Town of Williamstown

Board of Selectboard Meeting

May 16, 2011 – Monday 7:00pm

Williamstown Middle/High School Library

MINUTES

PRESENT: Larry Hebert - Chair, Bill Ashe - Vice Chair, Rodney Graham, Francis Covey, Art Stone

TOWN MANAGER: Garrett Earls

VISITORS: Kathleen Lott - Northfield News, Horace Duke, Art Kramer, Mike Sprano, Barry Duquette, Bart Whitcomb, Crystal Whitcomb, Donna Gregoire, Keith Clark, Larry Griffin, Alex Campos - Channel 7 News, Barbara Graham, Charlie Carrier, Mrs. Clark

At 7 p.m. L. Hebert called to order the May 16, 2011 Williamstown Selectboard meeting.

SELECTBOARD MEETING

ANNOUNCEMENTS: None

VISITOR'S COMMENTS:

H. Duke asked about DuBois & King, L. Hebert replied that he called Jeff Tucker from DuBois & King, met with him in G. Earls office on 5-16. Mr. Tucker will contact Matt Gunn, the general contractor on the water project; they are the company that the Town needs to go through. When he hears back from them then discussions of possible options will happen. Perhaps a lawsuit will be pursued with this other company joining in. L. Hebert said that the Town is staying on top of the situation so things should be happening soon.

L. Griffin discussed moving cars off of his land, brought up that there is a lot of water behind his garage. L. Hebert said he should be done in two weeks. L. Griffin said that he had 14 trucks left and agreed to clean up all the tires. L. Hebert asked about the mobile homes. L. Griffin said he had some kids helping after school with the clean up to remove those. L. Hebert and B. Ashe asked A. Kramer if he was satisfied with the progress and A. Kramer agreed he was. F. Covey thanked L. Griffin for coming in. B. Ashe suggested that L. Griffin come in to the next meeting. L. Hebert agreed because that would be the around the time he has to finish.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF WARRANTS:

R. Graham made a motion to approve warrant SB 96 and payroll 4-24 to 5-6, A. Stone second. G. Earls brought up the warrant for One Communications that was added after the packets had been mailed. R. Graham amended the motion to include the warrant SB97. L. Hebert confirmed all in favor 5-0

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

R. Graham made a motion to approve, F. Covey second, all in favor 4-0. R. Graham wanted to clarify that it wasn't his intention to get Bruce Martin work; it was a possible suggestion that other people in Town could run the mower. B. Ashe said he abstained since he wasn't present at the 5-2 meeting.

MANAGER'S REPORT:

G. Earls brought up a question for the Board on the sale of Diamond Rio. How much does the Board want to spend on advertising? It is now posted on the VLCT website, the Town of Williamstown website and on http://pentongov.assetnation.com/index.cfm/general/auctiondetail/auctionID/1833/page/1

These are all free advertisements. To run an ad in Times Argus is $59.75 per weekday and Sunday is $64.75. The World is $39.12 per week. Northfield News is $38.22 each week and 10% more for their website.

B. Ashe and F. Covey asked if we had considered Craigslist. As of 5-16 we hadn't considered this yet. R. Graham and L. Hebert agreed that one day in a newspaper would be good. G. Earls asked which one, they agreed the World goes to everyone and one day in the Times Argus.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:  None

NEW BUSINESS:

1. YOUNG ROAD MEETING

L. Hebert announced that prior to the Selectboard meeting they met with the Young Road residents, living on a Class IV highway. B. Duquette spoke for the residents, several residents were present, and thanked the Board for meeting with them. He expressed that they would like to know where the progress is going from here and how soon. R. Graham talked about the previous plan from a year and a half ago. The survey hadn't been released until this year. So the Town is now proceeding. L. Hebert talked about widening up the road, 22' wide; he observed that to do this it would have to be wider by 3' on each side. Some driveway culverts are too small and would have to be sized up and ditch work done. The Town could possibly give a hand with some material costs. L. Hebert went over the costs which were based on a 24' wide road, with 12" gravel tailings from Town pit. After looking at the road today he recalculated the costs to be $3,624.00. To top dress it with gravel at 4" would be sufficient, and that would be $8,749.00. This could be done by the Town at a later date. The total for materials is only $12,373.00. The Board discussed these estimates. A. Stone didn't think it was that big of a deal to widen the road. G. Earls brought up that there isn't any gravel remaining in the Town pit right now. So depending on the time of the year it may cost more for the gravel. The earthwork could run as high as $8,000 - 10,000, plus the cost for trucking. L. Hebert thinks if the Town supplies the base gravel to widen the road 604 yards, the residents can help with the trucking, earthwork and replacing the culverts. This would be comparable to what the Town has provided for on other roads. The residents could join in together to extend the culverts, widen, or reditch the road; and hire a contractor to do the trucking. If the residents do this possibly the road could be upgraded to a Class III and then the Town could take over the responsibility for the redressing. A. Stone agreed to start part of it and postpone some of it to ease the burden of the residents. L. Hebert discussed with B. Whitcomb about using his driveway for an easement for the Town trucks to turn around. B. Whitcomb said that wouldn't be a problem. F. covey said that he thinks the Town should deal with this as it has with other roads in the past. He mentioned how this is going to be a very busy summer for road projects. L. Hebert said the Town's highway policy doesn't require the Town to do anything for Class IV roads. B. Duquette expressed how the residents agree with the Town's policies, but they want something to get done soon. B. Ashe said he would like to get the steps down on paper what the Board is agreeing to do, the timeline involved so all involved knows what is being proposed. Have it signed by the Selectboard and the residents to prevent any confusion. G. Earls will draft up an agreement with what the Town will do. A. Stone would like to see if it could be delayed until the end of the summer for reduced tailing costs. So residents could get started with the ditching first. He would like the residents to keep in communication with the Board as to their progress. B. Duquette agreed to represent the residents of Young Road, and to deliver the agreement. The residents expressed they like getting something in writing and want to get the ball rolling.

2. ACCESS ACROSS LANDFILL ROAD - CHARLIE CARRIER

Resident CHARLIE CARRIER wants access to the road that is adjacent to his property up to the Land fill. This is about 40' behind the old transfer station. He said it would be for his use only and would like to use some material for his farm. L. Hebert would like to have some kind of a gate. C. Carrier agreed that he doesn't want people having access to his property. L. Hebert doesn't want someone to get locked in on the only road to get to the top of the landfill. He suggested using some concrete blocks or graveling so people won't drive in. C. Carrier said he would have to do some excavating to improve the road. He would like to clean up the culvert where the beavers have left a lot of debris. G. Earls said the beavers are very industrious. It would save C. Carrier some trouble in getting around on his farm. R. Graham said he approves as long as C. Carrier gets together with Ed Farnham or G. Earls to check on the security of it. R. Graham made a motion for C. Carrier to use the old access road to the landfill, and to take care of the beavers, F. Covey second, all in favor 5-0.

3. CLASS IV ROAD FUNDS - KEITH CLARK

K. Clark explained how he had previously fixed Riddle road and would now like for the Town to help with some gravel. R. Graham asked G. Earls how much money was left for roads. G. Earl said there was approximately $4,000. B. Ashe asked if there were any other requests, he mentioned Flint road had made a request two meetings ago. G. Earls said that there is still a request before this one. He said it's just a question about the money for the crushed tailings since it was used up this spring. L. Hebert discussed some numbers. The price for 80 yards is around $1,040. The Town would buy the material and K. Clark would do the trucking. F. Covey said if the Town would do the same on Flint Road, he would agree. A. Stone also agreed. G. Earls suggested that we do have Class IV funds, but the Town does have options under road rehabilitation. L. Hebert would like to use the Class IV funds for the $1,000, also suggested extending a credit of 80 yards with Brousseau's or waiting for the crushing materials, 160 yards, out of the Town pit. Motion made to buy the materials for K. Clark's road by B. Ashe, F. Covey second all were in favor 5-0. F. Covey would like to extend the same offer to Flint Rd. residents. F. Covey motioned and B. Ashe second and all in favor 5-0. R. Graham made an amendment or wait for the tailings. All in favor 5-0.

