TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN

Select Board Meeting Minutes

March 17, 2008

7:00 PM

Williamstown High School Library

Present: Francis Covey, Chris Peloquin, Stan Corneille, Larry Hebert

Absent: Art Stone

Town Manager – Ed Magee

Visitors: Mike Sprano, Horace Duke, Jr., Arthur Kramer, Al Day, Paul Anderson, Larry Ellison, Newton Blaisdell, Morris Lasell, Denis Lefebvre, Paula Lefebvre

Organizational Meeting

Francis convened the March 17, 2008 Organizational meeting:

Stan made the motion to nominate Francis Covey as Chairman of the Selectboard. Seconded by Chris. The motion passed by voice vote of 4-0.

Larry nominated Stan Corneille as Vice-chair. Seconded by Chris and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Chris discussed if there were any changes to the building of the Agenda, he felt it was fine. He wanted to reiterate that the Town Manager and Selectboard can put items on the Agenda, a point he wanted to stress as an agenda building piece. Stan agreed the structure was fine except time limits were needed for New Business and Unfinished Business. Chris said before an item makes it to the agenda the person bringing in the concern should be asked about a time limitation. Stan said if someone comes in to put an item on the agenda, he felt the standard time should be 15 minutes. If more time was needed then the chair could allow more time. Fran said another area to look at was Visitor’s Comments, 3 minutes per topic; we need to hold to that to keep the meeting moving along. Chris said Robert Rules of Order for a small group has worked as long as he was on the Board and assumes the Board would continue with it. By consensus the Selectboard would stay the way they are working.

Chris moved to move into the Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners. Second by Stan. All were in favor 4-0.

Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners

Water & Sewer Allocation Request- Jeff & Susan Paronto

The Board discussed the request for Town Sewer & Water Allocation for a subdivision.

Chris moved to approve the allocation for water & sewer to these lots but will address alternate routes for the water. Seconded by Stan. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Chris made a motion to adjourn the Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners and go into the regular Selectboard Meeting. Larry seconded. Motion pass 4-0.

Selectboard Meeting

Announcements:

Ed Magee wanted to remind everyone of the Rabies Clinic, March 22, 2008 at the Williamstown Fire Station. Also the Easter Egg hunt that will be held at the Williamstown Elementary School, Saturday March 22nd at 9 am.

Chris welcomed Larry Hebert to the Selectboard and wished a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Larry thanked those who voted for him and will do the best he can on the Board.

Visitor’s Comments:

Larry Ellison said he had an interest in working on Ancient Roads. He would get together with Morris Lasell.

Also he didn’t want to see wasting the Board time on little problems when there are much bigger one’s to deal with.

Paul Anderson asked the Board to clean up the snow from the turn around at the end of Cold Spring Road. The Town Manger said he would advise the road foreman and to call the Town Hall and advise of road concerns.

Review and Approval of Warrants:

The Board reviewed the payroll warrants of February 2, March 17, and March 8, 2008. Stan made a motion to approve the payroll warrants. Seconded by Chris. The motion passed by voice vote 4-0 with no discussion.

The Board reviewed the A/P Warrant # 4 for March 17, 2008. Stan made the motion to accept the Payroll Warrant # 4. Seconded by Chris. After a discussion the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Approval of Minutes:

Stan made the motion to approve the minutes of March 3, 2008. Seconded by Chris. No discussion followed and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Managers Report:

Road Posting: We have started posting roads. And will continue to monitor them.

Highway Dept. Ad: Recently there have been a few phone calls from residents curious about the Highway Department help wanted ad in the The Times Argus. For resident information, a road crew member has been terminated and we are searching to fill that position. At this time we have received 6 applications. Additionally our part time road crew person has advised, she had found fill-time employment and will not be coming back.

Citizen of the Year: We have received 3 nominations for Citizen of the Year. As we determined last year, we will be mailing these to all commissioners and committee department heads for their vote, or do you want to do it differently? The Board said to do it the same as last year.

Septic Violation: As previously mentioned, we have taken enforcement action on an issue where a residency was occupied without a Certificate of Occupancy being issued. The resident has furnished all the required documentation, is now in compliance and a certificate issued.

