Selectboard Minutes 12-30-2025

Selectboard Minutes 12-30-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

DECEMBER 30^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, Shelley Dumas

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for December 16^th:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. There was a clarification made. The motion passed 5 – 0 as amended.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the payroll and the regular bill payments. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 – 0.

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the payments from the sewer account once the coding has been corrected. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 – 0.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. The supplemental holiday patrols have ended.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The skating rink is up and operational. Please check the ice before going on it.
2. Senior luncheons start on the 13^th. This is included in the new monthly newsletter. This newsletter is posted online and goes out as part of the email from the school.
3. Discussed the tractor shared between the highway and rec department which needs a new engine. After discussions with the local dealer, and contact with John Deere corporation, they will cover two thirds, and the Town would be responsible for one third, approximately $6000. Discussed what funding source should be used. Selectman Denardo moved to use the Highway maintenance account for the full cost. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 – 0.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. There have been 19 call outs for the winter contractors.
2. Discussed 2 recent incidents on Quarterline Road where a power line came down. In one case, it caused damage to the asphalt road surface. Discussed sending a letter to Green Mountain Power about the road damage. No decision was made.
3. Discussed the issue of debris in the sewer line coming from the Eco Car Wash at 50 Diamond Run Mall Place. The strainer, designed to catch debris, is gone. Commissioner Sears contacted A-1 Sewer, and they said they did not remove it. It is not known where it went but it was removed without our permission. An effort will be made to get ahold of the car wash and determine who they are using for maintenance.
4. Reviewed documents related to the south end sewer project which need approval.
   • Authorization for payment to Casella. Commissioner Sears is satisfied with the work done and recommends approving the payment. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the payment from the sewer fund and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 – 0.
   • Change order authorization. This is a no cost change and changes the completion date to the spring to allow work to be completed that could not be done in November. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the change order and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 – 0.
   • Certificate of substantial completion. The Board agreed the project has reached substantial completion.
   • The project came in approximately $170,000 under budget.
5. Reviewed an agreement with Otter Creek Engineering for services for the Stratton Road culvert replacement project. The Highway committee is recommending this. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the agreement and to authorize the Town Administrator to sign it. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 – 0.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The welding class at Stafford will build a stand for the generator at the Center Rutland Fire Station.
2. There has been an increase in calls to the Cortina Inn recently, mainly due to maintenance issues. After discussion, the Health Officer will be asked to go down and do an inspection.
3. There have been 28 calls for service in December so far and 204 year to date.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. The next due date for taxes is January 10^th. Since this is a Saturday, they will be accepted on time through Monday the 12^th.
2. Dog licensing begins again on Friday. They are due by April.
3. Articles for the ballot are due by the 16^th of January and candidate petitions are due by the 26^th.

Larry Dell Veneri Rutland Town Transfer Station Manager

1. There will be a meeting soon with the committee to review the proposed new rates.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Board Chair Ashcroft thanked the Planning Commission for their work in applying for a grant to help fund work at the Pocket Park.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Reviewed a notice from FEMA regarding a meeting for Town Officials to review updated flood mapping. The meeting will be available virtually at Town Hall for any official who would like to attend.
2. Work on the town report will begin on Monday.
3. Discussed some of the next steps in developing a disaster recovery process.

Discussed adding ballot items for specific requests. Two items are being proposed. One is an increase in the Fire Department depreciation account contribution, and the other is the purchase of a new excavator for the Highway Department.

• For the fire department, the increase would be from 1¾ cents to 2 cents. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the ballot item asking voters to approve the increase. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 – 0.
• For the highway department, the request would be to purchase a new excavator and corresponding trailer. The previous quote was $140,000. Commissioner Sears said he does not have a new specific price but was told to expect a 10% to 15% price increase. After discussion, the anticipated cost would be $165,000. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the ballot item asking voters to approve this request. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. There was discussion on the cost versus benefit over time of owning versus renting the machine and the timing of the purchase. After discussion, the motion carried 4 – 1. Selectman Hathaway voted against the motion.

 

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 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.