Select Board Minutes 2-28-2023

Publish date: March 2, 2023

Select Board Minutes 2-28-2023

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

FEBRUARY 28th, 2023

 This meeting had a virtual attendance option available for anyone to join.

  • The Special Meeting opened at 5:03 P.M.
  • After a recess, the regular meeting began at 6:11PM
  • The regular meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance
  • Board members present Don Chioffi, Joe Denardo, Mary Ashcroft, Sharon Russell, and Kurt Hathaway
  • Members of the public present for the regular meeting: Shelley Dumas, Jim Scholtz, Robyn Sweet

The special meeting is being held to discuss a personnel matter and negotiations on the Public Safety Building.

Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. The board entered executive session at 5:04 PM.

Present for the discussion on the personnel matter is Town Fire Chief Chris Clark.

The Board came out of Executive Session at 5:26 PM.

Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session to discuss negotiations on the Public Safety Building, the premature disclosure of which would put the Town and other bidders at a disadvantage. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0 with Chairman Chioffi and Selectwoman Ashcroft not voting. The board entered executive session at 5:30 PM.

Present to discuss negotiations on the Public Safety Building in addition to the Board is the Public Safety Building Clerk John Paul Faignant, Town Fire Chief Chris Clark, Town Assistant Fire Chief Larry Dell Veneri, Town Assistant Fire Chief Mike Carlson, Town Police Chief Ed Dumas and Town Deputy Police Chief Ted Washburn.

The Board came out of executive session at 6:00PM.

The Board took a short recess, and the regular meeting began at 6:11PM.

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for February 14th

Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Announcements

Chairman Chioffi read a letter from the Foley Cancer Center at the RRMC thanking the Town for a donation sent to them.

Chairman Chioffi has submitted a letter to the Board indicating his interest in being appointed to the position of Delinquent Tax Collector when it becomes vacant on March 31st. Chairman Chioffi is requesting to transition to this role if the Board approves his request. Chairman Chioffi stated he would resign his Select Board position if appointed. Chairman Chioffi thanked the Board members for their work over the past year. The Board members thanked Chairman Chioffi for his service over the years.

New Business: Board to Discuss the Proposed Public Safety Building

Selectwoman Russell moved to have the Select Board to support the Public Safety Building on the current site, and to approve the bid from VMS Construction who was the low bidder. The award to VMS will be subject to voter approval. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion. Discussed some of the reasons behind the bids being higher than anticipated. The architect estimated a cost of $400 per square foot, which was $150 per square foot more than other facilities recently constructed. The cost for our building came in at $575 per square foot. This is creating an approximate $1.2M gap.  There was extensive conversation by Board members. Questions from Town residents can be answered on March 6th at Town Meeting and a special meeting for this topic will be scheduled in the near future. The motion passed 4 – 1. Chairman Chioffi, Selectman Denardo, Selectwoman Ashcroft and Selectwoman Russell voted for the motion. Selectman Hathaway voted against the motion.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner

  1. Work on reorganizing the shop to make service parts easier to locate continues and is going well.
  2. The plow contractors have been called out 34 of the 43 maximum times we have in the contract before the additional cost is incurred.
  3. The paving list for this year is nearly complete.
  4. There have been no major mechanical issues with the trucks this season.
  5. The 2 additional trucks found are not ready to be purchased yet. The dealer is doing some maintenance on them to get them ready for sale.

New Business: Board to Review for Approval, Town Road, Bridge Standards, and Network Inventory

  1. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the Town Road and Bridge Standards, Network Inventory, and Certification of Compliance. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion.
  2. Discussed ensuring we meet the criteria in the network inventory. The minimum is $300 per mile. Our budget far exceeds the state minimum.
  3. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director

  1. The basketball camp over February break went very well.
  2. There is a new form online for baseball sign ups. This is the first time with a completely online signup process. Payments still need to be brought to Town Hall.
  3. Discussed a growing issue with dogs being off leash at Northwood. There is a dog ordinance in Town which requires dogs to be on leash. A Rec committee meeting will be scheduled to discuss the issue and what solutions could be possible.
  4. Chairman Chioffi thanked Mr. Rowe for his suggestion about the stone bench being made for the Town being dedicated to the people who helped establish the park.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Lister

  1. Business Personnel Property packets have all been sent out to Town businesses. They are due back by April 20th.
  2. The filing cabinet locks are being installed.
  3. Discussed help in the Listers Office. The other 2 Town Listers are not putting in any time. Discussed hiring an assistant for the office. An advertisement for help in the Listers office will be developed. A Town resident is preferred for this position.

