Select Board Minutes 7-5-2023

Select Board Minutes 7-5-2023

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECT BOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

JULY 5^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 Shelley Dumas, Ryan Getner, Emily Howe

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Select Board Minutes for June 20^th:

Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Update from the Select Board Chair

Fireworks were canceled due to the expected poor weather conditions. The rain date has a poor forecast as well so the decision was made to hold off on fireworks until the Town Wide Celebration on August 19^th.   

Board to review for approval, MS4 Community Grant Intent to participate letter

Andres Torizzo was present and provided details on a grant opportunity.

There is a leverage requirement for the $200,000 grant, up to 50%. It can include in kind work.

This is intended to complete projects in Town like Wynnemere. There is a 2-year time frame to spend the money.

Selectwoman Russell moved to authorize the Chair to sign the letter for the grant on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. The application for energy audits is available now and needs to be submitted by October.
2. Discussed the proposed Post Road solar project. This is a large 3 MW project. The developer has been invited to the next Planning Commission meeting. Selectwoman Russell moved to table the discussion. The motion failed due to no second. There was discussion of requesting a site visit. The Planning Commission will talk to the developer and follow up with Board at the next meeting.
3. Discussed the proposed wind turbine project off Quarterline Road. There are 2 turbines planned. The Planning Commission will invite the developer to their meeting as well. Comments are due by July 19^th.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The fields at Northwood Park are growing well after the reseeding and fertilizing.
2. The next 9 holes of the disc golf course will be installed soon.
3. New signs along the walking trails have been installed to replace the ones which were vandalized.
4. The Velemont bike trail system had a meeting recently. Plans for the area in and around the park are being developed.
5. Discussed the fireworks. The change this year to the Town Wide Celebration date could be a positive one.
6. The next session of swim lessons begin soon.
7. Dive in movies are planned, but is dependent on the weather.
8. The summer lunch for the Town seniors is July 25^th at 11AM at the pool.
9. Discussed the stone bench project. It is being unveiled at a ceremony this Friday.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Introduced Chris Howe, the newest road crew member, to the Board.
2. East Pittsford Road paving is complete.
3. Quarterline Road has been graded, but drivers have already created pot holes on it due the speed they are driving. There is a planned meeting on July 20^th with members of the Clarendon Select Board to discuss our Class 4 section of the road. Many topics will be discussed.
4. Construction work on the Post Road sidewalk has started.
5. A culvert on Sugarwood Hill Road will need to be replaced due to it deteriorating.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. The real estate assessments have been finished as of today.
2. The grand list should be lodged next week.
3. Lister cards should be online soon.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Discussed affirming funds which should not be swept into the capital improvement fund. Selectman Denardo moved to roll the special income paid by Cortina Inn and Days Inn toward the policing services into this fiscal year and not into the capital improvement fund and be maintained separately. The funds are for directed patrols by the Police department. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
2. The Cortina Inn recently paid $21,000 instead of $22,500 which they normally did. They had been paying in advance but are now paying late. The Days Inn has paid as agreed.
3. Requested a personnel and finance committee meeting soon.
4. The state education tax rate has been received. There is a minor change in the homestead rate.
5. Discussed when to borrow the money for the public safety building, so payments can be included in the appropriate fiscal budget. With the funds available currently, it may be a year from now before that is necessary.

Mike Delehanty Town 1^st Constable

1. Discussed a recent issue at the Diamond Run Mall. There are some issues the property mangers need to address. The local contact will be notified.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided.
2. Discussed the acquisition of the new police cruiser. After contacting Dodge, the factory does not even have the order in queue to be built yet. A dealer, used by Rutland City Police, was contacted and they have a vehicle in their inventory ready and available. The dealer is holding the vehicle for us. The quote is from McGovern Municipal for a Chevy Tahoe at a cost of $44,758.25. This does not include a trade in on the current vehicle. Once a new one is purchased, the old one will be sold and proceeds put back into the depreciation fund. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the purchase. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The funds will come from the Cortina Inn funds. The motion passed 5 – 0.
3. Thanked all the members of the Police Department for their work while he was on vacation. Everything went very well.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. A new letter from VHB and GMP to Act 250 regarding their project was provided. The Board had no objections to it.
2. A water connection request for 196 Randbury Road was received. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the request. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. This property owner had received a sewer allocation for the same property in June of 2021. The connection has not yet been made. The approval expires after one year, per the ordinance. After discussion, the owner has made a good faith effort to make the connection. Selectman Denardo moved to approve a one-year extension to the allocation request from today’s date. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
3. There is a new grant opportunity which will be available tomorrow. It is for electric vehicle charging stations. This could be used to fund the cost of installation at the new public safety building and Town Hall. After discussion, we will pursue the grant for both locations.
4. Discussed the request from the Fire District to address storm water drains connected to the sewer system. The water and sewer committee should meet to discuss this.

Selectman Getty nominated Darron Raleigh for Town Grand Juror. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion passed 5 – 0.

Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session for contract discussions and an update on pending litigation with the Town Attorney. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The Board entered executive session at 8:05 PM.

Selectwoman Russell left the meeting during the executive session due to illness.

Upon leaving executive session, Selectman Denardo moved to authorize the Chair to sign the contract between the Town of Rutland and VMS Construction for the new Public Safety Building, upon confirmation from the Town Attorney that all agreed upon conditions have been met. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:04 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.