Selectboard Minutes 8-12-2025

Selectboard Minutes 8-12-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

AUGUST 12^th, 2025

 

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Sharon Russell, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present Chis Howe, Lisa Knickerbocker, Shelley Dumas, Robyn Sweet, Keith Schneider, Pete Chase, John Anderson, Dianne Anderson, Katelyn Razinowski, Karen Pezetti, David Pezetti

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for July 29^th:

Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the orders. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Question from the Floor / Public Comment

Keith Schneider spoke about an issue on Quarterline Road in Center Rutland. There is a home with a large number of people coming and going. Also, there are 2 RVs on the property which may be dumping their waste water on the property.

Karen Pezetti spoke about the same issue. She has found needles along the side of the road, as well as people in neighborhood yards without permission.

Rutland Town Police Chief Dumas spoke about the issues the Police Department has experienced with enforcement.

Town Health Officer John Paul Faignant spoke about what authority he has for enforcement and what the State is responsible for. After discussion, he provided the name and contact information of the State enforcement officer of Patrick Lowkes at 802-747-8127.

The Town Police will visit the property tomorrow to try and make contact with the owner. The area residents were encouraged to reach out to the Board if there are additional issues they can help with.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The pool has been very busy.
2. Vendors for the Town Wide Celebration have been reaching out and plans are moving forward.
3. Discussed topics from the recent Rec Committee meeting.
   1. The volunteer / adult employee background check policy was finalized. Copies were provided to Board members. Discussed the changes included in the final draft. Selectman Getty moved to adopt the policy. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
   2. Discussed replacing the mower at Dewey Field. A quote from United Ag and Turf was reviewed. Selectman Getty moved to approve the purchase. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. Discussed options other than purchasing a new machine including trailering mowers from Northwood Park over to Dewey. The Rec department owns 2 trailers now. There was extensive discussion on the topic. Discussed a vehicle replacement schedule. A final equipment replacement plan has not been finalized. After further discussion, Selectman Getty moved to table the motion to allow the Rec Committee to discuss these topics further.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
   3. Discussed replacing the doors on the Dewey Field restrooms. The estimate received included the cost of the doors. There may be some unused doors available which we could use at no cost. Mr. Rowe will find out what size doors are needed to see if what is available would work.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Work is being done following paving on East Pittsford Road and Ruth Avenue.
2. Board Chair Ashcroft discussed the wrap up of the easement acquisition process with Wenzel/Carrington on Town Line Road. All the paperwork has been properly executed. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the settlement payment of $15,000 to be paid from the Capital Improvement fund, with the expected reimbursement of $7500 to be credited back to the Capital Improvement fund. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
3. Discussed the South end sewer line replacement project. The final contract paperwork was sent to our engineer last week. An easement for the plaza owner next door is needed. Additional information was requested from them and is being compiled. The project will move forward as permission and permits received allow.
4. Followed up on the topic of spraying to prevent poison parsnip. No decision was made.
5. The salt being purchased for winter maintenance this year will be white, untreated. There will be a cost savings and it will be treated internally as needed.

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

1. Recent calls for service were provided. There have been several calls for service for our K9 officer outside of the Town recently, as far away as Manchester. The Chief was asked to continue to monitor how often this is occurring.
2. Discussed the increasing issues at the Diamond Run Mall property. The owner has been reluctant to provide statements supporting prosecution of criminal acts. A letter directed to the owners will be drafted with the issues being handled and what their responsibility continues to be under their existing Act 250 permit.
3. Reviewed the progress of getting the new fingerprint machine online. There are additional access requirements which were not given to the department ahead of time. The work is ongoing.
4. The 2014 Dodge Charger has been striped of equipment. It has holes in the frame and cannot be inspected. After discussion. Selectman Denardo moved to authorize the Police Department to sell the car for the most they can get for it. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
5. A small stain was noticed on the ceiling in the patrol room. The contractor was just on site looking at the known issues needing to be addressed.
6. Discussed the status of the replacement sidearms. No ETA was available from the shop they ordered from. The manufacturer was called directly. This revealed there is a different version of the weapon only available to law enforcement, and only through 1 specific vendor in the state, which is not the one they were ordered from. This vendor was contacted and said they had all equipment needed, except for 2 holsters. For 7 weapons, the total is $5149. The shop which had agreed to buy back the existing weapons will still do so. Selectman Getty moved to approve the purchase from Pieros Gun Shop for $5149. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Tax bills have been sent out. There have been several questions from residents. Everyone is encouraged to give the mail time to deliver the bills.
2. Provided a 3^rd class liquor license application for approval from the Maple Angus. The police have no issues with them. Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the request. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Board Chair Ashcroft discussed the recent Planning Commission meeting she attended. There was a discussion about the work being done to update the subdivision regulations. They were given directions for work approved by the Selectboard.

The Listers office provided 2 errors and omissions forms to be signed by the Board. One is due to a valuation change made by the State and the other is to remove a test business which was included in error. Selectman Getty moved to approve them. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Provided a draft letter which can be sent to the resident of Heather Lane regarding the name change of the road, due to the conflict with Mendon. Discussed details to be included for the property owners. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to approve moving forward with changing the name of Heather Lane in the town. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0. The residents will be encouraged to come up with a new name and give suggestions to us. Some changes to the draft were made. The updated letter will be sent out this week.
2. Bids were received for heating oil and propane for the next year. All bids were received on time.
   1. The propane bids were reviewed.
      1. Irving Energy Bid a fixed price of $1.657 / gallon. A variable price of $1.226 / gallon. Both prices had a valid thru date of August 8^th.
      2. Proctor Gas bid a fixed price of $1.799 / gallon. No variable price was included.

• Selectman Denardo moved to approve the Irving price conditioned on the price being valid currently. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

1. The heating oil bids were reviewed.
   2. Champlain Valley Fuels bid a fixed price of $2.68 + $0.02 state excise tax / gallon. A variable price of OPIS plus $0.25.
   3. Irving bid a fixed price of $2.787 / gallon. A variable price of $2.597 / gallon.

• Johnson Energy bid $0.40 over their price on the day of delivery with a capped rate of $2.699. Prices are minus taxes and fees.

1. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the Johnson Energy bid and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Town. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

A thank you letter from Wyatt Fuller was received for the scholarship award.

Discussed setting a meeting with the Town Attorney to discuss our  Town / City water and sewer agreement. The best dates are September 2^nd and September 16^th. After discussion, September 16^th is the likely date.

Selectman Getty moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:33 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

 

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

_______________________________________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

_______________________________________________
Sharon Russell

 

_______________ABSENT_______________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.