TOWN OF RUTLAND

SELECT BOARD

MINUTES: January 14, 2014

Board members present: Stanley F. Rhodes III, Steve Hawley and John Paul Faignant

The Meeting opened at 6:34 P.M.

All rose for the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag.

Mr. Faignant moved to approve the December 30, 2013 minutes as presented. Mr. Hawley made a second to the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 3 to 0. Mr. Dicton abstained from the vote.

Clerk & Treasurer: Ms. Marie Hyjek reported:

1. Told the Board the Town Office will be closed on the 20^th of January for Martin Luther King day.

Regional Planning Commission Mr. Fred Nicholson reported

1. Not present

Town Road Commissioner: Mr. Byron Hathaway reported:

1. Informed the Board that the Town is getting bye despite the road salt shortage. Mr. Hathaway told the Board that there is about 50 tons of salt in the shed. He said the 50 tons is about 50 % of the Town capacity.
   
   Mr. Hathaway told Board members that he has over 100 tons on order, which should arrive in the next few days. Mr. Rhodes asked if the Town had repaid West Rutland for the salt which the Town received from West Rutland. Mr. Hathaway said he has not yet delivered the seven yards of salt he recently received from West Rutland.

2. He informed the Board regarding a couple of recurring road icing problems on Wynnridge Drive and Colonial Estates. Mr. Hathaway said due to the many freeze thaw cycles this winter he expects there will be many potholes to deal with in the spring. He informed the Board of a water problem at the intersection of Pinnacle Ridge Road and North Grove Street. Mr. Hathaway said the water does not drain well and that he recently had the Town Fire Department pump the water out of the road, to the other side of the street. He said the standing water is also causing an icing problem.
   
   Mr. Hathaway said a culvert under Pinnacle Ridge Road would take care of the problem. However, he said the water would dump onto private property. Mr. Hathaway questioned how he should proceed given the fact a new culvert will need to be installed. The Highway Committee will look at the location.

3. Informed the Board that he had conducted a work session regarding the proposed Post Road Sidewalk extension from the Town School to Northwood Park. He said there will be a public work session on January 23 at 7:00 PM at the Town School.

4. He inquired if the Board would have a problem with his joining a professional on-line social media group, as a Town official. Mr. Hathaway told the Board that he has received several request from area Linkedin members requesting that he join the group.

   Mr. Faignant said Linkedin is kind of like a professional's face-book. Mr. Dicton asked if the requests are addressed to Mr. Hathaway as an individual or as Road Commissioner. Mr. Hathaway said the requests are to the Town Road Commissioner. The Board had no problem with the request to join.

5. Mr. Hathaway informed the Board that in the future he plans to take a look purchasing an automated flagger. He said a VLCT equipment grant would cover part of the cost of such a device. Mr. Hathaway said he does not have anything in his current budget nor has he planned for such a purchase in his next budget.
   
   He said he would look to see if there might be 2 to 3 towns also interested is such a device. He said that VLCT would allow a joint purchase. Mr. Hathaway said such a device would be helpful verses using several flaggers spread along a long road. Mr. Rhodes said it is Mr. Hathaway's call regarding making the purchase. Mr. Faignant said Mr. Hathaway deserves a lot of credit for being able to work with surrounding Town and share equipment.
   
   
   

Planning Commission Chairman: William Matteson:

1. Not present

Transportation Council & SWAC: Mr. Charles Shields reported:

1. No meeting, no report. For both his SWAC and RRPC positions. Mr. Rhodes said either Mr. Hathaway or Mr. Zingale could fill in over the three month gap between the time Mr. Shields moves and when Mr. Nicholson returns to his seat on the RRPC.

Fire Chief: Mr. Frank Cioffi reported:

Police Chief Ed Dumas reported:

Recreation Director: Mr. Mike Rowe reported:

1. No meeting, no report.

Town Administrator: Mr. Joseph Zingale reported:

1. Informed the Board that Mr. Rob White and others from VTrans will attend the 2-11-14 meeting to discuss the Ripley Bridge. That Mr. Steve Remen of groSolar will also attend the 2-11-14 meeting and that the Board's Solar Facility Siting Standards amendment to the Town Plan will take place at 8:00 PM on 2-11-14.

