TOWN OF RUTLAND
SELECT BOARD
Board members present: Stanley Rhodes III, Steve Hawley, Jim Hall, John Paul Faignant and Joe Dicton
The
Meeting opened at 6:30 P.M.
All rose for The Pledge of Allegiance to the
United States Flag.
Town
Administrator Mr. Joseph Zingale Jr., opened the floor to nomination for
Chairman of the Select Board. Mr. Hawley nominated Mr. Rhodes as Chairman. Mr.
Faignant made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr.
Rhodes opened the floor to nomination for Board Clerk. Mr. Faignant nominated
Mr. Hawley. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed
unanimously. Mr. Rhodes thanked Mr. Hall for his time serving as Board Clerk.
Questions
from the floor:
Students
from the forth grade at the Town Elementary School presented the Select Board
with a copy of their “Blast to the past, Fly to the Future” Rutland Town Book,
which was prepared by the forth grade class. The students explained they made
the book to celebrate the Town’s 250th birthday.
The
students said they also learned about the Town by visiting different people
& places in our community. The students said they also learned about
photography and how to edit pictures. The students told the Board they also
drew pictures and maps of the different placed they visited around Town. The
students thanked the community for all their support for the project.
Mr.
Hall moved to approve the 2-28-12 minutes with corrections. Mr. Hawley made a
second to the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 4 to 0. Mr. Faignant
abstained from the vote.
Mr.
Rhodes read an invitation the Board received to attend the Eagle Scout Court of
Honor for Mr. Andrew S. Burd at 7:00P.M on April 21, 2012 at the Grace
Congregational Church.
Mr.
Hall read a proclamation he wrote on behalf of Mr. Burd.
Mr.
Rhodes congratulated and welcomed Mr. John Paul Faignant to the Board.
Town
Clerk & Treasurer: Ms. Marie Hyjek reported:
The
Board reviewed the US RT 7 South Sunoco’s application for a liquor and tobacco
license. Mr. Rhodes told Board members that Chief John Sly had reviewed the
application and that there are no problems.
Mr.
Dicton moved to sign and accept the liquor & tobacco license for Sandri US
RT 7 South Sunoco. Mr. Hall made a second to the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Mr.
Rhodes congratulated Ms. Hyjek on her recent reelection.
Solid
Waste Alliance Communities & Rutland Transportation Council: Mr. Shields
reported:
Town
Road Commissioner: Mr. Byron
Hathaway reported:
1.
Told the Board that
used chippers are selling for $9,000.00
to $20,000.00. Mr. Rhodes told Mr. Faignant that Mr. Hathaway is pricing out new
and used chippers because the shared chipper with Mendon needs to be replaced.
Mr. Rhodes said there is $133,000.00 in
the Highway Depreciation Fund.
Mr. Hathaway said he could get a new identical chipper for $30,600.00. He said the warranty is only for two
years. Mr. Hathaway said he can also get a new 2008 model chipper complete with
warranty for $26,500.00. Mr. Hathaway said the chipper for $26,500.00 is a drum chipper verses a disk
chipper. Mr. Hathaway said the drum chipper is best suited for the type work
done by the Town and Mendon. Mr. Hathaway said he and Mendon agreed to purchase
the Bandit drum chipper at a cost of $32,900.00.
Mr. Rhodes said purchasing with Mendon would split the cost.
Mr. Rhodes asked Mr. Hathaway if the Town uses the chipper enough to buy a new
chipper. Mr. Hathaway said it would cost $3,600.00
a month to rent a chipper. Mr. Hathaway recommended the Board vote to purchase
the $32,900.00 with the Town of Mendon.
Mr. Rhodes asked if the Town has any place to store the chipper inside. Mr.
Hathaway said he does not have any space to store the equipment inside. Mr.
Hathaway said Mendon would also store the chipper outdoors. Mr. Hathaway said
the Town would get $1000.00 for the old
chipper. Mr. Dicton asked if there is room at the Transfer Station to store the
chipper. Mr. Hathaway said the chipper could be parked from time to time in the
space where the snowplow is parked inside. Mr. Dicton said he would like to see
a new chipper under cover.
Mr. Hathaway said there have been no problems or issues co-owing the chipper
with Mendon. Mr. Faignant said it is a win-win for both towns. Mr. Hathaway
cited the fact there is a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Mendon
for the chipper. Mr. Hathaway will check into a custom tarp to cover the
equipment.
Mr. Faignant made a motion to authorize the purchase as recommended by the Town
Road Commissioner. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. Mr. Hathaway said
the Town would be purchasing a Bandit Model 990 XP 12” drum style chipper,
purchase price of $32, 970.56. The motion
passed unanimously.
2.
