Selectboard Meeting
February 19, 2007
Page 1 of 4
Attending the meeting; Rob Bast, Andrea Morgante, Jon
Trefry, Randy Volk, Howard Russell, Jeanne Wilson, Stewart Pierson, Tom Moreau,
Missy Ross, Matt Baldwin, Jeff and Jean Davis, Stephen Vock, Lou and Berthann
Mulieri.
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Stewart announced this would be his last meeting he is
covering for the Hinesburg Record and said it has been an interesting
assignment and thanked the Board for their work. All present wished him well.
Tom
Moreau, CSWD General Manager / Update on Landfill Project – Tom
reviewed with the Board the history of CSWD and their efforts to build a
landfill on Redmond Rd in Williston.
Also discussed the future of operations of the landfill.
Discussion
of Property Tax Payments / Multiple Payment Dates – Andrea
asked for this to be on the agenda as she has had some questions by residents
on this and it is discussed frequently at Town Meeting. The Board discussed
with Missy Ross how multiple payments might be split in the fiscal year. Not known is how the new tax prebate
regulations may effect a payment schedule.
This could possibly lead to a need for the Town to take out a tax
anticipation note. Missy stated that
she was willing to do multiple tax dates if the town so voted. There was no consensus to take this issue
forward.
Discussion
of Potential Vacancy in Delinquent Tax Collector Position – Missy
said she and Cheryl of the clerk’s office would be willing to collect next year
with compensation and see how the process goes. If no one is elected the Board must post the vacancy with 10 days
and then make an appointment. It is unknown
at this time if any one is planning on being a write in candidate.
Jeff
Davis / Shadow Lane Discussion – Stephen Vock of Civil
Engineering Assoc reviewed with the Board a proposal to change the grades of
Shadow Lane. Stephen noted there is a
critical area directly off Pond Rd and suggests reducing the grade to 7% from
the current 14 or 15% and also recommends paving the first 100 to 150 feet.
Jeff said he has letters from the Police and Fire
departments and St. Mikes rescue stating they can access the road year
round. There are 9 year round homes of
the 14 total on the road.
Stephen said the road currently exists serving year round
residences with the current steep grades – this proposal is to improve safety
of the road and allow a few extra daily trips.
Lou Mulieri, resident on the road, disagrees with the
statement that safety will be enhanced with a flatter final 20 feet of
road. There has been only one accident
in the past 30 years which he feels shows it is a safe road.
Stephen said AOT standards require a landing level.
Berthann Mulieri said if no left turn was allowed at the top
of the hill it would improve safety as you then are not crossing two lanes of
traffic.
Stephen agreed but said it can be difficult to get people to
go along with that idea.
Jeff said they also are proposing to widen the road to allow
for a vehicle to enter if one is exiting.
FEBRUARY 19, 2007 page
2 of 4
Howard said several concerns led him to be opposed. He feels other residences would want to be
converted to year round. Also he is
concerned with setting precedence.
Howard said Jeff should have come to the DRB before making improvements
to convert to year round.
Jeff said when he bought the property he was told it could
not be year round as emergency vehicles could not access the road. When he contacted emergency services and was
told there was no problem with access he did not anticipate a problem
converting as that was what prohibited it.
Howard again said the problem is due to the fact that Jeff
did not change from conditional use prior to making improvements to his
residence.
Berthann said she had a personal experience 2 yrs ago where
St. Mikes Rescue would not go down the road to their residence.
Jon agrees with Howard and does not see any reason different
from when this last came before the Board to allow the variance.
Rob said in answer to Howard’s concern of setting precedence
it is relavent to the argument to look at safety and improvements, and where
the Town can, he feels the Town would want to support such improvements.
Jon feels strongly about the precedence issue on a highly
non compliant road.
Randy does not see where the change in use for an additional
5 months on a road now being used is a problem.
Lou pointed out converting 5 part year septic systems to 5
full year systems results in a higher density than 2 acres per system and risks
nitrate contamination.
Randy reminded Lou that was not the issue before the Board.
No decision was made by the Board at this meeting. It will be on the agenda for 3/19.
Other Business
Approve
Warrants: Howard
moved that the Board vote to approve the warrants (including payroll warrants)
for bills payable as presented by the Town Treasurer. Second by Jon and
approved.
