Select Board Minutes 2-2-2021

Select Board 2-2-2021

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

HELD VIA PUBLICALLY ACCESSABLE CONFERENCE CALL LINE

FEBRUARY 2^nd, 2021

 

Out of an abundance of caution around the covid-19 virus, this meeting was held via a conference call line which was made publicly available for anyone to call into.

• Meeting opened at 6:00 P.M.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Sharon Russell, Joe Denardo, John Paul Faignant, and Aaron Jones
• Members of the public present Mike Carlson, Marty Wasserman, Lydia Flynn, Jim Scholtz, and Larry Dellveneri
• A moment of silence was observed for William “Bill” Thomas who recently passed away. He served the Town of Rutland in several capacities over nearly 30 years.

Approval of Orders

The Board will approve the orders as they come into the office.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for January 14^th:

• Faignant moved to approve the minutes; Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0, Mr. Jones was not present for the vote.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for January 19^th:

• Faignant moved to approve the minutes; Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0, Mr. Jones was not present for the vote.

Question from the floor, public comment

• Mr. Burgess discussed a recently discovered 911 numbering issue with a Town Highway off Sugarwood Hill. There is a separate road with 3 houses, and it needs to have its own name and the houses renumbered. The 3 houses will have to change their addresses as it is necessary to maintain 911 standards. Mr. Faignant moved to approve the recommendation of renaming the road and renumbering the houses based on 911 guidelines. Ms. Russell seconded the motion. This is already a town-maintained road, and the new name will be Sugarwood Hill Extension. The motion passed 5-0.

Bill Sweet Administrative Assistant to the Select Board:

1. Reviewed the packet items.

2. 1. List of scheduled meetings and committee agenda items
   2. Policy for Use of Force Indemnity
   3. Information from the Delinquent Tax Collector for discussion
   4. Budget status sheets
3. Presented an invoice from Stantec for water monitoring services for the closed Northwood Park landfill. This is a required service and the cost is $9900. Mr. Denardo moved to approve the contract and authorize Ms. Ashcroft to sign on behalf of the board. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. The funds are included in the transfer station budget.
4. Discussed signs at polling places, the Secretary of State suggests having a policy, which the town does not currently have. A sample was included in the packet After a brief discussion this will be added to the next board agenda.
5. Otter Creek Engineering has let us know they can assist us with scanning our large-scale plans and maps for a flat rate of $40 per hour. This would allow us to protect the information if something happened to the originals downstairs. We would prioritize the most important ones and work through the group. It was suggested we start with water and sewer plans as those are ones we research and review the most. Mr. Denardo suggested starting with a $1000 allocation, from the water and sewer funds for this year and seeing what can be done.
   1. Russell moved to allocate $1000 from the water and sewer fund for this initial cost. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
6. Liquor licenses were presented for a decision from the following establishments. 99 Restaurant, Johnny Boys Pancake House, Jolley Associates, Sandri Sunoco, East Restaurant LLC, Mall Mobil, and Hannaford Supermarket. Mr. Faignant moved to approve all applications. These have been reviewed and approved by the PD. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
7. Ms. Ashcroft thanked Bill and Kari for completing the Town Report. It is with the printer being produced and will be mailed out very soon.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk/Treasurer:

1. Discussed the budget status reports. These were sent to the corresponding departments as well. No major issues were noted.
   1. There are some negative balances, but these will be offset by reimbursement recently received from a state grant. These accounts will reflect this reimbursement.
   2. This report will be provided on a regular basis.
   3. Ms. Ashcroft asked about the delinquent property tax line. The budget was for $50,000. $102,000 is currently listed. Ms. Clark confirmed this is accurate and is due to a larger amount of delinquent taxes being collected than anticipated.
2. Bound copies of the full audit are available in the office for board members to review.
3. The proof of the March ballot was received and approved. They should be in the office in the next couple of weeks.
4. Anyone wishing to have an absentee ballot mailed to them needs to call the office to request them. Ballots are not being proactively mailed out.

Barbara Noyes-Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Two subdivision applications are expected in future meetings. One on Route 7 North and the other near Dyer Road.
2. Ashcroft reported that we have requested our initial funding for the Pocket Park Planning Grant.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Basketball programs are waiting to expand based on the Governors recommendation.

