Selectboard Minutes 12-30-2024

Selectboard Minutes 12-30-2024

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

DECEMBER 30^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

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for December 17^th:

Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Getty seconded the motion. There was an addition of language on page 3 of the vote outcome. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Articles for The Circle are due by January 15^th. This is the last one to be published prior to Town meeting.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Basketball starts this coming week, on Saturday.
2. Once there is sufficient snow, sledding will be available on the hill by the pool parking lot.
3. Discussed starting the planning process for the next Town Wide Celebration event.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. The Board thanked the Highway crew for helping a constable with traffic at an accident.
2. Reported on the work done on the south end sewer. The project went well. The line should be inspected with a camera soon.
3. The big plow trucks had their fuel freeze recently. The roads were plowed with a combination of the smaller trucks and the contractors.
4. We received a grant to help pay for conducting a culvert inventory.

Ted Washburn Rutland Town Deputy Police Chief:

1. A vehicle replacement schedule and bid language for a new cruiser are available. A Police Committee is needed to discuss these.
2. A resident contacted the Police about adding the flashing lights at the crosswalk in front of Town Hall. The request was brought to VTrans who declined installing them, but would be able to give us a permit to install them. Further research into cost and compatibility will be done and brought to a future meeting. Discussed purchasing flags, similar to what the Town of Woodstock uses in the meantime. Options will be researched as well.
3. The new school resource officer starts this Thursday. Deputy Chief Washburn will shadow him for a couple of weeks.
4. There are still daily issues with shoplifting at Hannaford’s and Dicks Sporting Goods.
5. Discussed a timeline to be able to move into the new public safety building. The pump for the sprinkler system is now expected in the next couple of weeks. It could be mid-February until the building is ready to occupy. Discussed whether there should be any discounts for delays due to subcontractor issues.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. Discussed the status of the fund raiser to purchase a cascade system for the new building. Some money has been raised but there is still a gap of approximately $74,000. No decision was made.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. The next tax installment payment is due by January 10^th. The office will be open until 2PM on the 10^th.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Information was received from the State today relating to our CLA and COD numbers. This is separate from any order to reappraise. The CLA is 72.91 up from 72.36. The COD is 23.69 up from 18.75.
2. The final report of Act 68 has been received. This will be forwarded to the Board for their review.
3. Discussed the option of moving from Listers to Assessors. There was extensive discussion on the topic after which Selectwoman Russell moved to not put on the ballot changing from Listers to Assessors. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. The Board reviewed the audit reports. Selectman Getty moved to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board any letters needing to be approved. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. Reviewed the long-term debt obligations. There will be several years when the 2 bonds both have payments due. Selectwoman Russell moved to accept the audit reports. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. The auditor recommended establishing a disaster recovery policy and a general accounting practices manual.
2. Provided a draft letter to be sent to Fire Districts reminding them of a requirement to obtain a permit before doing any excavation in the town right-of-way. After discussion, Selectman Hathaway moved to send the letters after adding some language about who they should notify if there is an emergency. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
3. The request from the Fire District to join our insurance policy was brought to VLCT. This is not something they do any more.
4. David Rosenblum has resigned his position from the Regional Board of Commissioners. This position will be added to the list of appointments needed.
5. There are new legislative changes going into effect on January 1^st. Some of these will apply to the Board Chair.
6. There is a Selectboard meet up planned soon to be held in West Rutland. Discussed bringing up the topic of state dispatching at this event. Board Chair Ashcroft will bring it up.

Discussed approving the draft of the general budget. The summary page has calculations which may be incorrect. There was extensive discussion on the topic.  Selectman Getty moved to approve the general budget as revised. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Selectman Denardo moved to enter executive session with the Town Attorney to hear advice from counsel and to discuss a personnel matter. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 8:01 PM.

The Board came out of executive session at 10:04 PM with no action being taken.

Discussed who will present which budget. Selectwoman Russell will present Rec. Selectman Hathaway will present Highway. Selectman Getty will present Police. Selectman Denardo will present Fire. Board Chair Ashcroft and Selectman Denardo will both present the general budget.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 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.