WILLIAMSTOWN SELECTBOARD MEETING
WATER & SEWER COMMISSIONERS
October 18, 2010 - Monday 7pm
Williamstown Middle/High School Library
MINUTES
PRESENT: Larry Hebert - Chair, Rodney Graham- Vice Chair, Francis Covey, Bill Ashe (attended only part of the meeting), Art Stone
Town Manager: Garrett Earls
VISITORS: Horace Duke Jr., Kathleen Lott - Northfield News, Mike Sprano, Larry Elliston, David Raymond, Irvin Stephenson
At 7 p.m. Larry Hebert called the October 18, 2010 Williamstown Selectboard Meeting to order. Larry stated the need to go into Executive Session for a legal issue at the end of the meeting.
Larry asked for a motion to go into Water & Sewer Commissioners. Rodney made the motion and seconded by Francis. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0.
WATER & SEWER COMMISSIONERS
David Raymond - Water & Sewer Billing.
David Raymond received two letters inviting him to the Selectboard Meeting to discuss his bill and the turned around meter. He was not in attendance. Rodney made the motion to deny David Raymond his request to adjust his water & sewer bill. Seconded by Francis and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.
Town Manager - Abatements:
David & Shelly Spaulding- Garrett asked to table this for more research.
David Wright - This property has been billed since June of 07. With trailers moving in and out without notifying the Town Hall there is a lot of change going on. David Wright has left and his PO Box is no longer valid. There is no 100 Railroad street listed. Garrett asked for an abatement. Francis made the motion to abate $923.00 billing to David Wright and to a non existent property. Seconded by Rodney. During the discussion it was noted to remove the property from the water & sewer list. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0
Leslie & Pauline Smith -They purchased a lot from Raymond Duff and moved their trailer on it. The Smith's were left with a $3040.29 bill and as the policy states the land owner is responsible for paying it. The land belonged to Mr. Duff but he did not receive any bills because they were sent to the tenant at that time. The tenant has left with no way to reach him. Garrett is asking the Board to abate these charges. Rodney made the motion to abate $3040.29 from Leslie & Pauline Smith. Seconded by Francis and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.
Kroy York - Back in Sept 08 Williamstown asked Barre Town for a sewer allocation and it was granted. Mr. York paid the sewer allocation fee of $750.00 around 2008 and that check was cash the end of December which was applied to water permits. Mr. York did not get a sewer bill for the last four billings. He thought the sewer billing was included in his taxes. The last four billings are around $900.00 and Garrett asked the Board what direction he should go with this. It was the consensus of the Board for Mr. York to pay half the amount. Garrett will contact Mr. York and bring it back to the Board with his answer.
David Raymond - Water & Sewer Billing.
Although Mr. Raymond came late the Board wanted to address his problem. He explained his objective is to convert his property on Main Street to a three unit building. Only a three hundred sq. foot apartment has been developed with a tenant. His bill is $3300. for water & sewer. He did not think there are any leaks to cause that amount of water use. He explained how the meter was installed back wards by himself when changing some pipes. He can't explain the water usage. Fran asked when the meter was put in backwards and when all this water was used. Garrett explained it was the beginning May and the meter was previously read in November. So it was through out the winter that this occurred. Fran thought the meter froze and broke with a water leak. Larry said it's possible if there was a leak or someone letting the water run. After further discussions the first motion was rescinded by Rodney and seconded by Francis. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0. After further discussions Francis motioned to charge the water rate and abate the sewer rate on this bill. Seconded by Art. Garrett asked about the penalty and interest and they will be abated as well on the sewer part. Art also wanted the water not opened until the meter is check and changed around. Motion passed by voice vote 3-1.
Larry asked for a motion to come out of Water & Sewer Commissioners. So moved by Francis and seconded by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0.
SELECTBOARD MEETING
Announcements:
Larry Elliston asked the Board for permission to have a mural painted on the side of the ambulance building at no charge. The Board asked for a design for review before giving permission.
Visitor's Comments: None
Review and Approval of Warrants:
Rodney moved to approve warrant SP71 and seconded by Francis. After a short discussion the motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Approval of Minutes:
Rodney made the motion to approve the minutes of October 4th. Seconded by Francis and with corrections the motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Manager's Report:
Garrett gave the Board a breakdown of the road crew overtime the Board approved during August for information.
The aeration was hooked up today at the sewer plant so all the lagoons are hooked up.
Unfinished Business:
Bill Yacavoni - Audit Update
Larry explained Bill Yacavoni has done the audit business for the Town and he will bring us up to date of what he found. Bill stated the copies the Board had are stamped as a draft for discussion purposes only. He wanted the Board to have a chance to look at it seeing it is a switch in accounting firms and he has moved a few things around from where they were in the past. He also is waiting for a few confirmations to come in. Bill also has emailed the draft to Bob Cleaves, Treasurer. A discussion followed with Board members and residents participation in the discussion. One concern was the combining the general fund with the highway fund which is causing confusion. Bill suggested the Town to keep them separate. Rodney asked the water fund loan was originally voted by the Town to bond that money and somehow it got loaned internally. If we were to go back and ask to re bond that money would that money end up in the general fund. Bill said it would as general fund surplus. He thought Bob's intent was good but from an accounting stand point it has caused a lot of problems. Rodney thought to bring these issues to the voters at town meeting and Bill agreed it may help to explain to the voters where the Town is and what is going on. He thought what the Board is trying to do is good but you need to make sure that the taxpayer, the Board and the accounting are all on the same page. One other issue to look at is the office internal control of duties. Larry summed up now they have the numbers and can have this discussion amongst ourselves to see how we would like to do this and have Bill review it to be headed in the right direction. Everyone thanked Bill Yacavoni.
New Business:
Ambulance Director - Vacation Time:
This will be discussed in Executive Session for personnel.
Errors and Omissions: September 28, 2010
October 11, 2010
The Board discussed the Errors and Omissions presented and Francis made the motion to approve both of these recommendations. Seconded by Art and the motion passed by voice vote 4-0.
Visitor's Comments:
None at this time:
Around the Table:
Francis: Nothing at this time.
Rodney: Nothing at this time.
Art: Art would like in the future to look into more seriously Chartering the Town, maybe being able to gain some control of what goes on in the treasurers and town clerks offices. Larry was in favor of that and Rodney explained it would be a Charter change. We should get started on it because it would be a two year process. You would have to put it to voters this year and the next year get the state legislator to approve it.
Larry: Larry asked Garrett about paving on Chelsea Road. Garrett said this Friday and Saturday. Garrett said they are asking for a wavier concerning the temperature. Garrett will follow up with this.
Larry asked for a motion to take a recess then go into Executive Session. Rodney made the motion to go into Executive Session after a recess and seconded by Francis. Motion passed by voice vote of 4-0. The Board entered at 9:50 pm and came out at 10:10 pm.
Rodney made the motion to accept the ambulance director's request and it was seconded by Francis. Motion passed by voice vote 4-0.
Motion made by Francis and seconded by Rodney to adjourn the Selectboard meeting at 10:15 pm. Motion passed by a voice vote of 4-0.
Approved 11/2/2010