Weathersfield Select Board

Minutes

March 3, 2011

Present: Gordon Eglintine

Norman John Arrison

Daniel Boyer

Dave Fuller

Richard Clattenburg

Others Present: Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary

Michael Todd

Alan Hudson

1. Call to Order by Town Manager: Mr. Mullen called the Weathersfield Select Board reorganizational meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.

2. Election of Chairperson: Mr. Arrison nominated Mr. Fuller, Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion. After no further nominations were made motion passed unanimously.

3. Election of Vice-Chairperson: Mr. Eglintine made the motion to nominate Mr. Arrison, Mr. Clattenburg seconded the motion. After no further nominations were made motion passed unanimously.

4. Election of Board Clerk: Mr. Arrison made the motion to nominate Mr. Eglintine, Mr. Clattenburg seconded the motion. After no further nominations were made motion passed unanimously.

5. Appointment of Recording Secretary: Mr. Arrison made the motion to appoint Lisa Sargent as the Recording Secretary. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

6. Designate regular meeting dates, times and location: Mr. Clattenburg asked the Board to consider meeting on a day other than Thursday. It was noted that the Planning Commission, Zoning Board and Fire Commission meet on Monday and Wednesdays so those days would not work well. It was also noted that BCA meets on Tuesday evenings but that day probably could be easily changed.

Mr. Mullen said he checked with the staff and they would prefer a different day as well and he checked with SAPA and they are ok with Tuesday night meetings.

After Mr. Fuller confirmed that Tuesday night would work for everyone, Mr. Arrison made the motion that the Select Board will meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

7. Designate newspaper of record for the Town: Mr. Fuller said he feels the Valley News is expensive and would like to look at other options. After discussion, Mr. Arrison made the motion to designate the Valley News the newspaper of record for now. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

8. Appoint Select Board Representative to Fire Commission: Mr. Fuller said since he is now the Select Board Chair he does not wish to be the representative to the Fire Commission. He said he talked with Mrs. Daniels who is currently the Chair of the Fire Commission and she asked to table this appointment until our next meeting at which time she could be present. Mr. Fuller also mentioned that due to a vote earlier in the week there is a new Chief for West Weathersfield and he believes the Fire Commission may have some work ahead of them while everything gets worked out (for West Weathersfield and between the two departments).

Mr. Eglintine said he would like to be the Select Board representative, Mr. Boyer said he doesn't think Mr. Eglintine should be the one since he is on the Ascutney department. Mr. Eglintine said he hasn't been a member of the Ascutney department since he has been a Select Board member.

Mr. Arrison made the motion to table the appointment until the meeting on the 15^th. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

9. Appoint Select Board Representative to Highway Committee: Mr. Eglintine made the motion to appoint Mr. Arrison the Select Board representative for the Highway Committee. Mr. Clattenburg seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

10. Adopt Policy for conduct of Meetings and Hearings: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the policy for conduct of meetings and hearings after changing the Select Board meeting dates to Tuesday. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

11. Adopt Ethics Policy: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the Ethics Policy. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

12. Award Gravel Bid, Butch Wilson Excavating: Mr. Fuller summarized the bid process that took place for the two new Board members. Mr. Fuller said the Board agreed to wait until after the Town Meeting to be sure the budget passed which, as we know, it did. Mr. Mullen said he has since talked to Butch Wilson and he is still reluctant to bid for two years because of diesel prices but he will think about it and see if he can offer the Board a price for the second year.

Mr. Fuller said we have about 3,000 yards now so if we purchase another 5,000 yards at the bid price of $15.65 a yard that will be almost enough for two years anyway.

Mr. Eglintine made the motion to purchase 5,000 yards of gravel from Butch Wilson Excavating for the price of $15.65 per yard delivered to Weathersfield for the next fiscal year, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison recommended allowing him to deliver it before July 1 and we could pay him out of the fund balance if that will help at all. Mr. Fuller said he is fine with that but we should only pay him for the amount he delivers incase he doesn't deliver the whole 5,000 yards before July 1. Motion carried unanimously.

13. Invitation to Select Board to attend Planning Commission Meeting on Monday March 14, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.: Mr. Mullen said the Planning Commission is meeting with VELCO on their proposal for a substation upgrade and they have invited the Select Board to attend as audience members. He noted VELCO goes through the VT Public Service Board not our Zoning Board.

Mr. Fuller asked why VELCO is looking for an upgrade and Mr. Mullen said he thinks because their current system is unreliable.

Mr. Clattenburg said the Town should be sure the new site is as visually pleasing as possible and we should be sure the Route 131 substation is dismantled and VELCO does not leave a lot of deteriorating equipment at that location.

Mr. Arrison said we should know early on in the process how this will affect our Grand List.

14. Future Agenda Items: Next meeting on Tuesday March 15^th. Annual appointments, medium duty truck bids, Lavigne Road Bridge update, Select Board goals, Alcohol Use policy, Zoning Permit fee schedule and, Windham Solid Waste Management District agreement.

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

General Fund Payroll $16,345.38

General Fund Operating Budget $28,738.23

Highway Fund Payroll $16,491.47

Highway Fund Operating Budget $ 6,003.87

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,266.02

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Budget $ 329.07

Agency Monies $ 1,000.00

Library $ 26.40

Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Clattenburg questioned what opt out payment was. The Board explained it was for an employee that doesn't take health insurance through the Town, they get a 50% opt out credit. Motion carried unanimously.

16. Executive Session: Not needed

17. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on March 22, 2011