TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN
Board of Selectmen Meeting
December 19, 2011
7:00 PM
Williamstown Middle/High School

MEMBERS: Larry Hebert – Chair, Bill Ashe – Vice Chair, Rodney Graham, Francis Covey

Absent - Art Stone

TOWN MANAGER – Jacqueline Hhiggins  
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – Cora Grandfield

Changes to agenda:

1. William Yaccavoni will go first, before Visitor comments.
2. Unifirst property will be under new business.

William Yaccavoni, came to the Board to discuss the audit.  He stated that the audit went well and that Town is in good financial shape.  There is a $126,000 surplus in the General Fund, and will need another taxpayer vote in order to place the $42,250 in a reserve account for the public safety building.  There is $355,000 surplus in the Highway Fund, but once all monies are moved to the appropriate reserve accounts there will be approximately $60,000 in surplus.  W. Yaccavoni stated that we need to get a handle on the receivables (water, sewer, and delinquent taxes), but also noted that J. Higgins is working on that.

A letter from G. Murray was read stating that the Toys 4 Tots program helped 16 families and 49 children this year.

W. Roberts passed out an item that he would like to see placed on the town meeting warning.  He stated that he is not asking the Board to do it, that he will do a petition.  It is in regards to campaign funding.

M. Sprano had questions regarding open meeting law.  He was under the impression that if a meeting was warned for a budget meeting that they could not go in to executive session.  It was noted that the Board changed the agenda at the beginning of that meeting and that is fine with VT law.

C. Peloquin questioned the executive session held at the last meeting.  It was warned for a legal issue, when in fact a personnel issue was also discussed, as evident by the vote that was taken when they came out of executive session.  He asked each member of the Board if they knew what they did was illegal.  B. Ashe spoke for the Board when he said that it was not the intent of the Board to make a mistake, or to circumvent public opinion, or to mislead anyone.  It was asked why the current town clerk is getting the same salary as the previous town clerk even though she is working less hours.  The Board defended their decision saying the position was paid based on the duties performed and that she is able to get those duties done in less hours, and she also has reduced staff salaries.

1. Warrants – R. Graham made a motion to approve SB125 warrant, seconded by F. Covey, and so voted, with L. Hebert recusing himself from the vote.  F. Covey made the motion to approve the payroll dated 11/20/11-12/3/11 and 11/27/11 – 12/10/11, seconded by B. Ashe, and so voted, with R. Graham recusing himself from the vote.
2. Minutes – B. Ashe made a motion to approve December 5, 2011 minutes, seconded by F. Covey, and so voted, with R. Graham recusing himself from the vote.  

J. Higgins plans on appealing the decision from AOT about the speed limit from Pump & Pantry to Chelsea Road.

The dry hydrant on South hill will cost approximately $2900.00 to fix, and will be put in the 2012/2013 budget.  

Repairs to the grader have been started but are not completed.

The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled for January 2, 2012, which is a holiday for town employees.  The meeting has been rescheduled for January 3, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the School.

HIGHWAY –

Work completed in past two weeks.

Service Volvo, Backhoe, and screen plant.

Culvert Cleaning.

Carpenter Road repairs

Industrial Lane – replace culverts, ditching and beaver dam

Tripp Road – beaver dam

Work Scheduled for next two weeks.

Cutting Brush – Boyce, Birch, Weir

Maintenance on Trucks

Street signs replaced (several are missing)

1. Proposed Charter Change.  The proposed change is to change the Treasurer position from elected to appointed.  It has been posted in the paper and the public hearing dates are January 16, 2012 and February 6, 2012.  It will be on the ballot at Town Meeting day.
2. Village View Heights.  The 24 month period of maintenance has expired and the Duff’s have presented the Town with a Warranty deed for this road.  R. Graham made the motion to accept the deed, seconded by B. Ashe, and so voted.
3. C. Peloquin had asked the Board to review the organizational flow chart that is on file at the Town Hall.  He asked if the Board agreed with the chart, and they did.  It was agreed to add Ambulance Director and Fire Chief on a level equal to the Road Foreman.
4. Unifirst.    J. Higgins and L. Hebert attended a meeting at the supervisory union this morning regarding the Unifirst property.  Unifirst will be digging down to bedrock, and disposing of any contaminated soil and either paving, or putting a rubber membrane down.  They are then going to offer it to the school and/or town for $1.00.  The school is interested in adding a new soccer field and additional parking.  Entrance would be made via the school campus, and the existing entrance to Unifirst would no longer be used.  If the school and/or town take over ownership the Town will be losing approximately $1245 in tax revenue.  Unifirst will always be liable for any contamination on the property.  The school is doing the due diligence. The general consensus is that it will be contiguous with the school property and have more benefit to the school than to the town.   F. Covey made the motion, seconded by B. Ashe that the Town does not want to be a participant in the ownership/purchasing of the Unifirst property, and so voted.

     C. Peloquin asked if the Board is reducing the Treasurers salary budget.  The Board stated that the budget has not been finalized but yes there is a reduction in that line item.  C. Peloquin asked if the Treasurers duties have been reduced, and it was noted that the duties have not changed, but the current Treasurer is not doing all the duties.  One being tax collection.  The current Treasurer has been on vacation for several weeks this year and out of the country at tax collection time.  The Boards decision was based on duties, and not on looking to get the Treasurer to quit.  

R. Graham -  Earlier in the meeting M. Sprano said that he felt the Board got defensive when asked a questions, and R. Graham wanted to say that the Board isn’t getting defensive, but said that he feels M. Sprano criticizes every decision that the Board makes.  M. Sprano noted that he just states his opinion.

F. Covey –  Mentioned that many road signs are being stolen lately, and the # of break-ins in the area.

L. Hebert  - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

B. Ashe  -  Eastern Star asked if they could have their food drive during town meeting.  The Board is fine with that but suggests they talk to the school as well as it is their building.

B. Ashe made a motion to adjourn at 9:15pm, seconded F. Covey, and so voted.