Select Board Minutes 10-24-2023

Publish date: October 26, 2023

Select Board Minutes 10-24-2023

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

OCTOBER 24th, 2023

 

  • The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
  • Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Sharon Russell, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
  • Members of the public present Sue Keith, Seth Richardson, Tia Fineberg, Greg Fineberg, Bob Pratt, Judy Pratt, Joben Fineberg, Mike Abatiell, Mary Ann Goulette, Lindsey Savage, Burth Goulette, Keith Whitcomb, Tanner Heath, Dean Mooney, Robyn Sweet, Eric Cavalieri, Clinton Pratt, J.R. Bullock

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for October 10th Regular Meeting:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for October 16th Special Meeting:

Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

  1. The trick or treat on the trail is this Friday at the Town School.
  2. Mowing is done for the season and water will be shut off at the park soon.
  3. Soccer has wrapped up. It went well, there were 2 weather related cancellations.
  4. Signups for basketball are available online. The ability to pay for the registrations online is an option now.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

  1. Reported on various maintenance tasks completed.
  2. An issue with beavers on Post Road seems to be resolved.
  3. The pull off on Boardman Hill has been closed off.
  4. The generator at the Highway Garage has been placed.
  5. A culvert on Annette Terrace will be replaced soon.
  6. Met with a consultant at the Regional Planning Commission regarding a Grants-in-aid funding opportunity. We are eligible for a $15,000 grant. Selectman Denardo moved to accept the grant and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
  7. Discussed the tabled motion to hire Otter Creek Engineering.
    1. At the end of June there was $388,927 in carryover. Approximately $128,000 was spent on paving. The cost for otter Creek Engineering is just under $10,000.
    2. Selectman Denardo moved to take up the tabled motion to hire Otter Creek Engineering. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
    3. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the hiring of Otter Creek Engineering for $9975 to design a site line fix for an issue on North Grove Street, and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

  1. There were 8 calls for service in the last 2 weeks.
  2. Attended a truck or treat event downtown recently. It went very well.
  3. Presented applications for 3 new members. 1 is a Town resident and 2 are city residents If accepted, the 2 would fill out our city slots. None have experience and all are over 18. Selectman Denardo moved to accept the applicants. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

  1. Our annual audit will begin tomorrow. It is not known if a single audit would be necessary yet.
  2. Cotts came and has completed the scanning work needed to get the land records online. The is the first step in the process.
  3. Funding options for the Public Safety Building were discussed. We will be soliciting proposals from various institutions for rates and lengths.

Mike Delehanty Town 1st Constable

  1. Responded to some animal control issues lately. Both had positive outcomes.
  2. Reminded everyone to keep their vehicles locked at all times. Break ins are on the rise again.

Board to meet with State E-911 representative to discuss address changes.

  1. Tyler Hermanson, the State E-911 coordinator was present to discuss the proposed changes.
  2. Reviewed the criteria the State uses for correct addressing standards. They are odd / even numbers on the correct sides of the roads, no duplicate numbers, and correct sequencing.
  3. There are issues throughout the Grover Drive development, some are farther off than others.
  4. Discussed the issues on Grover Drive and Gleason Road.
  5. Residents from Gleason Road and Grover Drive shared their concerns with the Board.
  6. After the discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to not change any addresses for Grover Drive and to put the corrected addresses on file with the Listers Office so they would be changed at the time the property is transferred. A letter would be sent to residents with this information. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. After extensive discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to table the motion. The motion failed due to no second.
  7. There was extensive discussion on possible ordinance changes and the effects those could have.
  8. Selectman Denardo moved to table the motion. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
  9. Selectman Denardo moved to notify the residents of Grover Drive that the direction to change addresses be rescinded due to confusion. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
  10. Discussed the issues on Gleason Road. There are sequencing issues which will likely need to be fixed as a requirement of the state criteria.
  11. Selectman Denardo moved to suspend the changes to Gleason Road pending a review of the ordinance and criteria. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

  1. There were 74 calls for service and 22 car stops in the last 2 weeks.
  2. The new cruiser will be ready to be picked up this week.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

  1. Provided a grant agreement to be signed to construct the Route 7 North sidewalk.
    1. The grant award is for $625,000 with a $156,250 match.
    2. Discussed managing and reporting steps for the grant.
    3. Securing easements is a critical part of the project.
    4. Selectman Hathaway moved to sign the grant agreement and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
  2. Provided a list of current appointments needing to be filled. The list is available online. No action was taken.
  3. Provided a Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and the Vermont Department of Building and General Services for the efficiency audits at Town Hall and the highway garage. Selectman Getty moved to approve signing the MOA and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
  4. Provided copies of the letters required to be sent to parties related to the Dyer Road site visit and giving up the road.
  5. Provided a grant agreement to be signed for MS4 work. Watershed Consulting worked to secure us this funding. It is for $200,000 with a $50,000 match. It will help to fully design 3 to 4 projects and approximately 30% to 50% of an additional project. Selectman Denardo moved to sign the grant agreement and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
  6. Discussed the agreement for soil work at the Public Safety Building. The proposed work by M&W Soils was approved at the last meeting but we did not, and still do not, have a contract to sign. Selectman Denardo moved to authorize the Chair to sign the agreement when it is available. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
  7. Discussed the coverage update document from VLCT. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to approve the auto liability limit of $10M with VLCT and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 -0.
  8. A grant opportunity is available to install electric vehicle charging stations at Town hall. There are funds available to upgrade the electrical infrastructure. More background work is needed and is underway. No action is needed at this time.
  9. VHB has us back on their schedule to work on our service road project. Their staff was redirected to flooding recovery work around the state recently.

Selectman Hathaway moved to enter executive session to discuss pending litigation and possible property transfer. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The Board entered executive session at 8:44PM.

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Selectwoman Russell moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

 

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Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

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Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

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Sharon Russell

 

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Kurt Hathaway

 

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Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.

 

Rutland Town News

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