Select Board Minutes 2-5-19

Select Board 2-5-19

TOWN OF RUTLAND

SELECT BOARD MEETING-OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL BUILDING

181 US BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

FEBRUARY 5th, 2019

 

  • Board members present: Josh Terenzini, Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo
  • Meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance

 

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders

Approval of Select Board Minutes for 1/22/19

  • Ashcroft moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Denardo seconded to the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for 1/23/19

  • Denardo moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Ashcroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

 

New Business: Board to meet with Matt Bogaczyk regarding proposed changes to East Pittsford Road Intersection;

  • Matt Bogaczyk Pavement Designer and Project Manager from VTrans was present to discuss the proposed changes to the intersection of East Pittsford Road and Route 7 North during a planned repaving project in 2019.
    • 2 letters from town residents were received opposing the changes proposed.
    • Bogaczyk gave an overview of the proposed changes to the intersection, including the removal of the north bound slip lane onto East Pittsford Road and why the changes were implemented to this project.
    • The changes proposed should make the intersection safer based on current design standards.
    • Reviewed 5 years of crash data, it is unknown if any of the 9 crashes in the vicinity would have been prevented by this new configuration.
    • Town resident Robyn Schmitt addressed her concerns with the board and Mr. Bogaczyk
    • Town resident David Schmitt addressed his concerns with the board and Mr. Bogaczyk
    • Town Clerk and Treasurer Kirsten Hathaway addressed her concerns with the board and Mr. Bogaczyk
    • Town School Board Chair Matt Branchaud addressed his concerns with the board and Mr. Bogaczyk
    • Bogaczyk said this intersection was not considered a high crash location.
    • Town Resident Lisa Swett addressed her concerns with the board and Mr. Bogaczyk
    • Town resident Susan Cooley addressed her concerns with the board and Mr. Bogaczyk
    • Town Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway gave his comments about the town possibly accepting liability if the town rejects the changes.
    • Denardo moved to follow the recommendation from VTrans and allow them to change the configuration of the road. No other board member made a second to the motion. There was no vote.
    • Ashcroft moved to ask VTrans to leave the configuration as it is now. Mr. Terenzini seconded the motion. The vote was 2-1. There was discussion as to whether the motion passes without a unanimous vote with only 3 members present. Mr. Denardo moved to take a recess to attempt to contact Town Attorney Kevin Brown to ask his advice. Ms. Ashcroft seconded the motion. The board recessed at 7:56 PM.
    • The board came back from recess at 7:09 PM, without being able to reach the town attorney. The motion is tabled until after contact with the town attorney is made and another meeting can be held with more board members present to satisfy quorum voting requirements if the vote is unable to be approved.

New Business: Board to meet with Planning Commission applicant, Mary Beth Poli;

  • The board met with Mary Beth to discuss her application to the Planning Commission.
  • Board members asked her questions to determine her qualifications and insight.
  • Ashcroft moved to appoint Mary Beth Poli to the non-alternate seat open on the Planning Commission. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

New Business: Board to discuss hourly wage in the listers office;

  • This is being referred to the personnel committee.

New Business: Board to meet with Jim Hall for a Transportation Council update;

  • The council recently met to discuss prioritization for upcoming county projects.
  • The council will be sending a letter to VAOT supporting their position which is to oppose the proposed changes to the East Pittsford Road intersection.

 

 

Bill Sweet Administrative Assistant to the Select Board:

  • Provided the board with an update on acquiring the sculpture from the Vietnam memorial. Wherever it goes it will have to be inside. The West Rutland American Legion and the VA in White River Junction are also interested.
    • The board will pass on this opportunity as a suitable indoor location is not available.
  • Presented the board with information regarding a complaint filed with the VT PUC regarding the Otter Creek solar project.
  • Presented a joint letter received from the Waterbury & Stratford select boards. This will be referred to the Highway Committee.
  • The Rutland Regional Planning Commission is working with the Town, Bill Sweet, Marty Wasserman and Byron Hathaway in developing a new local hazard mitigation plan. We have posted a notice online giving more information on how to contact the RRPC representative if anyone wished to have input on the plan.
  • Friday February 1st was the last due date for water & sewer accounts billed through Rutland City. A small number of accounts are past due. Fathom does not yet know how they will handle collections on these and ensuring the town is paid back the full amount. A call with Rutland city and Fathom is planned but not yet scheduled. We are hoping to collect on these soon and avoid the issue.
  • The 2018 town reports have been delivered. We are planning a group to label them on the 12th.

