Selectboard Meeting
March 16, 2009
Attending the meeting; Jon Trefry, Andrea Morgante, Ken Brown, Randy Volk, Howard Russell, Jeanne Wilson, Chris Morrell, Al Barber, Frank Koss, Alex Weinhagen, Mike Anthony, Rocky Martin.
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Annual Organizational Meeting of the Board
Election of Chairperson of the Board: Howard nominated and moved that the Board vote to elect Jon Trefry to serve as Chair of the Selectboard for a one-year period, to the annual organizational meeting in March 2010. Second by Randy and approved.
Appointments: Howard moved that the Board vote to appoint the following individuals to the following positions for a one-year term:
Suzanne Kneller, Pam Durda & Susan Johnson as Fence Viewers
Norman Smith as Inspector of Lumber, Shingles and Wood
Stephen Russell as Weigher of Coal
Paul Wieczoreck as Tree Warden
Stephen Gutierrez as Constable
O’Neil’s Kennel in Shelburne as Pound Keeper
Second by Andrea and approved.
Bond for Elected Officials: Howard moved that the Board recognize the blanket bond of $500,000 per occurrence provided through the Town’s membership in the Vermont League of Cities and Towns Property and Casualty Insurance Fund as the bonding instrument for Town Officials as required under the provisions of 24 VSA § 832. Second by Andrea and approved. School directors and other school officials are not covered under this blanket bond, since they are covered through the school’s property and casualty insurance program.
Designation of Newspaper for Warning Town Meeting: Pursuant to the provisions of 17 VSA § 264(b), Howard moved that the Board designate The Burlington Free Press and/or Hinesburg Record and/or Times Sentinel as the newspaper(s) in which warnings of Town Meetings shall be published, if necessary. Second by Ken and approved.
Director of Planning & Zoning Alex Weinhagen / Update of Village North-West Wetland Delineation – Alex and Andrea met with Mike Adams in regards to this. Andrea’s conclusion on Mike’s assessment was that the Town would not be able to put a road in the area or construct a recreation field. We can develop the 18 acres of upland but not use the wetlands as mitigation.
Alex said while difficult, he believes it is still possible to get permitting for a road.
Howard asked about the density planned for the developable area.
Andrea asked about a need to establish a minimum density and concern if the soils are stable enough to allow 2 and 3 story buildings.
Highway Foreman Michael Anthony / Discussion of FY 09 – 10 Dump Truck
Purchase – Mike wanted to know if the Board is requiring him to go out to bid as the Town can piggyback the State bid with Clark’s Truck Center. If the Town puts the purchase out to bid on its own, we lose the State contracted price.
Jeanne will get a legal opinion regarding the bidding process.
Director of Buildings & Facilities Rocky Martin / Discussion of FY 09 – 10 Sidewalk Plow Purchase. Rocky reviewed with the Board the comparison of sidewalk winter maintenance subcontracting vs. Town equipment and labor.
The Board supported Rocky getting bids on purchase of a tool cat or equivalent machine.
Police Chief Chris Morrell – Chris reviewed several areas of the Police Dept with Board members.
Training – Frank Koss is enrolled in an advanced EMT class.
Staffing – Chris said they are continuing to operate short staffed.
Equipment – New radar for the Tahoe purchased with funds from participation in traffic safety details along with new portable breath testing equipment.
Communication – The Board said they had not been aware that Hinesburg officers were being pulled from the regular schedule for traffic details. Randy pointed out it gives the appearance that the department does not need two officers on duty at the same time if one can be elsewhere. Chris said this is an opportunity to transfer the cost from the Town to dedicated State funds – the officer is still working in Hinesburg if Hinesburg is the host agency. The Board said they are not objecting to allowing officers to participate in a detail out of Town when they are not scheduled in Hinesburg or when on duty if the detail is in Hinesburg.
Equipment – the speed display is showing signs of the heavy use on it. The Board agreed to continue to use where effective and patch as needed.
Training - Chris is looking to have an officer attend advanced training in crime scene processing. Howard asked what instances, if any, can be handled by the State Police. He further stated that we cannot expect local police funded by local property taxes to have the expertise level of the State Police. In discussion of the limits of staffing for the State Police Howard added it is incumbent on people to push for more funding so the State Police can be adequately staffed.
