TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN

Select Board Meeting Minutes

December 17, 2007

7:00 PM

Williamstown High School Library

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

Town Manager - Ed Magee

Visitors: Irvin "Steve" Stephenson, Winston Chambers, Al Day, Becky Watson, Timothy Nulty, Valley Net/ECFiber, Leslie Nulty, Valley Net/ECFiber, Mike Spano, Newton Blaisdell, Martha Stone, Rama Schneider, Janet Worn.

At 7:05 pm Fran Covey called the Selectboard meeting to order.

Announcements: Chris wished a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone and all the members expressed their wishes.

Art wanted to apologize for not being able to attend the last few meetings.

Visitor's Comments: Al Day asked about the status of Palmer Martin installing the poles on the new road so ditching can be done. Ed said sometime in January and the ditches will be done after the poles are installed.

Irvin "Steve" Stephenson asked the Board if the time clock has been put in the Town Garage and if not, why not. Ed told him he was not aware that a decision was made on installing a time clock. Chris said he would be in favor of a time clock. Fran asked Ed to look into the cost to the Town. Chris asked to have this on the next agenda.

Al Day is concerned about the way the Town seems to be going on the way of the Listers. We have a person hired to do the Listers job and responsibilities is to the Town Manager instead of the electives. How can one person do the job of three Listers. Fran told Al he thought the Board did the right thing hiring Theresa. She brings a lot of knowledge to that position and that doesn't take away from the Listers job or responsibilities. Stan said she was hired as an appraiser and is helping to clear up some of the problems we had with the consulting firm that did the reappraisals a few years ago. She is very well experienced and knowledgeable. That is why she was hired but she is not taking over any Listers functions. We still have Listers and they still have a job to do.

Review and Approval of Warrants: The Board reviewed the payroll warrants of December 1, December 4, and December 8, 2007. A motion was made by Stan to approve the payroll warrants. Seconded by Morris. After a brief discussion. The motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

The Board reviewed the A/P Warrant #48 for December 17, 2007. Stan made the motion to approval the A/P Warrant #48. Seconded by Chris. A discussion followed and the Board passed the motion by voice vote of 5-0.

Approval of Minutes: The Board by consensus approved the minutes from the December 3, 2007 canceled Selectboard meeting. The minutes of the November 19, 2007 Selectboard meeting were read. Stan made a motion to approve the minutes. Seconded by Chris. A discussion followed and the following correction made: page 2 Managers Report: Getz Road Lawsuit: An Arbitration changed to A mediation

The motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Managers Report:

Boil Water Notice: We had to issue a Boil Water notice due to a slight increase in Coliform levels. SOS has injected chlorine into the system, taken source samples and has begun submitting additional samples to the lab. The cause, at this time is unknown.

Dog Violations: One resident has not responded to Municipal Tickets and the fine has gone from $60.00 each to $120.00 each. If on the next report from the Judicial Bureau the fines remain unpaid, the Ed will file a Motion for Notice of Non-Payment Judgment and Affidavit of Non-Payment. A second resident has begun making payments to the Judicial Bureau. A violation occurred Friday where a dog was chewing on a butched cow and a Municipal ticket has been issued.

Winter Road Closures: The Town of Washington will be closing their end of Washington Road by stockpiling snow at the Class IV portion as they plow. By consensus we have decided to do the same thing at our end and we have notified the residents on Washington Road and Grandview Road by mail.

Taxes: The outstanding balance of delinquent taxes for this year is $312,292. While this figure seems high, it is only 5% higher than normal. We are auditing the report looking for errors and omissions and will be mailing Delinquent Notices mid January. At this time there are approximately 40 properties delinquent by 3 years, totaling $66,764. Unfortunately Tax Sales will be reality mid 2008.

Water & Sewer Bills: readings have been completed. Bills will be mailed after January 1st with a due date of March 15th.

Route 64 Bridge Project: The State met with me, Verizon and Green Mountain Power last Wednesday. They expect to begin the project next May. One unpleasant surprise is the cost of moving the water line and fire hydrant, because they are located within the State's right-of-way, will be borne by the Town. I expect to be able to provide a cost estimate and a funding game plan by mid January.

Economic Development Committee: Placed in your packet is a letter from a resident interested in becoming a member of the Economic Development Committee. Rama and Terri will be talking with the resident and make a recommendation to the Board.