 

Barbara Noyes-Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

  • At least 1 more meeting is needed to discuss the view shed survey from Middlebury College. It will be on March 21st. The public hearing will be held as soon as possible after that

Kirsten Hathaway Rutland Town Clerk/Treasurer:

  • Hathaway presented liquor licenses for signature.
    • Ashcroft moved to approve both license applications from the Holiday Inn. One is for inside and one is an outside consumption permit. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
    • Ashcroft moved to approve the application from 99 Restaurant LLC. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
    • Ashcroft moved to approve the application from Hannaford Grocery store. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
    • Ashcroft moved to approve the application from Jolley Associates. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
    • Ashcroft moved to approve the application from Johnny Boys Pancake House. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
  • Hathaway presented the Grand List on behalf of the listers to be closed. There is no pending action. Ms. Ashcroft moved to close the grand list for 2018-2019. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
  • Ballots for town meeting day have been ordered. Absentee ballots can be requested any time now.
  • Town hall will be closed on February 18th for Presidents Day.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

  • Basketball season is starting to wind down.
  • Baseball signups will be available online soon
  • Contacted the school board regarding reinvesting their funds from the timber sale back into their portion of Northwood Park.
    • Options have been discussed but no decisions have been made.
    • The funds are still in the Mead Fund at this time.
    • The allocation for the school will be included in the orders at the next meeting.

Byron Hathaway Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

  • Discussed changing the classifications of sections of Sugarwood Hill Road and Dyer Road from Class 3 to a Class 4 road. The process for this will be started
  • Discussed changing the classifications of the section of Stratton Road in the Town from Class 3 to a Class 2 road. It will not be possible without Rutland City applying jointly due to VTrans requirements.
  • Presented pictures showing an issue with drainage on a residents property.
    • Looking into options on how to remedy it. May involve cooperation from residents in the area.
    • A resident on Grover Drive has drainage issues caused by a pump they have installed and is now interfering with an easement the town has for storm water. He will do more research and report back to the board.
  • Discussion on the Town taking over Carmel Place.
    • This will be referred to the highway committee

 

Frank Cioffi Rutland Town Fire Chief:

  • Asked the board to assist with implementing a burning ordinance in the Town. The current open burning guidelines used in town are set by the state.
    • The fire committee will take this up for discussion.
    • Bill will work on some preliminary concepts.
  • Discussed the current fire department vehicle replacement schedule.
    • The next truck to be replaced will be the support truck at Station 2.
    • A copy was presented to the Select Board in 2004. A signed copy of that cannot be found.
    • Further discussion of the plan will be done at a Fire Committee meeting.
  • Discussed status of money expected to receive back from the Center Rutland Fire Station issues. The town attorney has the files, Josh will follow up with him.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

  • Dumas provided the board with recent calls for service.
  • Thank the Fire Department for their help at a recent car accident on Route 7 North.

Committee meeting updates:

  • Updates on recent Town Report and Police Committee meetings

Prevent Child Abuse VT sent a letter asking for donations in exchange for pinwheels. Ms. Ashcroft moved to spend $100 to purchase pinwheels to support their program. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Ms. Ashcroft moved to enter executive session for possible contract negotiation with Mr. Bill Sweet attending Mr. Denardo made a second to the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The board entered executive session at 8:32 PM.

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Ms. Ashcroft made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Denardo made a second to the motion. The motion passed 3-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

Joshua Terenzini, Chairman

 

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Clerk

 

_______________________________________________
John Paul Faignant

 

_______________________________________________

Sharon Russell

 

_______________________________________________

Joe Denardo

 

Center Rutland, VT.