Selectboard Minutes 11-22-2022

Publish date: November 28, 2022

Selectboard Minutes 11-22-2022

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

NOVEMBER 22nd, 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, Mary Ashcroft, Sharon Russell, and Kurt Hathaway
  • Members of the public present Byron Hathaway, Robyn Sweet, Victor Tumielewicz

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for October 25th

Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0 with Selectwoman Ashcroft abstaining from the vote.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for November 7th

Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for November 15th

Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the minutes. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion.  The motion passed 3 – 0.

Announcements

Selectwoman Russell thanked the Board for the gift basket sent to her husband who is recovering from surgery.

Chairman Chioffi discussed a meeting held several weeks ago at the Cortina Inn between the owners, Chairman Chioffi and Police Chief Ed Dumas, during which an overdose was reported, at the Cortina Inn. Chairman Chioffi discussed the situation and the professionalism the responding officers exhibited. Each Town Police Department member was presented with a Thin Blue Line pin to recognize their service.

New Business Board to meet with Lyle Jepsen and Olivia Lyons from CEDRR

The Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region Executive Director Lyle Jepson and Communications Director Olivia Lyons discussed with the Board the regional marketing initiatives which have been bringing new residents to the area from different parts of the country. The appropriation funding from the Town is equal to $1 per Town resident. Currently this is just over $4000. There are plans for more programs coming and they will communicate them to us as they develop.

Questions from the floor / Public Comment

Victor Tumielewicz, from Quarterline Road discussed with the Board his concerns about his driveway since Quarterline Road was paved earlier this season. Mr. Tumielewicz is concerned about the approach on his driveway since the repaving. After a discussion with the Road Commissioner, the issue will be evaluated in the spring to come up with a remedy.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

  1. The second installment of our Local Option Tax was received today, and a report was provided to Board members. Based on the first 2 payments, it is anticipated we will exceed our estimate on the full year amount we could receive.
  2. Provided an update on the recent election.
    1. Approximately 65% of eligible residents voted, around 1200 voted absentee.
    2. The results were provided to the Secretary of State on time, and the results were made available at the office and online.
    3. There was a tie in the Justice of the Peace race. One of the people running withdrew from the race. Official results will be made available soon.
    4. There will be a recount involving District #2. Our role will be to bring the ballots to the County Court House along with a tabulator. Court staff is organizing and completing the recount.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

  1. Thanked the Board members for the gift basket sent to him while he is recovering from a recent surgery. His recovery is going well.
  2. The new mower has been delivered.
  3. The next senior luncheon will be at the Town School in December and will be for the Christmas holiday.
  4. The basketball program will start soon and the ice rink at the school will be put up soon,

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

  1. Reviewed a recent meeting held with Green Mountain Power regarding the Pocket Park. The project may be removed from their application for relicensing of the dam, but they remain committed to helping the project be developed. They will assist with completing an archaeological resource assessment. Once that is completed, they will proceed with legal agreements.
  2. The energy survey is still getting responses, it is up to 52 responses and is still available to be taken.
  3. The Commission is working on updating their rules of procedure as well as working on updating the Subdivision Ordinance.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

  1. There have been 14 calls for service so far this month, and approximately 160 for the year.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

  1. The salt shed is approximately half full with more coming soon.
  2. The City of Rutland DPW sent an email about sidewalk maintenance on the South end of Town for this coming season. Due to the large proposed increase in their rate, it was decided the Town will take over the maintenance.
  3. The road maintenance went very well for the first storm of the season.
  4. Work on the shared use path will be done as long as the weather holds out.

Ted Washburn Rutland Town Deputy Police Chief:

  1. Recent calls for service were provided and reviewed.
  2. There have been 151 calls and 57 traffic stops in the last 4 weeks. A majority of calls are still on the South end of Town.
  3. There have been some changes with the loss prevention practices at Home Depot. They are putting a dedicated loss prevention person in place to help combat the losses they are experiencing.
  4. Provided a quote from Motorola / Watchguard for a new body camera system for the entire Police Department. The current cameras have reached the end of their useful life. A grant application for new cameras was unsuccessful.
    1. This proposal is for a 5-year contract.
    2. The up-front cost is $13,000 which includes the new equipment and training. Subsequent years cost $6144 each year for 4 years.
    3. This proposal reduces our up-front costs significantly, and moves the storage of videos to a cloud-based solution rather than on site. After 3 years, the cameras would be replaced with new models at no additional cost. At the end of 5 years, we have the option to renew or terminate the contract.
    4. Cameras are replaced at no cost if damage occurs.
    5. The initial cost of $13,124 would come from the depreciation account, with the subsequent annual cost to be included in the budget.
    6. Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the 5-year contract. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
    7. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to authorize the Board Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Mike Delehanty Town 1st Constable

  1. Thanked the Board for the recognition at the beginning of the meeting.
  2. Patrols are planned for the holiday shopping season.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

  1. An updated copy of the draft purchasing policy was provided to Board members. It includes the ballot language for the depreciation accounts and the results of the votes. The language in the draft was updated to reflect the ballot item descriptions.
    1. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the draft as presented. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
  2. Discussed the draft depreciated asset policy.
    1. After some discussion, the language in the reserve status section was updated.
    2. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the policy with the updated language from 11/22/22. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
  3. Provided 2 pay requests from Fabian Excavating for the Town Line Road culvert project. These 2 requests were not received previously but need to be paid so we can apply for the grant reimbursement funds from the State. They are not included in the orders because they were sent to us today. The work has been signed off on as substantially complete. The total cost for Fabians Excavating is $294,135 with these 2 pay requests included.
    1. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve pay request 2 for $64,440 and pay request 4 for $8510 and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Selectwoman Russell left the meeting at 8:00PM.

  1. Updated General budget sheets were provided in anticipation of the next budget meeting scheduled for Monday November 28th. Highway and Rec budgets are ready for Board discussion. The Fire and Police budgets have not been submitted yet. The General budget should be finished on Monday and a review of Rec and Highway should be done as well. Salary amounts need to be determined. A salary comparison worksheet was provided for board members.
  2. Awesome Graphics recently gave us some quotes to replace the signs coming into town at various points. These will be provided for discussion at a future meeting.
  3. Chairman Chioffi thanked Brad LaFaso for helping us put new lights up on the tree in front of Town Hall.

Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to enter executive session for a personnel and compensation discussion with Town Lister Howard Burgess, Town Clerk Kari Clark, and Town Attorney Kevin Brown attending. Selectman Hathaway seconded motion. The motion passed unanimously. The board entered executive session at 8:12 PM.

Selectwoman Ashcroft left the meeting at 8:30PM. Without a quorum of Board members present, the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

 
Don Chioffi, Chair
 

ABSENT
Joseph Denardo, Clerk
 
Mary Ashcroft
 
Sharon Russell
 
Kurt Hathaway

 

Center Rutland, VT.

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