Selectboard Minutes 1-17-2023

Publish date: January 19, 2023

Selectboard Minutes 1-17-2023

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

JANUARY 17th, 2023

 

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, Marcia Chioffi, Robyn Sweet, Chris Howland, Shelley Dumas, Howard Burgess

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for December 20th:

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

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for January 3rd:

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

Announcements

Reminder for articles to be in by February 1st for the next edition of The Circle.

Chairman Chioffi thanked the Town Fire Department for their response to help Castleton Fire at a recent fire at the Gilmore Home Center.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

  1. A draft of the Memorandum of Understanding with Green Mountain Power for the pocket park is being reviewed by GMP.
  2. The Energy Committee will be meeting soon to review the results from the recently closed energy survey, and to discuss state grant opportunities.
  3. There is a hearing for a sub-division request at the next meeting.

Mike Delehanty Town 1st Constable

  1. Attended training recently in roadside impairment recognition for people under the influence of drugs.

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

  1. Updated drawing for the Public Safety Building are available at Town Hall and an additional set will be made available for the pre-town meeting.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

  1. Thanked the Fire Department for their help with trying to establish the ice rink at the school.
  2. Basketball is underway.
  3. A new online form for athletic sign up is being developed. We hope to have it ready for spring sports.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

  1. The owner of the property which is going to be redeveloped into a car wash on Route 7 South is asking for help from the Town in order to get permission to demolish the existing building. There were some unexpected delays and they have been unable to move forward with demolition. After some discussion, we will reach out to the adjacent property owners attorney to see if there is something the Town could help.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

  1. We received 94% of the taxes expected in the last installment.
  2. Presented a liquor license renewal request for Sandri Sunoco. The State has implemented a new process and most of it is done online. The Police Chief had no issue with this business. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the request and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  3. Petitions for appropriation articles are due January 19th.
  4. Petitions for elections are due on January 30th.
  5. Discussed the proposed language for a ballot item regarding local option tax usage. After some discussion, our Town counsel will be asked to help us with correct language.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

  1. Clean up from recent storms has been completed.
  2. Waiting to hear back from a dealer on pricing for the additional truck.
  3. There have been 14 call outs for the contractors this season., which is less than previous years at this point.
  4. Presented the annual Certificate of Highway Mileage for approval. Selectman Denardo moved to authorize it. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

  1. Recent calls for service were provided.
  2. Waiting for the 3rd quote for pricing on a new cruiser. It is expected to be available by the next meeting.
  3. Discussed the personnel policy as it relates to disciplinary action for police officers. Some language needs to be added moving the disciplinary action to the state process. After some discussion, our Town Counsel will be asked to help develop the language.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

  1. Provided a quote from Royal Glass to install locks on the filing cabinets in the Listers Office. The total is $761.44. We were informed recently additional files need to be kept in a locked filing cabinet. Selectmen Denardo moved to accept the quote, with the funds to come from the building maintenance fund. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  2. Provided a water connection request from Ted and Erica Washburn for 1701 Post Road. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the request. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  3. Discussed deadlines for the Town Report, and printing for ballots. Changes to the budget or ballot items need to be made after pre-town meeting. A warning is ready for that meeting. After some discussion, we will get as many updated pictures as we can for the town report.
  4. Discussed the draft policy for signs on town owned land. After some discussion, no action will be taken.
  5. Reviewed a recent meeting with invest EAP. Free employee benefits were covered. Another presentation is planned in a couple weeks.

Old Business: Board to discuss the future of the Delinquent Tax Collector position

  1. After a brief discussion, no changes will be put before the voters.

Committee meeting updates:

  1. Discussed the recent personnel committee meeting. Dean Davis will resign so someone else could be appointed to allow the office to maintain proper staffing.

Discussed Board members, who are running for office this term, also working at the polls and any possible conflict. After discussion, as long as they are running unopposed, no conflict would exist.

Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing with the Town Attorney contracts for employment, a pending litigation discussion, and a personnel issue. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 7:37 PM

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:44 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 
Don Chioffi, Chair
 

 
Joseph Denardo, Clerk
 
Mary Ashcroft
 
Sharon Russell
 
Kurt Hathaway

 

Center Rutland, VT.

Rutland Town News

Posted in