Select Board Minutes 4-25-2023

Select Board Minutes 4-25-2023

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

APRIL 25^th, 2023

 

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

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Sharon Russell, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present John Ruggerio, Fred Nicholson, Ted Washburn, Erica Washburn, Mike Gabriele, Lisa Sears, Jim Marsh, Shelley Dumas

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for April 11^th:

Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. Selectman Hathaway asked for clarification language to be added. This was approved. The motion passed 4 – 0. Selectman Denardo abstained from the vote.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for April 17^th:

Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. Selectman Hathaway abstained from the vote.

Announcements from Board Members

Reminder of the due date for Scholarship applications from High School seniors. They are due April 28^th by noon.

Update from the Select Board Chair

There is an open house at the McKinley Avenue Fire Station Saturday April 29^th from 10AM to 12PM to allow the public to see the current facility and discuss any questions about the new proposed facility.

The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day is Saturday April 29^th at the Transfer Station.

Question from the Floor / Public Comment

Jim Marsh was present and discussed a speeding issue he is seeing on Simons Avenue. Discussed the issue with the Police Officers who were present. An effort will be made to target some patrols in the area. Mr. Marsh asked about the possibility of changing Simons Avenue from a two-way street to a one-way street. This has been brought up in the past and it was not popular. Further discussion will be referred to the Highway Committee.

John Ruggerio was present to discuss the process to purchase an approximately 30-acre parcel of Town Owned Land. The Board will be discussing a process to sell it in executive session, with any decisions to be made when back in open session.  Mr. Ruggerio gave the Board the history of the parcel as he was aware of it.

Mike Gabriele was present to discuss an issue he is experiencing with neighbors who own some free-range chickens, that are creating a nuisance. There are no regulations in Town which address the issues being experienced. After discussion, the Town Police will assist where they can and the Planning Commission will look in to applicable statutes and creating an ordinance.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Mowing has started at the parks.
2. Work on getting the pool ready to open is underway.
3. Baseball has started and the schedules are available online.
4. The grass surfaces at both parks are having a difficult time growing well this year. Discussed ways to investigate the cause and what could be done to help. Some vendors will be contacted to give quotes for solutions.
5. Discussed the request from residents to put in a dog park at Northwood Park. The committee reviewed the request. There is no room, or funds, to build a dog park. The area being asked to build it is not owned by the Town; it is owned by the school. The committee is suggesting using established parks in other towns for now, but will not approve dogs being off leash in the park. Discussed approaching the School Board about the future of the management of the area they own. Selectboard Chair Ashcroft will start this discussion.
6. Discussed the topic of E-Bikes in the park. The committee is recommending continuing to not allow any motorized bikes on park trails. This is consistent with the current policy.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. Reminder of the 2 upcoming open houses. One on April 29^th, and the other on May 13^th.
2. There have been 17 calls for service in the past 2 weeks.

