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TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN MEMBERS: Larry Hebert – Chair, Bill Ashe – Vice Chair (absent), Rodney Graham, Art Stone (absent), Francis Covey TOWN
MANAGER – Jacqueline Higgins SELECTBOARD MEETING CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7pm by L. Hebert. R. Graham made the motion to enter into Water & Sewer Commissioners, seconded by F. Covey, and so voted. Water & Sewer Commission
NEW BUSINESS: Water Storage Tank Property – A resident had contacted J. Higgins and reported that the roof on the old water storage tank was collapsing. J. Higgins and A. Chouinard went to the property to inspect the roof. It was found to not be collapsing, but in fact be in really good condition. She wondered if the Town would like to sell the property as we no longer use the building since the new one was installed. If we were to sell it we would keep an easement for the water lines. State Statutes state that we must offer it up for sale to abutting property owners before it goes out to the public. F. Covey made the motion to offer to offer the property up for sale to abutters, with easements for the water line, and rights to the road reserved by the Town. Also have an independent appraiser done, and deed research done to find out whom currently has rights to the road, seconded by R. Graham, and so voted. Art Kramer – A. Kramer came before the Board to discuss some issues that have been brought up recently. He stated that approximately 350 households use the system and that it is fully funded by those households. R. Cleaves state that the whole town funded the water tank. A discussion arose in regards to past billing issues. R. Graham made the motion to exit Water & Sewer Commissioners at 7:17 pm. Seconded by F. Covey and so voted. Selectboard Meeting
CALL TO ORDER: The Selectboard portion of the meeting was called to order at 7:17 pm by L. Hebert SET THE AGENDA: F. Covey made the motion to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by R. Graham, and so voted. REVIEW OF OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT: available for viewing at all meetings. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: #1 - B. Graham noted that she will be on vacation from July 23 – July 27, 2012, and that her assistant would be in the office from 8-12 Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri. #2 – E. Everheart asked why M. Sprano was able to listen to the meeting via headsets, and wondered if CVTV would be providing headsets & accessibility for all members of the public. #3 – E. Everheart asked why the fire apparatus fund was raided. L. Hebert explained that the fund was not “raided” but that a vote went before the voters of the Town asking if they would loan monies from the fire apparatus replacement fund to the water department. This was to put in the Graniteville water lines. At the time the Town was going to do a bond, but the Treasurer felt we should borrow the money internally, and pay ourselves interest instead of paying it to someone else. The state auditor was asked if we could do this, and it was fine. #4 – C. Peloquin asked if the excavator had gone out to bid yet. J. Higgins reported it has not gone out to bid yet, as we are working on getting more information about the excavator first. SELECTBOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS: L. Hebert presented the 2012 Citizen of the Year award to Sherri Lamberton. Sherri was extremely honored to receive the award. REVIEW & APPROVAL MINUTES: R. Graham made the motion to accept the minutes of the July 2, 2012 meeting, seconded by F. Covey, and so voted. REVIEW & APPROVAL WARRANTS: F. Covey made the motion to accept the payroll warrant for 6/17 – 6/30/12, SB143 and SB144, seconded by R. Graham, and so voted. Questions were asked regarding the change of warrants from the packet to the ones given at the meeting tonight, and it was explained there had been an error inputting one of the bills. R. Graham questioned the charge for 130 bales of hay at $3.50. He feels we should get more prices next time. TOWN MANAGER REPORT: See attached sheet. NEW BUSINESS: #1 – ACO CONTRACT – R. Graham made the motion to accept the Barre Town Animal Control Officer contract for fiscal year 2012/2013 at a rate of $16.50 per hour, seconded by F. Covey and so voted. It was noted the price is up from $16.00 per hour last year, but the higher rate was used to determine the budget. R. Graham feels it is pricey for the service we are getting. B. Graham spoke with the ACO today and he will be issuing tickets for unlicensed dogs. #2 – SIDEWALK ORDINANCE – Due to an increase in problems with horses using the sidewalks it was deemed necessary to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the use of sidewalks by horses. L. Hebert read the proposed ordinance. R. Graham made the motion to approve the Ordinance – Prohibiting the use of sidewalks by horses, seconded by F. Covey, and so voted. It will be enforced by Orange County Sheriff Department. #3 – CATERING PERMIT FOR WEDDING RECEPTION - F. Covey