Selectboard Minutes 12-16-2025

Selectboard Minutes 12-16-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

DECEMBER 16^th, 2025

 

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present Tim Hammond, Shelley Dumas, Chris Howe

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for December 2^nd:

Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. A small addition was made. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for December 9^th:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the orders. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Basketball is starting, schedules will be online soon.
2. The skating rink is ready, weather dependent. Please make sure the ice is safe before going onto it.
3. The senior luncheon was at the school. There were about 35 seniors in attendance. It went great.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Contractors have been called out 12 times of the 40 limit already this season.
2. The fuel tank is in at the shop. Waiting for an electrician to come and wire it.
3. There are some final tasks needing to be done to wrap up the sewer project. The final bill is coming soon.
4. Discussed an issue with the car wash on Route 7 south.
   • Debris is coming down the sewer line causing issues.
   • It was cleaned on a Tuesday, and the following Friday there was debris, cans, bottles, and bags, back in it. Pictures were presented.
   • Reviewed a letter drafted to be sent to them with the pictures included. After discussion, Selectman Getty moved to approve the letter to be sent. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
5. Reviewed an opportunity to do some small-scale projects with a VTrans grant. Discussed what we would want to do. These will be brought to VTrans to see if they would be eligible.
6. A committee meeting is needed to discuss some new topics, including the Fire District #5 request to connect to municipal water.

 

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. Talked with an electrician about modifying the wiring to the generator at the Center Rutland Fire Station if a riser was put under it. There will be some minor modifications, but it is possible. Discussed what could be put under it. A concrete block would be most appropriate. This will be investigated.
2. Discussed a proposed increase to the fire department depreciation contribution by an addition ¼ cent. Reviewed the replacement schedule. The Board requested some changes to the sheet projecting the costs and for the fire committee to review this.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief and Ted Washburn Deputy Police Chief

1. Discussed a proposed increase to the police department depreciation contribution by an addition ¼ cent. The next vehicle, due for purchase in 2026, would come from the Cortina fund. After that, a new vehicle is needed in 2028. An increase in the account is not recommended this year.
2. Discussed some recent calls for service and cases.
3. Discussed a request to extend the holiday patrols through Christmas Eve. Two more weeks would be $5040. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the request with the funds to come from the Cortina Settlement account. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
4. Chief Dumas asked for an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss a personnel matter.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Work is being done to close active files which are open.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Presented a liquor license for approval. It is a first-class liquor license request for The Maple Angus in Center Rutland. The Police have no issues. Selectman Getty moved to approve the request. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Joe Denardo Public Safety Building Clerk

1. An additional UHF radio is needed for the police patrol room. Some options and configurations are being discussed. There is no recommendation currently.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Provided a full set of updated budget sheets based on the budget meeting from last week.
2. Discussed the date for pre-town meeting. Based on a variety of due dates, the initial date of the 27^th will not work. It must be January 20^th or 21^st. After discussion, and in coordination with Tim Hammond from the school board, Selectman Hathaway moved to set the date for pre-town meeting as January 20^th starting at 6PM. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
3. Department head reports for the town report, and other contributors, can be sent in as soon as they are ready.
4. Discussed adding an additional phone to our town plan. The annual service is approximately $450 and $200 for hardware. The Board was in favor of this.

Discussed how bond payments amounts will be accounted for in the budget, and how they appear on the tax bills.

Received a request from MSJ to support holiday projects. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to donate $150 to their project with funds to come from the miscellaneous account. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Selectman Denardo moved to enter executive session pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(3). Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 6:56 PM.

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 7:14 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.