Unfinished Business: Al Day Property Issues: Al said that regarding a piece of property he has that borders on a brook and also a piece of property that borders on the brook by Concord Beattie he wanted to update the Board on some development that he didn't feel has any legal basis at all. Art Kramer acting as Flood Plan Coordinator sent a letter about this issue and in the last line said the matter was concluded. Art had not contacted us of the status of the investigation at any time. The brook has been altered and pushed over by some folks. The situation still exists on our side. Al questioned Art Kramer's driving force and qualifications, how did he get the job. Fran said the Board appointed him as Flood Plan Coordinator about 2 years ago. Morris said his position was appointed by the Selectboard because the flood insurance from the Federal Government required we have a Flood Plan Coordinator. So in order to comply we appointed one. The Board agreed to give Al a job description of a Flood Plan Coordinator.

New Business:Rama Schneider - Internet AccessRama presented the Board with information about East Central Vermont Community Fiber Internet project. He introduced Timothy Nulty who gave a presentation about the internet project and how the Town of Williamstown can be part of it. Fran said he would entertain a motion to be warned and voted on at the Town Meeting. Art made a motion to go ahead and do whatever we have to do to get this started by warning or public meetings while we have a chance. Stan seconded. A discussion followed with Chris asking Rama to be the link between the Selectboard and ECFiber. Rama agreed. Motion passed by voice 5-0. Chris asked Rama for 1-2 public meetings between now and Town Meeting Day. Rama said he would wait for February to schedule and Chris reminded him February would come very fast. Chris asked the Board for a consensus that Rama can make this schedule with Ed, the Town Manager so he doesn't have to wait and talk to the Board.

Budget: Chris did some research on surrounding town's highway departments. His opinion was the town's highway department is overstaffed. Currently we have a level funded budget to present to the voters. Speaking for a lot of people level funding is wonderful but the way things are going we need to look at cutting. He doesn't see any thing wrong presenting a decreased budget to the voters. For that reason he did some checking with other Towns to see what miles of highway and activities they perform. Fran felt this discussion about personnel should be discussed in executive session. Chris said this is not a personnel issue but a budget issue, nothing to do with an executive session. It is dollars, cents, and numbers and not attaching any ones name to this. Stan agreed we do need to talk about this. Stan said he did think we are 1 person heavy in the highway department. Chris said his intent is for this to happen July 1st so that this would be what we are presenting to the voters in March. He was willing to talk to people, put this on the next agenda and discuss it again as old business.

Becky Watson - 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant application. Becky had presented the Board with information about a grant she is helping with for high quality programs after/before school. The letter she presented was to invite the Selectboard to become a Key Partner and resource for this grant. Morris made a motion for the Selectboard to express their interest in being a Key Partner. Seconded by Stan. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Around the Table:

Chris: asked about a Teen Center space update, now the Ambulance space. Ed said they have a sign contract with Blue Flame for the new heating system. Doug Hood looked at the repairs and thought they would be simple. He has some materials that he would donate. Ambulance personnel are going to paint it. Ed Eaton has a contact, I think, in the Berlin Fire Department that deals with 2 way radios and repairs. He will be working on a proposal for what we need and the cost to get a second radio hook up. Chris asked about the vacant seats that will be coming up. He knows Morris filled the unexpired term so that is a vacant seat. Stan said his is the other vacant seat and he is not divulging his intentions now.

Francis: We need to go into Executive Session to discuss a legal issue. Ed said we also have a personnel issue.

Stan: There is a bump on Falls Bridge Road and would like to see a sign put up.

Art: nothing to report

Morris: nothing to report

Visitor's Comments: none

Chris moved to adjourn this portion of the meeting, take a brief recess and go into Executive Session for personnel and legal matters. Seconded by Morris. Motion passed by voice vote 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia Rumph

Executive Session

The Selectboard entered into Executive Session at 10:17 P.M.

Personnel considerations for budget planning options were discussed.

Executive Session was adjourned at 10:56 P.M.

Selectboard Meeting

The Selectboard reconvened in regular session at 10:57 P.M

The Town Manager was instructed to reduce the clerk position at the Town Hall to 20 hours per week and to make this change effective not later than January 15, 2008.

Motion made by Morris Lasell, seconded by Chris Peloquin. Motion passed 5-0.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:02 P.M.

Submitted by Ed Magee, Town Manager

Approved as Written