WILLIAMSTOWN SELECTBOARD

WATER & SEWER COMMISSION - 7 PM

SELECTBOARD MEETING

May 18, 2009

Williamstown Middle/High School Library

MINUTES

PRESENT: Stan Corneille- Chair, Larry Hebert - Vice Chair, Art Stone, Chris Peloquin, Rodney Graham

Town Manager: Garrett Earls

VISITORS: Winston Lasell, Orange County Sergeant Lambert, Horace Duke, Jr., John Jamieson, Mike Sprano, Andrew Brown, Ed Farnham - Road Foreman

Stan Corneille, Chair asked for a motion so we can convene as the Board of Water and Sewer Commission a few minutes before seven pm. So moved by Larry and seconded by Chris. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Water & Sewer Commissioners

Carroll Fuller - Abatement

A letter was sent with questions to Mr. Fuller and returned with the answers. A discussion followed of ownership of the trailer and when Mr. Fuller knew the tenant had left, when he started to receive the bills for water & sewer. Reading his letter he stated Darlene Parker had not paid rent since April 2007 and abandoned the trailer. Mr. Fuller was sent a bill in Parkers name in June of 08. The Board discussed what would be a fair abatement as Mr. Fuller was the property owner who would be responsible for the bills as landowner. Chris made the motion that we abate all the monies minus or except $2000. which we would hold Mr. Fuller responsible for. Second by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Shirley & John Jamieson - Water and Sewer Allocation

The Jamieson's came to the Board requesting an additional allocation for two lots. Chris made the motion to approve the additions or allocations for Mr. & Mrs. Jamieson. Rodney second and the motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Andrew Brown - Abatement

Mr. Brown explained to the Board reasons why he was asking for the abatement. He has had a series of unforeseen expenses and is trying to sell his house. He can't with this outstanding bill. He is willing to pay the water and sewer bill but asked for the penalty and interest charges be removed. After a discussion of the Board's view of the circumstances that caused the delinquencies, Larry motion to reduce his bill by 25%. Second by Rodney. No further discussion and the motion passed by voice vote 4-1.

An email was received by the Board with a change to the billing schedule by the Treasurer. Chris motion we make the change that was presented to the Board via email. Second by Larry. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Stan asked to entertain a motion to come out of Water & Sewer Commission. so moved by Chris and second by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Stan convened the May 18, 2009 meeting of the Williamstown Selectboard at 7:38 pm.

Selectboard Meeting

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Williamstown Parade starts at noon - there will be silent auction all day - entertainment starts at 1pm -Bill Ashe and his family band will be performing at 1 to 2:30 pm. Sherri's Jubilee scheduled at 2:30 to 4 and the Northfield Middle H.S. Jazz Band - 4 to 5pm. Green Mountain Cloggers at 5:30. 6 to 8:30 DJ doing Karaoke. Moose Club at 4pm Chicken BBQ. Fireworks at dusk.

Citizen of the Year - Congratulations to William Ashe

Bill received the majority of votes from the Chairs of Committees, Board and Commissions.

VISITORS COMMENTS: none

WARRANTS:

Chris move to approve check warrant # 60 & 61. Rodney second. After a discussion the motion passed by voice vote of 5-0.

MINUTES:

Chris move the May 4th meeting minutes first. Second by Rodney. Chris had no corrections but on the dog hearing, if you read this, He didn't know the outcome is going to be. He knew if you read the dog hearing portion it appears Larry has described all of the incidents at this hearing. Which is totally inaccurate. It really needs to verify our witness by name in these minutes what their descriptions of the events were. Maybe he is reading this wrong but it appears Larry is doing all the describing at this meeting. Larry did give an overview and then he asked the witness what happened. Chris said there is nothing in here about the witnesses. This as far as these minutes would be contradictory to Around the Table discussion to how everybody but me was described word for word what they talked about. He really thought these meeting minutes should not be accepted as presented. Larry asked if the people's comments could be added in and they could. Chris recommended to table these minutes. Under Vicious Dog the witnesses concerns are describe accurately. Then at Around the Table discussions under my name it says - A discussion followed between Chris and the Town Manager preceded on the task and times. That is all it says, then it goes word for word what Rodney, Larry and Art said. This presents that Rodney, Larry and Art are really just picking a beef with the discussion that Chris and the Town Manager had but we don't know what that is about. He would recommend that we add more substance to what Chris and the Town Manager talked about. Chris said he is just asking his presentation be place in the minutes. He is not questioning Art, Larry and Rodney responses. Larry said he thought it would be fair to have both sides of the discussion. Stan said the minute taker has a lot of leeway about how detailed to make the minutes. You can make them pretty skimpy or you can make them as detailed as possible. Stan said the Board would like more detail. Chris said in the dog hearing he didn't know where we lie as a Town at this point, but I know what I read in the paper and we certainly don't want minutes that are inaccurate, if in fact somebody is going to lawyer up. Chris changed his motion to not accept and table these minutes to the next Selectboard meeting. Second by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Stan asked for a motion to accept the May 6, 2009 Special meeting to talk about Water & Sewer Billing. So moved by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Manager's Report

Dump Body Bids Due 5/19/09.

