Selectboard Minutes 1-27-2026

Selectboard Minutes 1-27-2026

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

JANUARY 27^th, 2026

 

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Sharon Russell, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present Joshua Lemieux, Robyn Sweet

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for January 13^th:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 3 – 0. Selectwoman Russell abstained.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for January 20^th:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 3 – 0. Selectwoman Russell abstained.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the orders. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4- 0.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Thanked everyone involved in putting the town report together.

Ted Washburn Rutland Town Deputy Police Chief:

1. Discussed the purchase of a new cruiser, from the recent Police Committee meeting, to replace the 2016 Dodge Charger.

• The quote is $4936 more than last year, which is the actual cost of the vehicle.
• The total from the dealer is $79217.15 which includes all of the warning equipment and the prisoner transport system. They will also install a town provided camera and radar system. The cables for the radios will be run but radios will come from CVC for $2446.29. The Stalker radar system is $3640. The total is $85,303.44
• At the committee meeting, the quote for the camera system had not been received. Motorola is the vendor we have used in the past. When it came, the total was approximately $12,000. This is more than we wanted to pay for. The plan is to assign the Dodge truck to the SRO, remove the camera system in it, and put that in the new vehicle.
• There are other vendors who offer these camera systems. DC Washburn will look into it.
• The balance in the Cortina fund is $153,177.
• Selectman Getty moved to approve the purchase as laid out, with the funds to come from the Cortina Fund. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. Discussed the plan for the one being replaced. The plan is to offer it for sale as it is to another department. Discussed other options. The police committee will take it up later. The motion carried 4 – 0.
• Selectman Denardo moved to authorize the Police Chief to sign the order for the cruiser. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. With the recent storm included, the contractors are at 36 call outs.
2. Our salt supply is starting to run low. Salt was not spread over the weekend and was only used this morning. There are about 200 tons left.
3. For January, 17 days of 27 have needed to have the crew out plowing.
4. The vehicle replacement schedule is nearly done.
5. The Highway department has no issues with the municipal impact questions from the Florys Plaza project.
6. Discussed the past issues with the sewer line from the Eco Car Wash. The replacement screen is in now and can be picked up. There have been reports of employees making sure trucks don’t have loose debris in the back of them prior to washing.
7. Discussed the fire district #5 water issue. A meeting of our public works committee needs to be scheduled to discuss this.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. There have been 2 senior luncheons for grab and go. 70 meals were served today.
2. Basketball is going well.
3. The ice rink at the school is open every day until 8PM.
4. Discussed the pre-town and town meeting.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Reviewed a recent meeting held with Green Mountain Power regarding the Pocket Park. GMP had to clarify some key points with the federal agency they are working with to relicense the hydro dam. A follow-up meeting is planned for February. Discussed retaining an engineer to help create some of the specific designs for the park. The Board is in favor of this. Discussed notifying our Town attorney in case his services are needed.
2. The first meeting on sign content for the park will be held with representatives of indigenous tribes on February 19^th as part of a Town Planning Commission meeting.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Reported on the current rate of collected taxes. 92% of taxes have been paid on time so far. This is behind what is normally recorded.
2. The ballot for Town meeting has been sent to the printer. Once they are received, absentee ballots will be mailed.
3. Reminded dog owners they need to get licenses for them.
4. Reviewed the budget status sheets. This is for the first 6 months of the fiscal year.

Reviewed an application to the Fire Department for April Elrick. Meetings have been held and checks are done. They are a city resident. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the application. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. The hardcopy proof of the Town report is due to us tomorrow. Once approved the printer will produce them to have them mailed by February 12^th.
2. Reviewed a recent discussion with Northstar Fireworks. There is no chance to have fireworks on the 4^th, those dates were booked months ago. They said essentially any other day is available. The larger issue is cost. Due to large cost increases related to tariffs, the cost this year will be more than 50% higher than last year at $20,000. The board agreed this did not make good financial sense. Discussed what could be done instead. A Rec Committee meeting will be held soon so this can be discussed.
3. Reviewed an updated agreement to complete our road erosion inventory sent to us from the RRPC. The first one billed us time and materials. This amendment makes it a lump sum of $5584. This amount may be reduced if Highway crew members help with it. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the agreement and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Town. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
4. Reviewed the Act 250 municipal impact questionnaire from the Florys Plaza. Department heads which provide services were asked about it and did not have any issues with it. Selectman Denardo moved to have Mr. Sweet do a final check with department heads and then sign off on it. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 3 – 0. Selectman Getty abstained.
5. Provided an annual contract with CAI Technologies to update our paper and digital tax maps. This is a vendor we have used before, and the $3400 expense was budgeted for. Selectman Getty moved to approve the contract. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
6. Reviewed a copy of the letter sent to the Eco Car Wash regarding their sewer allocation for 2025. They exceeded it by approximately 5600 gallons. Our applicable town ordinance requires them to apply and pay for the difference. There is no action needed by the Board at this time.
7. Provided a draft letter which will be going out to residents who have deposited snow onto a town road after the plows have gone by, in violations of state statute. This letter advises the residents of their responsibility with no penalty initially.

Selectman Getty moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

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Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

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Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

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Sharon Russell

 

_________________ABSENT_____________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

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Matt Getty