Selectboard Minutes 10-8-2024

Selectboard Minutes 10-8-2024

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

OCTOBER 8^th, 2024

 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
• The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance.
• A moment of silence was observed for victims of the recent hurricane in the South.

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for September 24^th:

Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. A clerical change was made to add Joe Anthony and Walmart as co-applicants for the Act 250 permit amendment for their project. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Jim Hall, a Planning Commission alternate, emailed Chair Ashcroft and said he will be resigning from his position effective December 31^st. The Chair asked the Board members to think about possible replacements. The position will also be advertised.

The Board met Jared Dumas, the new Town Police Officer. Due to a close familial relationship with the Police Chief, for Officer Dumas, the responsibility of hiring, firing and disciplinary action will fall to the Selectboard. This is part of the amendment made to the personnel policy. Selectwoman Russell moved to officially hire Officer Dumas. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Board to meet with Logan Solomon of the RRPC to discuss the Regional Plan

1. Logon reviewed the steps the Regional Planning Commission is going through to update the regional plan.
2. The plan should be adopted mid-2026.
3. There have been discussions with regional Selectboards and the public to gather input. There are draft policies on the RRPC website, which are created using the feedback gathered.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Fencing at Dewey has been replaced and improved.
2. The Halloween party at school is on October 25^th at 430PM.
3. Fall soccer is continuing for the next few weeks.
4. Discussed topics from the recent Rec Committee meeting.
   1. Budgeting for a full time Rec Director was discussed. The committee is in favor of it.
   2. There would not be a substantial impact on the budget.
5. There is a Town Seniors luncheon at the school planned for December 17^th.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Updated the board on recent maintenance work.
2. The crew attended an OSHA course.
3. There is a sinkhole forming on Seward Road. It will be addressed soon.
4. Boardman Hill and Quarterline Road were graded recently.
5. Discussed topics from the recent Rec Committee meeting.
   1. Met regarding the Route 7N sidewalk. There will be additional local concerns meetings.
   2. Discussed the issues on the West end of Park Street. Coordination with Rutland City may be needed
   3. An adjustment to the depreciation account should be made due to the purchase of new equipment. This will be brought up during budgeting.
6. A resident on Post Road sent a letter about a runoff issue. Discussed a variety of options, including hiring an engineer. Costs may need to be included in the budget for next year.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The new gear washer was recently delivered, and the new dryer is expected this week.
2. Presented a letter which is planned to be sent to local businesses asking for financial support toward the purchase of the cascade system.
3. Presented concepts of signs for the front of the new Public Safety Building. They feature the Town Seal, the Fire Dept emblem, and the name of each truck. Mr. Faignant will ask the contractor about installation. The total cost will vary depending on options.
4. The new pickup truck is ready and will be here soon. There is some local work needing to be done before it goes in service.
5. There is a fire prevention program at the school this Thursday, members will be at the Halloween party at the school, we will participate in the Wonderfeet event downtown, as well as a Halloween event at the Gables.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Presented 2 liquor licenses for approval.
   1. East Asian Restaurant applied for a 6-month 3^rd class license. The Police had no concerns. Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the request. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
   2. Stewarts Shops applied for a 2^nd class license, for the former Jolley location at 351 US Route 4. The Police had no concerns. Selectman Getty moved to approve the license. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
2. Reviewed the voting process underway. Ballots can be returned in a number of ways. Some residents have been calling with questions and concerns. There will be a BCA meeting next week to set up poll workers.
3. Reviewed the recent discussion at the Finance Committee meeting. Department heads were encouraged to review their capital improvement requests to make sure everything is accounted for.
4. Discussed the approval of $33,000 in expenditures for the items needed to outfit the interior of the public safety building. Selectman Getty moved to approve the purchase of the items from the list Mr. Faignant presented. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided and discussed.
2. Discussed the balance in the Cortina settlement fund. Balances from different sources are not the same. Ms. Clark, Mr. Dumas, and Ms. Gallipo will find some time to review the numbers in the near future.
3. Communicated some concerns about homeless camps showing up in various parts of town. Encouraged people with woods near their house to be checking them.

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

1. Reviewed an issue with the fulfillment of the pump to charge the sprinkler system at the new building. The needed pump will be delivered in March of 2025. The existing system was reworked to allow the temporary use of 1 pump, and the State inspectors are ok with the temporary solution.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Reviewed information on the Pocket Park project. There are some grants coming up which could provide funding for the trail work.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. A change for the November 5^th meeting is needed due to it conflicting with election day. After discussion, the meeting with be on November 4^th.
2. Work is continuing on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. A presentation of the draft plan is scheduled for the October 22^nd
3. Town Hall will be closed on Monday for the holiday.
4. The United Way is hosting an event for key people from local communities. If anyone is interested please reach out to Bill by Wednesday morning.
5. Discussed scheduling a personnel committee meeting. After discussion, October 24^th at 4PM is a good date as long as the consultant can meet then.
6. Received information regarding the relicensing of the Green Mountain power dam, and the property for the pocket park.

Discussed the schedule to work on budgets. Department heads will be responsible for reaching out to their committee members to get meetings scheduled. The Board would like to have draft budgets by December. A special meeting to finalize the budgets will be planned for December 10^th.

Selectman Denardo moved to enter executive session to discuss a land transaction and a personnel matter. Barbara Noyes Pulling will attend the land transaction discussion. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 7:37PM

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:09 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

 

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Kurt Hathaway

 

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Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.