WILLIAMSTOWN SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES PRESENT: Larry Hebert - Chair, Rodney Graham- Vice Chair, Francis Covey, Bill Ashe Absent: Art Stone Town Manager: Garrett Earls
VISITORS: Kathleen Lott – The Northfield News, Mike Sprano, Irvin Stephenson, Rama Schneider, Becky Watson Larry called the July 6, 2010 Williamstown Selectboard Meeting to order. Larry announced they would be going into a brief Executive Session after the Water & Sewer Commission. He asked for a motion to enter the Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners. Francis made the motion they move into Water & Sewer Commission and seconded by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0. WATER & SEWER COMMISSIONERS Ray Duff – Irrevocable Letter of Credit. Larry abstained because he performed the work for Mr. Duff. Rodney explained that last winter the Board was approached to take over Village View Heights roads, sewer and water in that park. We found problems with the sewer lines which could not be fix in the fall. We required Ray Duff to provide a letter of credit in the amount $125,000. until the work was completed satisfactory to the Town. That work has been completed and inspected by an engineer surveyor and everything is good. So we would entertain a motion to withdraw the requirement of the letter of credit for Raymond Duff. Francis made the motion to withdraw the letter of credit to Raymond Duff in the amount of $125,000., credit number 2009-13. Seconded by Bill. No discussion and the motion passed by voice vote of 3-0. 1 abstained.
E.J. Prescott Response to Air in Lines: Larry said after reading the report it seemed highly unlikely that air would cause miss readings as far as the meters are concerned. Garrett was instructed to forward a copy of the letter to Robert Hood. Francis made the motion to come out of Water & Sewer Commissioners. Seconded by Rodney and the motion passed by voice vote of 4-0. Rodney made the motion to enter Executive Session for a contract issue. Seconded by Bill and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0. The Board came out of Executive Session at 7:18 P.M. No action taken. SELECTBOARD MEETING Announcements: Happy Birthday to Larry Hebert. Visitor’s Comments: Rama Schneider expressed his opinion about Larry Hebert’s comments made at a Planning Commission meeting about E.C. FiberNet. Larry responded that it was his own opinion and Rodney spoke that Larry was not acting as a Board member, it was not a Selectboard meeting, and this is a Board meeting and not the place to bring it up. Francis said this is Larry personal opinion, he says it’s his personal opinion, he stated his personal opinion in that meeting and he is stating it now. The Selectboard made their decision a long time ago and the discussion was over. Irvin Stephenson said the traffic count on Main Street was 4,000. He is concern for the school children crossing Route 14. Larry said Safe Routes to School Program is working on doing a sidewalk from Route 14 to the two schools. Provisions were made to have sidewalks built on the bridge. It does take time for the process to go through and are in the pipeline for funding to do that. Becky Watson asked who is responsible for putting in sidewalks. Rodney said his thought is it must be the Towns responsibility to put a sidewalk in and then get the state to do a crosswalk. She wanted to thank you all but especially the Town for making it possible for Williamstown to be represented at the History Expo at Tunbridge. She also wanted to thank the Board for their decision on spending money on Winchester Hill Road because, we at Lotus Lake could not have gotten to our spring which ran dry if that road was not fixed. Larry Ellison told the Board he will be installing a 6 foot sidewalk about a hundred and fifty feet which will come from Construction Hill over to Al Days in the next two to three weeks that runs parallel to Route 14. Mike Sprano reminded again about the guard rails on Getz Road. He asked if any decisions were made in Executive Session. The Board answered no. Review and Approval of Warrants: Rodney made the motion to approve SB 56. Seconded by Francis. Rodney asked to remove Orange County Treasurer for the county tax that this amount should be in the current fiscal year and not in the last fiscal year, put it in the right fiscal year. There is a warrant for $31,792.43 that is recorded in the previous fiscal year 2010 and it is for the 2011 county taxes. He would like to have that moved to the current fiscal year. It will affect our budget if we don’t. Larry said all in favor of approving the warrants with the amendment and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0. Rodney moved to approve SB57. Seconded by Francis. Rodney said the Orange County Tax the amount in this warrant is not the full amount of the county tax because some of it was in the prior warrant that we took out. Rodney wanted to made the amount of $45,509.40 to read $76,301.83 which was the correct amount which was billed to us from Orange County. Seconded by Francis. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0. Approval of Minutes: Francis made the motion to accept the June 21, 2010 minutes as written. Seconded by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0. Manager’s Report: Garrett said the scanner and copier arrived at the Town Clerks office. The next phase will be to start scanning. We have some paving money and we have a Class 2 Paving Grant which is specific to Chelsea Road. He is asking to not bid this out and employ local contractors. With the Town purchasing the bituminous mix and pay for the trucks directly. Then hire the pavers by the hour. Rodney said you mention doing as much as you can with the tax payers dollars, we received a sizable grant for this process, so you are trying to get as much production out of this grant fund as well as the local match. The Board by consensus agreed to the plan with Garrett looking into the numbers for the cost. Rodney asked about signs on Winchester Hill Road, a Class 4 road, is still listed on GPS’s as a through road. Is there a sign or can we put up signs. Maybe change the wording. Garrett would look into it. Lastly up on Washington and Grandview the intersection was real tight and somewhat blind. Garrett wanted to thank Ron Mercier and his friend Nick. Ron donated an excavator and bull dozer, the Town sent trucks with gravel. They did a great job grading that corner. Mike asked if on the paving aren’t you breaking the policy you just signed. Larry explained we reduced the cost by buying all the mix, hiring the trucks and they are just laying it down. Unfinished Business: none New Business: Fair Point Communication – Petition & Order – Flint Rd & George Road. Larry recused himself because of his work on George Road. Rodney explained this is a petition to install new poles and one replacement in the Town’s right of way up George Road and Flint Road. Francis made the motion to grant this permit for putting in the poles. Seconded by Bill and the motion passed by voice vote 3-0. 1 abstained. George Road – Permit To work In-Town-Right-Of-Way & Road Improvement Larry recused himself. Rodney explained it to be a permit to work in the town’s right of way. It was requested from Larry Hebert: 1. To excavate down 12”x 5’ wide on both sides of the roadway and install gravel supplies by the Town from flint Road approx 1600 L.F. up George Road. 2. Install new 18” HDPE culvert to replace existing culvert supplies by the Town. 3. Remove necessary trees for power line along east side of R.O.W. Francis motion to grant this permit to work in the town right of way and allow this project to go forward. Seconded by Bill and the motion passed by voice vote 3-0. 1 abstained. Depot Street – Permit to Work-In-Town- Right -Of -Way Garrett explained there is a pond at the intersection of Meadow and Depot Streets. There is a new business coming in and was approached by Roger Gabree about what we can do. What we said we could do is hire him to stake out the pavement. We will strip it out, he will re grade it to get the water sheathing in another direction and re pave it. Basically fixing the intersection on Depot Street. Rodney motion to grant this permit to R.G. Paving, Seconded by Francis and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0. Visitor’s Comments: none Around the Table: Francis: When he was on the Board before they had discussed taking the fence down at the south end of Town. Is this anything the Selectboard wants to talk about. It is probably not feasible to use the poles but maybe use the chain link fence. Maybe even just store it for future use. A discussion followed about moving it and it was decided until a reason came up with a possible need to leave it where it is. Rodney: Asked about when the road side mowing was going to start as he is getting some complaints. Garrett said we usually do it in August. Rodney said maybe the road crew when riding around and see a section that is real bad could do a little hand work. Rodney was thinking if he had a few minutes to take his bush hog and do around where Graham and South Hill come together would there be any objection to him knocking the weeds down. Larry said he saw Doug Poor on Flint Road with his bush hog and Larry wanted to thank him for it. If more people would step up and do that it would be appreciated. Bill: Nothing tonight Larry: Seems things are going pretty smooth and hopefully things stay that way, Larry needed a motion to adjourn. Francis made the motion to adjourn
and seconded by Bill. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0. Approved at Selectboard meeting July 19, 2010
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