TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN
Select Board Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2008
7:00 PM
Williamstown Middle/High School Library
Present: Francis Covey, Chris Peloquin, Stan Corneille, Larry Hebert, Art Stone
Town Manager - Ed Magee
Visitors: Mike Sprano, Horace Duke, Jr., Al Day, Morris Lasell, Denis Lefebvre, Paula Lefebvre, Rama Schneider, Mark Siner
Francis opened the Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners shortly after seven o'clock.
Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners
Water Allocation Alternate Route - Jeff & Susan ParontoEd presented to the Board a revised water connection plan from their engineer. Chris made a motion to accept the plans as presented. Seconded by Larry. Motion pass by voice vote 5-0. A motion by Chris was made to adjourn the Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners and enter into the Selectboard Meeting. Art seconded. Motion pass 5-0.
Selectboard Meeting
Announcements: Ed spoke about the Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday April 19, 9am to 1pm at the Barre Town Garage, Websterville Rd. $10.00 per car for most residential loads.
Visitor's Comments:
Rama Schneider spoke of the report circulating from the VTA was a preliminary report and ECFiberNet is still moving ahead. It was not a final report.
Al Day asked the Board if they heard any news about the Go-Kart's as he has not seen any schedules on the computer for their summer program. Fran said he has not heard anything and Larry suggested Al ask the Planning Committee.
Rama mentioned the Economic Development Committee will be working on getting the Farmers Market back up and running.
Review and Approval of Warrants:
The Board reviewed the payroll warrants of March 15, March 22 and March 29, 2008. Chris made a motion to approve the payroll warrants. Seconded by Larry. The motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
The Board reviewed the payable Warrant of March 26, 2008 for water/sewer and tax refunds. A discussion followed and Chris said he was questioned on a refund, if we could issue a check before the next meeting. In his opinion we charged people money that we should not have charged them. The Town needs to do their part to return that money as soon as they find out. The motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
The Board reviewed the A/P Warrant # 5 for March 17, 2008. Chris moved to accept check Warrant #5 dated April 7, 2008. A discussion followed and Chris moved to change his motion to remove the $608.13 invoice from the warrant. Stan Seconded. The motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Approval of Minutes:
Chris made the motion to approve the minutes of March 17, 2008. Seconded by Larry. Corrections were made:Page 5: line 11 change money to land, Remove sentence, It was made a law and there must be some record of it. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Managers Report:
Post Office: a query for the Board, if they decide to stay in their present location with making the entrance off RT 14 and exiting out the back street. The Post Office has hired Dubois & King to review the situation.
Planning Commission: Ann Marie Kramer offered since they were no applicants she would be willing to stay on, a meeting to meeting basis. The Board appreciated her offer but agreed they have already accepted her registration.
Manager's Search: Ads have been placed in the Times Argus and Burlington Free Press. They ran this past Fri, Sat. & Sun, and will do so for the next 2 weeks. At this time we have received 3 applications.
Highway Department Opening: The Highway Department opening has been filled. Don Smedy has joined the crew beginning today, bringing with him 2 years of previous road crew experience.
Delinquent Taxes: Thru Friday, $175,036 in delinquent taxes have been collected. The next round of collection letters will be going out shortly after the April 15th response date provided for in the first letter. We will be giving a 30 day window of opportunity. May 1st time frame I will be contacting Mike Monte to firm up the next steps in the tax sales process.
Sheriff's Report: Over the last 6 weeks there have been 3 break-ins. One appears to be an "inside job", the 2nd was responded to by VT State Police and never put out to other law enforcement agencies. The 3rd occurrence, the house was left unlocked. This changes the classification of the crime and could adversely affect any insurance coverage. Be sure to lock your home when leaving.
Agenda: In your packets was a notice "How to get on the Agenda" with your approval, we will post it to our website.
Citizen of the Year: We have only received a partial response from the Board and Committee Chairs advising their choice. Remind you to get your vote in.
Executive Session: I need to request an Executive Session to discuss personnel.
