Selectboard Minutes 7-1-2025

Selectboard Minutes 7-1-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

MAY 20^th, 2025

 

• The meeting opened at 5:30 PM
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present Chris Howe, Lisa Knickerbocker, Jacob Carrington, Robyn Sweet, Shelley Dumas

Selectman Getty moved to enter executive session for the purpose of receiving advice from town counsel. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 5:30PM. In attendance is Town Attorney Kevin Brown, Barbara Pulling and Norm Cohen from the Planning Commission, and Town Administrator Bill Sweet

Upon leaving executive session at 6:07 PM, with no action being taken, the regular meeting began at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for June 17^th:

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

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the orders. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The flagpole for the new building was delivered. Discussed coordinating time to look at installing it.
2. The cascade system has been ordered. The amount coming from capital improvement after accounting for donations and unspent funds from the FY 25 fire budget, will be $46,983.84.
3. Discussed what should be done with the sprinkler switch which was swapped out. After discussion, Selectman Denardo will talk with the contractor.
4. CVC is planning to install the radios on July 9^th. Some mounting surfaces should have been installed already but are not. After discussion, a location will be determined, and the contractor will be asked to install the appropriate mounting surface.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The pool has been very busy.
2. The boat trip for the seniors went very well. The next event is lunch planned for July 22^nd at 1130 AM at the pool.
3. Presented a draft policy for doing background checks for volunteers. After discussion it will be referred to the Rec committee for discussion. We will also ask VLCT for their input.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Trash and other items were recently removed from the end of Randbury Road. It was approximately 1100 pounds worth.
2. Met with Pratico’s to look at the shared use path area which needs a fence.
3. Work on MS4 project areas is being done.
4. Discussed the plan to put a 500-gallon diesel tank next to the salt shed. The cost for everything needed is approximately $6500. Discussion around adding a larger tank allowing all town vehicles access to it. A joint committee meeting with the Fire Committee would be  beneficial to discuss this.
5. Reviewed the documents from Robert Clark at Otter Creek Engineering for the Route 7 South sewer line project.
   1. The recommendation from Mr. Clark is to award Casella Construction with the work.
   2. The sewer fund is the funding source. There is $893,118.53 in the account now. There are costs which are in excess of this. Discussed the options for other funding sources. Our Town attorney will be consulted.
   3. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the bid from Casella with the funds to come from the sewer fund. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion passed 4 – 0.
6. Discussed the Wenzl/Carringer settlement agreement and easement deed. Selectman Getty moved to approve the settlement agreement and release, and any other documents necessary, and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief and Ted Washburn Town Deputy Police Chief

1. Discussed an issue where a large truck turned around in the public safety building parking lot and damaged the new asphalt. The company was found. Discussed next steps. The company will be contacted letting them know damage was done and asking them to notify their insurance carrier.
2. Some research was done into cleaning services. Spoke with both the City Police and Sheriff Department. A good solution has not been found yet.
3. Discussed some of the ongoing issues with the homeless on the south end of town.
4. There is an issue with drag racing and other activities at the old mall. Discussed the letter we received from Act 250 regarding the demolition application. It was deemed incomplete but was not related to anything the Town provided.
5. Information for the new cruiser was received which allowed us to get it registered. It should be ready soon. The truck is repaired and should be back to us soon.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Discussed the next steps for the subdivision regulation update. The new document should be a bylaw.
2. A meeting with Mike Rowe is planned for July 31^st to discuss the pocket park.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. The grand list was lodged, and grievance hearings are set for July 7^th.
2. The State education rates were received. The homestead and non-homestead rates have both decreased.
3. The grand list is almost $34M over last year largely due to business personal property and real estate.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Reviewed the fund balances ending the fiscal year. Discussed the Cortina Fund revenue offsetting the police deficit. A police and finance committee would be helpful to go over this.
2. Updated the Board on a new kind of warrant for EFT payments. This process is limited to one vendor initially.
3. New budget numbers will be available to department heads for the next time they do bills.
4. There have been a lot of people recently calling about the delinquent tax issue, and they are unfamiliar with our process.
5. Relayed messages from Town residents who don’t like our fireworks being in August and not on July 4^th.
6. Reviewed some changes the State made to voter portals online. Information is now available at vote.vermont.gov\

Joe Denardo Public Safety Building Clerk

1. Most of the outstanding topics were discussed earlier in the meeting.
2. Discussed plans for the maintenance of the bank. To make sure its stable, little should be done this year.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. A meeting with an audit analyst with the State last week revealed issues with some of our policies. Updated drafts of the purchasing and records retention policies were provided. The purchase policy update resolves the deficiencies and was accepted by the state. Selectman Denardo moved to amend the policy to add the required language and to adopt the updated Purchasing Policy. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. Some new language was added to the records management and retention policy. This brings this policy into compliance. Selectman Getty moved to adopt the policy with the updated language. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
2. Provided a follow-up letter from the Regional Planning Commission regarding our changes to the future land use map, all of which were accepted.
3. VLCT has provided updates on open meeting law changes and suggested changes to how meetings are handled.
4. The tree warden helped with the tree at town hall recently. He recommended a local service to shape and trim the tree. The quote is $600. Discussed what the plans are for out front including the memorial. After discussion, we will get the tree trimmed and once the plan for out front is finalized, a discussion will be had on what to do.
5. Some work to fix the gutters was done recently. The fascia board will need some work in the future, as well as larger gutters to accommodate the volume of water coming off the roof.
6. We have received some recommendations for reconfiguring Route 7 North as part of our sharded use path project. A committee meeting is needed to review them. After discussion, it will be July 8^th at 9AM.

A freedom of information act request was received from Ryan Smith and Carbine seeking copies of the Master License Agreement between the Town of Rutland and the Railway. The request was passed along to our Town Attorney who will contact them.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

_______________________________________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

__________________ABSENT____________________
Sharon Russell

 

_______________________________________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.