TOWN OF RUTLAND
SELECT BOARD
Board members present: Stanley Rhodes III, Steven Hawley, Joe Dicton Jr. and James Hall
The
Meeting opened at 6:30 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
Mr.
Larry Dingee, of Dingee Machines, met with the Board regarding the purchase of
a new truck form Dingee machines. Mr. Dingee said the proposed contract is
similar to the past two contracts the Town has had with his company.
Mr.
Rhodes cited the fact the truck would be purchased from revenue in the Fire
Department Depreciation Fund and will have 1,500-gallon capacity. Mr. Rhodes
said the new truck would cost $161,048.00.
Mr. Rhodes read the payment schedule contained in the proposed Dingee contract.
Board members and Mr. Dingee discussed the purchase further.
Mr.
Dicton asked for clarification regarding town insurance coverage being placed
on the new truck while it is being constructed. Mr. Dingee said that by the
Town insuring the vehicle it would be covered even when it is being kept
outside his building. He said this is a grey area under his policy when a
vehicle is outside his building.
Mr.
Hall moved to enter into the contract presented by Dingee Machine and authorize
Mr. Rhodes to sign for the Board. Mr. Hawley made a second to the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
Mr.
Dicton made a motion to approve the minutes of 6-21-11 with corrections. Mr.
Hawley made a second to the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
Mr.
Tim Pockette told Board members he did not like the fact he was not personally
contacted and told the Select Board had dissolved the Town Recreation
Commission and replaced the Commission with a part-time director. Mr. Pockette
said he does not have a problem with the Board’s action but that he does have a
problem in the manner in which it was done.
Mr.
Rhodes told Mr. Pockette that he had contacted Mr. Jode Hall and requested he
contact Mr. Pockette and informed him of the Board’s action. Mr. Pockette and
Mr. Rhodes discussed the events of the previous meeting, in which the Board
voted to dissolve the Recreation Commission after holding an executive session.
Mr.
Pockette said he was across the hall when the Board came out of its executive
session and he said no one informed him of the Board’s action. Mr. Pockette and the Board reviewed recent
expenditures by the Recreation Commission.
Mr.
Pockette informed the Board that the sewer line at Dewey Field has been
mechanically snaked and jetted and that there is still a problem. Mr. Pockette
told the Board plumber Mr. Jim Manley has recommended that a camera be placed
in the line to determine the problem and fix it.
Town
Clerk & Treasurer: Ms. Marie Hyjek reported:
Solid
Waste Alliance Communities & Rutland Transportation Council: Mr. Shields
reported:
1. Told the Board that the Transfer Station attendants keep asking the status of electronic waste collection. Mr. Shields cited the fact he had left information at the Town office explaining what the Town is to collect. Town Administrator Mr. Joseph Zingale Jr. informed Mr. Shields that the Board voted at the previous meeting to stop collecting electronic waste and instead send the item to the Rutland County Solid Waste District on Gleason Road.
Town
Road Commissioner: Mr. Byron
Hathaway
The
Board discussed the proposed highway category changes. Mr. Zingale explained
that the Board had previously discussed the matter and took no action. Mr.
Zingale said there is no difference between categories 6 & 3 and only a
slight difference with category 4.
Mr.
Rhodes said he believes the requested changes have to do with cost shifting
away from the State to the Town. Mr. Zingale said the proposed changes have to
do with highway access management. The Board took no action.
Mr.
Rhodes questioned Mr. Hathaway regarding a recent pay-rate increase for
roadside mower Mr. Fred Nicholson. Mr. Rhodes cited the fact Mr. Nicholson was
hired two years ago at a rate of $55.00
per hour and that his rate went to $65.00
per hour in 2010. Mr. Rhodes said Mr. Nicholson’s rate recently increased to $70.00 per hour.
Mr.
Rhodes told Mr. Hathaway that the Board generally sets pay rates and that the
Board was unaware of the most recent increase for Mr. Nicholson. Mr. Hathaway
cautioned Mr. Rhodes that the Town is walking on a very tight line when the
Town sets rates. Mr. Hathaway said the Town sets rates for the winter
contractors that work for the town.
He
said when the Town starts to set rates for contractors, that work for the town,
they may no longer be subcontractors and the town could be liable for their
actions. Mr. Hathaway said there is a fine line between what is a subcontractor
and an employee.
Mr.
Rhodes said the Board may need to put the work back out to bid. Mr. Hathaway
agreed. Mr. Hathaway told the Board he attempted to get a different contractor
to do the second cut but was unable because the contractor is not available.