VISITOR'S COMMENTS:

None

AROUND THE TABLE:

R. Graham asked about a property located at the beginning of Graham Road that was occupied last fall. They don't have any septic and it is close to a brook. G. Earls said that the State Agency of Natural Resources was contacted and they are looking into this and he hasn't heard back. They have jurisdiction the Town doesn't. L. Hebert asked A. Kramer the Health Officer to look into this, A. Kramer agreed.

R. Graham brought up the highway and roads policies. He wanted to know since it's the Board Selectmen's duty to ensure these policies; they would like to review the policy for road maintenance. A. Stone commented that nobody is complaining about what they are doing. L. Hebert suggested a five year road maintenance plan. G. Earls talked about the budget was $60,000 last year and this year it was reduced to $50,000. He said it's the Foreman's call on the amount of gravel to use and it was reduced this year. No doubt that gravel has worn off, look at Gilbert Rd. The ditching is part of the maintenance and stone lines. He leaves it up to the Foreman to use his judgment as to what roads get done and when. G. Earls said that he is confident that E. Farnham knows what roads need resurfacing. F. Covey commented what a good job the crew did on Stone Road. F. Covey asked who is doing the evaluation of the roads. G. Earls said E. Farnham does that all year long. The Board asked about any kind of recordkeeping? G. Earls said that there are work slips and what notes he takes. F. Covey asked if he has an inspection checklist, or if he is already doing that, something the Board could see. L. Hebert suggested a software program, Microsoft Project that he uses on his jobs to know what his planning process is, some kind of a projection. L. Hebert would offer the Town the use of this program. F. Covey doesn't want to create a hardship on E. Farnham. R. Graham wants to have this information for budgeting purposes. He made a remark that it's been his experience that it's a lot cheaper to keep things maintained than to have to replace something. G. Earls brought up how he has been a foreman for at least 12 years, and has worked in Williamstown for 20 years. E. Farnham makes the decisions for what gets priority. G. Earls will discuss this up with E. Farnham. The Board would like for him to come to a meeting to discuss his thoughts on the situation. G. Earls did explain that the State had traffic meters to determine which roads have the most traffic and that determines priority, so roads with only two houses on it aren't going to be graded as often. F. covey thinks it would help with planning also. E. Farnham does have a schedule plan with G. Earls.

A. Stone complained about the Town's gravel that it's a waste of time to haul the stuff. He thinks it's just a sand pit, the small stones just run off. G. Earls said it needs to be compacted, but the Town doesn't have that equipment.

A. Stone asked about the Hogweed grant. G. Earls said that the contractor does expect the Town to find a grant source. G. Earls brought up another Arborist in town that he could get an estimate from. A. Stone thought it would be a good idea since this plant is very dangerous and it spreads quickly.

B. Ashe asked Horace about the checking accounts. H. Duke explained that there are three accounts, one account just bears interest. B. Ashe thanked him for his work and the report he provided.

B. Ashe brought up a request for some discussion about a noise issue. L. Hebert also talked to this person and doesn't want to create a noise ordinance for one person. This person has received a citation and is scheduled to appear in Chelsea court. L. Hebert would like to wait and see how that transpires. A. Stone asked where this happened. B. Ashe said it is near him, but he is not in the direction that the noise would come from. He said that the person affected by the noise said it happens until 1:00am and her children can't sleep. L. Hebert talked to the person making the noise and he agreed to calm down, B. Ashe believed that would be enough at this time.

L. Hebert brought up the Falls Bridge closing. G. Earls said the bright orange signs are in place, and blockades. It has been advertised for the last two weeks and there are notices posted around the town. Today three people drove down and turned around regardless. G. Earls said that the bridge is gone, it really is closed.

At 8:30pm L. Hebert motioned to go into Executive Session, F. Covey second, all in favor 5-0.

Executive Session - Personnel

F. Covey motioned to enter Executive Session at 8:40 pm, A. Stone second, all in favor 4-0. R. Graham recused himself since this was about his wife.

F. Covey motioned to continue previous arrangement with Deborah Palmer, Town Clerk and Barbara Graham, Assistant Town Clerk for up to 60 days if necessary. Motion passed 4-0.

F. Covey motioned to exit Executive Session at 9:04 pm, second by A. Stone, all in favor 4-0.

Meeting adjourned at 9:08 pm.

Selectboard approved minutes June 20, 2011.