Selectboard Meeting

September 18, 2006

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Attending the meeting: Rob Bast, Andrea Morgante, Jon Trefry, Randy Volk, Howard Russell, Jeanne Wilson, Rocky Martin, Alex Weinghagen, also see attached list of attendees.

 

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Director of Buildings & Facilities Rocky Martin / Gravel Path at Hart & Mead to Connect HCS with Lyman Park – Rocky had a plan showing the gravel path following close to the property border which would be out of the way and less chance of a possible need to move it in the future.  This is slightly longer than the original proposed pathway.  The Board discussed plowing for winter use.  Rocky said this will not be an easement but a license which needs to be renewed after a stated amount of time.  The Board asked if the path was a condition placed on developing the parcel and could they actually remove it?  Rocky will look into this further.  The Board agreed at this time with the idea of relocating the path.

 

David Saladino PE, RSG, Inc. / Presentation on Route 116 Sidewalk Feasibility Study Draft Report – David reviewed with the Board and those present the draft plans. 

The Mead family objected to the relocation of their driveway and moving the fence in front of their house for the sidewalk.  They suggested having the sidewalk on the south side of Rt116.  David advised that after the plan was drawn he found out that the driveway can not be moved as proposed as Lyman Meadow Rd is a private road not a Town road and so relocation of the driveway will be removed from the final plan.

Len Duffy re-stated his concern that to keep a village feel on street parking need be included.

Frank Thwarog agreed with Len and asked about the section 2 crosswalk.

David advised the Town would not be loosing the current crosswalk.

Patrick Downs is concerned with the sidewalk being so close to his house – this will reduce his front yard to 5 feet.  He has concerns with storm water drainage and snow removal leading to flooding in his basement.  He said that when the water lines were worked on the footing drains for his house were broken which now causes flooding in his basement.  He is worried that as piles of snow melt this condition will get worse.  Rob acknowledged his concern and said the Board will look at the situation further.

George Dameron and Karla Munson spoke in favor of the sidewalk continuing from Lyman Meadow Road along the north side of Route 116 to Hart & Mead. 

Donna Constantineau mentioned the advantages available now with the historical village designation.

 

Old Route 116 Culvert Issue / Review of Project Specifications and Bid Documents

Andrea brought up the concern of having access to clean the culvert for long term maintenance.

The Place’s questioned the lower road elevation by the house and culvert and wanted to know how much of the headwall will be seen above ground.  Rob responded the top of the headwall should be 5 ft above the water at its highest.

Also asked about the existing plantings and walkway, access and parking during construction.  The Board will see that a schedule is worked out with them and a site visit to look at plantings.  Andrea added that the tree warden should be consulted about the Sycamore tree.

Nagel’s have done some excavation work to improve that area and lessen any erosion problems.

 

                                                     SEPTEMBER 18, 2006                                                        page 2 of 6

 

Russell Barone & Bartlett Frisbie of Hinesburg Hillside LLC -

 

a) Taking over development roads – Thorn Bush Road, Thistle Hill Road and Mulberry Lane (other development roads would remain private). Rob stated the policy of the Town for taking over roads would be they connect to the Town network, or the road connects to a public system such as the library.  If these conditions are met the Town would consider the request to take over the road.

Russ said he considers the trail system that will be in place fills the criteria of connection to a public system.

The home owner association of Mulberry Lane is in favor of the Town taking over the road.

 

b) Road Standards

i)          Road Width – Requesting 22’ (instead of 24’) on Thorn Bush Road,  and Mulberry Lane to match existing road widths (all other development roads will meet standard). The Board was in agreement on maintaining the standard 24’ width.