Discussion of COPS Grant Application for New Officer – discussed was the likelihood of whether the Town would hire another officer in the 3 yr period the grant covers. The grant will fund the officer for 3 years with a commitment to plan to keep the officer at least another year with local money. The majority of the Board was supportive in applying for the grant.
Other Business
Approve Warrants: Randy 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 February 16, 2009: Howard moved that the Board vote to approve the minutes of February 16, 2009 as corrected. Second by Andrea and approved.
Trial Balances for Water & Wastewater and General Fund Accounts for Period Ending 2/28/09: Randy moved that the Board vote to acknowledge receipt of the trial balances for the water & wastewater and general fund accounts for the period ending 2/28/09. Second by Andrea and approved.
Appointment of Fire Chief: Andrea moved that the Board, based on the recommendation of the members of the Hinesburg Volunteer Firemen’s Association, vote to appoint Al Barber as Fire Chief for a one-year term. Second by Howard and approved.
Appointment of Road Commissioner: Howard moved that the Board vote to appoint Jeanne Wilson as Road Commissioner for a one-year term. Second by Ken and approved.
Appointment of Town Service Officer: Andrea move that the Board vote to appoint Kathleen Patten as the Town of Hinesburg Service Officer, to serve a one-year term, which will expire on April 14, 2010. Second by Howard and approved.
Kathleen will cover the duties of the Town’s Service Officer as a portion of her duties as the coordinator for the Community Resource Center.
Appointment to Affordable Housing Committee: Howard moved that the Board vote to appoint Andrea Brainard to the Affordable Housing Committee to fill a vacancy, with a term which expires on July 31, 2010. Second by Randy and approved.
Request No. 2 for Amendment to Existing SRF Loan / Wastewater Treatment Upgrade Project: This amendment is a request to the State to increase the previously approved Revolving Loan No. RF1-110 dated June 13, 2006, in the original amount of $14,900 for the wastewater upgrade project. Amendment No.1 was approved on January 12, 2009, and increased the loan to $49,360. Under this Request No. 2, the Town requests an increase of $80,100 (to a total loan amount of $129,460) for the final design engineering services. Andrea moved that the Board vote to sign Request No. 2 for an amendment to the CWSRF Revolving Loan No. RF1-110 for an upgrade to the wastewater treatment facility. Second by Randy and approved.
Road Cut Permit Application / O’Brien on North Road: This request is for a private road to serve three single-family homes off North Road. The subdivision has received final approval from the DRB. Andrea moved that the Board vote to approve the road cut permit application of Everett O’Brien for a road cut on North Road (a subdivision of Tax Map #09-02-34.00) as outlined in the permit dated 2/2/09, 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.
Road Cut Permit Application / Kelley on North Road: This request is for a road cut to serve a single-family home off North Road. The subdivision has received final approval from the DRB. Howard moved that the Board vote to approve the road cut permit application of Maura Kelley for a road cut on North Road (a subdivision of Tax Map #05-01-49.00) as outlined in the permit dated 8/26/08, 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 Ken and approved.
Receipt of VTrans 2008 Bridge Inspection Reports: Randy moved that the Board vote to acknowledge receipt and review of the 2008 VTrans Annual Bridge Inspection Reports. Second by Howard and approved.
Discussion of Management Plan for Old Town Forest – The Trails Committee, Steve Russell and other interested parties walked the forest and discussed what has been done over the past years. They feel it is time to document with a plan on uses, logging practices and such for the Town Forest.
The Selectboard is agreeable to draw up a management plan.
Act 250 Municipal Impact Questionnaire / Barone on Lavigne Hill Road: This impact questionnaire is for a single-family home on Lot #7 of the Thistle Hill Subdivision, accessible from Lavigne Hill Road. Randy moved that the Board vote to authorize the Chair to sign the Act 250 Municipal Impact Questionnaire for Mechanicsville LLC (Russ Barone) for development on Lot #7 of the Thistle Hill Subdivision. Second by Howard and approved.
Other Board Member Items-
Andrea reported that the barn at the New Town Forest on Gilman Rd has collapsed. The Forest Management Committee discussed dismantling the barn. There is someone interested in taking the wood. The Board agreed to let the Forest Management Committee decide on what will be done with the barn.
UVM dairy farm is looking for land available in Town to graze some heifers – while this is not permitted at the Bissonette project land it should be kept in mind for other possible available land.
Howard moved the Board go into executive session for discussion of legal and personnel issues, 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