Town Head Lister Marcia Chioffi

1. The first of the 2 new Listers started recently, and it is going well so far.
2. There continue to be issues with the new program rollout from the State.
3. The Grand List is due to be lodged by June 1^st, but many if not all Towns will be looking for an extension. The tax rate should be able to be set without issues.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Several vendors have been contacted over the past year or more to come in and talk about digitizing our lands records. Mark Kirk from COTS was present to discuss his company with the Board.
   1. This system is used with many municipalities in Rutland County alone.
   2. Discussed some unauthorized access issues they recently experienced, the scope and the efforts taken to mitigate future issues.
   3. There are some additional services available which would allow residents to be notified of recordings which reference their property.
   4. Board members are in favor of establishing this service.
   5. Quotes will be made available for the next meeting.
2. Provided a 1^st and 3^rd class liquor license for Johnny Boys Restaurant. The Police have no issues with them. Discussed the status of the approval if it is sold. If that happens, a new license would be needed. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve both licenses. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
3. The 3^rd installment of taxes is due by May 10^th.
4. Discussed the May 23^rd special election. Ballots are being prepared to be mailed. They should be to registered voters by next week.
5. Reviewed the budget status sheets provided to Board members. Committee members are encouraged to review their respective departments as well as the general budget.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. All the winter maintenance equipment has been cleaned and stored.
2. Working on a 5-year paving list. Using historical records, a comprehensive plan should be developed soon.
3. Work on the shared use path is underway.
4. Working on securing easements for the Post Road sidewalk.
5. A compost pile has been started at Northwood Park.
6. The Natural Resource Conservation District is setting up the highway garage for their annual sale.
7. Boardman Hill will be graded when a vendor can be hired to do it.
8. Green Up Day is May 6^th. When bags are filled, please call the Highway Garage and leave a message with the location so they can be picked up.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. The public information meeting for the Short-Term Rental ordinance is planned for May 11^th. A list of frequently asked questions is being developed based on feedback. This will be published when it is ready.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided and discussed.
2. Discussed a benefit accrual question. This will be brought to the Personnel Committee.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. The Otter Creek Communication Union District Board appointment is up. The Board meets once a month. Bill is the current appointee and has been unable to attend meetings due to a scheduling conflict. After some discussion, the appointment will be advertised to see if a town resident would like to join. There are options for alternates as well.
2. The Rutland Regional Transportation Advisory Committee appointment needs to be updated. Dave Sears has served in the role most recently and is willing to continue. Jim Hall has been our alternate but is no longer able to do so. Selectman Hathaway moved to appoint Dave Sears for the upcoming year and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed  4 – 0.
3. The Rutland Regional Board of Commissioners appointment needs to be updated. Jim Hall was the primary and is no longer able to do so. We did not have an alternate. Fred Nicholson said he is interested. Selectman Hathaway moved to appoint Fred Nicholson for the upcoming year and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
4. There are still annual appointments which need to be made. Selectman Hathaway nominated Lucas Hubbard to be the Weigher of Coal. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
5. All of the vacant appointments will be advertised.
6. The current contractor we have used to mow Town lawns has sold his business to Conner Gallipo, who worked for him. Conner has agreed to fulfill the contract at the current terms. Selectman Denardo moved to approve Conner Gallipo. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
7. Scholarship requests are due by Friday at noon.
8. The Highway Department has made a request to purchase a sewer inspection camera system using the VLCT Safety Grant. Based on the quote we received, it will cost us less than $50 after the $7500 grant. Grant paperwork will be provided at the next meeting.
9. PegTv is unavailable to come to the school on May 22^nd to record the meeting.
10. The request to make an exception on the vendor ordinance for an event is being postponed at the request of the event organizer.
11. Some issues with E-911 addressing around Town have been identified. A list and suggestions will be discussed at a future meeting.
12. A building / technology committee meeting is needed. There are several topics needing discussion. After discussion, a meeting will be warned for Monday May 1^st at 9AM.
13. The Delinquent Tax Collector has asked for help with a variety of tasks getting set up. The total is about $125 in costs. After discussion, the Board has asked for an invoice with the charges to be sent.

Discussed the trees at Northwood Park. The ones on the ground were cut from the maintenance right-of-way. They are not subject to Act 250. Fred Nicholson has someone who has reached out and said he could take them. An Act 250 permit request will be sent to the Board for approval to get permission to cut trees down that are outside the maintenance right-of-way. The party interested in the wood will be contacted to see when he can pick it up.

Selectwoman Russell moved to go into executive session to discuss advice from Town Counsel, a possible land transaction, and a personnel issue. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 8:19PM.

Upon leaving executive session at 9:08PM, Selectwoman Russell moved that lot # 63-01-00 be published offering it for sale with sealed bids. The bids would be due May 30^th, 2023. Bids will be opened at the June 6^th board meeting. The Town would reserve the right to reject any and all bids. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Selectman Denardo moved to adjourn. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

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Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

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Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

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Sharon Russell

 

 

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Kurt Hathaway

 

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Matt Getty

Center Rutland, VT.