Select Board Minutes 3-26-2024

Select Board Minutes 3-26-2024

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

MARCH 26^th, 2024

 

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public participating: David Rosenblum

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for March 12^th:

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

Update from the Select Board Chair

The monthly payment was received from The Cortina Inn. They are continuing to participate in the homeless housing program. The payment for April represents the agreed upon increase in the rate.

Today is Joe Denardo’s birthday.

Board to meet with Andres Torizzo at 6PM to discuss Storm Water permit updates

1. The State is renewing the MS4 general permit and has some new requirements.
2. All of the MS4s need to update the storm water management plan.
3. Some minor changes have been made to the permit to fix errors and make it current.
4. The document was submitted to the State today for review.
5. A report is due by April 1^st and will be submitted on time.
6. Discussed some of the education and outreach topics from our plan, minimum measures 1 and 2. An MOU was done in the past with the Regional Planning Commission for them to handle this aspect. Mr. Torizzo recommends renewing this and making it a priority to ensure our obligations are met.
7. Discussed who is responsible for monitoring compliance. Watershed Consulting has been tracking the requirements in the plan on behalf of the Town. Using the RRPC to help with minimum measures 1 and 2 in the permit is the lowest cost and most effective way to meet this requirement.

 

8. The Wynnmere pond is one of the projects at the top of the priority list.
   1. A new storm water pond is currently under design.
   2. This will expand the current pond, it is in the flow restoration plan.
   3. This work will bring it to final engineering and allow construction to be planned.
   4. There may be some state funds available but other funding sources will need to be found. The estimate is $200,000.
9. A swale on Nancy Lane is also a higher priority project.
10. Road Commissioner Dave Sears discussed paving on Ruth Avenue with Mr. Torizzo. The implementation schedule for the Nancy Lane area is 2025 to 2027.
11. Discussed the current Town storm water ordinance. Based on requirement changes the State has made, updates will need to be made to reflect the changes.
12. Some individual Town permits have been rolled into the MS4 permit. The Town School has a permit, but it is still separate. If the town does take it, we would be responsible for the maintenance. The school has received some grant funding to complete work, but no formal discussion has been had.
13. Work will be done to update the ordinance and plans reach out to the Regional Planning Commission. Once this is underway, Mr. Torizzo will follow up the Board.

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

1. Reviewed some of the items submitted for payment from VMS Construction for the Public Safety Building. An invoice for $133,260 was presented. Board Chair Ashcroft asked Mr. Faignant if this was ready for approval and payment. Mr. Faignant said this work was verified by the architect and approved. Discussed an estimate from Green Mountain Power for $29,000 to run the 3-phase power to the building. There are things in the new building which will require this upgrade. The cost of the conduit and other items related to power service to the building should not be an additional expense. Work is being done to try to have additional parking spaces on the property.
2. The State has taken over the landlord / tenant responsibilities of the Health Officer. Any outstanding issues have been forwarded onto the State.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided.
2. Several burglaries have occurred recently and are under investigation.
3. Discussed issues with contacting owners of storage unit facilities.
4. A Police Committee will be scheduled soon to cover some time-sensitive topics.
5. Discussed wording for the signs proposed to be installed in the Green Mountain Plaza, and what organizations it could benefit. Signs have been ordered using the example sign. We will reach out to 211VT proactively to discuss the availability of resources with them.

