Selectboard Meeting

                                                            January 22, 2007                                                page 1 of 3

 

Attending the meeting; Rob Bast, Andrea Morgante, Jon Trefry, Randy Volk, Howard Russell, Jeanne Wilson, Kristin Kany, Russ Barone, Bart Frisbee.

 

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

 

Kristin Kany / Interview for Appointment to Recreation Commission – Kristen has been a resident of Hinesburg since 1999.  She has ideas for summer programs and 4th of July activities.  She has been involved in her neighborhood organizing local events.

 

Thistle Hill Development / Parking in Future Town Right-of-Way – the Board met with Russ Barone and Bart Frisbie to review the plans for the Thistle Hill Development, specifically encroachment of off-street parking into the future ROW along Thistle Hill Drive.  Bart said it is anticipated most homes will have porches which will set the house and garage back a bit further from the road.

Randy moved the Board vote to authorize Jeanne to draft a letter to the DRB stating the Selectboard has reviewed the plans, and concurs with the DRB that in this situation the short driveways make sense in order to accommodate denser village development given the overall Thistle Hill Drive road design and that the off-street parking arrangement poses no issues and is acceptable.  Second by Jon and approved.

Lot 7 – easement across the lot with a time limit of 50 years.  The Selectboard is asking for the easement to be in perpetuity – Bart asked if they remove the 50 years and insert a change to say both parties have equal say in location of the road would that be acceptable.

Russ and Bart left copies with the proposed changes with the Selectboard for review.

 

Budget Planning Sessions

Agencies – Howard asked why Hinesburg Green Up is included with agencies. The Board agreed to move it to Building and Facilities.

 

Funding for AmeriCorp – suggested funding was $4,000.  As this is not a fully developed proposal at this time no funding will be included.

 

Land Preservation Fund $7,500 – The Board agreed to remove the $7,500 request – it will just be the $100,000 requested in the warned article.

 

Expenditure Summary – Land Trust (article 12) changed to $5,000 / Land Preservation fund (article 13) changed to $100,000. Planning and zoning special projects, remove computer digital projector for $3,600.  Howard questioned the funding for rec path.  Jeanne explained this is offset in revenue – this does not reflect tax dollars but shows amount anticipated being spent from the grant.  Howard said he finds it confusing to follow.  Jeanne will break this out to show the revenue in the Town Report.

 

Buildings and Facilities – Randy asked the status of the streetscape project.  Additional tax dollars of $47,220 will be needed. Park and Ride is all grant money.  Stormwater grant - $7,207 remains to spend from the grant so no tax dollars are needed for this. Remove the $3,500 in sidewalk equipment for the tractor.  Repair / maintenance – put off additional carpeting and tubular snow guards.

 

Revenue Summary – Zoning permits and fees will be increased so the Board increased the projected revenue to $70,000.  Questioned investment interest increase to $45,000.  Jeanne will double check with the Town Clerk.

                                                                        JANUARY 22, 2007                                          page 2 of 3                                                      

 

Highway – reduce guardrails to $13,000 removing Richmond Rd and Charlotte Rd guardrails.  Summer reconstruction – culverts –reduce by $5,000 – Leavensworth Rd, postpone culvert work and take a better look at what may be causing the problem.

 

Police Dept – vehicle line, agreed not to replace the Jeep in 07/08 and put half in for next year.

Uniforms – reduce to $5,000

Vehicle Fuel – reduce to $11,000

Mileage – reduce to $1,500

CUSI – reduce to $14,000

Salary discussion of part time vs. full time additional.  Rob suggests budgeting for full time and suggesting to Chris to seek part time first and in none available look to full time.

The Board wants to have information available for Town Meeting on what the number of hours will be reduced to without additional staffing as well as if level funded.  Also have the figures for increasing only an additional 20 hours of part time.

 

Water and Sewer – Howard asked why salaries are lower.  This reflects a lower starting salary for additional employee.

