Selectboard Minutes 12-3-2024
TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING
RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL
181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT 05736
DECEMBER 3rd, 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
- Members of the public participating Don Chioffi
Approval of Orders
The Board approved the orders.
Approval of Selectboard Minutes for November 19th:
Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. There were some clerical changes made. The motion passed 4 – 0. Selectwoman Russell abstained.
Update from the Selectboard Chair
Reminder of the budget meeting on December 10th. This meeting will start at 530PM.
Discussed the meeting scheduled for December 31st. Selectman Denardo moved to reschedule this meeting to December 30th at 6PM. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
Question from the Floor / Public Comment
Town Delinquent Tax Collector Don Chioffi was present to discuss budgeting for income related to collected delinquent taxes for the next budget year. Currently, including principal and interest, $262,438 has been collected. For budgeting next year, Mr. Chioffi recommended $200,000 for delinquent tax revenue. Requested the Board include his cost of the Microsoft licensing fees in the budget. This is $144 per year. Approximately $26,650 has been paid to the Delinquent Tax Collector in the last 18 months. This request will be discussed during the budget planning on December 10th.
Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:
- Discussed correspondence received from the State Department of Health notifying us the Cortina Inn has had their license suspended for 60 days, effective immediately.
- Reviewed the latest calls for service. Calls on the South end of town have gone down since a large number of people have left the Cortina. Theft cases at Home Depot have gone up recently.
- Discussed a parking issue at the top of McKinley Avenue. The presence of no parking signs will be verified and if missing, they will be replaced. Town PD will check the area.
- Requested an executive session to discuss a personnel issue. Selectwoman Russell moved to go into executive session to discuss a personnel issue, with Police Chief Dumas attending. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. The board entered executive session at 6:39PM. The Board came out of executive session at 6:51PM. Selectman Denardo moved to allow Town employees to donate accrued personal time to other town employees to deal with health or other family emergencies. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:
- Discussed the recent Town Senior luncheon. It was well attended and a great event. It was catered by the Maple Angus and the food was great.
- December 17th will be the last senior luncheon of the year. People attending should be there by 1115AM.
David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:
- The draft budget was presented at the last committee meeting.
- Work on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is ongoing and should be wrapped up in January.
- Discussed the ongoing issue with the sewer line under Route 7 South. As a result of letters sent to the 3 businesses connected to this specific line, the manager of Dennys reached out. During that discussion, it was discovered that the crew contracted to work in the restaurant may have been responsible for the foreign objects found in the sewer line. There are some 45-degree elbows near the manhole on Cop John Drive which should be removed. Discussed options for removing them and improving the flow. A contractor would be needed for some of the work.
- There was some snow on Thanksgiving which required the crew to go out.
- Discussed other topics from the recent committee meeting. There are no other action items from this meeting for tonight.
- An increase in the highway depreciation account contribution from ½ cent to 1 cent would be appropriate given the increase in equipment in the department.
- A 1-year extension to our Post Road sidewalk grant was approved giving us time to review options for what the state is requiring for additional work.
John Paul Faignant Town Health Officer / 2nd Constable / Public Safety Building Clerk
- The water softener system installed in the old fire station will not be able to be used in the new one. It is not adequately sized for the building. A quote from Aerus of Rutland was received for a total of $8750. After discussion, Selectman Getty moved to approve the quote, with the funds to come from capital improvement. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. Selectman Getty moved to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. The balance in the capital improvement fund will now be $146,472.
- The subcontractor for the counters and cabinets ordered the wrong color doors. The correct doors are not expected for 2 to 3 weeks. Finish work cannot be completed until the cabinets and countertops are installed. Discussed impacts. Our Town attorney will be consulted.
Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:
- Discussed the acquisition of the property needed for the Pocket Park. Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session to discuss conveyance of real property and to hear comments from our town attorney, with Planning Commission Chair Barbara Pulling and Town Administrator Bill Sweet attending . Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 7:32PM. The Board came out of executive session at 7:40 PM. Selectman Denardo moved to authorize the Board Chair to sign an easement deed pertaining to lands for the Center Rutland Pocket Park and for the Town to accept the deed from Green Mountain Power for that land. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
- A grant application to help fund the Pocket Park project is underway and is due by December 6th. Discussed the plans for the layout and configuration of parking and trails. Discussed adding a landscaping architects service to the grant application.
- Reminder of the reception for Jim Hall at 730PM at Town Hall as part of the Planning Commission meeting. Jim is retiring from Town service after a very long time.
Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister
- Thanked Bill for getting a tablet for the Listers office to be used in the field to help make their work more efficient.
- Discussed the long-term plan for the Listers office. Hiring an assessor may be a possibility. This will be discussed at the next regular Board meeting.
Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:
- The department is participating in the Casella truck parade, which is this Friday.
- The dryer ordered for the new building is being shipped out this week.
- The signs for the new building have been ordered.
Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:
- The next installment for taxes will be due January 10th.
- An email from the Town auditor was received about having a preliminary meeting with the finance committee to discuss the town audit. This will be scheduled based on everyone’s availability.
Bill Sweet Town Administrator:
- MSJ Project Help sent a request for a donation. After discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to donate $750. The funds will come from the miscellaneous account. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:08 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.