 

ii)            Guardrails – Standard calls for steel guardrails.                                                                                        Proposing wooden guardrails, which are more aesthetically pleasing for a residential neighborhood with slow traffic speeds.  The Board agreed to go with steel as the engineer stated they would meet the safety requirement and wood guardrails do not.

 iii)     B71 Driveway Standard -  Requesting waiver of standard regarding grade of driveway at intersection with roadway. The engineer has investigated and addressed water run off.  The Board agreed to the waiver.

iv)      Hammerhead road design- Engineering reports show emergency vehicles and school busses can turn around.  The Board agreed to the design.

c)                 Irrevocable Offers of Dedication – Individual offers for various pieces of infrastructure or one offer which covers all?   The Board is requesting one offer for all.

d)                 Traffic Calming Measures for Mulberry Lane – This is a request from the homeowner’s assoc.

e)                 Four-way stop at Mechanicsville / Thorn Bush / Commerce Street intersection – This is DRB driven.  Traffic study does not warrant at this time, could be added at a later date.

f)                   Trails

i)                    Public or private trails

ii)                  Parking at trail-head locations – Discussed the pros and cons of designated parking area or on street parking.

iii)                Indemnification for Home Owners Association –Needs to be checked out further.

iv)               Trail use – walking only, or bicycles also? – Let the trails committee decide this.

v)                 Trail easement width and final locations – Need further information.

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2006                                                          page 3 of 6

 

 

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.

 

Trial Balances for Water & Wastewater and General Fund Accounts for Period Ending 8/31/06:  Jon moved that the Board vote to acknowledge receipt of the trial balances for the Water & Wastewater and General Fund accounts for the period ending 8/31/06. Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Approve Minutes of August 21, 2006:  Randy moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of August 21, 2006 as corrected.  Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Funding for Site Plan / Municipally Owned Lot Behind Fire Station:  Frank Twarog said he believes the Town needs to coordinate any plan with other projects.  Howard moved that the Board vote to authorize a portion of the funds designated in the current fiscal year budget for the relocation of the skate park for the purpose of planning the area on the municipally owned lot behind the Fire Station, and to authorize the Recreation Department to solicit proposals for site plan engineering work.  Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Endorsement of Municipal Planning Grant:  Andrea moved that the Board vote to sign the Resolution for the FY 2007 Municipal Planning Grant.  The signed resolution is needed as part of the grant application process.  The grant request is for funding to support the open space planning effort, currently led by the Conservation Commission, to identify areas that the Town should attempt to preserve in order to protect water, agriculture, wildlife and other natural resources.  Second by Jon and approved.

           

Amendment to Designation of Reserve Funds from FY 05 – 06:  Following your designation of Reserve Funds from FY 05 – 06 at the August 21 meeting, a couple errors in the status reports were discovered by the Accounting Assistant.  This has resulted in changes to a few of the reserved amounts.  Howard moved that the Board vote to approve the following amended reserve funds from FY 05 – 06:      

           

                        Sidewalks                                         $  2,715.38

                        Recreation Path                            $58,270.24

                        Land Preservation                          $  7,431.00

                        Police Vehicle                                  $15,000.00

                        Police Station Upgrade                    $11,226.36

                        Records Restoration                $18,285.44

                        Records – Print, Bind & Microfilm            $  4,948.25

                        Town Clerk Shelving                    $14,000.00

                        PC – Professional Services            $  1,202.90

                        Recreation – Capital Expense            $  5,552.54

                        Town Hall Site Improvements            $  3,805.08

                                              SEPTEMBER 18, 2006                                             page 4 of 6

 

 

                        Silver Street Engineering             $  2,487.67

                        Highway – New Garage                      $39,010.82

                        Highway – Ditching & Shoulders            $33,250.00

                        Fire Department – Landscaping            $14,700.00

                        Tree Planting                                  $  4,141.00

                        July 4th Fund                                       $  2,698.09

                        Total Reserves                           $238,724.77                     

 

Second by Jon and approved.

 

Discussion of Correction to Wastewater Service Area – Revision of Ordinance / RE: Fournier Property on Pond Road  - The Board discussed allowing the connection for the house and then correct the ordinance which would remove the property from the service area.

 

VT Agency of Human Services Grant Amendment / Community Partners Program:  Jon moved that the Board vote to authorize the Chair to sign an amendment to the agreement between the State of Vermont, Agency of Human Services (Department of Corrections) and the Town for funding for the Hinesburg Community Partners Program to extend the grant for another year and to add another $4,000 in funding for that additional year. Second by Randy and approved.

