Weathersfield Select Board

Minutes

August 16, 2011

Present: Gordon Eglintine

Norman John Arrison

Dave Fuller

Richard Clattenburg

Dan Boyer

Others Present: Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Slade, Recording Secretary

Wes Hazeltine, Highway Superintendent

Edith Stillson

Robert Compo

Sara DeGennero

Maureen Bogosian

Robert Holtorf

Betty Brooks

Joy Smith

Darrin Spaulding

Patrick O'Grady

Julia Lloyd Wright

deForest Bearse

George Murray

Jon Ramsay

Edith F. Hunter

Neil Daniels

Christopher Adams

Elwin Smead Sr.

Norma Smead

Floyd Buck

Pam Buck

Richard Smead

Shirley McNutt

Greg Smist

Bob Stevens

1. Call to Order: Mr. Fuller called the Weathersfield Select Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Bow Baptist Church. Mr. Fuller thanked the Church for hosting the meeting for the Select Board.

2. Comments from Citizens and Select Board: Ms. Julia Lloyd Wright said the Town has received a grant to finish the insulation at the Town Highway Garage.

Mr. Fuller said there will be a meeting to discuss broadband communication at the Weathersfield School tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. for those interested in attending.

Mr. Fuller asked everyone that is on the BCA Board to please notify the Town Clerk if they can not make the BCA meetings as it is sometimes difficult to get a quorum and it is an important meeting to attend.

3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated August 2, 2011, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mrs. Slade said she has a couple corrections to make on spelling. Motion carried 4 - 0 with one abstention.

4. Vermont Land Trust conservation Project, Roberts Property (formerly known as the Kelly Farm): Mr. Mullen introduced Jon Ramsey from the Vermont Land Trust who is the Director of the Farm Land Access Program. Mr. Ramsey said they will acquire the Roberts Property by the end of October and they are already looking to resell it to a farmer for $362,000. He said they are also talking to the Town and the Ascutney Fire District as it has a good water source on the property. He said the farm would have to earn one half of their income from the property.

Mrs. Brooks asked how many acres; Mr. Ramsey said sixty-four. Mrs. Brooks asked what type of farm could operate on sixty-four acres of land and have half of their income come from that. Mr. Ramsey said it may be a farmer that has another farm elsewhere so it is part of a larger organization and it could be veggies or livestock. Mr. Boyer asked if it could be an equine facility. Mr. Ramsey said they would prefer a food or fiber farm but they may be ok with a horse breeding operation.

Ms. Degenrano asked if the farmer could resell the property for development. Mr. Ramsey said they will have a perpetual conservation easement and there will be restrictions that it has to be resold to a farmer or Vermont Land Trust can buy back at an agricultural value.

Mr. Fuller asked what was included in the price of $362,000. Mr. Ramsey said the land, the barn, the car port and, the house (which is a two family home).

Mr. Arrison asked if they were working with the Fire District for the parcel with the water source first. Mr. Ramsey said they are actually advertising the sale to a farmer first and noted if it is all workable they would sell five acres to the Fire District.

Mrs. Bogosian asked if the Town would receive tax income, Mr. Ramsey said yes. He said the Lister's may re-assess and it may be enrolled in common use but they would pay taxes.

Mr. Arrison asked, if the Fire District did use the well for water, would be properly protected from chemicals, animal wastes etc. Mr. Ramsey said he feels five acres is enough to provide that protection.

Mr. Stevens asked about situations in the past where Vermont Land Trust has not obtained the property back at re-sale. Mr. Ramsey said some easements back in the 1990's were set up different, since 2005 they have been successful in purchasing property back if needed.

Mrs. Brooks asked how much they paid for the land. Mr. Ramsey said the property was originally for sale for about $1,000,000 and they have an agreement to purchase it for $733,000.

Mr. Neil Daniels said the Town is missing out on a town owned water source in the Tenny Hill area that has water running out of the ground everyday already.

Mr. Murray said the Fire District is in the process of finalizing a preferred option now, they have just found out they qualify for a low interest rate, they have met with the Smith's (the current owners of the water system in Ascutney) two times and there will need to be a bond vote in the next six to nine months. He noted the water source at the Roberts property has been looked at in the past by other people and it generates about 250 gallons of water per minute.

Mr. Clattenburg made the motion to direct the Town Manager or the Board Clerk to compose a letter of support on the Roberts Property for the Vermont Land Trust, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Fuller said he understands the theory but the reality is Ag prices do not work. He noted our Town plan identifies this as commercial property. Mr. Todd said the Planning Commission drafted a letter in support of this last night. Motion carried unanimously.

5. Discuss Suggestions and Concerns of Weathersfield Bow Residents/Possible Topics:

Reitzas Property: Ms. DeGennero said she has talked to the Historic Preservation people and to the Town and it looks like the bank owns this property or is in the process of owning it. She said a local construction company has been asked to give a price to the bank to demolish it and the Town does not have a demolition ordinance.

Mr. Stevens said he lives across the street from the property and he has talked to Bank of America's Attorneys last week in Worcester, MA and the bank has not foreclosed on the property yet but they are in the process of it. He said when they do there will be a three week notice posted in the Valley News. He said he was told they do not have bids on demolition and they will decide what is best for the property once they foreclose on it. Mr. Fuller asked the amount the bank is looking for, Mr. Stevens said $200,000.

Mrs. Bogosian said last Friday morning Bank of America padlocked the place; she has the person's business card at home that did that. Mrs. Smith said a man from Wells River, VT offered $140,000 and Bank of America won't talk with him.