Informed the Board he
has received the draft Otter Creek Basin Plan. Mr. Hathaway emphasized the
document is not a regulatory document rather a planning guide.
Mr. Hall asked Mr. Hathaway if he had received any
information regarding maintenance of the Cold River Road railroad crossing. Mr.
Hathaway said he had no information.
Regional
Planning Commission Mr. Fred
Nicholson reported:
He
reported doing business as usual.
Planning
Commission: William Matteson
1.
Welcomed Mr. Faignant
to the Board
2.
Will hold a zoning
information meeting on 3-15-12. He told the Board that staff from the Rutland
Regional Planning Commission would be present at the meeting.
Recreation
Director: Mike Rowe reported:
1.
Baseball registration
is ongoing
2.
Inquired regarding
hiring summer maintenance personnel
3.
Informed the Board the
big tractor needs new tires. He said the tires would cost $1,300.00 to $1,400.00
Mr. Dicton moved for the Recreation Director to spend
approximately $1,500.00 to get new tires
for the tractor for the spring. Mr. Hall made a second to the motion. Mr.
Rhodes said the money would come from the depreciation account. The motion
passed unanimously.
Mr. Rhodes opened the paving bids.
Wilk Paving $495,618.10
Frank W Whitcomb $532,444.75
Fuller Sand & Gravel $499,073.00
Pike Industries $527,055.95
Peckham Road Corp $611,191.22
Mr. Hathaway said the Town has used both of the top
two paving companies. He said the Town has had good luck with the two top
paving companies. Mr. Steve Wilk said the way the Town bid the work is the
fairest way to do so.
Mr. Dicton said he would like Mr. Hathaway to verify
that all of the contractor paper work is in order prior to the Board voting to
select a bid. Mr. Faignant moved to accept the Wilk bid as the low bid. Mr.
Hall made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board discussed relocating the Post Road Pump
Station electrical panel. Mr. Rhodes said the price from Stantec is over $200,000.00. Mr. Rhodes cited the fact the Town
has been working with Stantec (Dufresne Henry) for many years. Mr. Dicton said
he would like to put the work out to bid. Mr. Faignant said it would be good to
check and make sure we are getting a good price.
Mr. Dicton moved to put out to bid the engineering
for the panel relocation at the corner of US RT 7 and Post Road. Mr. Faignant
made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board considered an additional sewer allocation
in the amount of 420 gallons for the proposed KIA dealership. Mr. Hawley moved
to approve the 420-gallon request. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The
motion passed unanimously
The Board considered a request to change the Street
name Robert Place to Sawmill Hill Place. Mr. Zingale told the Board that the
individual making the request does not have a telephone landline but rather
only has a cell phone. Mr. Zingale said if there were confusion regarding her
street, the emergency responders would not be able to pinpoint here location.
Both Mr. Zingale and Mr. Rhodes recommended the street name be changed.
Mr. Faignant moved to change the street name to
Sawmill Hill Place. Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Mr. Rhodes cited the fact that the voters approved
the $9,000.00 Fire Department request by
131 votes. Mr. Rhodes told Board members that he has prepared a RFP for the
proposed Center Rutland Fire Station renovations. Mr. Rhodes read the RFP he
prepared.
Mr. Rhodes cited the fact the $9,000.00 would not be available until July 1st.
Mr. Rhodes said he wrote the notice to make sure the proper process is
followed. He said anybody that is an arm’s length away from any of the
architects that are going to be bidding or any of the construction people;
stand back and just let it take its course.
Mr. Rhodes said Mr. Hall and Mr. Hawley would stay on
the Fire Committee. Mr. Rhodes asked Mr. Hall to spearhead the RFP process. Mr.
Hall said after an architect is selected the process of getting specific
building plans would begin.
Mr. Rhodes cited his time on the Regional Recreation
Committee and said the various architects made presentation with plans and graphs
at no cost to the Committee because they wanted the job.
Mr. Rhodes asked Ms. Hyjek how much money is left in
the building maintenance account for the Town Hall. Ms. Hyjek said there is $18,000.00 in the account. Mr. Rhodes cited the
fact the $18,000.00 would pay for the new
windows to be installed.
Mr. Hall moved to reappoint the following
individuals:
Weigher of coal Israel Mac
Fence Viewers Fredrick Nicholson, Marshall B
Fish, Charles Hemenway
Tree Warden Fredrick Nicholson
Pound keeper Paul Williams
Inspector of Wood Byron
R Hathaway
Jerry Stearns Planning Commission
Mr. Faignant made a second to the motion. The motion
passed unanimously.
