Selectboard Minutes 10-25-2022

Selectboard Minutes 10-25-2022

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

OCTOBER 25^th, 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, Sharon Russell, and Kurt Hathaway
• Members of the public present Marcia Chioffi, Byron Hathaway, Shelley Dumas, Howard Burgess, Jim Scholtz

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Announcements

Chairman Chioffi discussed the need to appoint a liaison from the Selectboard to the School Board. After a brief discussion, Selectwoman Russell will serve as the Board liaison.

Questions from the floor / public comment

Terry Williams, who is running for the Vermont Senate was present. Mr. Williams discussed his candidacy and goals with the Board. Chairman Chioffi thanked Mr. Williams and stated any candidate running for office is welcome to come and address the Board. Selectwoman Russell shared her concerns with the status of unemployment in the State and the lack of support for our Police officers.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for October 11^th:

Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The budget draft is done, and numbers have been sent in. It is level funded from last year.
2. A new grill was purchased for the pool and delivered.
3. The Halloween party is this Friday from 5PM to 630PM at the Town School. There are games designed by the 8^th grade students and Aaron Audet will be playing live music outside.
4. Mowing is done for the season.
5. The nets at the parks will be taken down soon.
6. Water will be shut off this week.
7. Basketball sign-up forms are available on the website now.
8. The permit from Act 250 was approved for the mountain bike trails to be built. Trail construction will begin in the spring.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided and reviewed.
2. Most retail thefts reported are being solved due to the presence of officers in the plaza.
3. Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again.
4. The time and expenses related to the special patrols in the plaza are being accounted for separately.
5. Discussed the recent joint Police and Fire Committee meeting.
   1. Funding the new dispatch service was a major topic.
   2. The estimate for our Town is between $150,000 and $175,000 and it is recommended to be included in the general fund and not the separate department budgets.
   3. There was an extensive discussion on funding this service. No decisions were made.

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

1. The architect for the new Public Safety Building has said bid specifications should be ready in the next couple of weeks.
2. A cat bite was reported to him recently. This is the first one he has had reported to him.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. There have been 5 calls for service in the past 2 weeks.
2. The pumps were recently tested, and all passed.
3. Fire prevention is this week. Members went to a daycare in Center Rutland and will be going to the Town School on Thursday.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. The chipper had a part malfunction and is not working correctly. The part needed is backordered until January.
2. We were recently awarded grant funds for a compactor. Our contribution is a 20% match.
3. Two culverts were recently replaced on East Pittsford Road near Sand Hill Circle.
4. Winter road maintenance plans are in place. We have a contract with the Hubbard’s again this year. Radios have been added to our system for them to use.
5. We received a price of $97 per ton of [treated] salt for this year. It is up from $80.31 last year. Another vendor was contacted, and their price was well above this price. We average 1500 tons per season which would come to approximately $145,000. Our budget for the year is $120,000.
6. The small shed with the salt/sand mix for residents has been repaired and is ready.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Discussed the upcoming election.
   1. Voters who would like to vote in person at their polling place are asked to bring the ballot that was mailed to them to use. Voters who come without this ballot will need to sign an affidavit stating they have not voted using the mailed ballot.
2. Based on recommendations from our Town auditor, we need to establish a policy on using funds from the depreciation and capital improvement accounts. There are no previous policies on these topics that we are aware of. This will be added to the next agenda.
3. Discussed how funds received from the settlement with the Cortina Inn can be allocated to the Police Department specifically.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. The next meeting of the Planning Commission is this Thursday.
2. The Energy survey is out, and it has been advertised in several places. Encouraged everyone to complete it.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Reminder that the next Board meeting will be on Monday November 7^th to accommodate the election.
2. Spoke to Oscar Garcia regarding our landfill testing costs. Our request to the state for sampling once a year is expected to be approved and should reduce the annual costs. We were told the sampling requirements going forward will require a more expensive test. After discussion, the budget for testing will be left the same and after a year with the new testing requirements adjustments can be made.
3. Provided documents for payment authorizations and the Certificate of Substantial completion for the Town Line Road culvert replacement. Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the documents and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
4. Provided the updated Credit Card Policy with all the changes incorporated. Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the policy. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
5. Some of the committee meetings coming up may be available remotely by Microsoft Teams instead of zoom. This will be a test. Depending on how it goes, all meetings in the future may be on Teams.
6. Discussed the policy that was drafted regarding signs on Town owned land. It has been pending for some time. After a lengthy discussion, an effort will be made to establish this, in conjunction with the School Board, prior to petitions for local elections being due.

New Business: Board to meet with the Delinquent Tax Collector to discuss possible tax sales

1. Presented the Board with a list of properties which qualify to be put up for tax sale.
2. None of these properties have a municipal water or sewer connection.
3. Gary Kupferer is the preferred attorney for the sale. A 15% fee is the maximum an attorney can charge but does not necessarily cover all the costs. Some of the properties have a low value which does not fully cover the attorney fees.
4. Discussed postponing any decisions until the full Board can discuss the matter.
5. Chairman Chioffi asked for the properties which have the low value to fee ratio to be specifically identified.
6. Discussed the transition after Mr. Scholtz resigns the position. The personnel committee will meet to discuss this.

Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session for pending litigation. Selectman Hathaway seconded motion. The motion passed unanimously. The board entered executive session at 7:59 PM.

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Selectman Denardo moved to adjourn. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

Don Chioffi, Chair

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

ABSENT

Mary Ashcroft

Sharon Russell

Kurt Hathaway

 

Center Rutland, VT.