Economic Development Committee: The Economic Development committee has interviewed additional applicants and has submitted a letter requesting the Board appoint Wallace Roberts and Frank Anello to serve on this Board. Chris moved to appoint Frank Anello and Wallace Roberts to the Economic Development Committee. Seconded by Stan. After a short discussion the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

ECFiberNet: Interlocal contracts have been drafted by Paul Gilles, ECFiberNet’s attorney and I’ve forwarded that email to you. We have sent a letter to many of the surrounding towns, as well as the City of Montpelier and are working on selecting an attorney to represent us as a group.

ECFiberNet: They have requested the Board appoint a representative and an alternate to their governing board. Interested applicants are: Rama Schneider, Winston Chambers, Wally Roberts and Perley Dexter. The next ECFiberNet meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8th. Does the Board wish to make any appointments at this time? Chris move to appoint Rama Schneider as representative and Wally Roberts as alternate. Stan seconded. After a discussion Chris added to the motion to appoint Winston Chambers, as second alternate to the governing Board. Stan seconded and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Vermont Drinking Water Week: Ed included in the packets, a copy of a flyer received outlining Vermont Drinking Water Week. They are requesting a $100 donation. What is the Board’s pleasure? Chris said this should be passed on to the schools.

Unfinished Business:

Transportation Committee Investigation – Stan Corneille

Stan spoke to John Perkins of the Transportation Committee and asked if he understood what the Board is requesting them to do. John thought he did and Stan asked if he would like something in writing. Stan wrote a memo and asked the Selectboard if there were any changes they would recommend. Fran said he would like to add in the second paragraph a question to consider part-time help and also to consider hiring projects out to alleviate work loads. Chris wanted to see a time frame added to the memo. By consensus the Board with changes will send the memo to the Transportation Committee.

NEW BUSINESS:

New Road off Erskine Rd., - Denis Lefebvre

The Lefebvre’s came to the Board meeting to ask the Board if they subdivided a piece of property and put in a road, would the Town take the road over in a couple of years. Chris said they have done the right thing coming to the Board with their detail plans at this point. The next thing is to involve the Town in every step as you go. If you do it as the plan is, it meets the Town highway policy, and you involve the Town all the way through the Town will take over the road. Larry said he and Ed Farnham have reviewed the original plan and suggested some changes to the plans and Denis didn’t have the revised plans tonight. Larry said if they came to the next Selectboard meeting with the revised plans he was sure they would go through. Paula Lefebvre asked if the Board would name the road now. We would like Paradise Lane. Larry made a motion to name the road Paradise Lane. Seconded by Chris. The motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Board Appointments:

The Board discussed the appointments to Committees and Commissions. The Board discussed the nominees and Chris made the motion to approve as they were presented without Annemarie Alexander-Kramer for Planning Commission.

Seconded by Larry. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Town Manager Search:

The Selectboard discussed the cost of using the services of Vermont League of Cities and Towns for the Town Manager’s search or forming a search committee. Some Board members suggested advertising outside of the State, but felt it would be great to have someone from the Town apply. Stan said the advertising would be expensive, this is a very important position and backround checks are very important and we should consider using VLCT, a professional organization to help us. Once we get some candidates then we should form a selection committee. Fran said it obvious we spent more than that in the past backing out of situations than getting into them and VLCT would have a pretty good handle on that. Larry said he may know of a candidate.

Chris suggested advertising the position state wide and maybe outside the state, spending a small portion of money first and then from that group, make a decision whether to go with VLCT. Tonight we need to decide what our first step is. Fran asked Ed for input of the job. Chris said Bob Cleaves, the Town’s Treasurer, would like to be involved in the selection process. Fran said we need not to jump into this and make a bad decision on a Town Manager. He felt we are capable to pick a person without making a mistake. Chris said at this time it sounds like our goal is a permanent town manger and we still have some decisions about advertising. Is it the Board’s intent in the very near future to advertise and so how are we going to sort through these candidates. Are we taking names for a committee at this point? Do we want to put the word out for help? We could be advertised by our next meeting. Morris Lasell said he thought the entire Selectboard should be on the committee

Around the Table:

Fran: Fran said he thinks we should possibly look into with Orange County Sheriff about people who might be able to help us with community service. They may be able to help the road crew. He asked Ed to be in touch with Sheriff Williamn Boynak. Chris mentioned that Williamstown High School required all students x amount of hours in their high school years to community service before they graduate.