Mr. Todd said the Zoning bylaws address damaged structures; it says they have six months to secure the property. Mr. Daniels said he believes the shed part is damaged but the house is very restorable. Mr. Daniels asked how many acres were involved. Mrs. Hunter said she has heard forty-two acres. Mr. Bearse said she notified the Bank of America in January about doing something about the collapsed portion and has talked to several people in several states since then with no resolution.

It was noted this property is in foreclosure status but has not been foreclosed on and there isn't much the Town or townspeople can do at this time.

Bow Sand Pit: Mr. Mullen said we have an Act 250 permit and we have more work to do right now which will take another two to three years. He said within one or two years we will need to hire an engineer to plan for the next ten to fifteen years. Mrs. Brooks asked what this will end up as. Mr. Mullen said in forty or so years out it will slope down to the river and probably be used as a corn field.

Weathersfield Bow Association and its Land: Mr. Smist said the Bow Association is still interested in being tax exempt. Mr. Arrison said the Select Board discussed this a few years ago and there really isn't a way for the Bow Association to become tax exempt without just "giving" the land to the Town.

Ms. DeGennero said the pond should be cleaned out regularly and that is not being done. Mrs. Bogosian asked if the fire department could schedule a cleaning of the pond twice a year. Mr. Spaulding said there is money in the budget for maintenance of the dry hydrants. Mr. Stevens asked if there was enough water in the pond year round to use this as a water source. Mrs. Smith said there is not enough water from July through October. Mr. Spaulding said the fire department pumped water from the pond (during a test) and there is enough. Mr. Fuller said the town is looking at purchasing a tanker as the next piece of fire apparatus and that should help but it is still in discussion status. There was discussion about a 5000 gallon tank being donated to the town to put near the pond and that is still being discussed along with another possibility of a larger tank.

6. Old Business:

A. Establish Membership and Purpose of Budget Committee: A second and third draft was presented to the Board for their review. It was again noted that the Budget Committee is advisory to the Select Board. After discussion Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the second draft dated August 8, 2011. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

B. Update on Employee Medical Insurance Options: Mr. Mullen said this is a different process than in past years and we can choose any plan with any carrier that provides coverage in Vermont. Mr. Clattenburg noted this option is not available to people eligible for Medicare and that affects one person. There was discussion on network issues that may come up for some employees so we need to keep looking at all plans and consider which is the best option for the town and its employees. Mr. Adams noted we can not keep the existing plan that option is going away.

C. Discuss Process on how to Proceed with Crown Point Road Issues: Set up a Sub-Committee? Mr. Mullen said he has decided that the idea of having a sub-committee is not a good idea. He thinks we should continue with the Public Hearing that is scheduled and then just keep continuing them as long as we need to.

D. Update on Weathersfield's 250^th Celebration: Mr. Arrison noted it is this Saturday, August 20^th.

E. Update on Park-and-Ride Grant Application/Downers Corners: Mr. Boyer questioned if this will obstruct any view and said he thinks there is other land in the same area that should be looked at and it may be easier for the commuter bus. Mr. Mullen said there is sufficient room for the bus at this location. Mr. Clattenburg said he likes the visibility of this site. Mrs. Bearse said the terms of the Grant say it must be on land owned by the State or Town. Mr. Fuller said he agrees with Mr. Boyer and we should examine the area for the right spot. Mr. Clattenburg made the motion to proceed with Mr. Mullen's recommendation to file the Grant application as defined by the Town Manager, Mr. Englintine seconded the motion. Motion carried 3 - 2 with Mr. Boyer and Mr. Fuller being the dissenting votes.

F. Approve Public Hearing Date for Drumlin Road Reclassification: Mr. Mullen recommends warning a new hearing and making a decision based on that Hearing. Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Public Hearing regarding Drumlin Road on October 18, 2011. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

7. New Business

A. Award Bid for Body and Plow for Ten Wheel Truck: Mr. Arrison made the motion to award the body and plow bid to H.P. Fairfield for a price of $63,675. Mr. Clattenburg seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

B. Reduce Sale Price of Town Owned Truck, 2002 Ford F-150: Mr. Arrison made the motion to have the Town Manager and Select Board Chairman reduce the price of the truck to $5,900 and negotiate all bids received. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

C. Approve Release of Requests for Bids

1. Retaining Wall/Bowen Hill Road: Mr. Eglintine made the motion to approve the release of bid. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

2. Dry Hydrant, Spencer Property/Goulden Ridge Road: Mr. Eglintine made the motion to approve the release of bid. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

D. VELCO Ascutney Sub-station Project, Application was filed on July 7, 2011: Mr. Mullen said all of our concerns have been addressed except our concern for emergency response. The Board asked Mr. Mullen to follow up with them directly to get a response on this.

8. Appointments: none

9. Next Meeting's Agenda Items: September 6, 2011 at Martin Memorial Hall

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

General Fund Payroll $17,755.44

General Fund Operating Expense $32,829.89

Highway Fund Payroll $12,904.70

Highway Fund Operating Expense $12,382.53

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 1,589.02

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 1,151.52

Agency Monies $ 3,046.98

Reserves $ 5,000.00

Library $ 589.54

Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion. Mr. Boyer questioned the payout to Ascutney Fire for $2,850. Mr. Eglintine this is their portion, the town's portion is in the reserve fund. Mr. Eglintine asked about the payment to NEMRC. Mr. Adams said this position was filled on July 7^th and this is the last of their bills. Motion carried unanimously.

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Slade

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on September 20, 2011