Byron Hathaway Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. A quote has been received from the state bid process for the replacement of the highway truck. Other bids were solicited, and the state bid price was the lowest. The truck will be a Ford F550 with a diesel engine. This will include a standard Ford warranty. An extended warranty is only available by purchasing it from a dealer and not through the state bid process. Mr. Hathaway recommended staying with the state bid process.
2. The Certificate of Highway mileage will be out shortly for approval.
3. Complete streets was received today and completed.
4. A surplus in winter maintenance is expected based upon the way things are going now.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The department has responded to a few calls for service in the past couple of weeks. All other activities are still suspended.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were discussed, they were concentrated on the south end of town.
2. Chief Dumas requested an executive session to discuss a personnel matter.

Committee meeting updates:

1. Highway committee minutes from January 19^th were provided and reviewed. Mr. Hathaway said Robert Clark recently provided him with some updated path locations. They will be speaking about it in the next few days.

New Business Board to discuss use of force indemnification policy:

1. A draft policy was reviewed by our town counsel and sent back; this is what was provided to the board.
2. Faignant moved to approve the document. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

New Business Board to discuss tax sale request:

1. Mr. Scholtz provided a document requesting permission to proceed with a tax sale on 3 properties and place a bid for the minimum amount on behalf of the town. Mr. Faignant asked if there was any detriment to the town if the town ended up owning them. Mr. Scholtz said there were no issues he is aware of. Mr. Scholtz felt these properties are likely to sell.
   1. Mr. Faignant asked if the property listed as a life estate has had the remainderment owners properly notified. Mr. Scholtz stated he has had the attorney involved and believes they are. Mr. Scholtz was directed to confirm proper notification to all parties with an interest in the property has been done. Mr. Scholtz said he has spoken with the family and they have no interest in it.
   2. Mr. Faignant moved to approve the sales. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. Ms. Ashcroft read the parcel information. 0.4 acres with a dwelling at 1506 Post Road, 2.04 acres with a restaurant at 559 US Route 7 South, and a 1.0-acre vacant lot at 150 Ruth Avenue
   3. Mr. Denardo asked to clarify that the delinquent tax collector will enter a bid on behalf of the town, at the minimum price. Mr. Faignant said these 3 properties, based on testimony from Mr. Scholtz, do not pose a large risk to the town. The motion passed 5-0.

New Business Board to discuss rescheduling March 2^nd Board Meeting.

1. This meeting conflicts with Town Meeting night.
2. Discussed rescheduling it to the evening before, to be before the informational town meeting.
3. Mr. Denardo moved to reschedule the meeting to March 1^st at 5PM. The informational meeting is at 7PM. Mr. Denardo amended his motion to have the meeting start at 530PM via zoom. Mr. Faignant seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

New Business Board to discuss covid-19 vaccine immunizations.

Discussed town employees getting their shots.

Fire Department– Chief Clark reported of the 36 members, 5 are not getting the shot, 3 are waiting for their 1^st shot, the rest are waiting for their second.

Police – All the staff members have had their first shot.

Transfer Station – Larry has had the 1^st shot, Bill Bauer is waiting for an appointment.

Town Hall employees – waiting for eligibility to get an appointment.

Howard and Marcia both have appointments.

 

Mr. Faignant asked the board to approve recognition for Joshua Terenzini. Mr. Terenzini was the youngest member ever elected to the board. Mr. Faignant asked the board if they would approve a plaque to present to him in recognition of his service to the town. All board members approved this.

Ms. Ashcroft commented on the transfer station, the new trash compactor has been installed. Thanked Larry for all the work he has done around the facility including painting the office.

Marty Wasserman discussed a letter covering the fire officers if they are conducting official town business. Mr. Wasserman asked if it would be appropriate if he should be included as well, in his capacity as Emergency Management Director. Mr. Faignant indicated he would draft a letter for the board to review at the next meeting.

Marty Wasserman asked about a situation where town employees who are eligible to be vaccinated but choose not to and whether there should be a policy that addresses these individuals. Mr. Faignant said discussions are taking place about the possibility of placing restrictions on individuals who choose not to be vaccinated.

Mr. Denardo moved to enter executive session for a personnel matter with Police Chief Mr. Ed Dumas attending. Mr. Jones seconded motion. The motion passed unanimously. The board entered executive session at 7:10 PM.

The board came out of executive session at 7:22 PM with no action being taken.

Discussed the draft scholarship applications for 2021. Ms. Ashcroft and Ms. Russell will meet as the scholarship committee soon to review them and have them sent to area schools.

Mr. Denardo moved to adjourn. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

John Paul Faignant

Sharon Russell

Aaron Jones

 

Center Rutland, VT.