TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN

Select Board Meeting Minutes

September 17, 2007

7:00 PM  Williamstown Elementary School

Present: Francis Covey-Chair, Chris Peloquin, Morris Lasell

Absent: Stan Corneille, Morris Lasell

Town Manager - Ed Magee

Visitors: Tracey Pearson, Kim Morrow, Arthur Framer, Al Day, Mike Spano, Larry Hebert, Jane Hulstrunk, Steve Mckenzie, Ron Mercier, Julie Mercier, Conrad Beattie, Even Hughes, David Delcor, Paul Anderson, Paul Roux, Vickie Roux

At 7 pm Fran Covey called the Select Board to order.

Announcements:

Fran announced Stan and Morris would not be in attendance for this meeting.

Welcome to Visitors and Comments:

Arthur Kramer asked why the meeting was not being taped. It was explained Video Vision had equipment problems and left the meeting. Fran announced David Delcor from the Times Argus newspaper was attending this evening.

Al Day had concerns about the connection between the Select Board and the Planning Commission. The meeting that was held Wednesday had no quorum so they couldn't legally address the problem on how to regulate the shooting range that the Select Board asked them to look at in the Town Plan.

Art Kramer said as the chair of the Planning Committee we have not taken care of any issues internally and until such time as we do, at the October meeting, then we will come back to the Board. Fran said he and Art have looked at the Town Plan and felt comfortable that some thing may be in place in the Town Plan if they have to go through Act 250. If they don't then we will have to look into it. Chris said we should not leave it to if they go through Act 250, which would make it commercial. If they wanted to use it as their own and only their own he wasn't sure what we would need to look at. Al said we couldn't keep putting it off. Art said based on what he and Fran discussed, they looked at the Town Plan as it was written and it's mentioned in there that there should be an ordinance regarding noise or safety aspects. Towards the end is a section about the fact that the Town Plan is meant to enable the Town Residents to have a say in how their town is developed as opposed to building and homes etc. Mr. Ed Stanton from Dist 5 said Act 250 kicks in when a municipally disturbs 10 or more acres, if that doesn't happen then there is no Act 250. Art asked the Board for a letter with directions for collecting options to present to the Board. Evan Hughes Vice President from VT Federation of Sportsmen sole interest is safe ranges around the state. After the last Board meeting he and Clint from VT Fish & Wildlife met with the Barre Police Chief. After meeting with him the Chief wrote a letter to the VT Fish & Wildlife asking if Clint could look at the layout up there to see if it could be a safe range. Ed has been trying to contact Barre's manager and mayor. Ed asked Evan if they have regulatory authority over ranges. Evan said the Fish and Wildlife have some Title Town policies. They became interested when they heard the range was not wanted. Fran said that safe ranges are important, but it is also important to be able to build our tax base close to the nucleus of the Town and not have that competed by a shooting range right in an area near the nucleus of the Town.

Review and Approval of Warrants:

The Board reviewed the payroll warrants of September 1st and September 8, 2007. A motion was made by Chris to approve the payroll warrants. Seconded by Art. After a short discussion the motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

The Board reviewed the A/P Warrant # 42 for September 17, 2007. Chris made the motion to approval the A/P Warrant #42 to include the $8410.00 to Natgun. Seconded by Art. The motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Approval of Minutes:

The minutes of the September 4, 2007 Board meeting were read. Chris made a motion to approve the minutes. Seconded by Art. Motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Managers Report: (see Manager's Report)

Boil Water Notice: Notices were posted around Town to alert residents.

Maloney Road Culvert: More research needs to be done to determine the history of it.

Water Main: It is installed and being completed.

FEMA: FEMA has been in contact with Ed Farnham and me last week. FEMA installed their spreadsheet for recording data from us.

Moose Club: They have requested a 2nd class liquor license. Chris moved to accept the liquor license as presented and note they continue the outdoor area that was use by the Music Club. Seconded by Art. After a brief discussion the motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

VT Dept. of Forests and Parks: Have requested permission to work on the access road into the Park on Winchester Hill. Chris said just because of issues on class 4 roads we should have pictures of what it is now before they make their changes since they are saying they will return it as before. Chris made a motion that after taking pictures and Ed issues a permit to the State of Vermont Forest and Parks to do the work as explained in their letter. Art seconded. The motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Lister's Changes and Corrections: Chris moved to accept the corrections as presented. Second by Art. The motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Old Garage Doors: The last Teen Center garage doors have been spoken for by a Town resident.