made the motion to approve the catering permit (to cater malt & vinous beverages& spirituous liquors) for Yebba Inc, DBA the Abbey Pub Restaurant on 8/25/2012, on Flint Road, seconded by R. Graham, and so voted. #4 – LISTERS ERRORS & OMMISSION – R. Graham made the motion to approve the following Listers Errors & Omissions, seconded by F. Covey, and so voted. Sutton, Edward & Sabra – Parcel ID 004/030.00 Added 10.4 acres from 004/030.01 due to a property transfer return. The Sutton’s are in the process of selling one of these parcels and would prefer to keep the acreage separate. Parcel ID 004/030.00 from 20.9 - $166,100 changed to Parcel ID 004/030.00 10.5 acres - $145,300 & Parcel ID 004/030.01 10.4 acres - $46,200 Total change would be an increase to the Grand list of $25,400. #5 SELECTBOARD RESIGNATION – L. Hebert read the resignation of Art Stone. R. Graham made the motion to accept A. Stone’s resignation with regret, seconded by F. Covey and so voted. People who are interested should send a letter of intent to the Town Manager by August 1, 2012. The Board will appoint someone to fill the position until Town Meeting day at the next meeting. #6 – NORTH EAST MATERIALS ASPHALT PLANT - Ben Swanson and Eric Morton came before the Board to explain traffic impacts due to this project. B. Swanson said that most traffic will be going down Quarry Hill in Barre, but they would like to open up the access on Pirie Road so that the trucks could go down Pirie Road (this would be so that they wouldn’t be traveling on Cogswell Street) to the Graniteville Road and eventually Route 14. He feels that there will be little to no impact or delays. If the plant was running at maximum capacity they can produce 180 tons per hour, which would be 16 trucks (8 in, 8 out), over a 10 hour day = 160 trucks per day. The feel the average would be more like 50 ton per hour, which would be 2.5 trucks (or 5 per hour), 50 trucks a day. These figures are based on a truck holding 22 ton. They feel about 30% would be coming towards Williamstown. The Board & the Planning Commission asked if they had looked at crash studies for Graniteville Road, especially the corner by Bailey road, and B. Swanson reported that they had. M. Bernier relayed concerns that members of the Graniteville community had about this project. E. Everheart expressed concerns that Barre Town would be getting all the gravy (i.e. tax monies) while we got all the headaches (road issues), and wondered if they had looked at the fact that the ambulance bay is located on that road and that the fire station will be located on that road in the future, and what impact that may have with truck traffic. R. Graham made the motion to have the Town Manager work with North East Materials, to work on opening an access onto Pirie Road for the crushing operation only to keep the trucks off Cogswell Street, seconded by F. Covey, and so voted. It was also noted that the Town did not provide permission for the asphalt plant to use the Pirie Road access. Access was granted for the aggregate plant during mud season. OLD BUSINESS: #1 – HIGHWAY POLICY - L. Hebert read the policy amendment. F. Covey made the motion to accept the amendment to the highway policy, seconded by R. Graham, after much discussion F. Covey withdrew his motion, and the matter was tabled. #2 – GRADER LOAN REFINANCE – There is no penalty for early pay off of the original loan. It will now be through People’s United for a rate of 2.50%, which will save roughly $3,500 over the 5 year life of the loan. F. Covey approved signing the new loan papers, seconded by R. Graham and so voted. #3 – SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE UPDATE – We have received a draft from VLCT and have given it to the Health Officer to review. We will be making modifications to the draft, and it is not ready yet. #4 – GARDEN STREET – F. Covey made the motion to have the Town contribute $10,000 for materials for the rock wall project on Garden St, seconded by R. Graham, and so voted. The work will need to be done before paving is done in mid-August. L. Hebert stated that his company would take out the existing blocks, and slope the land in preparation for the new blocks in exchange for the blocks that are there. R. Hepburn will be responsible for installing the new blocks. #5 – TREASURER COMMITTEE – Update – Mayor Lauzon from Barre has agreed to be the CPA for the committee. #6 – TREASURER COMPENSATION RESPONSE – After presenting the request to the Town’s Attorney the Board finds no basis and has denied the claim. AROUND THE TABLE: A. STONE – Absent R. GRAHAM – Had some questions for R. Cleaves regarding his request, but didn’t have a chance to ask them. R. Cleaves stated that he could ask the questions when he files with the court. B. ASHE – Absent F. COVEY – Questioned the inventory tax. He feels it needs to be looked into. A Town vote is needed to do away with the tax. Currently it adds about $25,000 in income to the Town. L. HEBERT - None ADJOURN – F. Covey made motion to adjourn at 10:30 p.m., R. Graham seconded and so voted. Respectfully submitted, Cora Grandfield |