WILLIAMSTOWN SELECTBOARD

WATER & SEWER COMMISSION - 7 PM

SELECTBOARD MEETING

AUGUST 17, 2009

Williamstown Middle/High Library

MINUTES

PRESENT: Larry Hebert - Vice Chair, Rodney Graham, Art Stone

Town Manager: Garrett Earls

Absent: Stan Corneille- Chair, Chris Peloquin

VISITORS: Kathleen Lott - Northfield News, Paul Anderson, Tina Carminatti, Alfred Jenkins, James Covey, Mike Sprano, John Jameson, Ed Farnham- Road Forman, Dave Delcor- The Times Argus, Bob Cleaves - Town Treasurer, Joe Perusse, Francis Covey, Al Day

Larry Hebert, Vice Chair called the August 17, 2009 Selectboard meeting to order.

Larry reported on the Chairperson, Stan Corneille had surgery and is doing well.

First item on the agenda is Water & Sewer Commissioners. Rodney moved to go into Water & Sewer Commissioners. Second by Art and the motion passed by a voice vote of 3-0.

Water & Sewer Commissioners

James Alston (Covey) - Water usage

Garrett wrote a memo asking the Board to revisit James's water and sewer bill. He said James has complied with the Boards direction and set up a payment plan. Rodney had concerns with doing a two tier rate. This could set a precedent for everyone else. If the Board wanted to give him a break it should be a dollar abatement not a changing of the tax rate. Art expressed it was a large amount of water and it seems like something was wrong. Rodney motion to abate $300.00 off James Covey's water & sewer bill. Second by Art and Rodney amended his motion to include changing the meter. Motion passes by voice vote of 3-0.

John Jameson - Reclassification to Water Service to Homes.

John came to the Board to discuss an installation of a new service that calls for type K copper from the home to the curb stop in the town policy. His question is could he use an equivalent plastic pipe from the curb stop to the home. He doesn't think they could require him to use K copper when 200 pound psi plastic is equivalent. The price is much less in plastic. Larry said this is the first time this has been brought up since the new policy has gone in effect. It may be something to look at in the future. Rodney said all copper and brass fittings shall provide for electrical continuity. Garrett added also the copper is to locate the service but John could map where the pipes are. Allen Chouinard will need to inspect it. Art made the motion to allow John Jameson permission to use plastic pipe from the curb stop to his residence as long as it's heavy grade plastic and inspected by the Town Manager and Allen Chouinard. Second by Rodney and the motion passes by a vote of 3-0.

Motion made by Rodney to adjourn the Water & Sewer Commissioners, second by Art and the motion passes by vote 3-0.

Selectboard Meeting

Larry convened the regular Selectboard meeting:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Public hearing on the sidewalk and propose fire station grant on Wednesday night 7 pm at the Performing Arts Laboratory. The vote will be August 25th, Tuesday at the fire station 10 am to 7 pm.

Information that the fire house grants should be announced within a week or ten days.

VISITORS COMMENTS:

Al Day asked if we have to get a Bond for the cost of the fire house and then we get reimburse by the Stimulus. Larry said they talked about a bond to borrow the $160,000 for the land. Garrett said they didn't specify how the funding was going to work. Al also wanted the Board to have a handout booklet.

WARRANTS:

Rodney moved to accept check warrants SB10, SB11 and SB12. Second by Art. No discussion and the motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

MINUTES:

Rodney move to approve the minutes of August third. Second by Art. A discussion followed and the motion passes by voice vote 3-0.

Manager's Report:

Garrett brought to the Board a vote on Corrections to 2009-2010 Grand List from Terry Knight. Rodney moved to approve the Lister's request to the change to the Grand List to increase the Grand List by $222,000. Second by Art and the motion passes by voice vote 3-0.

Garrett asked for an Executive Session for personnel.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Amendment to Sidewalk Co-op Agreement

Garrett read a letter from Stan Corneille explaining the amendments to the sidewalk Co-op Agreement. There were two amendments and we have just received the third which the Board will decide to approve or not tonight. This will be the last amendment with Dubois & King. Rodney moved to approve the amendment to the sidewalk project and second by Art. Motion passes by voice vote 3-0. A copy of the letter can be pick-up at Town Hall.

