Weathersfield Select Board

Minutes

December 20, 2011

Present:

Gordon Eglintine

Norman John Arrison

Dave Fuller

Richard Clattenburg

Others Present: Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Slade, Recording Secretary

Wes Hazeltine, Highway Superintendent

Edith Stillson

Stephen Brown

Shawn Brown

Pat Howe

Darrin Spaulding

Robert Compo

deForest Bearse

Nancy Nutile-McMenemy

Christopher Harris

Jeff Slade

Tracy Dauphin

Zack Merriam

Ben McLean

Terri Cahoon

Mychael Spaulding

Josh Compo

Les Rogers

Michael Barrup

Nicole Wheeler

Chris Adams

Pat Daniels

Cookie Shand

Ernest Shand

Peter Korbet

Michael Todd

Alan Hudson

Josh Dauphin

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

2.  Comments from Citizens and Select Board: none

3.  Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated December 6, 2011.  Mr. Clattenburg seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

4.  Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Discussion

-General Fund - Mr. Mullen said the Cemetery Commission has not sent in their budget information yet but their budget is between $1,000 - $1,500.  Mr. Todd said the Budget Committee reviewed the possibility of using $50,000 of the Highway's surplus fund but they didn't necessarily recommend it (as Mr. Mullen stated in the memo to the Select Board).  Mr. Fuller noted the General Fund consists of everything except the Highway Fund and Solid Waste Fund.

Mr. Eglintine asked why we wouldn't use some of the money from the General Fund's surplus towards the General Fund budget.  Mr. Mullen said he thinks that should be "saved" for the Perkinsville School.  Mr. Fuller asked if our surplus amounts have changed since the audit.  Mr. Adams said they may have changed some.

Mr. Todd said we will need to spend more money on the Perkinsville School before we will be able to have any final dollar amounts for the different options ie: renovating, demolishing etc.  He said he will have information from the Re-Use Committee to share at the Town Meeting.  Mr. Clattenburg questioned if it was worth spending money to look at the options since we have already done this in the past and since mold has now been discovered (in addition to asbestos and lead paing).  Mr. Mullen said he may be able to get some estimates for the Haz Mat mitigation work before the Town Meeting.

-Weathersfield Proctor Library:  Mr. Korbet asked how the Librarian got paid (follow up to Mr. Arrison's question from two weeks ago).  It was said she gets paid through the Library Trustee's Fund and it was also noted that she has taken a new job so the Town will be looking for a Librarian.

Mrs. Nutile-McMenemy said they are looking into the Fiber Connect Service and 70% of the expenses will be covered through E-Rate (a discount given to Towns that have families at or below poverty).  This will apply to phone and internet usage. She noted the State is planning on going with Fiber Connect and the Department of Libraries recommend that we plan for this now even though it won't be in place for a while.  Mrs. Nutile-McMenemy noted this service will benefit the whole town.  Mr. Fuller said he has heard presentations to the School by VTel and Sovernet.  Mrs. Nutile-McMenemy said theirs will be more expensive because they don't get the break from working with the State Libraries.

Mrs. Nutile-McMenemy said the Library is looking to lease a copier/printer which will allow them to eliminate three printers and a very old copier that they are working with right now.

It was discussed for budget purposes (when there is a vacant position like the Librarian currently) the Town uses the expense of a two person health plan instead of family.

-Fire Commission:  Mr. Eglintine presented the Board with a list of options for replacing a fire truck (or two).  The Fire Commission and Fire Departments came up with the list of options after being asked to do so by the Select Board.  There was discussion on a few of the options that were listed and there was also discussion on a tanker instead of a pumper.  Mr. Mullen said that the truck West Weathersfield would trade in is old but working ok where as the truck Ascutney would trade in is not as old but it is has not been working properly.  He thinks Ascutney should get the replacement truck this year and West Weathersfield should get the next one.  Mr. Arrison said that a fire truck purchase would require a bond and he thinks we may be short on time to do this.  Mr. Mullen said he thinks there is still time as long as we get it done by the third week in January.

-Highway:  Mr. Mullen said in addition to the changes that have taken place at previous meetings he has increased the insurance for our two covered bridges from $1,800 up to $8,900.  He said the increase is mainly due to a rate increase through VLCT but part of it has to do with the fact that one of our bridges was underinsured.

Mr. Arrison said we need to talk about a heating system at the highway garage and he doesn't think we should go cheap.

-Solid Waste Fund:  Mr. Mullen said he took the $25,000 out that was in for the last meeting for the wash station and gave the Board information tonight on a "portable" wash station that would cost just under $1,000.

There was discussion on the surplus fund and how much should be used in order to keep a flat budget.

-Capital Equipment Fund and Reserve Fund will be discussed at the next meeting.

5.  Old Business

A.  Tropical Storm Irene Update:  Mr. Mullen said Branch Brook Road is done and the final numbers will be available to the Select Board the first week of January.

B.  Policy/Ordinance

-Policy on Aid to Residents in Need/Third Reading:  Mr. Eglintine made the motion to accept the policy on aid to residents in need.  Mr. Clattenburg seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

-Amend Administrative Policy on Delinquent Tax, Water and Wastewater Assessment Collections/Third Reading:  Mr. Eglintine made the motion to accept the amended administrative policy on delinquent tax, water and wastewater assessment collections.  Mr. Clattenburg seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

6.  New Business

A.  Proposed Personal Property Exemption, Weathersfield Listers:  to be discussed on January 3, 2012.

7.  Appointments: none

8.  Future Meeting's Agenda Items: Listers, Capital Equipment & Reserve Fund, Personnel Policy and PACE.

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

General Fund Payroll                                                 $15,006.82

General Fund Operating Expense                                        $15,657.29

Highway Fund Payroll                                                            $12,211.70

Highway Fund Operating Expense                                       $14,631.07

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll                               $  1,389.32

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense           $  6,245.33

Library                                                                                    $  1,300.00

Agency Monies                                                                      $     140.00

Grants                                                                         $     812.50

Mr.  Clattenburg seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Mr. Eglintine made the motion to approve the payment of $12,000.00 to Freightliner, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Mullen said this payment will be returned to us once the highway truck that we are trading in is able to be delivered to them.  Motion carried unanimously.

10.  Adjourn:  Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn.  Mr.  Clattenburg seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Slade

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board January 3, 2012