TOWN OF RUTLAND
SELECT BOARD
Board members present: Stanley Rhodes III, Steven Hawley, James Hall, Joshua Terenzini and Joe Dicton Jr.
The
Meeting opened at 6:55 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
Mr.
Hall made a motion to accept the minutes of 3-15-11 with corrections. Mr.
Hawley made a second to the motion. The
motion passed by a vote of 4 to 0. Mr. Terenzini did not vote.
Questions
from the floor:
Town Clerk & Treasurer: Ms. Marie
Hyjek reported:
Mr.
Hawley moved to have Howards Fire Control do our emergency exits and other
emergency equipment inspection annually instead of quarterly. Mr. Terenzini
made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Solid Waste Alliance
Communities: Mr. Shields reported:
1. The next household hazardous waste collection is scheduled to take place in a couple of weeks. He suggested individuals clean out their basements and garages.
Rutland Regional
Transportation Council: Mr. Shields reported:
1. Cited the fact a federal rail official was in Rutland
recently regarding possible funding for the proposed western rail corridor
project.
2. Mr. Shields said the local Airport manager has said
the airport would still function if the federal subsidy is cut.
Regional Planning
Commission Mr. Fred Nicholson
reported:
Mr. Rod Cioffi met with the
Board regarding whether the Town Treasurer Office should adopt and use the
so-called Government Accounting Standards Board 34 (GASB) system of financial
management.
Mr. Cioffi said at some
point it would be a good idea for the Town to become GASB compliant. He said
there is no penalty for not being in compliance. He said the standards are
established so any town that uses GASB can be compared to another town,
anywhere that also uses GASB.
He said a lender could make
a determination on the credit worthiness of the Town based on a comparison with
other towns to determine what interest rate they will charge you. Mr. Cioffi
said the Vermont Bond bank does not care if a Town is GASB compliant.
Mr. Cioffi said the Board
would need to budget for a switch to GASB and would need at least two years to
become compliant. Mr. Rhodes said he thought it might make sense to begin to
become compliant now so as to avoid having more work to do to become compliant
in the future. Mr. Cioffi said the Town has a fair amount of work to do to
become compliant.
Mr. Rhodes asked if Mr.
Cioffi would be available to meet with a committee. Mr. Cioffi said he couldn’t
make a commitment at this time. Mr. Cioffi said he does not think the Town is
ill served by not being in compliance. Mr. Cioffi said the production of a
year-end report under GASB would be an extra cost to the Town. Mr. Cioffi said
Ms. Hyjek would need a week or more to prepare a report. The Board and Mr.
Cioffi discussed the matter further and took no action.
Road Commissioner: Mr. Byron
Hathaway reported:
Mr. Rhodes instructed Mr.
Hathaway to put up curb and leash your pet signs in residential neighborhoods
and Northwood Park.
Mr. Rhodes congratulated Mr.
Hathaway for achieving level 3 in the Road Scholar Program.
Mr. Nicholson suggested the
Board replace the regulatory signs before replacing street signs.
Fire Chief: Joseph Denardo reported:
Planning Commission: Mr. William Matteson reported:
1. Submitted a letter of resignation from the Planning Commission submitted by Mr. Richard Hoenes.
2. He said he is looking forward to working on the proposed zoning with the Select Board. Mr. Rhodes said he would schedule Mr. Mark Blucher to meet with the Select Board. Mr. Matteson said the Planning Grant is to work through any issues the Select Board may have with the proposed zoning document. Mr. Mattson said the Board could adopt the document this year and budget to administer next year.
3. Informed the Board the Commission would be meeting with VELCO officials regarding a proposed new building. Mr. Matteson said the Commission would also be reviewing a final subdivision and a lot line adjust. Mr. Matteson said the Commission would hold it’s organizational meeting on Thursday.
4. Mr. Matteson informed the Board that he and Mr. Howard Burgess recently attended an interactive television session regarding utilities trying to get permits in Towns. Mr. Matteson said the location was hard to find and that Mr. Andy Mc Kane was suppose to attend but may not have found the location. Mr. Matteson told the Board he felt the session was geared toward anti-development. Mr. Matteson said they give you a box of monkey wrenches so you can throw them into the works when necessary. Mr. Matteson said they were teaching us how to get what we can out of these businesses. He cited an example of a new power pole and making the utility hide the pole as best as possible with screening.
Police Department: Captain John Paul Faignant reported:
1. Reminded individuals to keep their windows rolled up
and their vehicle and home doors locked. He said people should keep valuable
items out of sight. Mr. Faignant said there has been and increasing number of
crimes along US Routes 4 & 7, including parking lots.
Mr. Rhodes said the Board
needs to authorize Mr. Faignant to handle officer Dumas’ accident with a
mailbox. Mr. Dicton said he is unaware of the matter. Mr. Hawley made a motion
to authorize John Paul Faignant to be the Board’s representative. Mr. Hall made
a second to the vote. The motion passed unanimously.
Recreation Commission: Mr. Jode
Hall reported:
1. Mr. Jason
Pillon, representing a men’s softball league, met with the Board and requested
permission to use the town’s two ball fields under the same terms as the
contract from last year. Mr. Pillon presented a contract for approval. He said
there were no issues last year. Mr. Rhodes said he was not aware of any
complaints.
Mr. Terenzini said he supports the application and that the league has been a
success. He cited the fact more than 100 individuals play in the league. Mr.
Dicton said the group would need to have insurance. Mr. Pillon said the insurance
would be in place prior to beginning play.
Mr. Rhodes asked if the conditions of the contract remain the same. Mr. Pillon
said everything is the same. Mr. Hall move to allow Jason’s softball team to
use the town facilities as they have in previous years.
Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Pillon asked how he should handle extending the season. Mr. Rhodes said Mr. Pillon should keep in touch with Mr. Jode Hall. Mr. Rhodes said as long as the softball league does not conflict with any Town programs they are good to go.
2. Mr. Hall said baseball registration took place the previous week and that the Town Hall would still accept application for one more week.
Town Administrator: Mr. Joseph
Zingale reported:
1. Informed the Board he had met with REDC, Rutland City, West Rutland and RRPC officials regarding a joint application for a $40,000.00 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to study the feasibility of extending either West Rutland or Rutland City water and sewer services into the Business Route 4 Center Rutland corridor. Mr. Zingale said the group would like the Rutland Town to be the lead applicant. Mr. Zingale said there is a 25% local match or $10,000.00 that would be paid by the three towns. Mr. Zingale said Town administrative time could count towards the Town’s portion of the local match. Mr. Rhodes cited the fact the Town had not budgeted any money for the proposed project. The Board discussed the matter and was in consensus the Town would be the lead applicant.
2. Inquired
if the Board wants to apply for a stormwater grant to help off set planned
stormwater work being discussed and coordinated with Mr. Andres Torizzo. Mr.
Zingale said the work with Mr. Torizzo could as much as $10,000.00. Mr. Zingale said Mr. Torizzo has also request a $500.00 budget to meet with State stormwater
officials in order to determine how much of their stormwater data the Town can
use verses paying Mr. Torizzo to collect the data.
Mr. Rhodes said Mr. Torizzo talked about creating an inventory as to what the
Town has in place as well as looking at erosion control throughout the troubled
Moon brook area. Mr. Rhodes said that according to Mr. Torizzo the Town needs
to slow down the storm flow and increase the base flow into the impacted
waterway. Mr. Rhodes said Mr. Torizzo
has suggested a $1,500.00 budget to give
the Board what we need to send to the State of Vermont. Mr. Rhodes said Mr.
Hathaway and Mr. Zingale would be assisting Mr. Torizzo. Mr. Rhodes recommended
that the Board approve a budget of up to $2,000.00.
Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Hathaway said the State might go easier on the Town if it
sees the Town being proactive. The Board and those in attendance discussed the
matter further and Mr. Hall moved to allow up to $2,000.00
to cover the initial $500.00 and then the
$1,500.00 work with Andres Torizzo. Mr.
Terenzini made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Informed the Board that the “City of Rutland” sign on US RT 4 East has not yet been removed. The Board discussed the matter and asked Mr. Hathaway to take care of getting the sign removed.
4. Reported liens had been placed on all the properties that are delinquent in their water or sewer payments. Mr. Zingale said he had released the lien on the U-Haul property because the bill had been paid in full.
5. Reported he had received prices from Vermont Roofing to repair either 10 or 100 slates. He said EZ Roofing did not submit a price as requested. The Board discussed the matter and decided to place an ad in the newspaper seeking a price to replace up to 100 slates.
6. Told the Board Mr. Shields needs to be reappointed to SWAC. Mr. Hawley made a motion to make Mr. Charlie Shields the Board’s SWAC representative and Fred Nicholson to be his alternate. Mr. Hall made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hawley made a motion to appoint Charlie Shields as the representative to the Rutland Regional Transportation Council and Mr. Nicholson as his alternate. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hawley moved to make Mr. Fred Nicholson the representative to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and Mr. Charlie Shields as his alternate. Mr. Hall made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
7. Presented a $9,300.00 contract proposal from Stantec for the spring and fall landfill monitoring. The Board discussed the matter and instructed Mr. Zingale to check with Mr. Greg Kepler and report back to the Board.
The Board discussed the
Hubbard Brothers Inc. metal box proposal. Mr. Rhodes read from the proposed
agreement. Mr. Rhodes said the Hubbards’ proposed two options. The first is a
60 / 40 split with the Town. The Hubbards would get 60% of the revenue from the
Box and the Town would get 40% and the Town would not be charged for freon
removal. The second option is for a 50 / 50 split with the Town and the Town
would be invoiced for freon removal per appliance.
Mr. Rhodes told the Board he had spoken with a representative of the Home and
Farm store and that they would provide freon removal for the Town. Mr. Dicton
said the Town has to work with someone that has an EPA certificate. Mr. Rhodes
said the Home and Farm store has a certificate. Mr. Dicton said the Town has to
be very cautious before signing an agreement. Mr. Dicton said the Town needs to
see the EPA certificate and a plan in place before going forward. Mr. Dicton
moved to go with the 50/50 price from the Hubbard Brothers and eliminate the
freon removal. Mr. Terenzini made a second to the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
The Board discussed a proposal from Johnson Energy to replace the heating oil tanks in Town Hall. Mr. Rhodes said he specified the tanks should be 330-gallon tanks. Mr. Dicton said he would like to see other proposals.
Mr. Rhodes said he didn’t think the Board wants different companies working in the furnace room. He cited the fact Johnson Energy has been servicing the furnace and treat the Town right with fuel oil. Mr. Terenzini said the Board could treat Johnson Energy as a preferred vendor.
Mr. Rhodes cited the fact that the Fire Department uses preferred vendors for its pagers and other equipment. Mr. Hall moved to go with the Johnson Energy proposal for the work as stated for $2,600.00. Mr. Terenzini made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Hawley moved to approve liquor license for the Manerie Family Enterprises (Ponderosa) and a tobacco license for Rockin Willies at the Diamond Run Mall. Mr. Terenzini made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Hall moved to go into executive session at 9:30 P.M. for discussion on the Gemeni Tax appeal and also to discuss the selection for the recreation maintenance position. Mr. Terenzini made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Rhodes declared the executive closed at 10:04 P.M. No action taken. Mr. Hall moved to close the meeting. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.