Selectwoman Russell left the meeting at 7:26 PM.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

  1. There has been no information back from GMP on the Pocket Park but they did have a notice in the paper that referenced it.
  2. Work has started on an Ordinance for Short-Term Rentals. Discussed the benefits of having the Planning Commission hold a public hearing to help get the word out. After some discussion, it is a good idea, once the ordinance is available for review.
  3. Expressed a concern with driving on East Pittsford Road. Cars are passing in an unsafe manner. Chief Dumas said they will assign units to monitor the area.

Mike Delehanty Town 1st Constable

  1. There is a class coming up soon to be certified in Animal Control. It is a 25-hour course and once complete, animal issues can be directed to him. There is a second part to the course which Constable Delehanty plans to attend as well.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

  1. Town meeting is next week starting with the meeting at the school at 7PM.
  2. Voting is Tuesday March 7th from 7AM to 7PM at our 2 polling locations.
    1. Absentee ballots can be brought to your polling place but need to be there prior to 7PM on Tuesday.
    2. Absentee ballots can still be requested from the office, and early voting at the office is an option as well.
  3. Presented a liquor license renewal application from Hannaford. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the renewal application. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

  1. Recent calls for service were provided and reviewed.
  2. Discussed the payout of overtime based on calculations including regular payroll and the outside detail work being done. Different options were discussed. The funds being used to pay the officers for the detail work are from the special settlement fund and not money raised from taxes.
    1. Selectman Denardo moved to authorize the expenditure of the settlement funds as overtime for the outside detail. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. There was a discussion clarifying the scenarios where the additional rate would apply. The motion passed 3 – 0.
    2. Discussed over time previously lost in this scenario. No action was taken.
  3. Chairman Chioffi said the owner of the Days Inn will be in on Wednesday to bring in his next payment for the settlement.
  4. Chief Dumas cautioned people about leaving items in view that look like a purse. Cars are being broken into for these items.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

  1. Presented a form for appointing representatives to the Solid Waste Alliance Communities. Larry Dell Veneri and Bill Bauer currently represent the Town and they are willing to be reappointed.
    1. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve Larry Dell Veneri and Bill Bauer as our Town representatives. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
  2. After reviewing the sewer discharge usage provided from Rutland City, compared to our allocation list, only 1 property was over. They were sent a letter and application, which was returned.
    1. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the application from Wulnick Properties. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.
  3. Only 1 letter of interest for the delinquent tax collector position has been received. Letters are due by Friday March 10th.
  4. No offers for the trees at Northwood Park have been received yet.
  5. The new Town Report is now available online. The website has been updated with other digital copies of past reports.
  6. Other changes to the website are coming, mainly around reorganizing current data.
  7. The correspondence from the ACLU was sent to our Town Attorney. We have not heard from him yet on it. The ACLU was told it was forwarded to our Town Counsel.

Discussed presentation adjustments for the Town Meeting on Monday night. Selectwoman Russell will not be available. Chairman Chioffi will present the Rec Budget and Selectman Hathaway will present the Fire Budget. There will be an overview of the Public Safety Building project as well.

Discussed the plan to appoint a new Delinquent Tax Collector. The plan is to make the appointment at the meeting on March 14th.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

 
Don Chioffi, Chair
 

 
Joseph Denardo, Clerk
 
Mary Ashcroft
 
Sharon Russell
 
Kurt Hathaway

 

Center Rutland, VT.

Rutland Town News

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