Weathersfield Select Board
Minutes
December 3, 2009

Present: Norman John Arrison
Daniel Boyer
Glenn Fisher
Henry "Chip" Cobb
Dave Fuller

Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Diana Day
Edith Stillson
Jeff Spurr
Linda Spurr
Peter Daniels
deForeset Bearse, Zoning Administrator
Gil Whittemore
Michael Todd
Others...

1. Call to order by Chairperson: Mr. Arrison called the Weathersfield Select Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Moved ahead to #4

4. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Melen said the Board has received a transmittal from the Town Clerk's office regarding a petition to place an article on the Warning for the Town to repeal the subdivision regulations. Mr. Melen said the Statute requires the Select Board receive this and immediately turns around and gives it to the Planning Commission.
Mr. Boyer made the motion to direct the Chairperson to sign the letter of transmittal to pass onto the appropriate Board. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion. Mr. Fuller asked what the Planning Commission would do with it. Mr. Melen said the Planning Commission would review it and correct any technical deficiencies and then conduct at least one public hearing and then issue a report. The report and any technical deficiencies come back to the Select Board and the Select Board must hold at least one Public Hearing as well. Mr. Fuller asked if all of this had to be done within 45 days of the Town Meeting. Mr. Melen said yes and he doesn't know if we can make the timeline. Mr. Arrison asked Mr. Melen to look up the time requirements. Mr. Boyer asked if the time line couldn't be met would we schedule a special Town Meeting. Mr. Melen said he doesn't know how that would be handled yet. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Melen said we received the same thing from the Town Clerk's office to repeal the Zoning Bylaws and it needs to be handled the same way. Mr. Boyer made the motion to direct the Chairperson to sign the letter to move forward the petition to repeal the Zoning Bylaws. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Mr. Cobb said with the help of a lot of volunteers nine boulders have been pulled off the mountain and they will go to Barre for cutting for the Weathersfield Veterans Memorial monument. Mr. Todd asked if Mr. Cobb knew any more information on the grant money. Mr. Cobb said all he knows is it is coming. Mr. Cobb also mentioned that a temporary stone has been placed at the Perkinsville Green and encouraged everyone to take a look; the temporary stone was donated by Mr. Dan Barbour.

Back to #3

3. Public Hearing, Proposed Interim Zoning Bylaws (Agricultural Zoning): Mr. Melen said the Board has received a letter from the Chair of the Planning Commission regarding the Bylaws. It was noted that Mr. Cox, Mr. Daniels and Mr. Whittemore are all present tonight. Mr. Arrison asked why the changes are being proposed. Mrs. Bearse said basically because the current bylaws are interim and they expire in July 2010. Mrs. Bearse also told the Board of the two changes that are being requested and the reason why they were being requested.
Mr. Melen said if the Select Board adopts this then it would go on the Warning for the Town Meeting this year.
Mr. Fuller said he spent most of the day today up USDA's office and met with four or five guys and they expressed deep frustration over this Town's zoning issues. He gave an example of an Agricultural Zoning issue that is happening right now involving him and Plains Cemetery.
Mr. Fuller said he is proposing an amendment tonight that there is a determination of the current use of the parcel. He said someone needs to walk on it and determine if it is agricultural. Mr. Fuller made the motion to include in paragraph #3 that present (and past) use of the property shall be considered and someone needs to walk on it and determine if it is agricultural. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion.
Mr. Cobb asked what the Board is supposed to be doing tonight. Mr. Melen said this is a Public Hearing to consider the proposal and if a change is made then we'll need to have a second public hearing. Mr. Cobb said he would like to have input from the Planning Commission on the proposed change. Mrs. Bearse said this will have to go back to the Planning Commission for their review. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Arrison adjourned the Public Hearing on the Proposed Interim Zoning Bylaws.

Moved ahead to #5

5. Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve minutes dated November 19, 2009, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison noted a correction. Motion carried 4 - 0 with one abstention.

6. Proposed Interim Zoning Bylaw Changes - Self Storage Facility: Mr. Melen said a petition was received for a proposed change for Self Storage Facilities under the Interim Bylaws. The consensus of the Board was to have a Public Hearing. Mr. Melen said the first available date is January 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. unless you have a special meeting. Mrs. Bearse said this isn't something under a time crunch, it was decided to have the Public Hearing on February 4, 2010.

Back to #2

Mr. Arrison opened the Public Hearing on Proposed Subdivision Regulations.

2. Public Hearing on Proposed Subdivision Regulations: Mrs. Bearse recapped the proposed changes. A number of definitions have been added but a few have also been removed. The section on amendments has been clarified; the document has been reorganized and they tried to align them more closely with the Town Plan. Mr. Boyer made the motion to accept the Proposed Subdivision Regulations. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Public Hearing on Subdivision Regulations closed.

7. Fire Commission, Recap of Joint Meeting: Mr. Boyer said last night they discussed redoing the hazardous materials ordinance and Mr. Melen will give a revision to the Select Board and Fire Commission at least two weeks before January 6, 2010 to review.
Mr. Daniels asked for the Fire Commission to look at the AOT regulations on self storage facilities.
Mr. Fuller said as a side note there is some contention over the funds that the Town has paid to the Fire Departments and the Select Board should support the Town Manager and his numbers. Mr. Melen said he has gone through the numbers again and his figures are right. Mr. Melen said he will give the Board and Fire Commission a copy of the print outs. Mr. Cobb said it should just go to Mr. Boyer for him to address with the Fire Commission members.

8. FY2011 Budget Workshop, Solid Waste: Mr. Melen said the Board has a draft and it will be discussed at the next meeting. He said he is recommending dropping the Solid Waste Assessment to $35 - down another $5. It was noted this would generate an income of $54,000. Mr. Melen said our per bag fee is the lowest in the District so he doesn't see a need to adjust that.

9. Old Business
A. Policies and Procedures, Zoning Board of Adjustment Alternate Member Use Policy (Third Reading): Mr. Boyer made the motion to move to the signing at the next meeting. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

10. New Business
A. Renew Note for Highway Equipment Loader: Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the renewal note with Chittenden Bank at a rate of 2.4% for $26,000 for payment of the loader. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

11. Appointments: None

12. Sign Treasurer's Warrants: Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Treasurer Reports as follows:
General Fund Payroll $17,959.03
General Fund Operating Expense $21,782.39
Highway Fund Payroll $13,335.16
Highway Fund Operating Expense $35,073.76
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,776.62
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating $ 10,587.31
Reserves $ 256.13
Library $ 46.78
Mr. Fisher seconded the motion. Mr. Melen said he still needs direction from the Board for the Town to pay two items on a recent bill for a belt replacement plus the travel of labor cost for the repair on the ladder truck for Ascutney Fire. Mr. Boyer said we agreed to do routine maintenance on town owned equipment, Mr. Melen said that is the case if through our own mechanic. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Cobb made the motion to have the bill from Dingee Equipment go to the Fire Commission for determination; Mr. Fuller seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

13. Next Meeting's Agenda Items: Budget workshop on the 10th.

14. Adjourn: Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa A. Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on December 17, 2009

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Norman John Arrison

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Henry "Chip" Cobb

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Glenn Fisher

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Daniel Boyer