Unfinished Business:
New Road off Erskine Rd. - Denis Lefebvre
Denis brought to the Board a copy of the revised prints of the new road. The Board reviewed the plan and Chris moved to approve the plans as presented to the Town. Larry seconded. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Ancient Roads - Morris Lasell
Morris asked for more volunteers to help located and verify ancient roads. Morris explained the bill, it requires if we find a road and can prove it was a road at one time and it is not on the current maps and you want to put it on the current map we need to have it posted for 45 days. It looks like we need to present our findings to the Board on road to road basis. The Board needs to decide if they want to reclaim it for the Town. In talking with VLCT, they said if you have landowners that might not see the posted notices or local newspapers they should be notified (the law does not require it). Morris said they have located 11 possible roads. Further discussions about roads thrown up and if all steps were followed, questions as to exactly what is or is not an ancient road and how to classify it.
NEW BUSINESS:
2 Requests for Liquor Licenses
Chris moved to accept the Pump & Pantry and Depot & Main liquor license applications as presented. Seconded by Larry. The motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Town Meeting Minutes Approved.
Chris moved to accept the Town Meeting minutes of March 4. 2008 as presented. Seconded by Larry. Motion pass by voice vote 5-0.
Around the Table:
Chris: Chris asked if anyone had any information on the agreement between the Fire Department and Church. He suggested asking Joan Gingras about it. Larry said Irvin Stephenson would be a good person to ask.
Chris asked Morris if Larry Ellison would be enough help to work on Ancient Roads. Morris said he would like someone who could work with Horace Duke and who could help when he wasn't there. Morris thought word of mouth would be sufficient for more help.
CV Solid Waste, Chris asked Ed his thoughts on it. Ed said it referred to how they handle state requirements. Not sure how extensive are these permitting processes and regulations, what level of support is needed. Ed said he needs to get more information as it pertains to the Town. Fran said the Board will go over this and give Ed feed back of what they would like before the next meeting. Then revisit it at the next meeting.
Chris reminded Ed about replacing the Town Hall Flag.
Stan: He had a couple of things and one was Harold York from McCarthy Road, has a problem with water collecting across from his driveway.
Stan would like a report from the Treasurer showing how we are doing financially.
Fran: nothing to report.
Art: nothing to report.
Larry: Larry said someone asked him about a time capsule from the Towns 200 Anniversary in 1991. Last known it was in the basement of Winnie Martin.
Larry showed pictures near Milo Winters home of water draining down along the sewer line on Pleasant Street. It may need a drain pipe.
Art asked if anyone has measured the grate for the culvert on Garden St. Ed said he would need to look into it, he was not sure how far along it is. Also Art mentioned the soldier statue near the Town Hall needs to be cleaned. Hopefully before the Memorial Day Parade. Fran reminded about painting the flag pole.
Visitor's Comments:
Mark Siner: asked if it was feasible of blocking off a little side cut between Washington and Grandview Roads. It is not maintained by the Town, it's about 100 yards long. Could you put a couple boulders up there but keep it wide enough for 4 wheelers, horses and people to still use it. People have been dumping up there and Mark has been cleaning it up. Ed was not sure the Town can do this because of access needed by the utility company. Ed will look into it.
Mark also mentioned road signs that have come down and have not been put back up.
Morris Lasell: On Menard Cross Road across from the culvert that goes across Mills driveway, the ditch has the water come down the road and goes right across the driveway instead of in the culvert. Fran said they will let the road crew know.
Chris moved to adjourn, pause and enter into executive session to discuss personnel issues. Seconded by Art. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Submitted by Patricia Rumph
Executive Session
The Selectboard entered into Executive Session at 9:23 P.M.
Personnel issues were discussed.
Executive Session was adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
Regular Session
Regular Session reconvened at 10:31 PM.
A motion was made by Chris and seconded by Stan to set the rate of pay for Junior Firefighters at minimum wage, which is currently $7.68 per hour. Payment for actual time spent for toned our response only. No compensation for training or meeting attendance. Motion passed by vote of 5 Yes, O No.
A motion was made by Chris and seconded by Stan to set the rate of pay for our Health Officer at $1,000.00 per year, to be paid at the rate of $250.00 per quarter, and a mileage allowance of $.40 per mile as requested by Marsha Martin. Motion passed by vote of 5 Yes, 0 No.
By consensus, Ed will continue to draft Job Descriptions, Initial concentration will be a job description for the Animal Control Officer.
Motion made by Chris, seconded by Stan to end regular session at 10:45 PM. Motion passed by vote of 5 Yes, 0 NO.
Submitted by Ed Magee, Town Manager
Approved with corrections, April 21,2008