Minutes
of January 15, 2007: Howard
moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of January 15, 2007 as
corrected, second by Jon and approved.
Minutes
of January 22, 2007:
The minutes
of January 22 were tabled to the March 19 meeting in order to clarify
information.
Planning
for Town Meeting: The Town administer salary was
incorrect as printed in past years which makes it appear there is a large
increase this year. Will note the past
error for the meeting.
Streetscape project – have overall cost figures and amount
of money that comes from grants.
Police – if level funded how many hours of service will be
cut. The Board needs to know what the
options are related to hours of coverage and dollar amount associated with it.
Pond Brook Rd paving – on warning due to request of
residents not at recommendation of Selectboard. It is not the responsibility of the Board to present this item,
but they should have costs for the second year available.
FEBRUARY 19,
2007 page 3 of 4
Resignation
from DRB / Robert Gauthier:
Jon moved
that Board vote to accept the resignation of Robert Gauthier from the DRB,
effective immediately. Second by Howard and approved.
Appointments
to the DRB:
Three
applicants (Robert Linck, Dennis Place and Matthew Baldwin) have expressed
interest in the opening on the DRB. All
three have interviewed with the Selectboard for the position and provided
written feedback on the Town Plan goals/priorities, and the vacancy has been
published and posted. Jon moved that
the Board vote to appoint Dennis Place to the DRB for a three-year term, which
will expire on January 1, 2010. Second by Howard.
Jon
supported his motion by stating he feels Dennis will be an objective voice on
the Board with ideas on efficiencies and is familiar with the process.
Howard said
he believes a good candidate for the position will listen well, is able to be
objective and a good participant in the deliberative process. He feels to maintain balance on the DRB the
applicant should understand where their beliefs come from and be able to listen
to others. Lastly he stated the
Selectboard should appoint people who are fully able and willing to support the
Towns regulations.
Randy said
he sees Dennis and Matt as very similar candidates and Matt’s letters of
support from residents have meaning to him and he would like to see Matt
considered for the position.
Andrea said
she wants balance – to her that is not that certain groups of people are not
being represented but the fact that there are regulations that need to be
upheld for all.
Jon did not
see balance as including people from extremes.
He does not feel Dennis and Matt see things in the same way, and felt
Matt’s idea was property owner’s rights come first and he believes DRB members
need to put the regulations first.
Matt
responded stating in his response to the Board he was responding directly to
the Towns goals and recommendations which are not regulations. He would follow regulations but feels goals
and recommendations are open for discussion and opinion.
Howard said
the goals and recommendations come from public input and feels they need to be
followed.
Matt said
he does not think the Selectboard wants a DRB that just narrowly looks at
issues brought to them. There is a need
to look at the “grey area” and recognize others opinions and views and rights.
Andrea
stated it is the responsibility of the community to protect natural resources
and the goal is to have further input as to how this is accomplished.
Rob said
work is being done on the recommendations to incorporate them into becoming
regulations.
Matt said
his supporters who wrote letters are concerned with the path of the Planning
Commission and the DRB.
Rob pointed
out that in the Vermont Constitution property owners rights can be secondary to
a need by the State not as Matt wrote saying property owner’s rights are
guaranteed.
Motion
voted and approved with the appointment of Dennis Place.
Engineer
Report on Pine Shore Drive Drainage Issue:
Engineer Michael Weisel has provided a written report on his
evaluation of the Pine Shore Drive drainage issue, and the Board has received
copies of the report. Jeanne will draft
a letter to the property owners.
FEBRUARY 19, 2007 page 4 of 4
Silver
Street Scoping Project / Draft Final Report: The consultant (VHB, Inc.) has completed a
draft of the final report on the Silver Street Scoping Project. It has been over a year since there was
discussion on the recommended alternative for this project, so this item has
been added to the agenda as an update.
Additons
to the Agenda
Preliminary
Engineering Study / Lyman Meadows Waterline Connection: Green Mountain
Engineering, Inc. was hired by the state to do a review of the Lyman Meadows
water system. As a follow-up to this
review, Green Mountain Engineering, Inc. is offering to do a preliminary
engineering study on incorporating the Lyman Meadow water system into the
municipal water system. They propose to
do this study for a lump sum fee of $4,300.
The Board discussed having the Town frame the work they would want done
and see what can be done in house.
Howard moved the Board go into executive session for update
on union contract negotiations, 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