Mr.
Dicton said he had spoken with Mr. Nicholson the previous day and that Mr.
Nicholson said his insurance cost rose significantly this year and that his
fuel cost also increased.
Mr.
Dicton said according to Mr. Nicholson Mr. Hathaway knew in the spring that Mr.
Nicholson was seeking a pay increase. Mr. Dicton said had Mr. Hathaway
discussed the matter with the Board the recent pay increase would not have been
a surprise. The Board discussed the matter further and no action was taken.
Mr.
Rhodes questioned Mr. Hathaway regarding the stockpiling of material at
Northwood Park. Mr. Rhodes said he is concerned with all of the truck traffic
in Northwood Park.
Mr.
Hathaway said it was Mr. Rhodes who suggested the Town stockpile material that
could be used to finish the unfinished ball field. Mr. Hathaway said he is
bringing in material suitable for screening. He said all other waste-material
is disposed near the particular work site.
Mr.
Hathaway said a new small road connecting the salt shed to the material
location would cut down on traffic or he could go back to stockpiling material
at the old covered bridge location.
Mr.
Dicton said it is a good idea to keep some material on hand and he said he does
not think the stockpile is out of control. Mr. Hall questioned Mr. Hathaway
regarding his plans for getting rid of all the wood and brush at the Transfer
Station.
Mr.
Hathaway said the material in question is not from the Highway Department but
rather from town residents. The Board and Mr. Hathaway discussed the matter
further and it was decided Mr. Zingale would contact the company that ground up
the wood material previously and get a price for removal. Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Hathaway discussed the
matter further and no action was taken.
Mr. Hathaway told the Board he planned to be
on vacation July 6, 7th and 8th.
Town Administrator: Mr. Joseph
Zingale reported:
Mr. Rhodes asked Mr.
Hathaway if he planned to apply for a Hazard Mitigation Grant. Mr. Hathaway
said raising the Post Road pump station manhole three feet upward should
qualify since it would prevent the station from flooding. He said he does not
have any roads that would qualify for funding.
Mr. Hall moved to accept the
proposal from Overhead Door as presented for $1,290.00.
Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr.
Rhodes said the expense would come out of the $125,000.00
for pool repairs.
The Board discussed renewing
the Town’s $1,325.00 membership to the
Rutland Regional Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Hall moved to approve the $1,325.00 chamber dues. Mr. Dicton made a
second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board discussed
purchasing the Marshall & Swift Cost Tables. Mr. Hawley moved to purchase
the Marshall & Swift computer Cost Tables for June 2011 to July 2012 for $231.85.
Mr. Dicton made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Rhodes read a thank you
letter from scholarship recipient Steven Hamilton.
Mr. Rhodes informed the
Board that as Town Health Officer he recently served notice to three properties
with unmaintained swimming pools. Mr. Rhodes said two of the three property
owners had contacted him and are working to take care of their pools. Mr.
Rhodes said he had not received a reply from one of the property owners.
The Board reviewed a
junkyard license request from Mac Steel and Equipment. Mr. Dicton moved to
approve the Mac Steel and Equipment request to operate a junkyard on the north
side of town for a time period of five years. Mr. Hall made a second to the
motion, the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Rhodes briefed the Board
regarding on-going Northwood Park pool repairs. Recreation Director, Mr. Mike
Rowe, told the Board the recent addition of a water booster tank has made a big
improvement in water pressure at the pool facility.
Mr. Rhodes opened Fuel bids
submitted to the Board. Mr. Rhodes said Pyrofax Energy bid $3.445 per gallon for 9000 gallons and Johnson
Energy bid $3.499 for 9000 gallons. Mr.
Rhodes cited the fact there was a 2-cent per gallon difference between Johnson
Energy and Pyrofax last year and that the Board decided to buy local and chose
Johnson Energy.
Mr. Hawley said the price
difference amounts to $50.00 over the
contract. Mr. Hawley moved to accept Johnson Energy’s price of $3.499. Mr. Hall made a second to the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Rhodes displayed the
resolution from the Vermont Legislature regarding the Town’s 250th
birthday. Mr. Rhodes said State Representative James McNeil presented him with
the plaque at the July 4th celebration. Mr. Rhodes extended a thank
you to Irene Hathaway and all the volunteers that put on the event.
Mr. Hawley moved to close
the meeting. Mr. Hall made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously.