| Select Board 11-1-07 |
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Weathersfield Select Board Minutes November 1, 2007 Present:                     Henry C. Cobb                                   Daniel Boyer                                   Norman John Arrison                                   Patricia Daniels Others Present:           Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary                                   DeForest Bearse, Zoning Administrator                                   Caleb Hawlen, CVPS                                   Bill Jakubowski, CVPS                                   Hope Rogers CVPS                                   Ralph Goings                                   Max Emery                                   Julie Pawlikowski                                   Ted Pawlikowski                                   Marita Johnson, Weathersfield Historical Society                                   John D. Wright, Jr                                   Mark Horton                                   Gary Lynch                                   Julia Lloyd Wright, Eagle Times                                   Deborah Ostrom, SAPA                                   John E Keefe                                   Eleanor C. Keefe                                   Bonnie D. DuPrey                                   Peter R. DuPrey Sr.                                   Russ Aldridge                                   Karen Farnham, Verizon                                   Michael Bladyka                                   Sonny Grover                                   Scott A. Stone                                   Tina Stone                                   Alan Robert                                   Michelle Masse                                   Pam Buck                                   Edith Stillson                                   Wes Hazeltine, Road Superintendent                                   Daniel Barbour                                   Joe Phelen                                   Irvin Bushaw
1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Mr. Cobb called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday November 1, 2007. He asked to skip ahead to discuss the ordinance regulating objectionable noise. 8. Ordinances and Policies            A. Ordinance Regulating Objectionable Noise: Mr. Cobb explained we have been talking about this ordinance for a few months and it came about because of ATV noise. He said we received a model ordinance from Vermont League of Cities and Towns and he explained the State of Vermont regulates noise from an existing gun range. Mr. Cobb said tonight is the third reading and if it is adopted tonight it will become effective in sixty days after the adoption unless within forty-four days of the adoption the Town receives a petition to have the Townspeople vote on the ordinance.            Several members of the audience voiced their opinions of the ordinance. They questioned how the Town would regulate the noises that are not under their control like tractor-trailer trucks. They questioned the distance of 25’ as not being very far and most noises are able to carry that distance. They questioned being able to shoot a gun or ride a four wheeler on their own property but still being close enough for others to hear the noise and therefore being in violation of the ordinance. Some even said they like to hear the noise of ATV’s, chainsaws etc in their neighborhood so they know their neighbors were able to be outside enjoying the day. No one that spoke was in favor of the ordinance. They suggested the Select Board should deal with the specific problems instead of putting this ordinance in place especially since the people that complained to get this process started were not in attendance this evening.              Mrs. Daniels made the motion to approve the third reading of the ordinance regulating objectionable noises as written, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion.  Mr. Arrison said he has had issues with this ordinance too and thinks it is too subjective. Motion 0 – 4, motion failed. 2. Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated October 18, 2007; Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion passed 4 – 0.
4. Monthly Reports:            A. Town-wide Revaluation, Municipal Assessing Property Service, L.L.C. Terri Gray: Ms. Gray said she has mailed 800 post cards as of today to have people contact the Listers so the interior inspection can be completed. She said they are about three months ahead of schedule and she is out doing spot inspections on appraisals already completed. Mr. Cobb asked her to come to the Board immediately if there are any problems or if they come across anything that will delay their process.  Mrs. Daniels asked Ms. Gray to let the Board know what types of things she is using for economic factors. For example the impact the interstate has on homes and also the impact a view has on a home. Ms. Gray said she does have a land schedule where she takes a certain percent off for noise, poor scenery etc and she would share that with the Board.Â
C. Realtor’s Report: Mr. Cobb noted we have a piece of land for sale on Quarry Road. D. Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District, Small Electronics Collection Program: Mr. Cobb asked to table this for further discussion at our next meeting. 5. Request to place historical marker on High Street- Weathersfield Historical Society: Tabled until November 15, 2007 6. Petition to Reclassify Portion of Roberts Road, Gary Lynch: Mr. Lynch said the end of Roberts Road goes from a Class III road to a Class IV road and he would like it all a Class III road. He said the distance is about 520 feet and the town currently plows and sands it but they do not gravel it or cut brush etc. Mr. Boyer asked if it was wide enough for emergency vehicles to pass? Mr. Lynch said at the bottom it is but not the whole distance. However you can see the whole distance and yield to traffic if needed. Mr. Arrison asked Mr. Hazeltine if there was room at the end to turn around, Mr. Hazeltine said yes at the bottom there is. Mrs. Daniels made the motion asking the Highway Committee to meet there for a site visit and then come back to the Select Board with their recommendations. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. 7. Old Business:
1. Verizon New England, Inc. Thrasher Road: Ms. Farnham gave the Board members an explanation of where Verizon is at now. Mrs. Daniels asked her to consider putting the wire in conduit over the bridge, Ms. Farnham said that wire is cable TV and they won’t do it until we get the permit. Mr. Arrison made the motion to deny the proposed easements to Verizon, Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels said she would not approve the permit unless they used the old poles again. Motion carried 3 – 1, permit was not approved. 2. Central Vermont Public Service Corp, Skyline Drive at Cooks Pond Road: Mr. Cobb said Mr. Arrison met with several parties that are involved a few weeks ago and they had discussions on alternatives but no resolution was reached that day. Mr. Jakubowski said there have been emails between the property owners but no resolution as of today. Mr. Cobb said we could table the discussion if a resolution was close or we could vote on the application. Mr. Bladyka said he is concerned with killing five maple trees. He questioned why they could not go underground down the middle of Skyline Drive or come up Skyline Drive in the other direction. Mr. Jakubowski said it would involve two maple trees, not five. He said the standards call for a 10 foot clearing on each side of the wire. He said if you went underground you would dig up the roots and in his opinion do more damage to the trees than if you trimmed the branches. Mr. Cobb asked if it was feasible to trench, Mr. Jakubowski said it would be possible with easements. Mr. Bladyka said the Kibbe’s have failed to agree to any compensation for an easement across his property. Mr. Jakubowski said in the experience that he has with this process, he feels a reasonable request has not been made. Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the easement applied for on Skyline Drive by CVPS as sketched, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison said he would vote no because it is not compatible with the Town Plan, Mrs. Daniels said she agrees. Motion 0 – 4, motion failed.
1. Highway Garage: Mr. Hazeltine said he has reviewed the list and is pretty much all set with what needs to be done. Mr. Cobb asked to table the discussion until Mr. Melen is present.            2. Salmond Covered Bridge: Tabled until Mr. Melen is present            C. Vermont Emergency Management Agency            1. Designation of Emergency Shelter and Power Supply: Mr. Arrison said he talked with Graham Hunter and he is going to talk with the architects at the Middle School. He said he gave Mike Thomas the information on a generator and it pushes $50,000. Mr. Boyer said he would bring this up at the Fire Commission meeting. It was decided to discuss this again on December 6, 2007.
D.  Medical Information Privacy Practices for Emergency Responders: Mr. Boyer said the Fire Commission will discuss this and we can discuss again on December 6, 2007. E. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program: Mr. Boyer made the motion to redo the motion originally made to hold this at the Highway Garage and have the decision made by the Public Works Department. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. F. Request to install Solar Photovoltaic Panels at Martin Memorial Hall: Ms. Lloyd Wright said she has looked at the electricity usage at the Town office and the highway garages so she is familiar with the peak usage months. She said to qualify for a free energy audit you have to have electric heat. The Board asked her to give them the figures as to how much it would cost to do an audit for both locations even if we had to pay for it, she said she would get back to the Board. G. National Incident Management System FY2006 Baseline Survey: Tabled until November 15, 2007
8. Ordinance and Policies:
9. New Business            A. Volunteer Recruitment for Budget Committee: Mrs. Daniels said as of now it is just Rolly Cann, she has someone else willing to join and has asked others.            B. Central Vermont Public Service Corporation Response to Board’s Letter: Mr. Cobb said a response has been received, not sure any good will come of it but they are aware of the problem.            C. Request to Purchase Town Land, Floyd and Pamela Buck: Mrs. Buck said they are interested in the lot that is next to their property, they would fence it in and put their goats in there to “clean it upâ€. Mr. Cobb said we could grant an easement or we could sell the property outright. Mr. Boyer mentioned we could rent it to them for $1 a year. Mr. Arrison suggested staking out the property to be sure where the boundaries are, Mr. Hazeltine said there might be pins there now. It was decided to look at the property in question and discuss again on December 6, 2007.
1. Projected Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): Tabled until November 15, 2007.
10. Sign Treasurer’s Warrants:            Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:            General Fund Payroll                                                       $15.696.01            General Fund Operating Expense                                           $47,055.52            Highway Fund Payroll                                                       $14,760.63            Highway Fund Operating Expense                                           $12,569.41            Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll                      $ 2,014.11            Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense           $ 1,550.77            Agency Monies                                                                $    450.00            Reserves                                                                            $ 6,196.46            Library                                                                              $    328.92 Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.
12. Executive Session, Acquisition or Sale of Real Estate: Tabled until November 15, 2007. 13. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. on Thursday November 1, 2007.                                                                                 Respectfully Submitted,                                                                                 Lisa Sargent
Appendix                       Name of chairpersons of various committees                       Internet policy                       Procedure on utility easements                       Ancient roads (continue working on)                       Sign posting policy                       Use of Perkinsville Elementary School                       Capital asset inventory                       No Parking Signs by Thomas residence                       No Parking signs on Route 131 near exit 8 and Tenney Hill                       Review and increase of land use fees Martin Memorial Hall/Town Office Building (where one ends and the other begins) 02/27/07           New Map for Town Report 03/08/07           Procedure for handling of complaints and citizen inquiries 05/03/07           Emergency communication 05/03/07           Radio Station designation for emergencies 08/16/07           large gathering permit 08/16/07           Welch – National Historic covered bridge grant 09/06/07           Annual SWMF – waive? 09/06/07           ROW for underground utilities 10/18/07           Economic Depreciation Factors from AMPTA 11/01/07           Designation of Emergency Shelter and Power Supply
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