 

Growth in Grand List – projected increase is 1.58%

 

Municipal Tax Rate Projection – with projected growth .3926

 

Discussion of Warning Articles – Land Preservation Trust Fund and Pond Brook Rd.

Disabled Veteran Exemption –the Town can vote to increase the local exemption amount from $10,000 to $30,000, so the total exemption will be $40,000.  There has been no request to increase from any resident.  The Board will wait to see if anyone requests the change.  The Board asked Jeanne to check into this.  The Board will support increasing to the higher level if the Town cost is only $3,600 as Jeanne’s preliminary figure indicates.

Baptist Lot agreement expires – Jeanne will check with David Lyman about the possibility of having the lot signed over to the Town.

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.

 

Minutes of January 8, 2007:  Jon moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of January 8, 2007 as corrected, second by Howard and approved.

 

2007 Animal Control Housing Agreement / Humane Society of Chittenden County: The fee for bringing dogs to the Humane Society of Chittenden County will increase effective 1/1/07 from $30/dog to $40/dog.  There is still no fee for cats.  This is a minimal budgetary impact.  In FY 05-06 there were no dogs taken to the Humane Society, and for the first six months of FY 06-07 there has 

 

 

been one dog taken.  Andrea moved that the Board vote to approve the Animal Control Housing

Agreement with the Humane Society of Chittenden County for the period 1/1/07 – 12/31/07.  Second by Randy and approved.

 

VTrans 2007 Certificate of Highway Mileage:  Andrea moved that the Board vote to sign the VTrans 2007 Certificate of Highway Mileage. Second by Jon and approved

                                                         JANUARY 22, 2007                                               page 3 of 3

 

Resignation from Recreation Commission / Anne Frost:  Howard moved that the Board vote to accept the resignation of Anne Frost from the Recreation Commission, effective immediately.  Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Appointments to the Recreation Commission:  There are currently four vacancies on the Recreation Commission.  Letters of interest in an appointment have been received from Kristin Kany and Tom Giroux.  Howard moved that the Board vote to appoint Kristin Kany to the Recreation Commission for a three-year term, which will expire on January 1, 2010.  Second by Randy and approved. Howard moved that the Board vote to appoint Tom Giroux to the Recreation Commission for a three-year term, which will expire on January 1, 2010.  Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Correspondence from Vermont Coalition of Municipalities:  The Board has received a letter from the Vermont Coalition of Municipalities, inviting the Town to become a coalition member.  The coalition was organized in 1997 in response to the passage of Act 60.  Membership in the coalition is $100 annually. The Board agreed there is no interest in becoming a member.

 

Request to Consume Alcohol at the Fire Station / Winter Carnival Casino Night:  The Recreation Commission and Lions Club are organizing a Casino Night for Friday, February 9, 2007 at the Fire Station as part of the annual Winter Carnival.  This is a BYOB event.

 

Jon moved that the Board vote to approve the request by the Recreation Commission and Hinesburg Lions Club for permission to host a BYOB event (Casino Night) at the Fire Station as part of the annual Winter Carnival on Friday, February 9, 2007 from 7:30 – 11:00 pm, subject to the following conditions:

 

§      A responsible person over 21 years of age will be designated to be “in charge” of the event and to monitor alcohol use at the event to ensure that there is no underage drinking and that intoxicated persons do not drive; and

 

§      A “Don’t Drink and Drive” poster shall be posted at the entrance to the event, naming the responsible person and offering the services of the responsible person to arrange safe trips home.

Second by Andrea and approved.

 

Additons to the Agenda

 

 Resignation from Highway Department / Jeremy Steele – Andrea moved to accept the resignation of Jeremy Steele effective 1/19/07, second by Howard and approved.

 

Howard moved the Board go into executive session for discussion on union contract negotiations, second by Randy and approved.

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

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Valerie Spadaccini, secretary