Select Board Minutes 3-1-2021

3.1.2021 Select Board

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

HELD VIA PUBLICALLY ACCESSABLE CONFERENCE CALL LINE

MARCH 1^st, 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 5:30 P.M.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, John Paul Faignant and Aaron Jones
• Members of the public present Lydia Flynn, Robert Perkins, Marty Wasserman, Larry Dellveneri, Don Chioffi, Jim Scholtz, Mike Carlson, Bill Kingsley, Chris Howland

Ms. Ashcroft asked for a moment of silence to recognize the passing of former board member John Socinski. He served the town for many years and Ms. Ashcroft passed along their condolences to the family.

Approval of Orders

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

Approval of Select Board Minutes for February 16^th:

• Mr. Faignant moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0. Mr. Denardo abstained from the vote.

Question from the floor

1. Howard Burgess discussed a certificate to be signed closing the Grand List. The letter needs to be signed by April 1^st. It will be included in the packet for the next meeting.

Bill Sweet Administrative Assistant to the Select Board:

1. Provided an updated meeting schedule and committee agenda list.
2. The ordinances are being updated and as soon as they are ready meeting with departments will need to be scheduled.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk/Treasurer:

1. Reminded all residents town meeting is tonight via zoom at 7PM.
2. Polling places will be open tomorrow 7AM to 7PM.
3. Discussed the process for counting ballots tomorrow. After talking with the Health Officer, in person counting can be done with limited people in rooms together. There needs to be 3 groups of 2 counters each.
   1. The counting will be streamed live via zoom so anyone can watch the counting happen.
   2. Mr. Faignant commented that Town Hall will not be open to the public due to Covid-19 restrictions.
   3. Ms. Ashcroft clarified that the only ballots being counted will be the absentee and early ballots.

Barbara Noyes-Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Reviewed a recent meeting with the developer who is proposing a development off Middle Road.
   1. They discussed a lot of their amenities and efficiency efforts.
   2. Discussed possible impact to the school. The developer said that due to the limit of 1- and 2-bedroom units they do not expect a lot of children.
   3. The various departments will have their opportunity to review the project and address concerns.
2. The commission is also working on a list of questions and topics to discuss with developers to keep the group on track.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Basketball was a great success, and the live stream has been working very well.
2. Spring sports will be dictated by the guidance from the Governor.

Byron Hathaway Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Discussed a call received from a resident of Clarendon asking us to reclassify the remaining section of Quarterline Road to Class 3 in hopes of having the maintenance level increased.
   • Mr. Hathaway said he did not support changing it at this time. There are no town residents who live on this section of road.
2. The signs have been put up renaming the section of road to Sugarwood Hill Extension.
3. Provided information on reclassifying roads. The process does require a site visit. There is a section of Quarterline Road near Boardman Hill which should have been reclassified but was not. This needs to be rectified.
   • It will be added to Old Business on the agenda.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The hospital has moved their vaccination facility to the Holiday Inn, and it operated between 630AM and 730PM. Rutland City Fire will be responding automatically during those times in order to help with evacuations if there was an emergency. They expect approximately 600 people per day to be there.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. The department responded to 34 calls for service over the last 2 weeks.
2. One application was received so far for the position of the new officer.
3. A potential buyer has been found for the oldest cruiser. The car is 6 years old and was planned to be replaced. The best option is to sell the car instead of trading it in. The buyer is waiting for us to give them the price we would like for it.
   • Mr. Denardo moved to authorize the cruiser. Mr. Faignant seconded the motion.
   • Mr. Jones asked when the new car is expected. Deputy Chief Washburn said it was ordered 2 weeks ago and has a 90-day lead time.
   • The camera and radar system in addition to the lightbar are being removed prior to sale.
   • The motion passed 4-0.
4. An opportunity to purchase radios and warning light system from John Sly is available to us. The cost is approximately half of what it would cost new and some is still under warranty. The cost would come from the current equipment budget and not the depreciation account.
   • Mr. Denardo moved to approve the purchase. Mr. Jones seconded the motion.
   • The purchase will put this line into a deficit however several other accounts are not being used and the bottom line of the budget will not be in a deficit.
   • The motion passed 4-0.
5. Deputy Chief Washburn asked about being able to purchase the remaining equipment for the cruiser.
   • Two prices have been received. $2096 and $2157.
   • The second quote includes the center console needed for the install. The first does not.
   • Discussed what source of funding will be used. The remaining equipment cost will come from the depreciation account. Mr. Denardo stated the proceeds of the sale from the cruiser will be put back into the depreciation account.
   • Mr. Jones moved to purchase the balance of the equipment needed with funds to be taken from the depreciation account. Mr. Faignant seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
6. Mr. Denardo moved to rescind the vote authorizing the purchase of equipment from John Sly using funds from the equipment account and have the expense charged to the depreciation account. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0.

Committee meeting updates:

1. Reviewed the minutes from the Police Committee meeting.
   1. Prices for the requested mobile printers have not been received yet.

Mr. Faignant commented on several calls he has received regarding the move of the library out of the Downtown area. He asked if anyone on the board has been contacted by a library representative about the move. Ms. Ashcroft said she had been invited to a meeting in December which she was not able to attend. Mr. Denardo discussed some challenges that will be faced by the current users. Mr. Faignant expressed concern that this move is not really benefiting town residents. Discussed expressing concerns brought up by town residents to the library board. Marty Wasserman commented that the library is offering tours on a variety of days coming up over the next few weeks.

Mr. Faignant moved to form an ad hoc committee to review the feedback and investigate the move. Mr. Denardo seconded the motion. Mr. Jones asked what the end result would be. Mr. Faignant said he would like the committee to follow up with the full board and provide feedback. Ms. Ashcroft asked anyone who is interested in serving on the committee to be in touch with a board member and also Bill. Don Chioffi commented that representatives from the board of directors should be contacted to discuss with the representatives about this move.  The motion passed 4-0.

Reviewed the tabled agenda items. No action will be taken at this time.

Mr. Denardo moved to adjourn. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:27 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

John Paul Faignant

ABSENT

Sharon Russell

Aaron Jones

 

Center Rutland, VT.