 

Appointment to the Village Steering Committee:  Terms of appointment on the Village Steering Committee for Karla Munson, Rolf Kielman and Donna Constantineau expire on October 1, 2006.  Both Rolf and Donna have expressed an interest in a reappointment.  Karla does not with to continue on the committee.  The vacancy has been posted and will be published in next week’s Record.  Howard moved that the Board vote to reappoint Rolf Kielman and Donna Constantineau to the Village Steering Committee for two year terms, which will expire on October 1, 2008.  Second by Jon and approved.

 

Appointment to the Conservation Commission: Terms of appointment on the Conservation Commission David Hirth and Nancy Plunkett expire on September 30, 2006.  There is also one other vacancy on the Commission.  Both David and Nancy have expressed an interest in a reappointment.  The vacancy has been posted and will be published in next week’s Record.  Howard moved that the Board vote to reappoint David Hirth and Nancy Plunkett to the Conservation Commission for four year terms, which will expire on September 30, 2010.  Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Appointment to Affordable Housing Committee:  There are currently two vacancies left on the Affordable Housing Committee.  Letters of interest have been received from Mike Landers (manages construction estimating department at Gregory Supply), Kellie Stoll (deals with home mortgages through the Chittenden Bank).  Both Mike and Kellie attended the last meeting of the AFC, as did Dale Wernhoff, however Dale has not yet submitted a letter of interest in an appointment. Howard moved the Board vote to appoint to the Affordable Housing Committee Mike Landers for a term to expire 7/31/07 and Kellie Stohl for a term to expire 7/31/08.  Second by Andrea and approved.

 

 

                                                           SEPTEMBER 18, 2006                                                             page 5 of 6

 

 

 

Update on Baldwin Road Drainage Issue / Meeting with NRCS – After discussion on what is recommended and what the Baldwin’s are looking to have done, the Board agreed to make a deeper ditch on the east side of the road and plug the culvert by the Volk driveway.

 

 Road Cut Permit / Inez French on Drinkwater Road:  This subdivision Drinkwater Road has received final plat approval from the DRB.  Jon moved that the Board vote to approve a Road Cut Application for Inez French for a road cut on Drinkwater Road (Grand List Lot # 11.01.02.10) as outlined in the permit dated 11/28/05, subject to the terms and conditions placed on the permit by the Highway Foreman and all state and local permits governing the development of this parcel. Second by Randy and approved.

 

Road Cut Permit / Radcliffe Romeyn on Hollow Road:  This subdivision of the Abbey Farm on Hollow Road has received final plat approval from the DRB.  Jon moved that the Board vote to approve a Road Cut Application for Radcliffe Romeyn for a road cut on Hollow Road (Grand List Lot # 13.01.04.10) as outlined in the permit dated 07/07/06, subject to the terms and conditions placed on the permit by the Highway Foreman and all state and local permits governing the development of this parcel.  Second by Randy and approved.

 

 

Additions To The Agenda

 

Ancient Roads Research and Mapping Grant – The Board would like the Trails Committee to follow up on this.

 

Follow Up on Meeting with VTrans / RE: Standards for Route 116 in Village – Vtrans is leaning towards approval to use the village standards and want to have a meeting on Oct 3rd at 2p.m. for further discussion.

 

Work Session on Wastewater Fees:  October 9 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Community Visit / October 10th    The Board asked Jeanne to look into costs of catering the community dinner for that night.

 

Andrea reported that at the storm water meeting the deadline for grant requests was extended.  She suggests Hinesburg apply for funds for master planning of dealing with storm water.

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

                                                        SEPTEMBER 18, 2006                                             page 6 of 6

 

           Next Meetings

Monday, October 2nd

            Discussion of Town Relationship with Fire Department

            Annual Performance Appraisal / Jeanne Wilson, Town Administrator

 

Monday, October 16th

            Public meeting on clearing Boutin Road

            Meeting with VSC / Recommendations

            Discussion of Delinquent Tax Collector Position

 

Monday, November 6th

            Kick off for budget strategic planning process

 

Randy moved the Board vote to adjourn at 11:20 p.m., second by Jon and approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Valerie Spadaccini, secretary