Garrett brought up an incident that happened on RT 64 Tuesday afternoon May 5th Tuesday after the last board meeting. He almost had an accident with a utility tractor and trailer driven by Norman Peloquin. He called Orange County Sheriff's office to see what the law was on farm tractors on a Class I paved state highway. The Officer who responded then spoke to Mr. Norman Peloquin. Officer Lambert explained the incident to the Board. Larry questioned why this issue was being discussed as it happened on Garrett's time off. Chris said he called Garrett last Friday to ask him about this out side of a meeting and Garrett's response to Chris was he would bring it up in the Manager's report. The Chair ruled this was not Town business and the Board would move on. He thanked Officer Lambert for coming.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Simon's Services Billing

Stan brought this to the Board because we have a proposal from Simon's Operation Services for billing and collecting water & sewer bills. Either we accept it or not. Rodney moved we don't accept the proposal because we made some changes to our billing schedules. Second by Chris. Chris said before the Town would be interested in hiring out services that we currently pay for we should definitely speak with the people that are paid to do the services and look to reduce their salaries before we pay others to do their responsibilities. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Tripp Road:

Garrett spoke to Doug Newton from District 6 about Tripp Road and what he spoke to Becky Watson about Route 14 and Tripp Road meeting at a dangerous angle. District 6 would assist us in laying it out or providing any engineering detail. It would be the Town's responsibility to fund it and construct it. Larry motioned to forget about it. Second by Chris and the motion carried by a voice vote of 5-0.

Winchester Hill Road:

Stan put this on the agenda because he would like a resolution on what we are going to do, when we are going to do it and how much money we are going to spend. Becky Watson arranged to have Forester Dave Wilcox come and look at the upper part of the road. Garrett, Larry and Stan went to meet with Dave Wilcox in addition to Becky and Winston Lasell. Dave told us that Forest & Parks had no intentions to work on the road (the 4 class portion). At the top of the hill is a Y, take the right Y and you go down Winchester Hill and the left Y goes up to Anisworth State Park. A lot of the road that goes to the park is Class 4 road and belongs to the Town. The state has done a sufficient amount of work and there are sufficient water bars there. What we didn't like was they created a water bar about 50 feet from the Y and directs water down Winchester Hill Road and helps to erode it. They also did a lot of filling when they logged there a year ago for their trucks. We talked about removing some of the fill and cutting the bank back. Removing some of that material, we came up with a figure of $2200. and asked them to spilt it with us. Dave Wilcox will take it to the people who make that decision. He offered us a 24 inch culvert. Garrett and Larry suggested lowering that culvert so water would not pond between the culvert and the road. We did accept the culvert but Stan was not sure about the money for the upper part of the road and we would have to do the work. Stan then addressed the lower part of Winchester Hill Road, he thought they needed to commit as its been on the agenda for months. Stan said he is on record as not being on favor of spending money on 4 Class Roads but the Town has voted $5,000 to do that. He suggests they vote a fifth of that about 1,000 to 12,00 dollars on the lower portion of the road. There is a pile of rock and stones that the Town could possible move to the road for them. Stan asked Winston if he agreed to do the grading, which he had. He could do the soft stuff but not digging down with his equipment. Chris said to move that pile and dump a few loads of gravel on top would be more than the dollar amount you proposed. Larry thought the way the discussion was left with the forester was they guarantee they were going to donate the culvert, and try to get us $1200 dollars for which would pay towards equipment. We were supposed to commit to filling, not lowering that road down. It is going to take another, same amount of money $1,200 to $1,500. in material to bring the part that goes down hill up between equipment and materials. Chris would agree to the $1,500 amount, he didn't know of any agreement between the forester and the Town of Williamstown, he wasn't present at this meeting. Rodney said they are telling us what they discussed, we agree to accept that or not. He ask if Town labor and equipment will be used on this project. He felt the Class 3 roads are where the equipment and crew needed to be. Chris agreed with Rodney but Becky has really pushed for some work on the road. He attended the original meeting on May 6th and he thought she indicated the lower portion was more important to her. Winston said the lower part needed to be fixed because of a safety issue as far as the camp kids going half way up the hill. Stan's concern was we are donating 50% of that money to one Class 4 road. Rodney asked how much did they think it would cost to change the culvert and make sure that water diverted back to the brook and not down the hill. Larry said about a $1,000. Larry made a motion to spend a total of $2,500 of the $5,000. half on the lower part of Winchester Hill Road and half set aside for the upper part by the Y if the state comes through with their part of the bargain. Second by Chris. A discussion followed, and then Rodney wanted to clarify this is committing money not Town equipment and man power. Stan said the motion is just for the money. Motion passed by voice vote 4-1. Larry asked if we wanted to discuss using Town equipment and do we need a motion. Larry made the motion to work on class 4 roads we just approve a dollar amount and the work is contracted out, overseen by the Town Manager. Chris second. Motion passed by voice vote of 4-1.

