Selectboard Minutes 10-22-2024

Selectboard Minutes 10-22-2024

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

OCTOBER 22^nd, 2024

 

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Sharon Russell, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for October 8^th:

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

Update from the Selectboard Chair

There is a need for brief executive session at the end of the meeting.

The deadline for articles for the next The Circle is November 15^th.

Board to meet with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission regarding the LHMP update

1. Steffanie Bourque from the RRPC, and Marty Wasserman, Town Emergency Management Director presented the draft plan for the update to the town Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
2. Documents related to the update were provided to Board members.
3. Work has been done to identify issues in town. This meeting starts the timeframe for public comment, as well as for other town officials to provide input. All comments need to be emailed to Steffanie.
4. The final draft plan submission is planned for mid-February.
5. A Board and local officials’ comments agenda topic will be added to the November 4^th Board meeting. This will be the final chance to get input.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided and reviewed.
2. Calls for service have gone down at the South end of town but it is not known how many people are still being housed at the Cortina Inn currently.
3. Our Town K9 officer will be completing training this Friday and will be returning to duty soon.
4. A school resource officer candidate is in background now. A Police Committee meeting is needed to discuss this candidate, and to do budget planning. This will be set for November 12^th at 4PM.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Thanked the Highway crew and Chuck Hall for their help replacing the sod at Dewey Field.
2. Basketball signups are available now.
3. The Halloween event at the school is this Friday at 430PM.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. A sinkhole under the sidewalk next to Post Road near Annete Terrace was recently found. A temporary fix has been made but it will need to be replaced. Two others were identified that have failed and will also need replacement.
2. Another culvert failed on Seward Road and caused a sink hole. This is being repaired.
3. There was a sewer plug on 7 South in front of Days Inn. A1 was called to help clear it. Other manholes were checked and need some work completed to open them up. This should be done next week.
4. Discussed a schedule for culvert and manhole maintenance. There are over 700 culverts in Town. It cost $12,000 to get 70 cleaned out. This will be brought up during budgeting.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Reviewed topics from a recent webinar they attended. Reassessments and training were the major topics of it.
2. It is very unlikely the Town could see a reappraisal prior to 2029.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The members participated in the Wonderfeet Halloween event recently. It was a great event.
2. The new utility pick-up will be in service soon.
3. Presented 2 applications for new members. One is a town resident, one is in the City. Both would be senior members. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve Alejandro Anderson and Darrell Sarnowski as new Fire Department members. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. This brings the current roster to 35.
4. A Fire Committee meeting is needed to discuss the budget. It will be set for Thursday November 14^th at 4PM.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Presented a tobacco license application from Stewarts Shops. The Police Chief had no issues. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the request. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
2. Discussed the upcoming election. Reminded residents who wish to vote in person, if a ballot was mailed to you, it needs to be brought to the polling place.
3. Ballots brought in early are checked in and kept sealed, in a secure location until election day. Then they will be opened by ballot clerks and put into the tabulators.

John Paul Faignant Town Health Officer / 2^nd Constable / Public Safety Building Clerk

1. A quote for radio equipment for the new building was received from Central VT Communications. The total is $12,770.86. This is separate from the $33,000 already approved for additional equipment. After discussion, Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the quote. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. The funds will come from the capital improvement fund.

Dana Peterson Rutland Town Planning Commission Clerk:

1. The Commission will be reviewing the Subdivision ordinance recommendations made by the Town Attorney.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Presented a reimbursement request letter for expenses related to our Route 7 north sidewalk project. The request is for $2083.79. Our match is $416.76. We qualify for $1667.03 in reimbursement. Selectman Getty moved to approve the reimbursement request, and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
2. The Regional Planning Commission provided information on their new dues structure, which is based on residency. Our new annual rate will be $3924.
3. The City is asking for permission to trap some beavers on town land, along their water transmission line, and remove a beaver dam. The Board had no issue with it.
4. Short Term rental registrations are coming in, the ordinance takes effect January 1^st.

Discussed setting a date for pre-town meeting. The supervisory union is asking if we had a date set yet. This will be added to the next agenda, the timeline from Town Meeting Day needs to be determined.

Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session to discuss a land transaction matter. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 7:15PM.

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Selectwoman Russell moved to adjourn. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

 

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

________________ABSENT______________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

_______________________________________________
Sharon Russell

 

_______________________________________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.