TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN

Select Board Meeting

Minutes

OCTOBER 15, 2007 7:00 PM

Williamstown Elementary School Library

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

Art Stone

Town Manager - Ed Magee

Visitors: Dave Delcor - The Times Argus, Al Day, Stan Peake, Mike Spano, Larry Hebert, Horace Duke,Jr., Tom Bailey, Newton Blaisdell, Steve Mackenzie -Dubois & King, Lynette Whitney, -Dubois & King, Chuck Goodling,- DuBois & King, roger Gabree, Irvin Stephenson, mark Parker, rose Marie Cusson, Melody Harvey.

At 7:00 pm Fran called the Select Board to order.

Announcements: No announcements were made.

Welcome to Visitor's Comments:

Al Day asked the Board about the legal issues with his neighbors. He wondered who had control over what part of the stream. Ed clarified the issue; 1, Al's complaint is that the stream has been intentionally diverted. 2, placement of mobile home, debris and items in a flood way which runs along that side of the brook. Art Kramer is the Flood Way Coordinator and because of our Federal Flood Insurance program he is required to get involved with any deviation to that peculiar flood way. A determination must be made as to what in that flood way must be removed. In order to remove anything around a stream, Pat Ross has to get involved with the State to issue a permit to allow the Town or anyone else to work in the stream. Fran said this is a first step that needs to be taken for further steps to come. Fran explained Art Kramer's role as Flood Way Coordinator is to act as a mediator between Mrs. Deyo and Mr. Beattie to meet to establish a remediation plan and time table. Chris wanted to make clear it is not the Town's responsibility to clean up the stream.

Al brought to the Board information from the State about noise on the shooting range.

Fran said Art Kramer and he discussed it but he has not seen the information about it.

Review and Approval of Warrants:

The board reviewed the payroll warrants of September 15 and September 22, 2007. A motion was made by Stan to approve the payroll warrants. Seconded by Chris. After a discussion the motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

The Board reviewed the A/P Warrant # 43 for October 1, 2007. Chris made the motion to approval the A/P Warrant #43. Seconded by Morris. After a discussion the motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Approval of Minutes:

The minutes of the September 17, 2007 Board meeting were read. Chris made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Art. A discussion followed and the following corrections made;

page 4 Around the Table - Francis: line 1 Fran noticed brush that looked like it had fallen out of a truck that has not been cleaned up by Dist 6. Should read; Fran noticed brush that must have fallen out of someone else's pick-up and that is why the state didn't pick it up. It wasn't brush that came from off the hill that is pretty much why they hadn't done any thing with that.

page 4 Around the Table - Art; line 8 the word bounties changed to boundaries

page 5 line 7 Seconded by Fran changed to Seconded by Art

Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Managers Report:

Graniteville Road Water Main - has been completed and most hook-ups to residents also done.

Paving - has begun on Graniteville Rd. today building the road base and the base asphalt will begin on Monday.

Part-time appraiser - Terri Knight will be at the Town Hall on Wednesday and Thursday.

Fire Department - clean up is scheduled for October 21 or 28.

Old gas pumps - two residents expressed an interest in them. Chris asked Ed to check on the environmental issues before releasing the pups to the residents.

Ambulance report showed it is a much needed service. Stan asked about the police report and bill. Ed said we have the report and the bill. Chris said he had a discussion with Sheriff Bohnyak about designating an officer assigned to Williamstown as the main person. On the radio he heard of mandating towns if more than 3 thousand people to have their own police department.

Unfinished Business:

Steve Mckenzie from DuBois & King presented the Board with a summary of the Town water pressure elevation. The Board feels that there is a need to come to a conclusion but the residents are still experiencing low water pressure. They expressed concern that Dubois & King should have the system running adequately to all the residents and Allen Chouinard should not have to be the one to do the adjustments to reach this goal. Steve will be back in 30-45 days to see if in that time DuBois & King can make the right adjustments. Chris asked Steve if after 30 days if the Town wants to bring in another firm to review this and if they find a design flaw DuBois & King stand behind their work. Chris polled the Board; Morris, we should move ahead, Stan, give them a chance to fix it. Art, 30 days and at the end of 30 days need to move ahead. Chris said the message is quite clear. Steve will be back in 30 days to see if in that time DuBois & King can make the right adjustments.

Irvin Stephenson - gave the Board a list of charges for the damage to his barn and 1932 coup from the flood. The Board discussed the charges and agreed some payment should be made to him. Stan made a motion to reimburse Irvin Stephenson $1200. for the damage to his barn and car incurred as a result of a plugged culvert on Garden Street. Seconded by Morris. Motion passed with a voice vote of 4-0. 1 abstained.

