TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN

Select Board Meeting Minutes

April 21, 2008

7:00 PM

Williamstown High School Library

Present: Francis Covey, Chris Peloquin, Stan Corneille, Larry Hebert. Art Stone

Town Manager – Ed Magee

Visitors: Mike Sprano, Horace Duke, Jr., Arthur Kramer- Planning Commission, Chair, Irvin Stephenson, Rich Chalmers, Tom Bailey, Roger Gabree, Sr., Ed Farnham - Road Foreman.

Selectboard Meeting

Shortly before 7 pm Francis Covey convened the Selectboard meeting:

Announcements:

Ed Magee announced that he would mention the mud season roads during manager notes when Ed Farnham, the Road Foreman would be there.

Visitor’s Comments:

Tom Bailey wanted to be sure to discuss Flint Road when the roads were discussed.

Irvin Stephenson said he didn’t see any report from the Fire Department in the Town Report this year. Ed said they did not complete a report. Chris said the Board receives monthly reports in the Board packets and anyone was welcome to see them.

Irvin asked about the sidewalk project and was told that the plan was for construction this year. He also asked about crosswalks and Route 64 sidewalks.

Roger Gabree, Sr., told the Board that Depot and Beckett Streets have a lot of children playing on them and thought signs should be put up to notify the public. Also Falls Bridge Road is very bad and signs should be put up to warn the public. Art Stone thought the road should be closed.

Horace Duke, Jr., suggested the speed limit on Depot and Beckett Streets should be lowered to 15 m.p.h. Ed said the Selectboard by Statute is only allowed to lower speed limits to 25 m.p.h. Chris said that in response to Roger there is an expectation of drivers to actually pay attention to the roads.

Review and Approval of Warrants:

Chris approved Check Warrant Report #6. Seconded by Larry. After a discussion the motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Stan moved to approve Payroll Warrant dated April 5 and April 12, 2008. Seconded by Chris. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Approval of Minutes: Chris moved to approve the April 7, 2008 Selectboard meeting minutes. Seconded by Art. Corrections were made to the minutes before the meeting and Chris added one on page 2, under Managers Report: Planning Committee to Planning Commission. Motion passes by voice vote 5-0.

Managers Report:

Highway Department: Residents have advised me they would be attending tonight’s meeting to address our annual mud season issues and he asked Ed Farnham to attend to answer questions. The grader is broken down and Chris asked if we should rent a grader. Fran said the grader was to be working by tomorrow. A discussion followed of roads that were in poor shape and ways to fix them. Fran mentioned a real problem is the culverts being plugged up and the need for them to be cleaned out. Fran said there is a real need for people who want to serve their community service with projects like that. Ed Farnham said you need to supervise them and they have restrictions on equipment they can use. Fran suggested asking for volunteers to help supervise. Larry said the culverts need to be flushed out and the Town garage has equipment for that. Art Stone suggested hiring a few people to clean out the culverts. Roger Gabree said the road crew needs a plan to follow and Fran said we had a plan till the flood of last year. Ed Magee said the transportation committees identified the culverts last year so we have a place to start. Ed Farnham said without ditching the cleaning won’t last. Stan said Ed and Ed Farnham have heard that we are concerned about the culverts, address the ones that are most plugged as soon as you can. Chris said the plan has been made of what needs to be done and we are waiting from the Transportation Committee of their findings as the result of their investigation for the Selectboard of the highway department needs in referring to hiring people. Ed Farnham said a schedule has been made of two people in at six a.m., one to operate the grader and one to drive truck, they will work their 8 hours and then another two will come on and work till 8 pm. for grading. The Board was in consensus with Ed Magee, Ed Farnham and Larry Hebert meeting in the morning to look at the cost of renting a grader and operator.

Grandview Road: Rich Chalmers has requested the Board consider posting either a “Dead End, or “Not a Thru Street” sign at the end of the Class III portion of Grandview Road which is not passable. A number of cars are attempting to go through, getting stuck and knocking on my door to be pulled out. Chris said it turns into a Class IV road; it is a through right of way. Rich said with a normal vehicle it is not passable and would like a sign before getting to the Class IV portion as there is no room to turn around. Also GPS shows that road is passable and a tractor trailer came and had no where to turn around and the traffic is increasing. Fran said we need to decide on the terminology for the sign. Chris moved to table this and discuss it again at the next meeting. Seconded by Larry. Motion passes by voice vote 5-0.

Monument Cleaning: Per Carl Schilling Stone Products, in order to determine the correct cleaning process, the type of marble and origin must be determined. The amount of pressure using a pressure washer must be properly regulated to prevent damage. We have requested they come and provide us with a quotation.

Community Service: Dave Savage with the Orange County Diversion Board does not assign community service, as such, but does occasionally get asked for leads. They have added the Town to their list of willing participants.