2. Informed the Board that the State Transportation Board would like to if the Board plans to apply for a break in US RT 7 South at Farrell Road. Mr. Hawley moved to request the break in U.S. RT. 7 from AOT. Mr. Faignant made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

3. Informed the Board that the Town must begin collecting food waste by 2017. He said there is a company in Bennington, Vermont that will rent a 15 ton air tight container for $400.00, plus $275.00 per pull and $35.00 per ton for disposal charges.

4. Mr. Zingale informed the Board that he had placed a copy of the Town of West Rutland $97,000.00 loan application, regarding the planned Center Rutland Sewer and Water project. Mr. Zingale said so far 6 Rutland Town property owners have expressed their desired to connect to the new services. Mr. Zingale said at some point the Board will have to apply to the State of Vermont to build the lines in the State road right -of way.

5. Inquired as to whether the Board is interested in allowing other SWAC town to bring yard waste to the Rutland Town Transfer / Recycling station. The Board is not interested in participating. The Board discussed budgeting money next year to remove the wood waste at Northwood Park.

Former Town Fire Chief Mr. Joe Denardo met with the Board and distributed copies of the Town Fire Department Bylaws, which were recently compiled by a member in the department.

Mr. Denardo said the bylaws include all of the amendments that have been approved over the last 22 years. Mr. Denardo told the Board that all members in the department have received a copy of the bylaws.

Mr. Denardo also passed out copies of a list of “I.T.” requirements for the new station. Mr. Denardo told the Board that the bylaws require that a “bylaw committee” is elected each year. He said the membership is to include two Fire Department officers, two firemen and one select Board member. He said there job would be to review the bylaws.

Mr. Denardo said the new “I.T.” items would be purchased out of the reaming $7,200.00 is station funds. Mr. Rhodes said the matter was discussed months ago. Mr. Faignant made a motion to approve the request. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. Mr. Rhodes said the total amount is $7,735.43 The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Rhodes said the department's “I.T.” would do the installation work.

Mr. Denardo and the Board discussed a budget to purchase office furniture for the new Center Rutland Fire Station. Mr. Faignant encouraged Mr. Denardo to purchase chairs which are comfortable to sit on. Mr. Faignant made a motion to authorize up to $15,000.00 to purchase chairs and tables. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Denardo informed the Board that the new fire truck should be available by the end of the week. He said the department plans to move into the new station on Saturday. Mr. Denardo informed the Board that the two fire station will be connected to comcast for phone, internet and television services. He said the net result is that the department will save about $50.00 a month.

Mr. Denardo told the Board that as Fire Warden he will still be the individual issuing burning permits now that he is no longer Fire Chief. He said Assistant Fire Chiefs, Mr. Nick Denardo and Mr. Ben Hogan are also authorized to issue burning permits. Mr. Denardo said he has been the Town Fire Warden for 35 years.

Newly elected Town Fire Chief Mr. Frank Cioffi told the Board he would like to have Mr. Denardo continue to perform the Town Emergency Management Director duties and work out of the Fire Department. The Board agreed.

Mr. Denardo gave the Board a list of the recent Fire Department election results. Mr. Rhodes read the list of officers elected for 2014:

Frank Cioffi - Chief

Nick Denardo - Assistant Chief Station 1

Ben Hogan - Assistant Chief Station 2

Chris Clark - Captain Station 1

Mike Carlson - Captain Station 2

B.J. Hathaway - Lieutenant Station 1

David Riccard - Lieutenant Station 2

Craig Robideau - Safety Officer Station 1

Marty Wasserman - Safety Officer Station 2

Richard Sweet – Clerk

Paul Williams - Treasurer

Scott Kraus - Training Officer

Mr. Faignant made a motion to approve the list. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Rhodes presented Chief Cioffi with the Department's gold Chief's badge. Mr. Cioffi thanked Mr. Rhodes and the Board.

Mr. Faignant told those in attendance that over the past 25 to 30 years that he has watched Mr. Denardo and the Fire Department work countless hours and all the duties that went along with the time. Mr. Faignant credited Mr. Denardo with establishing the “equipment replacement fund”.

Mr. Faignant said that prior to Mr. Denardo's input there was a hodgepodge effort that was often very divisive in the department. He said Mr. Denardo was instrumental in allowing officers to command the fire grounds.

