Select Board Minutes 6-6-2023

Publish date: June 8, 2023

Select Board Minutes 6-6-2023

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

JUNE 6th, 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, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
  • Members of the public present Shelley Dumas, Robyn Sweet, Melody Hemenway

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for May 22nd:

Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes from the Regular Board meeting.  Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes from the Special Board meeting on the Public Safety Building. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

  1. Baseball is coming to an end soon.
  2. The grass on the baseball fields is growing well.
  3. The pool pass signups are today and tomorrow, and several people have come to get them.
  4. The pool opened last weekend and people did come to swim.

New Business: Board to meet with Evan Detrich from VHB regarding the service road project.

  1. Reviewed the history of the service road project.
  2. Work on the project ended in 2018, at the request of the Board.
  3. There are several permitting requirements which will be needed as well as approximately 8 easements.
  4. Options for large- and small-scale projects are available.
  5. There is $30,000 included in the FY 24 Highway budget to use towards this project.
  6. VHB will provide an updated cost and timeline structure for the Board to review.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

  1. Space is being made for the asphalt material we will get from the East Pittsford Road project.
  2. Road work on East Pittsford Road may begin as early as next week.
  3. The final invoices for Town Line Road paving are expected soon. Once they are received, the reimbursement request from the state grant will be requested. We can get up to $200,000 back.
  4. A new compost bin at Northwood Park is being constructed. This will be managed by the Highway crew.
  5. A new road crew member has not been hired yet, but interviews are scheduled.
  6. Discussed a culvert issue on Gloria Drive. This was originally installed by the town. There are some design issues going back to the original installation. Work on this will be done as time allows later this summer. There is not an easement in effect, but one will be secured prior to work beginning.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

  1. Recent calls for service were provided.
  2. Discussed an issue with TT units using Meadowlake Drive and East Pittsford Road as a shortcut. They are overweight for the roads they are using. The police will monitor this.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

  1. The final draft of the Short-Term Rental ordinance was approved at the recent meeting, and the group voted to send it to the Select Board.
    1. This was 3 weeks after the public meeting on it. Discussed the process they went through in their approval of it.
    2. A copy of the draft was provided to Board members.
    3. Reviewed the public interaction at the hearing.
    4. Discussed having a hearing at a Board meeting. After discussion, the June 20th Board meeting will be warned for 5PM, and then recess at 6PM to have the public hearing for the Short-Term Rental Ordinance, with the regular meeting to resume at 7PM.

New Business Board to vote on accepting MERP funds.

  1. The grant award is $4000 and does not require a local match.
  2. A consultant to help guide energy efficiency upgrades can be hired using this money. Town Hall and the Highway garage were the 2 buildings targeted for this work.
  3. After discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to accept the grant and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Getty Seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

New Business Board to hold hearing on a vicious dog complaint.

  1. Don Accavallo and TJ Moran were present to speak about the matter. Both were sworn in prior to their testimony.
  2. Accavallo provided his testimony, in addition to his written statement provided to the Board prior to the hearing. A fence had been installed but fell during a storm. The fence is not part of an enclosure. His dog has been attacked and sustained injuries on several occasions requiring vet care.
  3. The statement from Mr. Accavallo and the pictures he included are included as part of the evidence. Mr. Moran had no objection to this.
  4. Reports from the Center Rutland Vet Hospital are included as part of the evidence. Mr. Moran had no objection to this.
  5. Accavallo asked if his vet expenses could be reimbursed. The ordinance does not have a provision for this.
  6. Moran provided his testimony with a prepared statement. The statement detailed their side of the interactions and their efforts to mitigate their neighbors’ concerns. Copies of messages between the parties were provided by Mr. Moran. These discuss different interactions from the past. After Mr. Accavallo had the opportunity to review them, he agreed they could be included as evidence.
  7. The 2 parties had been using their outside lights as a signal to the other their respective dog was outside. This has been working at night, but not in the daytime.
  8. Damage to the fence from storms has been repaired and the fence was lowered to prevent dogs from going under it.
  9. Discussed scenarios where Mr. Moran’s dog has slipped out of his collar. It happened when he reached the end of his lead and pulled hard against it. Mr. Moran agreed a 4-point harness could be a better solution. Mr. Accavallo requested a gate be installed to close a gap in the fence.
  10. Moran drew a diagram of the 2 properties depicting the scenario. Both parties agreed it was accurate.
  11. The Board will deliberate on this topic at a future time to issue an order.

New Business Board to open bids for the Town owned parcel of land offered for sale.

  1. A 29.0-acre parcel of town owned land was offered for sale.
  2. 2 sealed bids were received.
  3. The bids are:
    1. Mark Foley of P&R properties – $55,555.55
    2. John Ruggerio – $12,500
  4. The Board received the bids on file and will decide on action at a future meeting when there is a full Board.

Selectman Getty moved to enter executive session for the purpose of pending litigation, possible litigation and advice on a contract. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The Town Attorney and Town Police Chief would also be included. The motion passed 3 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 7:55PM.

The Board came out of executive session at 8:59PM with no action being taken.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

  1. Presented an application for sewer discharge from Joseph Rizzy at 14 McKinley Avenue in the amount of 13 gallons per day.
    1. They intend to connect to the municipal line at a future date.
    2. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the application. Selectman Getty seconded the motion.
    3. Selectman Getty was given a brief overview of why and how we issue allocations.
    4. The motion passed 3 – 0.
  2. The Clarendon Admin contacted our office after a Clarendon resident contacted their Select Board asking for help to discuss Quarterline Road maintenance. After discussion, the matter will be forwarded to the Highway Committee.
  3. There is a Board meeting scheduled for July 4th. Discussed alternate options to reschedule. After discussion, the pending date will be July 5th at 5PM, with the intent to have an abbreviated agenda.
  4. There are some older folding tables and chairs not being used at the Town Hall. These will first be offered to town departments. If they are not needed they will be offered to the public. Discussed a window which was ordered as part of the Clerks office remodel that was not able to be used. It will also be posted, requesting offers to purchase it.
  5. Updates to the website are planned over the next couple of months. There will be a lot of reorganizing.
  6. We were not awarded a grant to install flashing beacons at the Town Hall crosswalk.
  7. The replacement “gateway” signs to be placed on major roads entering town should be ready soon.
  8. The revised Permit Tracking Ordinance is now in effect.
  9. Discussed the draft of the Short-Term Rental ordinance. The final version will be forwarded to our Town Attorney.

Committee meeting updates:

  1. The Building and Technology Committee met with the architect for the downstairs remodel. They brought preliminary plans for review. Several updates were made. The next meeting has not been scheduled yet.

Provided a list of needed appointments for town positions. This will be published to gather interest.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:21 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

ABSENT

_______________________________________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

ABSENT

_______________________________________________
Sharon Russell

 

______________________________________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

Center Rutland, VT.

 

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