Selectboard Minutes 5-6-2025

Selectboard Minutes 5-6-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

MAY 6^th, 2025

 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 Lisa Knickerbocker

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for April 22^nd:

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

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for April 29^th:

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

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the orders. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Articles for the next edition of The Circle are due by May 15^th. This is the last edition for the summer.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. The sandbox which is made available for residents to collect salt and sand is being rebuilt.
2. There is regular maintenance being done on manholes near Route 7 South to keep them clear.
3. MS4 maintenance tasks about being completed. This includes removing trees where they don’t belong and opening up basins.
4. Our structure grant application for the Stratton Road culvert project was approved. We are waiting on the grant award documents. The structure grant is up to $500,000 and requires a 20% match. The grant ends in December of 2026. This will be planned for next year. The paving grant for East Pittsford Road was not approved.
5. 89 bags were collected from the roadside for green up day.
6. The owner of the property that burned recently on the corner of US 7 South and Cold River Road reached out about connecting to municipal water. The closest line is at the Honda dealer and the Adele Stanley complex. This will be referred to the Public Works committee.
7. Discussed the purchase of an excavator. The funds intended to be used for this purchase may need to be used for paving. There was extensive discussion. The purchase will be delayed.

Ted Washburn Rutland Town Deputy Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided and reviewed.
2. The Cortina is open and operating as a hotel.
3. The new cruiser should be ready by the end of the month.
4. Discussed the contract for video storage. The cost will exceed the amount on the budget line but the total budget should not be overspent.
5. Discussed issues with vehicles parking on the travel portion of the roadway. DC Washburn said to call the PD if those issues are seen.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Thanked Chief Clark, Chief Dumas and Selectwoman Russell for their help with the last Senior Luncheon. The next one is May 22^nd in West Rutland.
2. The pool is ready to be cleaned out to be turned on Memorial Day weekend.
3. The sand filters are being serviced soon.
4. Discussed an open maintenance position for Dewey Field. A current employee is interested. How this affects overtime calculations is not known. Our town counsel will be asked for his input.
5. Discussed a potential issue with lifeguards this year. There are several which need to be certified but a local instructor is not currently available. This could lead to staffing issues, affecting programs and operating hours of the pool. There are typically 14 certified lifeguards, there may be only 5 this year. Mike will report back at a future meeting on any progress made.
6. Discussed help from students at the Town Wide Celebration.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. Board Chair Ashcroft thanked the members of the Fire department who responded to the fire on 7 South recently.
2. Participated in the recent Loyalty Day parade. There is one in West Rutland coming up on May 26^th.
3. Requested a Fire Committee meeting be scheduled before the next Board meeting.
4. Starting in 2027 a different type of gear will need to be purchased, which cannot have any PFOAs in it. This new gear is more expensive.
5. Discussed paving at the new building. The trucks will not be able to drive over the new asphalt, so they need to be moved for a few days. They will be put back at the highway garage.
6. Discussed the planned open house. There will be light refreshments.
7. Reviewed some of the punch list items which are being worked on.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. The last installment of taxes are due May 10^th, which is Saturday. For residents who are not escrowed and pay in person or by mail, payments will be accepted through Monday the 12^th. Interest and penalties will be applied on Tuesday.
2. The second state payment is being sent and was included in the orders.
3. Attended training in West Rutland recently.

Mike Delehanty Town 1^st Constable

1. Addressed some animal control issues recently.
2. Will be helping cover additional time for the Town PD.
3. A report on dilapidated buildings will be given at a meeting soon.

Joe Denardo Public Safety Building Clerk

1. The fence around the impound yard was installed recently.
2. The paving will be done next week . Striping will be done when the surface is ready.
3. Exterior doors which were of concern have been fixed.
4. The data connection has been repaired.
5. The sheetrock screw issue in the EOC has been taken care of.
6. Discussed the card reader missing in the PD lobby. The wiring is there but a panel was never installed. Plans were reviewed and it was removed on the final set of plans. It will be an additional expense to have it added.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Site visits have gone well and are wrapping up.
2. Cathy will be in the office after regular hours doing work enter business personal property data.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Provided a grant reimbursement request for approval. It is for the Route 7 north sidewalk project. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the request and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
2. Reviewed correspondence from VELCO asking for help in collaborating with residents who have property that contains a VELCO right of way. Our online property maps do show them. Information will be added to our website to help residents.
3. Reviewed a request to nominate a town resident to attend a community leadership summit. No one had a name to nominate; this will be discussed at the next meeting.
4. Reviewed correspondence from Peter Franzoni regarding a request to adopt a resolution in support of due process of law. After discussion, no action was taken.
5. Discussed the Otter Creek Communication Unified District. A replacement appointee has not been found. The town has the option to withdraw, which would remove our voting rights but remain a member of the district. After discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to withdraw from the OCCUD, and to thank them for their work, and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
6. Reviewed a proposal from the Regional Planning Commission to allow them to bill us for their work on our LHMP now, so we can apply for reimbursement. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the recommendation and to authorize the Chair to sign the agreement on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathawy seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
7. Discussed an issue with 2 sewer users who have not applied for their increase in allocation based on actual usage. 2 notices have been sent warning of fines if not corrected.
8. Provided a draft update to the Streets and Sidewalks Ordinance, based on suggestions from the town attorney. This is being reviewed by the Highway Committee for comments.

Jason Bathalon sent a letter to the Selectboard asking to be appointed to the Regional Transportation Advisory Council. Selectman Denardo moved to appoint Jason to the TAC committee. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Discussed the draft regional plan and future land use map, based on the special meeting held last week. There are some sections of town which should be included in the infill area. They were highlighted on the draft map and will be included in feedback to the Regional Planning Commission.

Selectman Getty moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 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.