Selectboard Minutes 8-16-2022

Publish date: August 18, 2022

Selectboard Minutes 8-16-2022

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

AUGUST 16th, 2022

 

This meeting had a virtual attendance option available for anyone to join.

  • Meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance
  • Board members present Don Chioffi, Joe Denardo, Mary Ashcroft, Sharon Russell, and Kurt Hathaway
  • Members of the public present Jim Scholtz, Jacob Carringer, Allie Wenzl, Marcia Chioffi, Mike Delehanty, Robert Clark, Howard Burgess, Chris Howland, Lisa Sears

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for August 2nd:

Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Announcements

Selectwoman Ashcroft reminded everyone of the upcoming Town Wide Celebration on Saturday August 27th at 10AM.

Chairman Chioffi commented on a recent Rutland Town Seniors luncheon. There were some new people attending.

Question from the floor / Public Comment:

Jacob Carringer and Allie Wenzl were present to discuss an issue with a Town project occurring near and on their property at 1128 Town Line Road. Mr. Carringer presented pictures of the issues they are experiencing and read a prepared statement. The Highway Committee is planning to meet on the morning of August 17th at the project site to discuss these, and other concerns. A signed easement, from the previous property owner, allowing work on the property has not yet been located, but is being looked for. Mr. Carringer and Ms. Wenzl plan to attend the onsite meeting in the morning. Commissioner Sears spoke with former Town Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway. Mr. Hathaway said he had mailed easement paperwork to the property owners who would be affected by the project and had expected them to be sent back to Town Hall. He could not say if they were sent in. Protecting the water supply to the house, which is a spring, is a primary concern. Robert Clark, from Otter Creek Engineering, discussed the history of the project, including discussions with the previous property owner, which began in 2019 and continued into 2021. Applications for permits were submitted in 2021, and Mr. Clark assumed the easements had been secured. Funding was not received until 2022. There are some restoration activities planned to address concerns and more will be discussed at the meeting. It was not understood that the spring was a drinking water source for the property. The house does not have a well on it. There is a historical easement for a well on an adjacent property.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

  1. Cheney Hill Lane has been paved and the shoulder work is done. The resurfacing addressed the runoff issue, and it was tested to ensure it performed as expected.
  2. The next round of roadside mowing is underway.
  3. Discussed the timeline of hiring someone to replace Walt once he retires. Discussed hiring someone sooner, and the impact on the budget. There may be a deficit but it should come close since the new person will not have the same rate of pay Walt does. Several applications have been received and interviews are being conducted.
  4. Shoulder work on Quarterline Road has been completed. Residents in the area are happy with it.
  5. Additional signs will be erected in the city notifying drivers of the Town Line Road closure.
  6. The City DPW has located the valve for the Post Road water line. It is anticipated a connection can be made this week.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

  1. The new truck has arrived, and work is continuing to get it in service. Some training needs to be done before it will be ready, but it will be soon. Discussed the approval for the final payment, which is in the orders. After some discussion, Chief Clark said the truck is complete and payment can be made.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

  1. A map has been created showing the river corridors in Town, from the discussion at the previous Board meeting. It will be available for Board members to review at the next meeting. The benefit of having river corridor management is the town would be eligible for reimbursement for federally declared disasters for up to 92.5% of eligible costs up from 87.5% without it. A river corridor is the land adjacent to a river that allows it to be in equilibrium and includes some erosion areas. There are new FEMA flood maps coming out, which will be more accurate and are expected in the next 2 years. This can be included as part of the ordinance. There is some model language for an ordinance available for towns without zoning. Someone who specializes in this field will be invited to a future Board meeting.
  2. The energy survey is ready for the Town Wide Celebration and Commission members will be there to present it to residents.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

  1. There was approximately 27% voter turn out for the recent primary election.
  2. Discussed funding options for future invoices for the new Public Safety Building. The $30,000 set aside from the settlement funds is nearly exhausted. After some discussion, the balance of the bond funds from the Center Rutland Fire Station will be used then it will be the ARPA funds. Discussed starting the process to apply for bond funds for construction. Discussed what amount to be bonded, this would be the amount approved on the March ballot.
  3. Discussed the process of the recent election. There was a new setup at the school and both locations had new tabulators. Everything went fairly well, and the poll works likes the new setup at the school.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

