Selectboard Meeting

April 16, 2007

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Attending the meeting; Rob Bast, Andrea Morgante, Jon Trefry, Randy Volk, Howard Russell, Jeanne Wilson, Zoe Wainer, Rocky Martin, Matt Baldwin

 

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

 

Interview for Appointment to DRB / Zoe Wainer – Zoe stated she is aware of the DRB process and has in interest in Town planning.  She studied plant and soil sciences and sustainable agriculture.  She said she is open minded and able to make decisions based on evidence not personal opinion.

Jon asked how she feels about private property rights and natural resources.  Zoe said it is the responsibility of property owners to realize what they do on their land impacts others.

Howard asked if she is comfortable with the priority goals of the Town Plan.  Zoe said she is.

Howard asked what items seemed to stand out to her.  Zoe said clarifying appropriate densities dealing with rural district.

Rob said in his experience with the DRB is that there is sometimes a lack of communication and clarity with the applicant.  Zoe believes one has to give feedback to the applicant and would be comfortable verbalizing her opinion.

 

 

Director of Buildings & Facilities Rocky Martin

 

Ø      Discussion of Water & Wastewater Rates – Rocky asked if the Board wants to look at this as one account or break it down as separate entities.  Rocky will get a list of future improvements with approx costs for the water account for a reserve fund.  Discussed with the Board not increasing wastewater at this time – the increase in ww fees would free up monies currently coming from ww to cover the deficient in water.

Allocation fee and hook up fee reviewed and found acceptable.  Howard asked if the allocation fees could be used to pay back to reduce the tax rate in the future.  Jeanne will check with the auditors on this.

 

Ø      Update on Town Hall Site Plan – Board members agreed to a free standing sign.  Rocky is still checking on lighting options.

 

Ø      Update on Town-Owned Parcels in Creekside – lot 1, reviewed several plans showing space for two buildings one of which would be a multi use building / skate park / parking area / playground / sports field / and volleyball court.

           

 

   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.

 

 

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Minutes of Town Meeting 2007:  Jon moved that the Board take up the motion tabled at the last meeting, second by Howard and approved.  Jon moved the Board vote to approve the minutes of the 2007 Town Meeting, second by Howard and approved.

 

Minutes of March 19, 2007:  Jon moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of March 19, 2007 as corrected, second by Howard and approved.

 

Minutes of April 2, 2007:  Howard moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of April 2, 2007 as corrected, second by Andrea and approved.

 

Matt Baldwin was present to express his views to the Board as he felt he may have been misunderstood on his previous interview.  Matt said he would absolutely uphold all regulations on the books.  Rob said the question for him is how would Matt work within the group.  Matt replied he works well within groups and feels his voice supporting agriculture is an important one to have on the Board.

Howard referred to Matt’s comment on the Town Plan that he does not see it as a binding document and that it is disconnected from the DRB process.  Howard noted that the Town Plan was compiled from public input worked on the PC and re-drafted several times after further public input.  When there are grey areas Howard felt the DRB should look to the Town Plan for guidance.

Andrea said it seems like a lot of Matt’s concerns are directed toward what the regulations are and asked if he would be interested in serving on the PC. Matt said he would.

Jon agreed with Howard on his interpretation of the Town Plan.

 

Appointment to DRB:  There are three applicants interested in the vacancy on the DRB: Matthew Baldwin, Bob Linck and Zoe Wainer.  All three have been interviewed by the Selectboard and have provided their written comments on the top-ten priorities and goals from the Town Plan.  The vacancy has been published and posted.  Howard moved that the Board vote to appoint Zoe Wainer to the DRB to fill a vacancy with a term, which expires on January 1, 2009. Second by Andrea.

Howard said he was impressed with Zoe and feels the Town would benefit from more representation by women on boards.

Randy felt Matt’s voice could be useful on the DRB and feels the letters of support he presented have meaning.

Jon said he is not opposed to having Matt on the DRB but feels Zoe is also a very good choice.

Rob agreed with the reasons stated for supporting Zoe and also feels Matt will bring diverse opinions and believes the DRB may be a better Board with his input.

Andrea did not get the feeling from speaking with Matt that he would be open minded though she was pleased to see the letter of support from Chuck Reiss.  Andrea feels Zoe is a good candidate and supports her nomination.

Motion voted and approved with Andrea, Howard and Jon in favor and Rob and Randy opposed.

 

 

Green Up Day / May 5, 2007: Town trucks to pick up bags on the roadside on Saturday, May 5, and remaining bags to be picked up on Monday, May 7.  Community barbeque at Town Hall at noon.

 

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Road Cut Permit / Potvin on Hayden Hill Road East:  This road cut is associated with a subdivision, which has received final plat approval from the DRB.  Jon moved that the Board vote to approve the Road Cut Permit Application of Michael Potvin and Minton Jeffrey for a road cut on Hayden Hill Road East (Grand List Lot #06-01-64.00) as outlined in the permit dated 4/2/07, 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 Howard and approved.

 

Utility Easement for Overhead Power Lines / Vermont Electric Co-op on Birchwood Drive:  Brian Lamphear of 94 Birchwood Drive (Grand List Lot # 17-21-67.00) has contacted Vermont Electric Cooperative in regards to providing power to a garage located on his property.  Vermont Electric Cooperative has confirmed that they are able and willing to provide power for the garage.  Adequate information has not been supplied to determine the location of the power lines, but it appears that the overhead power lines will cross a Town owned parcel in Sunny Acres (Grand List Lot # 17-21-66.00).  An easement deed has not yet been prepared, but Vermont Electric Cooperative will be looking for an overhead utility easement to place, construct, operate, repair, maintain, mark, replace thereon, and remove there from, and in or upon all streets, roads or highways abutting said land an electric transmission and distribution system, overhead and/or underground, and to cut and trim all trees and shrubbery to the extent necessary as determined by Vermont Electric Cooperative to keep them clear of the said utility lines or system and to cut down from time to time all dead, weak, leaning or dangerous trees which are tall enough to strike the wire in the event said tree should fall, from within or without the right of way.

The Selectboard is not clear why the Town needs to be involved with this and took no action as they do not have adequate information.

 

Request to Close CVU Road for Mock Crash on May 2, 2007:  Connecting Youth (CY), working with local public safety personnel, will again sponsor a mock auto accident for CVU High School students on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.  The purpose of this exercise is to raise awareness about the possible consequences of mixing substance use with operating a vehicle.  They are requesting permission to close CVU Road to through traffic on May 2 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

 

Randy moved that the Board vote to approve the request by Connecting Youth (CY) to close CVU Road to through traffic on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 between the hours of 8:30 and 11:30 am for the purpose of holding an educational mock auto exercise for CVU students, with the stipulation that a large, clearly visible sign be posted beginning Monday, April 30 at each end of CVU Road, advising of the road closing and stating the date and time of the road closing.  Second by Howard and approved.

 

Tax Exempt Status of Baptist Lot on Silver Street – Jeanne reported she checked with Holly Russell and the land needs to be used for educational purposes not just leased to the school to be tax exempt.  The Town would need to pay the tax according to previous agreement when some land was given to the school in 1949.  (This change is due to ACT 60 regulations)

 

 

 

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Discussion of Village Speed Limits – Andrea said now that the State lowered the limit in the village, as previously discussed by the Board she would like to now look at lowering speed limits on roads coming into the village.  It was suggested to meet with Chris Morrell about the possibility of a new speed study being done.  It may change when the traffic lights are incorporated into the study.

 

Discussion of Canal Ownership / LaPlatte Watershed Partnership – Andrea said the LaPlatte Watershed looked at the old deeds and found the cheese factory owns and has control of the canal.  This would benefit the Fire Dept as well as the Town’s perspective for storm water if the Town has control for use by the Fire Dept.  The Board agreed to have Andrea pursue with the cheese factory the idea of deeding the canal to the Town.

           

Personnel Issues & Updates – The Board signed a letter to Mike Anthony to accompany his bonus check.

 

Randy moved the Board vote to reimburse Town Administrator, Jeanne Wilson, for costs of the ICMA conference Sept 9 to the 13th as budgeted.  Second by Andrea and approved.

 

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

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

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Valerie Spadaccini, secretary