WILLIAMSTOWN SELECTBOARD MEETING December 7, 2009 Williamstown Middle/High School Library MINUTES PRESENT: Stan Corneille – Chair, Larry Hebert - Vice Chair, Chris Peloquin, Rodney Graham, Art Stone
Town Manager: Garrett Earls
VISITORS: Kathleen Lott - Northfield News, Irvin Stephenson, Frieda Hollyer, Horace Duke, Jr., Mike Sprano, Wally Roberts Stan Corneille, Selectboard Chair opened the December 7, 2009 meeting of the Williamstown Selectboard at 7:01 p.m.
None at this time
Chris moved to approve the payroll warrant, ambulance and fire department and the selectboard warrant SB26. Second by Rodney. A discussion followed with questions on the SB26 warrant. Motion passed by a voice vote of 5-0.
Stan asked for someone to make the motion to approve the minutes of November 16th. Larry moved to approve the minutes. Rodney second. Motion passed to by a voice vote of 5-0.
Garrett reported a call from a resident that a selectman told him the ACO will pickup cats because that’s what his taxes are for. The resident called the ACO and was informed the policy only covers dogs. Garrett asked if the Board had any interest to expand the policy to include cats. The Board’s decision was to wait till the ACO attends the next Selectboard meeting to review the policy and give his knowledge of what other town policies say. Next Garrett reported the turnout for the Sex Offender Form was somewhat of a disappointed. Four residents attended: a reporter, a legislator, and himself. So if you don’t count us as we had to be there, only four residents. 2 State Troopers, 2 from the Department of Corrections and one from the Department of Safety were there to give a presentation. Technically there were more people putting it on than showed up. Stan asked Garrett about the High Street investigate. Garrett reported the attorney has been retained and he has not received his written response as of yet.
Billtown Moonshiners Snowmobile Club – Changes to Snowmobile Policy Chris moved to grant the request as revised. Second by Larry. The motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Stan reviewed the policy and noted that the changes from Jim Barlow, Attorney from VLCT, have been incorporated in the Personnel Policy. Larry made the motion we accept the Personnel Policy as changed. Second by Art. A discussion followed and Rodney wanted to make it known that he would be abstaining from this discussion because his wife is an employee. Chris said he is not in favor as the reason he has stated many times, he did not think we should write policies for one individual. This would now and sometime in the future only pertain to one individual. Larry said other changes were made pertaining to full time people. The motion was voted on and passed by 3 ayes, one nay and 1 abstained.
Stan said most of these recommendations from NEMRC have been instituted except for one, remote access. What we have not decided on is are we going to allow remote access to employees. That means they can access the system any where in the world. Rodney pointed out that the Treasurer is not an employee. He is an elected official. Stan said he is an elected official that is on the Town’s payroll. Stan suggested we table this till Bob is able to attend for his input. He is the only individual on the Town’s payroll, elected official, which would have this type of access. No one else feels they need it. Stan said he is concern with security. Frieda asked if NEMRC was asked this question about security. Garrett said he was instructed to ask NEMRC what other municipalities allowed remote access to their systems. The answer was there were two municipalities, 1 allowed access in Bennington for purchase orders only and the other is Wilmington for the Town Clerk responsibilities. He also asked other managers from Essex, Colchester, Milton and South Burlington. They did not have remote access. Larry was not in favor of it. Rodney and Larry have asked in the past for an expert opinion and Chris agreed with them. Ask NEMRC in the next week for an answer. This will be table for another meeting when Bob can attend.
Energy Committee – Local Match Energy Grant Wally Roberts told the Board from the stimulus money there would be funds for Town’s to weatherize their buildings. Wally offered to write the grant which has a percentage match. The application is due tomorrow and he is asking the Board for approval of the application and authorize the expenditure of the Town Chair. The Board reviewed the spreadsheet and the buildings for weatherization which were the Municipal Offices, Library and the Ambulance Garage/Office. The Library and the Municipal Offices are the biggest consumers of heating fuel along with the Fire Department. We can’t apply for all the building now. The Municipal Office needs to have a frame built in the attic for insulation and add a plywood deck over it. Larry made a suggestion that a group of us have been working on the possibility of a new fire station being built on land by the Town Garage. Better than a 90% chance the ambulance building would have to be taken down. Chris moved to approve the Town contribution funds for the Town Office, Town Garage and the Town’s Library energy application. Second by Rodney. Garrett wanted to say the Town of Williamstown has one of the best Energy Committees in the state. You have Wally, Dave Fowler from Energy Smart, Bill Hulstrunk he’s an expert, and Charles Sandlin. They have already written and will receive a $1500. grant to help educate the public. Garrett felt they deserved a round of applause. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Chris made the motion to approve the errors and omissions as presented. Second by Rodney. Motion passed without a discussion by a voice vote of 5-0.
Rock of Ages Property Valuation Appeal Garrett reported Rodney pointed out that since this is in litigation the Town Agent would be the one to negotiate this. The purpose of this is an informational document. Rock of Ages approached us, Garrett and the Appraiser with a proposal. Their is no request for the Board to act on this. This is just an update. Rodney said the Town Agent – John Taylor did not know anything about it. Garrett will contact John.
The Board received a request form Retired, Cmd Sgt Major, Lou Lertola asking to put on the Town Meeting Ballot an Article to raise disabled veterans property tax exemption to $40,000. Larry motion to allow them to be put on the ballot at Town Meeting day. Second by Rodney. Stan explained that many disabled veterans get a property assessment. Many Towns give $10,000 to $20,000. Williamstown gives $10,000. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.