Emergency Services:

Fire Department - The annual Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success, with over 100 children participating. Ongoing training includes developing a Rapid Intervention Team, specializing in fire rescues and establishing a proper protocol to do so.

Ambulance: this month we passed last years totals in calls for service (304) and transports (195). At the end of March our numbers were 327 calls and 211 transports, with 3 months to go. Our second ambulance was used on 4 occasions last month.

Unfinished Business - Horace Duke – Water District.

Horace Duke and Stan Corneille presented the Board with a revised outline of the water district map. Under the new water system, they took the highest point that the water raised water pressure could serve. Whether you stick with the current policy or come up with a new ordinance, you still need a map to show you something. After talking to Allen Chouinard we adjusted some of the lines to a slightly lower elevation so that we could provide 50 pounds of pressure or so any place within the whole district. Stan asked the difference between the two maps. Horace explained that at Larry Hebert’s they ran a line across and stayed at the 1000 feet mark. One of the things that did was, previously it included a house there, that is no longer included and they included Jay Lane. Other than that there is not much difference. This is what we are proposing you adopt as a map of the water district. Chris proposed, 700 feet without crossing others private property, it has to be their own or the Town’s Right of Way within 700 feet of the Town’s water main. Fran said that Chris’s motion proposed we draw a map, within 700 feet of the Town’s water mains, calling that the Water District with including both water and sewer. Second by Larry. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Art Kramer – Town Survey

Art had feedback and information to present to the Board. On May 14th the Planning Commission will be meeting with Chris Walsh of the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission to give them some guidance and direction with the Town Plan.

From Route 64, Route 14 to Industrial Road is referred to as the Route 14 Corridor. The discussions tonight all factor into the Corridor regardless where you live in Williamstown. To have a cohesive Town Plan you need to bring the whole town together. How do you go about that with regard to what the survey indicated they needed? Art said it is everyone’s responsibility to bring businesses into the Town. He asked what is going to happen to Rachael’s garden, sidewalks, crosswalks and the beautification of downtown, all this has to be in place and attempted so the Route 14 Corridor is what we want to attract things to the Town.

ECFiberNet – Interlocal Agreement –

Ed Magee said he had feedback from the attorney the Town hired to do due diligence, ECFiberNet meeting is tonight and initially the statement was made, if you don’t come in with the local agreement signed, you would not be able to sign up. It turns out that is not the case. The attorney strongly recommended we not sign the present local agreement. Major concerns: he doesn’t feel there is an adequate out clause, should we not be satisfied with the future presentation that we can walk away from. Additional the VTA, he does not feel comfortable with the lack of financial information they are providing.

NEW BUSINESS:

Liquor License application – Moose Lodge #1391

Chris moved to accept, grant the license. Seconded by Art. After a discussion the motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Around the Table:

Art – nothing to report

Chris – after mud season, a reminder of the children’s Mountain View Sign and Garden Street culvert screen.

Chris asked for an update on the Town Managers applications. Ed said a total of ten have been received. Chris moved we involve the Town Manager, asked the Treasurer and the Town Clerk in reviewing the resumes. Seconded by Art. Copies of the resumes for the Board, Town Manager, Town Clerk and the Treasurer will be made. A meeting date was set for Tuesday, April 29th at Town Hall at seven p.m. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

At the last meeting Chris asked about the deductible on the lawsuit. Ed said it was for our required co-pay.

Chris thanked the Town Manger for replacing the flag in front of the Town Hall.

Fran – nothing to report

Stan – nothing to report

Larry – asked if the Board wanted him to do an estimate on installing a curtain drain up the center of a road. Fran said it was the consensus of the Board to have Ed Magee and Larry to look into that.

Visitor’s Comments:

Horace Duke said he believed in one of the communications from the Agency of Natural Resources, once we have an active water ordinance and our map, any changes to the water service area and/or the ordinance will have to be approved by ANR. Ed said it’s not so extensive that we can’t change specifications on a certain gate, like that but anything with boundary adjustment we would need to run by them.

Art Stone asked if we are waiting for another study from Steve McKenzie before they decide whether 2 or 3 inch pipe for that value. Chris made a motion that we direct, Mr. McKenzie to change that 2 inch saddle and make a 3 inch saddle. Art Seconded. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Art Kramer – He was concerned about a statement made earlier this evening. A local residents name was associated with the term frivolous lawsuit. Art didn’t think it was appropriate. If it was said under accidental circumstances then you need to retract it. Fran said he took it personally as a generalization. Art said his comments would be seen on TV and the folks on Wednesday could decide what it was.

Tom Bailey – Hoped the Town would stay on top of Flint Road.

Chris moved to adjourn. Seconded by Art. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

The April 21, 2008 Selectboard meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Minutes approved with corrections.