Selectboard Minutes 5-5-2026

Selectboard Minutes 5-5-2026

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

MAY 5^th, 2026

 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 David Grayck, Joe Anthony, and Robyn Sweet

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for April 21st:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. A clerical change was made to the draft. The motion passed 3 – 0. Selectman Getty abstained.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Getty moved to approve the orders. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Articles for The Circle are due on May 15^th.

The Intermunicipal Committee met with Rutland City. There is a Friday Night Live type event planned for July 3^rd at Northwood Park.

Thanked Marie and Cathy in the Listers office for putting together the retirement party for Marcia Chioffi last week. It was a nice event.

Board to meet with Joe Anthony regarding the Diamond Run Mall property

1. David Gracyk was present to discuss the topic as well. Mr. Grayck is the attorney working for the owner.
2. An agreement was recently finalized for service by The Bus to Walmart.
3. Discussed the application process up to this point.
4. An update on the demolition and initial construction plans was reviewed by Mr. Anthony. Demolition is now anticipated to be part of the site development work for Walmart. This is not the schedule that was discussed as part of the demolition permit.
5. The Board had expected demolition to have already occurred and are concerned it has not. There has been a lot of garbage and debris left there.
6. The security vendor and the vendor hired to provide debris removal have or are being changed. Mr. Anthony said many trespass notices were signed.
7. Selectwoman Russell discussed some options for helping provide people to watch the property.
8. Information will be provided to the Board soon in anticipation of the May 19^th

The Board recessed at 6:28PM. The meeting resumed at 6:37PM.

9. Discussed challenges with the illegal dumping, and access to the site.
10. Attorney Grayck said they are planning to come back to the Board in 2 weeks to ask for approval of the municipal impact questionnaire. Reviewed their expected timeline.
11. Officer Plakas commented that the Police do not have copies of the no trespass notices referred to earlier. Mr. Anthony said he would make sure they were sent to the PD.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The water has been turned on for the season.
2. Repairs have been made to the main and kiddie pool.
3. The new pool cover has been ordered.
4. Signups for passes and swim lessons are June 2^nd and 3^rd.
5. There are some ongoing issues with dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs.

Jimmy Plakas Rutland Town Police Officer:

1. Discussed some of the comments made regarding the mall property.
2. Recent calls for service were provided and discussed.
3. Selectman Denardo commented on traffic driving around people participating in Green Up Day recently. The police were asked to provide patrols around during the event to help keep pedestrians safe.
4. Chair Ashcroft thanked Officer Plakas for his work on the sex offender registry compliance.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Routine checks of the sewer line on the south end of town are being done.
2. Repaired a sink hole that opened on East Pittsford Road.
3. Collected 88 green up day bags, 9 tires, and some other debris.
4. Quarterline Road and Boardman Hill were recently graded.
5. Rutland County Natural Resources Conservation District is setting up for their annual event at the Highway Garage.
6. We were successful in our grant application to be able to pave a large section of North Grove Street
7. The excavator should be delivered in the next couple of weeks.
8. Discussed the status of our new plow truck. There have been some delays, and it is expected at the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027. The vendor is now scheduling into 2030.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Provided the Board with the updated subdivision bylaws which were approved by the Planning Commission.
   1. Reviewed the changes made in this new bylaw document.
   2. Discussed the lease language included and if any changes should be made by sending the document back to the Planning Commission or if the Board could make them and keep the process moving forward.
   3. Board Chair Ashcroft will bring this to the Town Attorney and get his input.
2. Information was recently provided to Green Mountain Power for a few different aspects of the Pocket Park.
3. There will be a subdivision hearing at the next Planning Commission meeting.

Marie Faignant Rutland Town Lister

1. There was a reorganizational meeting held recently. Mrs. Faignant is now the Chair of the Board of Listers.
2. There will be a change in the hours for the Listers office. They will be open Monday through Wednesday from 9AM to 1230PM. This is a result of there being no full-time Lister.
3. Asked for the Listers Office to be notified of any approved subdivision applications.
4. Met with NEMRC recently. They will be submitting a bid for reappraisal. After some research, the Town would not have to switch to Patriot to get reappraisal bids.
5. Some letters will be sent to residents in town who purchased property with a last name which has changed due to marriage, or other reasons. The property deed does not automatically change. A separate document is needed. This information will be included in the letter.
6. The Grand List has not been lodged yet. The target is to file it without needing an extension.
7. Discussed the open Lister position and if a person is appointed, which upcoming election would they have to rerun for the position. This will be brough to our Town attorney as well.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Reminder of the next tax deadline, of May 10^th. Since this is a Sunday, payments will be accepted through close of business on Monday the 11^th. Any past due balances will have an 9% fee applied to them the next day.
2. Thanked Deb for her help in office last week while she was out.
3. A liquor license was approved for an event at the Spartan Arena. This was a catering permit and does not need Board approval.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Provided a reimbursement request for the Route 7 north sidewalk project. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the request and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Getty seconded the motion.
2. Reviewed the license agreement between the Town and the City of Rutland for the Fire department repeater to be placed at the City Fire Station. Our attorney reviewed it and sent back a revised document. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the updated document and to authorize the Board Chair to sign it on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
3. Had a meeting with our Road Commissioner, Robert Clark and Andres Torizzo regarding the Northwood Park shared use path. Mr. Clark has reviewed the project at its current state and will be making a list of items for the Highway crew to follow up on and complete. Mr. Clark will be providing us with the report and will be following up with the State.
4. Officer Dumas and Mr. Sweet got to fly the new drone for the first time last week. Officer Dumas is going to be the FAA license holder for the Town. Discussed the capabilities of it. We could use it to show the public at the Friday night event at Northwood as well as other public events. There will be additional training done on it and will be available for various town departments to have access.
5. The last section of the cemetery at Town hall had the ground penetrating radar survey done. 30 additional unmarked grave sites were identified. There will be numbered stones placed at them, so their position is marked.

Selectwoman Russell moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 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

 

_________________ABSENT______________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

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Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.