Fire
Chief: Joseph Denardo reported:
1. Submitted an application for membership in the Town Fire department from Rutland City resident Ms. Billy Jo Leonard. Mr. Denardo said Ms. Leonard has experience with the Towns of Grandville and Randolph Center and is a graduate of the Fire program at Vermont Technical Center. Mr. Denardo said Ms. Leonard would be assigned to the Center Station. Mr. Dicton moved to approve Ms. Billy Jo Leonard’s application to the Fire Department. Mr. Hall made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Thanked the voters for support for the Fire Budget.
3. Mr.
Rhodes read the RFP he wrote for the Center Station work. Mr. Denardo cited the
fact he had submitted a list of six items he would like included in the RFP
notice. Mr. Rhodes said he left the six items out of his notice because the
items would be considered during the bidding process. Mr. Rhodes said he did
not want to include information that was submitted by one of the bidders.
Mr. Rhodes cited his time on the Regional Recreation Committee and how the
Committed did not spend any money preparing plans because the various bidders
were hungry to get the project. Mr. Denardo and Board members discussed whether
to required only bidders with previous Fire Station work. Mr. Hawley said by
not including the requirement the Town might get more bids that it other wise
would. He said it should be fairly easy to determine which bidders have
previous experience.
4. Mr. Denardo inquired as to where reimbursement money is placed after being collected by the Fire Department. Mr. Rhodes said the money is used to reduce taxes. Mr. Denardo asked if some of the money could be place in the depreciation account. Mr. Faignant said the department’s line items should be reimbursed to cover cost and the rest of the money should go to reduce taxes.
5. Chief Denardo told the Board that the Fire Department had an incident on Oak Ridge Drive and that there was confusion due to the house numbering and the Street name. Mr. Denardo encourage the Board to reverse their recent decision to allow a private road to not end in the word “Place” and to address the homes per the Town’s addressing system. Mr. Zingale said the Select Board chose not to listen to the Town Police Chief, the Town Fire Chief and himself, the Town 911 Coordinator when it voted to name the private road “Oak Ridge Dr” and not change the house numbers. Mr. Rhodes said he was the lone ranger and voted to oppose other Board members. The Board will discuss the Chief’s request at the next meeting. Mr. Hawley cited the fact all of the homes are on the private road and not on Atwood Drive.
6. The Chief cautioned individuals to be careful when burning outdoors due to the dryness and winds.
Town
Administrator: Mr. Joseph Zingale reported:
1.
Informed the Board he
is going to have the Highway crew re-brick several manholes in Flory Heights.
Mr. Zingale said the Highway crew had repaired a manhole on Post Road
previously and did a good job.
2.
Told the Board the Town
had spent $560.00 to have Giancola
Construction replace the chimney lid on the top of the Town Hall, which had
blown off. Mr. Zingale said the Town paid an additional $275.00 by keeping the lift vehicle an extra day
in order to use it to replace the security lights on the Town Hall.
The
Board and Mr. Hathaway discussed summer roadside mowing. Mr. Rhodes informed
Mr. Hathaway that he had deleted the $500.00
a day penalty from the proposed contract. Mr. Rhodes said he did not think the
penalty is necessary Mr. Hathaway said there is no sense in having “deadline”
to get things done if there is no penalty.
Mr.
Rhodes asked if the penalty was necessary in the past. Mr. Hathaway said it had
not been with the exception of last year when Mr. Fred Nicholson was not able
to complete the mowing when Mr. Hathaway wanted it completed. Mr. Hathaway said
Mr. Nicholson over booked himself and was not able to complete the work when
Mr. Hathaway wanted it done.
Mr.
Nicholson said he did not disagree with Mr. Hathaway. Mr. Nicholson cited a
contract he had with the State of Vermont for mowing as the reason he could not
complete his town mowing on schedule.
Mr.
Rhodes asked Mr. Hathaway for the proposed roadside mowing pay rate. Mr.
Hathaway said he did not set a rate because of the risk that my setting a rate
the contractor (selected) would be more an employee rather than contracted. Mr.
Hathaway said typically when you put something out for proposal you do not set
the rate.
Mr.
Rhodes asked Mr. Hathaway how pay for the snowplow drivers is handled. Mr.
Hathaway said the matter has been a grey area for fifty years. Mr. Hall asked
how Mr. Hathaway pays summer contractors.
Mr.
Hathaway said he is billed at their rates and if he does not like their rates
they do not get hired. Mr. Nicholson told the Board he has no problem with the
Town’s proposed roadside mowing contract.
Mr.
Hall moved to hire Mr. Fred Nicholson for the agreed rate for the coming
roadside mowing season from June 1st to October 20th. Mr. Hall agreed to amend his request to make
the hiring of Mr. Nicholson per the contract prepared by Mr. Hathaway. Mr.
Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously
Police
Department: Chief John Sly reported:
Not
present.