  1. The last day the pool will be open for the season is the day of the Town Wide Celebration. It will be closed and covered the following day.
  2. The payment for the fees related to the Act 250 amendment request for the Northwood Park mountain biking trails has been made.
  3. Work on the playground will be done this Monday and it will look great for the Town Wide Celebration.
  4. The pickle ball courts have been very popular. Several groups are using it regularly.
  5. The pool was closed last Sunday from 1PM to 4PM to host a special event for the Castleton football team. They had a cookout and games for the group. It went very well.
  6. Discussed the plan to hold a naming contest for the Town plow trucks. A poster is needed to highlight the contest. Someone is needed to design and draw it.
  7. Delivery for the new zero-turn mower is scheduled for mid-September. The old walk behind mower will be advertised for sale soon.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

  1. Recent calls for service, and statistics for calls year over year were provided and discussed.
  2. A police committee meeting is needed to discuss some topics for the constables. After some discussion, it will be warned for Monday August 22nd at 9AM.
  3. Training was completed recently for active shooter scenarios, and Officer Schermerhorn completed additional training as well.
  4. Several businesses have invested in additional security and surveillance for their properties, and it has made a big difference in being able to identify individuals.

John Paul Faignant Town Health Officer / 2nd Constable / Public Safety Building Clerk

  1. Several complaints of bed bugs are being dealt with currently at a housing complex, but the problem seems to be limited to 1 or 2 units.
  2. There have been some issues at the Cortina Inn, but they have been able to be resolved with a phone call at this point.
  3. Work towards being ready to put the new Public Safety Building out to bid continues.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

  1. Presented a land use permit comment request. It is for 654 US Route 4 East. They are looking to connect to the Alpine Pipeline. Comments from the Board are likely unnecessary.
  2. Provided pictures from the resident on West Elbern Avenue who came to the board with a parking complaint at a previous meeting.
  3. We were notified our grant application for construction of the Route 7 North sidewalk project was not accepted. We will get feedback on our application and can reapply in a future funding opportunity.
  4. Tractor Supply has sent us the check for their sewer discharge allocation application. The application is now complete. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the request. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  5. Provided copies of the personnel policy with comments and suggestions included from the last meeting.

Committee meeting updates:

  1. Plans are moving forward for the Town Wide Celebration. Many of the items and events planned have been confirmed and it should be a great event.

Commission Sears followed up with the Board on their request to have him be appointed to the Transportation Advisory Council. Commissioner Sears said he would accept the appointment. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to appoint Dave Sears as the TAC representative. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

A meeting of the group working on the County dispatch system was held recently. Sheriff Fox has agreed to work on the grant funding. There have been some challenges with state level committees. There are still some details for the grant still being worked out.

Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to recess the meeting. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion.

The meeting recessed at 7:46 PM.

The meeting resumed at 8:02 PM.

Old Business Review of the new Personnel Policy draft with changes and topics needing discussion

  1. Discussed the comments and suggestions included from the VLCT review as well as other meetings for all the various sections not previously decided on.
  2. VLCT very recently provided updated guidance documents, including new acknowledgement pages. One for non-elected employees and another for elected officials. The 2 acknowledgement pages were read, and changes were discussed.
  3. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to adopt the Personnel Policy as amended tonight, including the new acknowledgement pages provided by VLCT. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. After a discussion on ensuring elected officials who are paid as salaried employees earn time off benefits, no changes were made. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  4. The effective date of this policy will be August 16th, 2022.

Discussed the Litigation Committee for the Cortina Inn matter. Town Counsel suggested no more than 2 Board members should be on the committee, this ensures there is not a quorum. Chairman Chioffi and Selectwoman Russell are the primary members, and Selectwoman Ashcroft is an alternate. The first meeting is scheduled for August 17th. Selectwoman Ashcroft asked more notice be given on scheduled meetings, given she is an alternate.

Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session for pending litigation. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded motion. The motion passed unanimously. The board entered executive session at 8:56 PM.

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:06 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

 
Don Chioffi, Chair
  
Joseph Denardo, Clerk
 
Mary Ashcroft
 
Sharon Russell
 
Kurt Hathaway

 

Center Rutland, VT.

Rutland Town News

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