Weathersfield Select Board

Minutes

May 20, 2010

Present: Glenn Fisher

Norman John Arrison

Gordon Eglintine

Henry "Chip" Cobb

Dave Fuller

Others Present: Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary

Edith Stillson

Keith Graham

Debbie Graham

Jeff Spurr

Annmarie Christensen

Peter Korbet

Dan Willey

Jeff Locke

1. Call to Order: Mr. Fisher called the meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.

2. Comments from Citizens: Ms. Sargent announced the Weathersfield Veterans Memorial Committee would be having their 4^th annual walkathon on Saturday June 5^th at 9:00 am. Start and finish is at Martin Memorial Hall and everyone is encouraged to attend.

Mr. Arrison thanked those involved in holding the community planning commission meetings; he said they have been well attended, well run and productive.

3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the minutes dated May 6, 2010, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Corrections were noted. Motion carried 4- 0 with one abstention.

The minutes of April 15^th still need to be approved with corrections; the Select Board will have a copy of those minutes for next meeting.

4. Highway

A. Update on Brown Gravel Pit: Mr. Fisher said there was a conference call between the State and the Town's attorney on May 10^th which went well and there will be another one on July 10^th. He said the question was if we could begin immediate reclamation (which we can) and Mr. Mullen said the reclamation will take one to one and one half weeks and it would begin on Monday.

Mr. Mullen said we would have to hire a bulldozer with an operator which is $80 per hour. After discussion it was decided that the bulldozer work would go out to bid. Mr. Fuller said the Town has a lot of equipment and a lot of men; we should do as much as possible by ourselves.

Mr. Locke asked if it would still begin on Monday now since the dozer work has to go out to bid. Mr. Mullen said the Town would start their work on Monday. Mr. Locke asked what the call on July 10^th was for. Mr. Mullen said the calls are for the two parties involved to try and settle this between them, out of court. Mr. Locke asked what would happen with the two stranded utility poles. Mr. Mullen said they are staying as is for now but Mr. Hazeltine has asked CVPS for a quote to remove them within the Town right of way.

Mr. Korbet asked if the Town was in court over this at this time, Mr. Fisher said no, we were served an administrative order and we are in the process of resolving the violation.

Mrs. Graham asked if the Town has been fined, Mr. Fisher said we have received notification of a possible $50,000 fine.

Mr. Locke asked if there was a written plan for reclamation. Mr. Fisher said we intend to follow the terms originally outlined in the permit from 1998. Mr. Locke asked if it would be inspected by the State to confirm it is being done right, Mr. Mullen said he doesn't know if the State will inspect it or not.

Mr. Arrison made a motion to direct the Town Manager to put the bulldozer work out to bid as soon as possible and also authorize the Town Manager to award the bid as appropriate, Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion.

Mr. Mullen said he had planned on getting oral bids for the hydro seeding that needs to be done. Mr. Locke questioned if hydro seeding was the right way to do it. Mr. Fisher said we would check with the State to be sure it was acceptable.

Mr. Korbet asked if we would still be testing in the sections that haven't been used to see if there is gravel there. Mr. Mullen said we will address that when we discuss gravel options.

Mr. Fuller said we need to remember that this is not in the budget, the more we can do ourselves the better. Motion carried 5 - 0.

B. Gravel Options: Mr. Mullen said we estimate only 2,000 yards of gravel left at the Brown pit so it is not economically worth our while to go through the Act 250 permitting process to remove this.

Mr. Mullen said several test holes were dug at the Murray Pit and it is estimated there is 4,000 yards of gravel there at the top of a large hill so he doesn't recommend pursuing this option. He said he talked with several towns and they are all buying gravel and some of them are evening purchasing it delivered. He said they recommend if we send out a bid ask for delivered and non delivered rates as it may make since to have it delivered by the large dump trucks instead of using our own equipment.

Mr. Arrison said we were told we have about a years supply right now, Mr. Mullen said that is true. Mr. Arrison said we may want to look at Shur-Pac as an option on some roads.

Mr. Cobb asked how much gravel we use in a typical year, Mr. Fuller said between 3,000 - 5,000 yards. He said there is gravel in this town and he feels it is too expensive to purchase it.

Mr. Cobb asked for comparisons of prices if we own it/do it ourselves vs. if we purchase it. Mr. Mullen will look at options and report back to the Board in six or eight weeks.

It was noted that Mr. Brown owns the Act 250 permit at the Brown pit.

C. Approve Reconfiguration of Plans Road/Plains Road Extension/Plains Cemetery Road Intersection: Mr. Mullen said this was recommended by the District Engineer, these three roads do not intersect at 90 degree's and they should. He said this could be done by the highway department; it is in our right of way.

Mr. Fuller said he doesn't think this will fix the problem, or solve any plowing problems.