Teen Center - Chris heard from the Deaf Vermonters Advocacy Services located in Barre interested in the Teen Center space. Chris told them he would discuss it at the Selectboard meeting but would be giving first choice to someone from the Town. Also he heard someone from the Kids Care program asked for the layout of the space but Chris has not heard from them. Marie Frohlich wanted to be clear the Teen Center is defunct and will liquidate soon. Chris thought we could delay till the next Board meeting.

Relocating the Selectboard meeting - Ed said the Williamstown High School will allow the Board to use the library that has its own entrance and restroom. If we needed more space that the Media Center could be used if advance notice is given. Chris asked Ed to check into where to park and he was in favor of moving the meeting there. All agreed of holding the October 15, 2007 Selectboard meeting there.

Set Water Boundary Meeting - Stan wanted to clarify it was not to set the water boundaries but to set the Water Ordinance meeting date. Morris made a motion to set the meeting date for Wednesday October 10th at 7pm at the High School Media Center. Seconded by Art. After a discussion about the Town's water problems it was decided to withdraw the motion. Morris withdrew his motion if the person who 2nd the motion would withdraw his second. Art withdrew his seconded. Stan felt it is important to get the water ordinance in place. But if the water boundaries as we drew it cause a problem with what was just talked about with the water pressure then we should rescind the ordinance for now. A consensus by the Board to rescind the Williams Municipal Water Ordinance.

NEW BUSINESS:

Dog Complaints Route 64, Parker Chris had a list of complaints from residents about barking dogs. The residents complain the dogs bark all hours night and day. Chris read the dog ordinance about dogs barking, crying, or howling more than 30 minutes. Fran said if your dogs bark more than 30 minutes it would be considered by the Board enough to be upsetting to the neighbors therefore it would be in violation to this Board. Mark Parker the owner of the dogs runs a kennel licensed by the State and Town. He said the dogs are brought in at 7pm at night. They only bark when someone comes in the driveway. He will do what he can within reason. Chris asked Ed to get a copy of the State License for Kennels.

Newton Blaisdell the Town's animal control person wanted the Board to know about another dog incident. Melody Harvey has at her residence a pit bull belonging to her son. The dog got loose and attacked Rose Marie Cusson's cat on Rose Marie's front porch. The cat died and Rose Marie wanted Melody to pay the bill which is $634.00 dollars. Fran asked Melody to take responsibility for the dog and suggested her son take him. Melody agreed to pay the veterinary bill and understands the Board can fine her additional charges if the bill is not paid.

Around the Table:

Art: was up at Ferno Road and he saw the neighbors are on the right path making things better.

Stan: asked how Davy's tree Service was doing. ed said they have been very sporadic and we have not seen a bill to see the hours. Ed Farnham, Road Foreman told Ed Magee, he was doing a good job. Stan mentioned the letter from Green Mountain Transit Authority looking for a representative from Williamstown. Roger Gabree said he would be interested. Chris made a Motion to send a letter to Green Mountain Transit Authority saying we want someone there and to give Roger Gabree's name as a candidate. Seconded by Morris. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Chris: asked about Getz Road culvert. ed said he would follow up with Ed Farnham the road Foreman. He then asked if the Transportation Committee reviewed Adams Street damage. Ed did not know. Chris went to look at the Maloney road culvert and feels the Town should not have to do anything there in his point of view. He asked about the speed signs and Roger Gabree said the Transportation Committee has not addressed it yet. He asked if the Planning committee has had their meeting yet and they have not. Chris asked about the erosion Protection Grant and Ed is looking at it. He asked Ed if he had any information on Soucy road and Ed has not and he will check with Larry Hebert

Chris had a request fro a resident from the Mountain View development about having a sign for warning children ahead. Ed said he had a request from Pam Corriveau for a hidden driveway sign as it is hard to see coming out of her driveway ad the school bus uses it to turn around. Chris said there is a large area of wood chips and stumps where Don Giroux collects the trash. Don would like this area left open. Also Chris asked if the trash site be dressed up as it is a bit muddy.

Fran: heard from residents that the highway crew and his belief as well, are doing a good job.

Visitor's Comments:

Al Day spoke about damaged, splitting and dead trees on the United Church parsonage property. He asked if Davy's could be asked to take care of this. The Board told him this was private property. Al also mentioned how the schools have open microphones to the bus drivers and wouldn't it be a good idea for the highway department and school have open mikes. Morris said he has been trying to tell the school and the Town managers that school buses need to contact the road crew if they get stuck.

A Motion made by Chris and seconded by Morris to adjourn the Selectboard meeting at 11:45 p.m. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia Rumph

Approved with corrections September 19, 2007