Unfinished Business:

Steve McKenzie from DuBois & King explained to the Board why they have not finished. The new alarm system has been installed. Steve told the Board he would be back in two weeks for the next Board meeting with closure. Residents spoke of low water pressure. Chris said Steve did not have the answers tonight and when you come back in two weeks you'll have run out of excuses. I think it's time for some answers. Art felt it was time for closure on this.

Teen Center: Chris has been asking organizations in Town to see if anyone is interested in the space.

Steve Stephenson - was not in attendance.

New Business:

Maloney Road - Ed has requested the Transportation Committee to do a study of the speed limit on Maloney Road but has had no feed back from them yet.

Resignation letter - Matt Hollyer submitted to the Board his resignation letter from the Planning Commission. He is moving and will be furthering his education. Chris moved to accept the letter of resignation by Matt Hollyer. Seconded by Art. The motion passed by voice vote 3-0. Chris read the letter from Matt. Fran said he appreciated that Matt did want to serve in that capacity and thanked him for being a member. Chris questioned a problem with seven members on the Planning Committee and Art Kramer said a five member committee would be better. Chris would support five members and feels the Planning Commission needs to have a formal discussion so all members can be on board with it.

Verizon - Permit Request - Verizon has requested a permit for changes of poles and wires. Chris moved to accept changes as presented. Seconded by Art. The motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Paul Anderson - had an adjoining land owner agreement that Paul, Jane Hulstrunk and Michael Provost have worked out for Ferno Road and would like to sign in front of the Board. Lloyd Roux told the Board the culvert they gave him the permit for has been completed and the brush hogging. Paul said they would like to add gravel to the road. Chris made a motion to approve the letter with the addition of gravel to the road and Ed issuing a permit. Seconded by Art. The motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Around the Table:

Francis: Fran notice brush that must have fallen out of some else's pick-up and that was why the state didn't pick it up. Art told Fran that a tree fell on Vaser Road and Dist 6 has not done anything about it.

Chris: asked if Ed had time to look at grants for roads and control and any information on Soucy Road. Ed said he has the grant information and it is due October 19th and included in the packet is a grant for ancient roads that Morris might be interested in. He has not found any paperwork for Soucy Road. Chris asked if Ed has heard from the Pecor's and Ed said he left messages and they have not returned his calls. Chris asked Art if he has heard from Dist 6 and Art said he has gotten the same run around as before no return calls.

Art: asked Ed where Davey's Tree Service was at. Ed said they have started.

Ed said the schools polled each one of the bus drivers about their bus routes and have forwarded that to Davy's. Fran asked if that information was forwarded to our road crew for erosions along the routes. Ed said it was and talking about school's they would let us use the library in the high school for the selectboard meetings that has its own separate entrance and rest room. It will be added to the next agenda. Speaking about the next agenda we will need to discuss when we want to set a meeting for the open forum pertaining to the water boundaries. And the Historical Society meeting is October 9th.

Art asked what is going on with truck number 6; he saw it was down at Green Mountain Diesel. Ed said it needed brake and clutch adjustment. Art said part of having a CDL license is being able to adjust brakes. Ed said this was discuss before when Bernie was here, he checked with the League pertaining to liability, it was suggested by them when it comes to repairs that are safety related we are better off not doing the work ourselves because were not AFE certified. Fran said they may not understand that it is part of your CDL license. Ed will check on it. Art suggest the trucks be put on a computer to show how they are being driven. Ed will check on scheduling.

VISITOR'S COMMENTS:

Mike Spano asked if the road crew could look at the culvert on Getz Road the class three portion, he thinks it is plugged.

Larry suggested using alternates on the Planning Commission. One of the things we do in the Regional Planning Commission is to appoint five standing voting members and alternates that would participate in discussions and if one standing member was absent then an alternate could vote.

Ed said he would be putting an insert into the tax bills pertaining to enforcing right-of-way encroachments and we could include the openings on the committees.

Conrad asked if that would be the proper place to request something about the Teens Center.

Art Kramer asked a rhetorical question to the Board, what the Town is doing to welcome the Moose to Williamstown. That is part of the Town plan, which is making this a welcoming town to people to come to live.

Fran said that is what we are trying to do by getting the committees together. That is something that has not been exercised up to its full potential in Williamstown. The Board really wants communication within. Chris said welcoming would fall to the Economic Development Committee. Art said he would be glad to work with them.

A Motion made by Chris and seconded by Art to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 10:05 p.m. Motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia Rumph