David Rosenblum, the alternate Town representative to the Rutland Regional Board of Commissioners was present for the meeting. Mr. Rosenblum has been attending the regional meetings recently since the passing of Fred Nicholson. Discussed appointing him as the primary. The current appointment is up in June. Changes to appointments will be made then.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The process to hire lifeguards for this season has started.
2. The Rec Department is looking at options for a sprayer which could be used to spray fertilizer. Pricing and vendors are still being researched.
3. Reminded people who use Northwood Park to walk dogs to bag and dispose of dog waste correctly. There are collection bins at the 2 main parking lots. Dogs have been seen off leash in the park. Reminded everyone again to keep dogs on leashes at all times.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. There have been 3 storm responses since the last meeting, with a substantial storm. The staff and contractors did a tremendous job. They have been doing clean up work the last couple of days.
2. The contractors are at 37 of their 40 call outs for the season. The most recent storm counted for 5. Every 4 hours counts as a new one.
3. The annual financial plan certification for the State didn’t get signed at the last meeting. It was approved but not signed. The Board members signed it.
4. Discussed topics from the recent Highway Committee meeting.
   1. A paving bid award recommendation is not ready yet. It will be for the next meeting.
   2. Only 1 bid was received for culvert cleaning, from A-1 Sewer and Drain. They bid $3000 per day for culvert cleaning and $1800 per day for camera inspection work. Selectman Hathaway moved to accept the bid from A-1 Sewer and Drain. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
   3. A proposal from Steffanie Bourque at the Rutland Regional Planning Commission was received for Municipal Project Management services for the Route 7 North sidewalk. The Committee is recommending forwarding this to the State as our recommendation. Selectman Getty moved to submit this proposal to the State as the recommendation from the town. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
   4. The committee is recommending moving forward with the agreement from T-Mobile for vehicle monitoring and cameras. VLCT is funding $1400 of the 2-year cost. After discussion, Selectman Getty moved to approve the contract with T-Mobile and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
   5. VTrans is interested in talking about the intersection of Route 7 and the Green Mountain Plaza. They will contact us when the people needed are available.
   6. Discussed the Ruth Avenue paving request. Commissioner Sears will follow up with them.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Business personal property forms are coming in, but not many have been received.
2. The State is still working on what the reappraisal process will be.
3. There have been several webinars lately which have been helpful.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The new fire alarm panel was installed at the Center Rutland Fire Station.
2. Presented an application for a new member. He is a City resident, and he will be 9 of our 10 limit. Selectman Getty moved to approve Brogen McCarthy. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Dog registration are due by April 1^st.
2. April 30^th is the planned date for the school budget revote.

The Board discussed making Bills Title, of Town Administrator, official. Reviewed the history of the title changes, going back over the years. After discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to officially change the title to Town Administrator. Selectman Getty seconded the motion.

The motion passed 3 – 0 .

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Joe Anthony will be attending the April 23^rd Board meeting to talk about the Diamond Run Mall.
2. The final draft of plans for the downstairs is available. The architect will be working on a project estimate for us. The next step would be bid specs.
3. An RFP needs to be sent out to work on updating our local hazard mitigation plan, using the recent grant award. After discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to authorize Bill Sweet and Marty Wasserman to work on the details of sending it out. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
4. A sewer allocation increase request was received for 449 Stratton Road. The application is to increase the allocation by 7 gallons per day. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the request. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
5. Provided a draft of an address change policy for incorrect E-911 addresses in Town. There was significant discussion on the draft, and changes were made in various sections.
   1. An updated draft of the policy and letter will be included for the next Board meeting.
6. Reviewed the list of write-in candidates from the recent election.
   1. Daron Raleigh received 21 write-in votes for Grand Juror. Selectman Getty moved to reappoint Daron as the Town Grand Juror. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
   2. Discussed the Town Tree Warden position. Byron Hathaway for Chris Howe were the 2 interested. After discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to appoint both as Town Tree Wardens. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
   3. Selectman Hathaway moved to appoint Byron Hathaway as the Town Inspector of Wood for this year. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
7. Selectman Getty moved to approve sending the Thank you letter to the Days Inn. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Project list updates:

1. Reviewed each of the topics on the list. Some items were removed as they were outdated. Other items were added. This will be reviewed on a regular basis.

 

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

 

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

____________________ABSENT___________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

____________________ABSENT___________________

Sharon Russell

 

_______________________________________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.