Purchase and Sales Proposal

Larry submitted a proposal that was talked about at the last meeting of having something written up for the purchase of the land where the proposed Public Safety Building, if approved, will be built and if something happened to Larry who is the land owner. After reviewing the proposal Rodney asked about granting an easement for the storm water be included in the proposal. Larry will provide the easement included in the proposal. Chris would like to have the entire Selectboard sign the document because there are contingencies based on this are months away. Stan asked for a motion to approve this with two additions, a sentence added about the easement for storm water discharge and putting all the Boards names on it for signature. Rodney so moved. Second by Chris. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS:

Al Jenkins - Stone & Getz Road

Mr. Jenkins spoke to the Board about the length of time ( two weeks less than a year) he has been asking for the Board to make changes to Stone and Getz Road. He asked the Board to put it in writing the work they would do and the time when it will be done. Stan said they did talk about moving Stone Road, Mr. Jenkins said the road is 9 feet from the ditch back over into his on the left side. They tore the fence down, 22 Hawthorn trees, 3 Oak trees and a tremendous amount of erosion with the plows and the grader. On Getz Road 5 apple trees, 1 Maple tree are being killed by the grader and the snow plow. All the water from the road and Langevin's land flows into his spring area. He wants the road ditched. The Board decided to set a date (Mr. Jenkins will supply not available dates) at the Jenkins to review the road. The meeting will be warned for 3 or more Boards members to attend. Chris said he would like to attend.

Jackie & Evelyn Sawyer - Fence Installation, Permit Town-Right-of -Way

Garrett said the Sawyers asked where the fence had to go, a three rod road 24 foot 9 inch from center line to edge of right of way. It could not make it, so he is asking for a wavier. Chris said he is replacing a fence but he is setting this new fence that he is proposing is still further back off the roadway then the present fence. The fence now is a lot closer than what he is proposing here and everybody is familiar with the Sawyer residents this fence moving back will have nothing to do with snow removal because his property where the fence is has six foot drop off down to the Graniteville Road. Chris motioned we have Garrett give him a permit to work in the town right of way and construct the fence as presented. Second by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Radio Read for Meter Reading

Garrett said it was mentioned that in the event of replacing a meter or a new installation we would put the radio reader in lieu of regular touch pads for these installation or improvements of the difference of costs is $60-70. it will give us the capacity for some time in the future if we chose to radio read the meters. Chris thought it was $80 dollars at the last meeting. Garrett said it depends if it's the clip on ones are about $80 dollars more than a touch pad but they clip on over the touch pad or an outside independent outside reader actually is wired. Event of a new installation it would be just wired. That is about $60. The Board discussed this technology and the budget. Chris said we should look to reducing our contract cost with Simons Operation for anything we make their job easier which the data recorder is going to be in effect is one. On July 1st we look at them for a reduction cost. Stan reviewed that the Board agreed to replacing the meters adding the radio reader. Discussing this in more detail in October and December.

Therriault Hill Road - Speed Limit Classification

Garrett had a resident request a speed limit sign to deter speeders. Larry thought is was our policy all unpaved roads are 35 m.p.h. Chris said it was and to be signed as the budget allowed. Apparently Therriault Hill has not been signed yet. The restriction for getting roads posted was the budget. Ed Farnham the Road Foreman suggested 4 signs for the road.

AROUND THE TABLE:

Art: Nothing at this time

Rodney: Asked Garrett if they are doing FEMA work up near Chappell's, is the driveway culvert needed to be replaced on his property. Garrett said they will be replacing it with the same size culvert down stream. Our policy states the home owners responsible for the cost to replace a culvert but this work is under FEMA from the flood last year.

Earlier we were discussing about oil changes on the trucks, he threw out the idea of a committee to review how we maintain our equipment. Do it ourselves or look for something different. Garrett will talk to Green Mountain Diesel about the rates. Having the highway crew do it is a concern about the liability.

Chris: On the phone list remove John Pellegrini and Trevor Szymanowski.

Chris asked if Garrett has looked at the Graniteville Road shoulder across from the Dunn property. Garrett has and it is eroding. Chris said it is gone in two spots. Garrett will look into it.

Chris asked if Conrad Beattie talk to him in that same location about a trailer. Garrett said he did.

Delinquent Tax Collection Policy assume is signed with 3 signatures and it has. He would like an update at the next Selectboard meeting on where we are at in that policy and our hundred seventy seven thousand of delinquent collect taxes as of the last Selectboard meeting.

Any change on the Board action on the dog issue. Garrett said the lawyer has not responded and tomorrow we start another round of proceedings. The warrant is a civil complaint which means the Orange County Deputy cannot seize the dog. He can ask for the dog to surrender the dog. We need to have a judge issue it as a criminal complaint then he will be able to seize it. He would need to contact the town attorney to begin proceedings.

Chris said our insurance with the League has a deductible of $500. but he was not sure it pertains to this issue, so that is more information for you to look into.

Stan: nothing at this time

Art had one more question if the grant for the Fire Safety building has been sent in. Garrett said he heard late July.

Stan entertained a motion to adjourn. So moved by Chris and second by Rodney. Motion pass by voice vote 5-0 at 9:45 pm

Approved with corrections 6/1/2009