                   

Revisit Agency Budget – Howard proposed a three step process as a new policy for funding agencies.

1)     all agencies now funded would receive the COLA increase each year

2)     those agencies requesting an increase beyond COLA must document why more funding is needed

3)     requests for funding of new agencies must be raised from the floor at Town Meeting.  A list of agencies requesting funding will be included in the Town Report.  If voted and approved to include that agency they will then be included in the list of approved agencies in future years.

The Board agreed this was a good plan and will implement the COLA for the 06-07 budget year.

Rob questioned inclusion of the Howard Center as he is concerned with the lack of cooperative effort by the center to have open communications on problems that arose this past year in Town.  The Board agreed to include the Center for 06-07 and asked Jeanne to draft a letter inviting them to come speak to the Board.

                       

Review Capital Budget – Rec path - $250,000 (this does not reflect tax dollars but rather the cost of the project and will show in expense and revenue.  Expected costs for 06-07 are obtaining rights of way, and start up construction.

 

Other- sidewalk plow/sander – 07-08 $77,000.  Rocky will have figures on cost of sub contracting this before next budget year.

                       

Proposed COLA / Salary Plan – The Board approved 4%.  There was also discussion of the proposed step increase system for Town employees.

                       

Other Business

 

Approve Warrants:  Jon moved that the Board vote to approve the warrants (including payroll warrants) for bills payable as presented by the Town Treasurer. Second by Howard and approved.

 

Approve Minutes of December 19, 2005:  Howard moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of December 19, 2005 as corrected, second by Jon and approved.

 

Trial Balances for Water & Wastewater and General Fund Accounts for Period Ending 12/31/05:  Howard moved that the Board vote to acknowledge receipt of the trial balances for the Water & Wastewater and General Fund accounts for the period ending 12/31/05. Second by Jon and approved.

 

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Appointment to the Planning Commission:  Johanna White’s term on the Planning Commission expired on 1/1/06.  Johanna has submitted a letter of interest in reappointment.  The vacancy has been published and posted.  No other letters of interest have been received.  Howard moved that the Board vote to appoint Johanna White to the Planning Commission for a four-year term which will expire on January 1, 2010. Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Follow-Up Discussion from Council on Rural Development Community Visit Program Meeting:  Paul Costello from the Council on Rural Development met with interested community members on Monday, January 9, 2006 to introduce the Community Visit Program.  Andrea, Rob, Jon and Howdy were present at the meeting.

Stewart asked what this would mean for Hinesburg.  Andrea said they would assist with projects by bringing in State employees from the agency associated with the particular project.  Also could lead to help from other non profit organizations that would have the expertise in any given area.

Andrea moved the Board vote to approve submitting the letter of interest requesting being considered for the program and authorize the chair, Rob Bast, to sign the letter.  Second by Howard and approved.

 

FY 06 – 07 Fire Protection Contract with St. George: Jon moved that the Board vote to sign the letter to the St. George Selectboard regarding the fire protection contract for FY 06 – 07.  Fire protection will be provided for a cost of $16,673 (15% of the actual expense for the Fire Department & First Response for FY 04 – 05). Second by Randy and approved.

 

Additions to the Agenda

 

Val Spadaccini reported to the Board that at the State Police Citizen Advisory meeting they were informed that a bill is being drafted to be submitted to the House regarding “Resident State Trooper”.  When a bill number is assigned we will be notified so we can read and track it.

 

Howard moved the Board go into executive session for personnel issues, second by Jon and approved.

Howard moved the Board come out of executive session and adjourn, second by Jon and approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Valerie Spadaccini, secretary