There was discussion on the trucks not being able to make the turn without backing up. After discussion, Mr. Cobb made the motion to have the Highway Committee walk the location and come back to the Board with recommendations, Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion. Mr. Korbet said Town Highway 16 serves the boat launch and the cemetery, he feels it is an important road. Motion carried 5 - 0.

4. Paving Update

Stoughton Pond Road: Mr. Mullen said the engineer is still working with VTrans to get the engineering plans approved. Mr. Fuller said he would like a copy of the Army Corp letter regarding the flood area to review.

Weathersfield Center Road: Mr. Mullen said we applied for a grant for $175,000, we have received unofficial word that they are awarding the grant but for only $151,000. He said the price of paving has increased and we probably will not have enough money to do the entire project.

Mr. Mullen said he doesn't think we will have enough money to do all of Stoughton Pond road either but we should be able to put a top coat on the part that has a base coat on it and then but a base coat on the part that is gavel.

E. Easement Request/Quarry Road, CVPS: Mr. Mullen said this is a routine request; Mr. Hazeltine has looked at it and doesn't have any issues. After discussion Mr. Cobb made the motion to table this until June 3^rd in order to find out more information. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

5. Old Business

A. Adopt Revised Policy for Collection of Delinquent Taxes: Mr. Mullen said he has been working with some delinquent taxpayers; they need two years for smaller payments. Mr. Fisher said he likes this new policy. Mr. Eglintine made the motion to accept the Policy for Collection of Delinquent Taxes as presented, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked what happens with the payment agreements currently in place. Mr. Mullen said if they are following the current agreement it will continue but most people are defaulted on the original agreement.

Ms. Christensen said she is here on behalf of the Perkinsville Trustees and they didn't have any discussion on the policy itself but asked that the payment date be set for the 1^st or 15^th of the month to help with citizen's pay day schedule a consistent date.

Mr. Fuller asked Mr. Mullen if he was still going to hire Mr. Ankuda, Mr. Mullen said yes. Mr. Fuller said he opposing it then, he said he is against paying money to an attorney. It was explained the attorney's fees were built into the sale price if it went to tax sale so the only time we would pay him is if the Town bid at a sale and the sale was completed. Mr. Fuller asked how many people were delinquent; Mr. Mullen said we were up to $914,000 a couple days ago. He said at this time last year we were at $725,000.

Motion carried 4 - 1 with Mr. Fuller being the dissenting vote.

6. New Business:

A. Set Hazardous Materials Fee: Mr. Eglintine said the Fire Departments are looking to increase the fee from $300 - $350. Mr. Cobb asked what a haz mat incident is; Mr. Eglintine said any hazardous materials clean up - antifreeze, oil, fuel etc.

Mr. Fuller said he feels the increases the fire departments are asking for is too high, the departments are supposed to be volunteer's and people can't afford to pay their fees.

Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the haz mat fees of $350.00, Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion.

Mr. Arrison said he thinks the fees should be on a sliding scale, one should not be charged the same for a small spill as those with a large spill but of course, he understands large spills have other fees associated with them so they are charged more in the long run.

Motion carried 5 - 0.

B. Select Board 2010 Summer Meeting Schedule: It was discussed that the Select Board will once again hold meetings on the road during the summer (the first meeting of the month will be at the Town Office).

7. Monthly Reports

A. General Fund: No discussion

B. Highway Fund: No discussion

C. Solid Waste Fund: Mr. Arrison asked Mr. Mullen to check with Chris Adams to see if he has fixed West Windsor's numbers.

D. Police: Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Mullen to check with Chief Brown on how the data entry is going and also ask him for a copy of the monthly incidents so we can see if incidents are up in town. Mr. Cobb noted the Law Enforcement Study Committee has not been dissolved yet.

E. Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District: No discussion

8. Appointments

(vi) Connecticut River Transit: Mr. Arrison made the motion to appoint Joyce Lemire as the town's representative to the Connecticut River Transit. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

9. Sign Treasurer's Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:

General Fund Payroll $14,664.74

General Fund Operating Expense $30,554.50

Highway Fund Payroll $13,403.73

Highway Fund Operating Expense $32,496.21

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,380.77

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 5,142.29

Grants $ 297.50

Reserves $ 305.00

Library $ 511.18

Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked what is happening with the website. Mr. Mullen said the webmaster has a full time job so she is going to come train the Town employees how to update and maintain the website. Ms. Sargent asked how many hours of police coverage is allocated (which didn't get answered) and noted she would like to see more police presence in town. Motion carried 5 - 0.

10. Future Agenda Items: Not discussed

11. Executive Session, Civil Action - Brown Gravel Pit: Mr. Fuller made the motion to go into Executive Session. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

12. Adjourn: Mr. Cobb made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:21 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board June 3, 2010

Gordon Eglintine

Norman John Arrison

Glenn Fisher

Henry "Chip" Cobb