Weathersfield Select Board

Minutes

December 2, 2010

Present: Henry "Chip" Cobb

Norman John Arrison

Glenn Fisher

Gordon Eglintine

Dave Fuller

Others Present: Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary

Edith Stillson

Pat Daniels

Jeff Slade

Michael Todd

Peter Korbet

Chris Adams

Ernie Shand

Kelley Murphy

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

2. Comments from Citizens or Select Board: none

3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): tabled until the next meeting

4. Discuss process to decide whether to accept ownership of Perkinsville School: Mr. Fisher noted that at the recent Town Meeting it was voted to allow the School Board to offer the Perkinsville School to the Town. Mr. Arrison said we may want to consider taking possession on July 1^st since we have nothing in our budget for maintenance.

Mrs. Daniels asked Mr. Fisher to read the offer the School Board is making the Select Board which he did, they are offering the Perkinsville School (all buildings and all land) to the Town.

Mr. Fuller asked what was in the Schools budget for maintenance and what they have spent since it has been closed. Mrs. Murphy said she could get the numbers and email them to the Town Manager but she believes that from the day it was closed until this past August approximately $16,000 had been spent. She said there may be a way to transfer the school budget balance to the Town budget which will carry the expenses until July 1^st. Mr. Fuller asked if the School Board was looking for the Town to take it over immediately. Mrs. Murphy said they understand it will take time for the Select Board to make their decision. Mr. Fuller said he thinks we should consider taking it effective July 1^st but thinks the use(s) of the School have been talked about enough and we should not keep dragging this on. Mr. Cobb said he agrees with the July 1^st date.

Mr. Fuller made the motion to claim ownership of the Perkinsville School on July 1 and work with the School Board on the funding for maintenance, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mrs. Murphy said if the School maintains the Perkinsville School until July 1 there won't be any money in the budget, it will be used between now and then.

Mr. Todd said the Planning Commission has a lot of input from surveys that have been done in the last year regarding what townspeople would like to see. They showed the Town was in favor of having use of the Hoisington fields.

Mr. Fisher asked if the School knew of any pending maintenance issues, Mrs. Murphy said none she was aware of.

It was discussed that we can go after Grants but the $1.00 purchase price will be a factor when doing so. Mr. Mullen said the school would be appraised for matching of a grant and they would deduct the $1.00. He said if we pay $1 for it we may want some legal language added.

Mr. Fuller amended his motion to accept the Town of Weathersfield's School District's legal interest in the school buildings and site known as the former Weathersfield Elementary School in Perkinsville for $1.00 on or before July 1, 2011. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

There was discussion on establishing a committee to look at all possible alternatives and it was noted the final decision should be made by a vote. Mrs. Murphy will email Mr. Mullen the names of the past committee members and the committee lay-out will be discussed again on December 16, 2010. Mr. Todd mentioned that there is a Historical Preservation bylaw coming along that may affect the used of the land and buildings since the original building is a historical building.

5. Budget Workshop/FY2012

A. General Fund: Mr. Mullen said he asked all departments to submit what they would like to see for a budget for the next year and the Board can make cuts as they see necessary as time goes along. Mr. Adams explained the proposed General Fund budget that the Board had a copy of tonight. Mr. Cobb asked what was used for a pay raise factor, Mr. Mullen said 1%. It was noted that some of the time for the secretary is being put into the Solid Waste Fund budget, the Town Accountant is asking for more hours because he has more duties and the payroll clerk is up four hours because she does a lot with benefits.

There was discussion on health benefits and it was said that the increase is only about 1% and is based on the current staffing situation. Mr. Adams said because you can now insure you child until the age of twenty-six this may be changing in the next couple of weeks. Mr. Mullen said VLCT is recommending towns to take a high deductible plan and we have been in the plan for three years already.

Mr. Fuller said he would like to see a one page sheet to show why we are over or under budget for this year for each department.

Mr. Fisher asked if part time employees received benefits, Mr. Adams said some benefits are provided for employees that work over twenty hours and health benefits are provided to employees that work over thirty hours.

Mr. Todd said as a taxpayer and a member of the budget committee he would like the Town to figure out how to do more with less, he said the economy isn't coming back yet and we can't afford to see an increase.

6. Old Business

A. Policies/Resolutions/Ordinances

1. Approve Proposed Amendments to Hazardous Materials Response Ordinance (Second Reading): Mr. Mullen said the Fire Commission met last night and they have seven changes they would like the Select Board to make and he has given that information to the Board in a memo tonight. Mr. Eglintine made the motion to approve the recommendations and move the Ordinance to the third reading, Mr. Fuller seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison asked if the Town was doing the billing if there should be a flat rate fee for billing. Mrs. Daniels said she believes an Administrative fee should be put in. Mr. Arrison said that legal fees would have to be addressed too. Mr. Cobb thanked Mrs. Daniels for all of her work on the Ordinance and collecting supporting information. Motion carried unanimously.

2. Approve Fire Services Reimbursement Ordinance (Second Reading): Mr. Eglintine made the motion to move the Fire Services Reimbursement Ordinance to the third reading with changes noted. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

7. New Business

A. Ask Town Meeting voters to establish "grace period" for Delinquent Taxes: Mr. Mullen said this would allow another two weeks for payment without having the penalty charged. Mr. Fuller said he does not support this, if we move the date people will still be late. Mr. Mullen said it would allow for a friendly reminder to be mailed.

Mr. Eglintine made the motion to put this on the Warning, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mrs. Daniels asked if it would be a floor vote, Mr. Mullen said yes. Motion carried unanimously.

8. Monthly Reports

- Constable: Report received no comments.

9. Appointments: none

10. Sign Treasurer's Warrants: Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Treasurer's Warrants as follows:

General Fund Payroll $17,849.11

General Fund Operating Expense $30,944.93

Highway Fund Payroll $14,071.83

Highway Fund Operating Expense $56,265.18

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,854.07

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 4,396.03

Grants $53,677.58

Agency Monies $ 1,394.98

Reserves $ 3,638.00

Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which carried unanimously.

11. Future Agenda Items: December 9^th - budget meeting.

12. Executive Session: Mr. Arrison made the motion to go into Executive Session regarding Real Estate. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

13. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on December 16, 2010