Art: At the last meeting Young Road was turned down for plowing which he has a problem with. He would like some type of dialogue with the residents that live there as they pay taxes and need to get in and out to go to work as anybody. See if anyone of them could kick in some funds to help repair that road. It is a Class 4 road but it’s been a Town Road for as long as he can remember. The reason it’s in the shape it’s in is that the Town has let it go for so long. A few nights before taxes were sent out it was like a slap in the face to abruptly say we won’t plow it. We should have asked them to come and see if we could have helped that situation. Chris agreed with Art’s feeling, Chris’s intentions was not to slap anyone in the face but give them ample time to make alternative plans for snow removal. We had prolonged the decision for awhile and winter was coming. Larry said each and every one of them knows that road is not maintained by the Town when they brought those lots. They paid probably $15-20 thousand for 7-10 acres lots, others brought an acre or two lot and paid $40-45 thousand but that cost included roads that were build to town specs so it’s maintained by the town. So where is it fair to these people that paid the money to have approved town roads, to go there and fix their road for nothing. Art was not in favor of classifying roads. If you have a Class 3 or Class 4 Road your still expected to pay taxes for the property. If you live on a Class 4 Road the town isn’t going to do anything so what’s the point of paying taxes. Rodney said he could use the same argument on wanting paved roads. Because people pay taxes on paved roads just the same as the ones on back roads pay taxes. His father was on the Selectboard when those people moved up there and met with them several times that they needed to fix that road to Class 3 standards. They chose not too. Larry said they need to come before the Board with a plan to upgrade to Class 3 standards. We worked with the people on Ferno Road and Lotus Lake the difference is they came to the Board with a plan. We have not seen or heard from anyone on Young Road. Chris said he certainly would agree to discuss the future with them, he would only assume it’s the intent of the Board to ask the voters for more money for Class 4 Roads. Larry said he thought we were going to budget after last year. Chris asked Art if the Board is willing to begin discussions with that that group of people would you be willing to take the lead on that. Art thought the intention of the $5000. to get that money to put on the Class 4 Roads every year, Young Road would be a good place to start. Stan said those people need to come forward and they haven’t. The people on Ferno Road came forward and got half of that $5000. and the people down at Lotus Lake came forward and got the other half. Stan said he thinks those people have known for many years that if they wanted the Town to maintain the road they would have to upgrade it to Class 3. Art asked about the garbage thrown on Rood Pond Road, do we know whose it was. Garrett said they are still waiting for an answer from Orange County Sheriff. Garrett said Sergeant Lambert has graduated from the police academy and should be back assigned to Williamstown. So we should have better follow up.
He asked if the town is plowing to the end of High Street. Garrett said they were not plowing across the lawn. Falls Bridge Road was talked about at the last meeting and the possibility of trading off the 64 access for upgrading the bridge on Falls Bridge Road. He brought that up at the Transportation Committee and the representative from AOT was there. Originally it was thirteenth on the Central Vermont Region’s list and has been moved up to 6th. The man from AOT was really interested; he took the letter Garrett drafted on behalf of the Town with him. It may not happen soon but within the next five years we should see something happening maybe sooner.
Nothing at this time
The Green Up Day coordinator date has gone by and was in our packets. Has it been posted. It was explained it has not been posted but will be and we can call in who that may be past the due date. Chris asked if Garrett received the warrant on the delinquencies from the Treasurer. Garrett had. Chris asked if there is a group that is at the tax sales stage. Garrett said you have a new ordinance that really went into effect this tax bill. As delinquent tax collector he is obligated to send the first notice. Some people had agreements and they were notified they need to redo the agreement. They have to December 16th asking some type of response. We will see who doesn’t come in and then move on to the oldest for tax sale. The fire department furnace, Garrett said it is not done. Chris asked if there were any concerns from the fire department people. Is it creating a hazard or a dangerous situation. Garrett said the building is probably leaky enough that is not. We do need to correct this soon. Chris asked about the budget, we appointed a committee and we have had no meeting. Garrett said he wasn’t sure of their involvement but we needed to set a time for go over the budget. He had it all rough in and is waiting for reserve numbers from the treasurer and fund balances. He needs to meet with some department heads. A meeting was set for December 22nd with the finance committee. Chris asked for a draft in the next packets. Chris asked for any interest on the truck for sale. Garrett said we did but they wanted a 10 wheeler than a 6 wheeler.
Pot holes on Falls Bridge Road are starting to grow again. Garrett said they will fill them. He met a Resident who had a problem with sanding on Flint Road. His wife slid off the road and it seemed that more sand was needed.
Mike Sprano asked about the sidewalks, Stan gave him a short review since Mike missed the last Selectboard meeting. It should be started next spring. Mike Sprano said on Young Road the residents pay the town to plow it. Chris said only to move the snow banks. Mike remembered one time Ed Magee (former Town Manager) ask the Selectboard that Young Road residents would bring it up to a Class 3 Road and would pay more taxes to pay it off. Is that true. Chris said that it was in theory, never any specifics. The residents were interested in being assess, at that time, a special fee on top of their property taxes.
The second thing is he is with Arthur on this Class 4 Road up there. Years ago he helped the Town plow up there and there was only one building up there. The third thing is he keeps hearing about the fire department not having adequate insulated. That building was all insulated and there is no cold air coming through the wall. The flooring upstairs has insulation. But his neighbor was at the fire station and said the weather stripping isn’t even touching the doors. Someone over there could fix that. Larry said they were not going to do anything to either one of those building as we talked about tonight.
Stan entertained a motion to adjourn. So moved by Larry and second by Rodney. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0. Approved
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