Mr. Faignant moved to name the new station the “Joseph J. Denardo Fire Station” and that a suitable sign designating it as the Joseph J. Denardo Fire Station be placed on the front of the building near the pedestrian entry way. He said we are blessed in this Town that we have someone like Frank Cioffi, with his vast experience and knowledge that will take the Fire Department to the next step along its path.

Mr. Faignant said the Rutland Town Fire Department is considered to be one of the best Fire department's in the county. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion.

Mr. Dicton said he first met Mr. Denardo in 1981 when he (Mr. Dicton) was a junior fireman. Mr. Dicton said he appreciates Mr. Denardo's dedication to the department. Mr. Dicton said it was Mr. Denardo who was instrumental in getting the new station off the ground and voter approved.

Mr. Hawley said it was been an honor to work with Mr. Denardo on the new station. He said they have spent a lot of time fighting fires and he thanked Mr. Denardo for those years.

Mr. Rhodes said Mr. Denardo set a good example when he weathered the storm last year, when politics reared its ugly head regarding the construction of the new station. Mr. Rhodes said Mr. Denardo had been very professional in his handling the matter.

The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Denardo thanked Mr. Faignant for his dedication. Mr. Denardo said he could not have done his job without a good crew of guys. He said the department has good followers and good leaders.

Mr. Denardo credited Mr. Faignant with the smooth transition in the change in leadership with the Fire department. Mr. Denardo said in 1992, when Mr. Faignant was elected to the Select Board, he (Mr. Faignant) wrote the amendment which allows the Fire Department membership to elect a chief and the Select Board to approve their choice.

Mr. Cioffi informed the Board of his Fire Fighting history. Mr. Cioffi told the Board that he has received advice from Mr. Denardo and cited the fact Mr. Denardo would be available to help him ( Mr. Cioffi) in the future.

Mr. Hawley reviewed packet correspondence. He questioned Mr. Zingale regarding a letter from the Town Storm water consultant. Mr. Zingale said he is in the process of scheduling a meeting to discuss the Randbury Road storm water project.

Mr. Hawley read the public notice for the Select Board Town Plan amendment hearing scheduled for February 11, 2014. Mr. Hawley read a letter from Mr. Don Marsh regarding his certification of the new water line connected to the new Joseph J. Denardo Fire Station.

Mr. Hawley reviewed town budget information. Mr. Hawley cited the fact an individual will not need to receive an Act 250 permit to operate a dog boarding business for up to 6 dogs from a residence off US RT 4 East.

Mr. Faignant moved to send a $100.00 donation request from the Dry Hydrants Program to the Fire Chief for his input. Mr. Hawley made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Hawley read the stats of the Rutland Town Police Department for the year of 2013.

Calls for service: 466

1. Chief Dumas: 98

2. Captain Washburn: 359

3. Officer Gamble: 9

Arrests: 17

1. Chief Dumas: 2

2. Captain Washburn: 15

3. Officer Gamble: 0

Motor Vehicle Stops: 129

Vermont Civil Violation Complaints (Tickets) Issued: 62

• Total Fine Amount : $13,842 dollars

The past two weeks

-Calls for service within the two week period: 24

- Total calls for the year: 24

-Types of calls assigned

Motor Vehicle Complaint, Traffic Hazard, Business / Residential Alarm, Parking Problem, Service of Abuse Prevention Order, Property Watch, Motor vehicle crash with bodily injuries, Citizen Dispute and Directed Patrol.

Closed Cases: 24

• Number of Arrests: 1

• What Types of Arrest: Petty larceny

• Motor Vehicle Stops: 13

• Vermont Civil Violation Complaints (Tickets) Issued: 4

• Total Fine Amount : $760.00 dollars

• Total number of Patrol Hours: 127.5

1. Chief Dumas: 36.5

2. Captain Washburn: 60

3. Officer Gamble: 31

Total number of Admin hours: 32

1. Chief Dumas: 12

2. Captain Washburn: 20

3. Officer Gamble: 0

Mr. Hawley read from page three of the town Planning Commission minutes regarding the fact that Mr. William Matteson, informed fellow Commissioners that they had received a revised and original copy of the Solar Facility Siting Standards in their packet for their meeting.

Mr. Hawley made a motion to accept the Marshall & Swift tables for the Listers of the Town of Rutland. Mr. Faignant made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Faignant moved to close the meeting at 7:50 P.M. Mr. Hawley made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.