Paul Anderson - Revisit Request Class 4 Road Funds

Paul Anderson's request was brought back to the Board because the previous vote did not have a quorum. (1V.S.A. § 172 and 1 V.S.A. § 310(3)). Larry reviewed the requirements from a site visit needed to bring the road up to Class 3 standards. The residents of Ferno Road were in agreement. Larry asked for another vote on the issue and Rodney made the motion to accept this proposal to bring Class 4 Ferno Road to a Class 3 Road standards and to spend the $10,000. Second by Art. Motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

NEW BUSINESS:

Raymond Duff - Ownership and Maintenance of Road & Utilities

Mr. Duff wrote the Board requesting the Town taking over ownership and maintenance of the road and utilities in Village View Heights. This sub-division was developed back in 1983 with water lines, sewer lines and gravel base for the road done at that time. The road was paved and at that time the Town could not take over the utilities or roads. Now he is interested in selling the lots with homes on them. The State of Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs told him because he has a legal subdivision he can sell three lots per year. In order for the buyers to obtain financing the Town will need to have ownership of the roads and utilities. The Board will have a site meeting on Monday 24th at six p.m.

Rocky Road - Culvert Replacement

This item was placed on the agenda by Chris Peloquin and he was not in attendance. The Board members decided to discuss it. Art Stone said it was a wise decision to replace the culvert that was on the private road. Replacing it would help to maintain Stone Road from erosion. Also it was mentioned the good job the road crew did on Pleasant Street with the water flow problem.

Review of Information for Resident Mailing.

The Board reviewed the information Stan and Larry prepared for the information meeting and the vote on the two articles: Article I -Sidewalk and Article II - Bond for Fire House land. The mailing will go out as soon as possible.

Setting the Tax Rate:

Bob Cleaves the Town's Treasurer presented to the Board the property tax rate for 2009/2010. The municipal is $0.5427. The residential education part is $1.3503 and the non residential education rate is $1.5578. The total rate for residential will be $1.89.30 and non residential will be $2.1005.Rodney moved to set the municipal tax rate at $0.5427 per hundred. Second by Art. No discussion and the motion passes by voice vote 3-0.

AROUND THE TABLE:

Rodney:

Rodney thought by the end of September we should start reviewing our operations, how we do business, and where we can look making some changes. Bob recommended having the preliminary budgets in place by November 1st, from all the commissions and committees. We should look at having them all approved by December 1st.

Larry:

Nothing at this time

Art:

Art said he saw the sign by the side of the road on Route 64 and he would like to point out to Mr. Norm Peloquin the chances are pretty good that there is more people laughing at him than with him. There is a difference.

Visitor's Comments (maximum of 3 minutes per person, per topic)

Al Day spoke to the Board about a major sewer problem on Main Street. He didn't know where the responsibility goes; it's out of his hands. He would like this for the next agenda. Garrett said the problem has been looked at and there is a good chance it will be done before the next meeting. He only needs to speak to his neighbor to make the decision on how he will begin.

Mike Sprano asked if Rocky Road is 4th Class or 3rd Class Roads. Garrett explained it's a private drive but classified by the state as a legal trail. Mike said if it is a legal trail no motor vehicles can use it. He asked if the culvert that was replaced was the one sticking out of the ground and where did the money come from. Garrett said that was the culvert they replaced and the money came from the highway budget. Fran Covey said that culvert has been messed up for the last three or four years and there has been a sink hole at the end of Stone Road that has caused a lot of problems. As a resident living right there he is happy that has been fixed as it will save Stone Road.

Fran Covey asked about tree cutting along the Stone Road, he asked it any cutting of trees and brush would be done in the near future. He feels it makes the road creep away because people don't want to hit tree branches. We have a ditch about 4 feet deep that is full of trees. Larry said it is something that does need to be address.

Rodney made the motion to go into Executive Session for a personnel issue. Second by Art. Motion passed by voice vote 3-0. After a brief recess the Board entered Executive Session and came out at 9:50 p.m.

Motion made by Rodney and second by Art to adjourn the Selectboard meeting at 9:45 p.m. Motion passed by voice vote 3-0.

Approved September 14, 2009