Also a sawhorse at the bottom of Stone Road and RT 64 needs to be picked up by the road crew.

Stan: Stan asked if the landfill has been closed. He saw a small charge for monitoring in

the warrants. Ed said the state is going to required, initially, the first year to monitor 4 times in a 12 month period. Then depending on the test results, then they will determine if they have to continue to monitor. Until they are satisfied that none of the debris in the landfill is hazardous.

Stan also asked about Central Vermont Solid Waste District, they are charging us over $3.00 per capita. The budget was over $10,000 and I think we should call them in and speak to them. He wanted to find out what they really do for us.

Stan told Newton Blaisdell he would speak to the Board that he needs a little more money. He is getting $10.00 an hour now with mileage. He would be happy with $14.00 an hour and the same mileage. Newton said he hasn’t had an increase in four years. Stan said he has not gone over his budget. Fran asked if he met his budget or has he gone over the budget in the past. Chris said we have never been notified Newton has gone over his budget. Chris moved to increase his salary to $14.00 per hour plus equal to the present mileage. Second by Stan. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

Larry: Asked about the dumping snow over the Catholic Church fence on the lawn and the fence at Seaver Field should come to an end. There is no reason the church should have to clean up the sand, dirt, and garbage that gets plowed up from the snow plowing or at Seaver Field. It is pushing the fences over from the weight. We have town trucks that can take the snow elsewhere. Ed said there is a need to clarify the agreement of snow removal between the church, the hardware store, Behind the Scenes, and Beckett Street in the Town. Chris said this definitely needs to be written up with the transition of a new town manger. Larry said when the addition was put on the firehouse the church gave them some land for it in return the Town would maintain the parking lot. Chris said if Ed wants to draft some documentation of verbal agreements of what the town does for others with snow removal, he should.

Chris: Nothing at this time.

Art: Absent

Visitor’s Comments:

Mike Sprano: He asked if you are going to have the Transportation Committee look at going to job out work and dropping a man off the road crew, he didn’t understand that. Chris said we didn’t necessary say we are going to do that, we were discussing possible options.

On ancient roads is the town responsible for legal issues? Ed said it would depend on the legal issue. For example, if there is an ancient road that the town gives up and it’s thrown up and the process is not complete. Then it becomes a legal issue because the owner of that property goes to sell that piece of land. In the title search a road appears down the middle of it. In this case it foiled a sale and the person filed a lawsuit against the town. Fran said that is why we need to clarify these roads. Morris Lasell said the way the law reads, if you discover these ancient roads then legally to have it discontinued by the town you need to go through a process of hearings so the landowners are aware of the legal right of way on their or next to there property. There should not be legal action because the roads are proven to be legal rights of way.

Art Kramer: He asked if we heard from the post office yet. Ed said we have not.

Art said the Planning Commission met last week to go over the surveys they collected at Town Meeting Day. We had 40 people complete the survey and have compiled them for each Board member. Art asked them to review the information and invite him back in two weeks, as Planning Commission Chair, shared what you determined from this and what direction you would like to go.

Al Day: A few years ago I mowed Seaver Field; I gave it up because the gravel in the snow was tearing up my lawn mower. Now I find at Rachel’s Garden the Town is dumping snow there and I am not going to clean up the gravel. Fran said that is understandable.

He has been watching the news the last few weeks, if the Towns have any money in none secured, not insured place you may want to look at it if you do.

Paul Anderson: Paul asked if the Board knew the time line for the Route 64 bridge project. Larry said it was going out for bid at the end of this month, the first of April and will start around mid May and would be completed at the end of the construction season.

Newton Blaisdell: Newton thanked the Town for fixing his road.

Fran asked for a motion for adjournment. Stan made a motion to be adjourned. Seconded by Larry. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0.

The March 17, 2008 Selectboard meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Minutes approved with corrections.