Selectboard Minutes 3-10-2026

Selectboard Minutes 3-10-2026

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

MARCH 10^th, 2026

 

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Sharon Russell, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present Shelley Dumas, Robyn Sweet, Jennifer Roberts, Tracey Rentcome

Town Clerk Kari Clark opened the meeting to accept nominations for Board Chair.

• Selectwoman Russell nominated Mary Ashcroft for Board Chair. Selectman Denardo seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations. There was a unanimous vote for Mary Ashcroft as Chair.
• Selectwoman Russell nominated Selectman Denardo for Board Clerk. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. There was a unanimous vote for Joe Denardo as Board Clerk.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for February 24^th:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. Discussed the vote to donate funds to support fireworks. The intent was to donate $1000, not $500. Selectman Denardo moved to amend the motion to donate $1000. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. There were no other changes or corrections. The motion to approve the minutes carried 3 – 0. Selectman Getty abstained from the vote.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the orders. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Another meeting with the City is planned for March 18^th at 530 to discuss events for the 250^th anniversary celebration.

Articles for The Circle are due by April 13^th.

Question from the Floor / Public Comment

Jennifer Roberts was present to discuss with the Board being appointed as the Town Grand Juror. Ms. Roberts reviewed her background. After discussion, Selectwoman Russell moved to appoint her as Town Grand Juror. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Reported on participation from the recent Town meeting vote. 23% of registered voters voted. This is down from 28% last year.

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

1. Recent calls for service were provided and reviewed.
2. Discussed some issues found during calls at The Cortina Inn.
3. Discussed new complaints about panhandling at US Route 4 and US Route 7. There are a variety of issues, but the jurisdiction belongs to VTrans and the State Police.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The next senior luncheon is March 24^th. This will include a presentation from the Town PD about scams and how to protect themselves.
2. Discussed topics from the recent Rec Committee meeting.
3. Baseball signups are available right now on the town website.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Thanked the town voters for supporting the highway budget.
2. The plow contractors are at 48 calls. The current budget should be enough to cover the overage for the season.
3. There are only about 50 tons of salt left. Contacted both suppliers we have a relationship with. One could not get us any and the other had a sharp increase in the rate. No orders were placed.
4. The sidewalk tractor has finally been returned. Everything is working as expected.
5. The dirt section of Quarterline Road has large ruts. It will be posted tomorrow to notify drivers of the conditions.
6. Discussed the purchase of the excavator approved by town voters. The machine we had quoted is available right now at the dealer. It is not subject to the cost increases which are applied to future models. Discussed options for purchasing it now and remaining in compliance with regulations. Discussed this with our auditors. Their guidance was to have the Selectboard vote on this being very specific with the details. This could allow us to purchase it now, and raise only the exact amount of the cost by taxes thereby saving taxpayers approximately $20,000. Discussed putting a deposit to hold it. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to authorize the Road Commissioner to spend up to 10% of the cost of the purchase as a down payment with the funds to come from the new equipment line. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. Discussed an issue with a residence the Fire Department recently responded to which had poor living conditions. Different options to help the resident were discussed.
2. Engine 1 will be out of Town tomorrow to go the dealer to get some needed body work reviewed. The work will be covered under warranty and scheduled for later.
3. Reviewed a fire the department responded to this morning. Everything went well.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Green Mountain Power needs some specifications for the kiosk sign at the pocket park. This will be discussed at the next commission meeting.
2. The attorney for the Walmart project is attending the next meeting to discuss the impact questionnaire.

Larry Dell Veneri Rutland Town Transfer Station Manager

1. Some changes are coming soon regarding battery collection. A larger variety of sizes and types will be able to be collected soon, at no cost to the town.
2. Two new towns are joining SWAC.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Homestead declarations are being reviewed.
2. Discussed moving our Grand List system from NEMRC to the Patriot system. This is essentially required to be able to reappraise. Lister Marie Faignant reviewed the background of what went on at the State level regarding software vendors and reappraisal rules. Reviewed some cost proposals and work which would be a result of a change to Patriot. The Listers do not yet have a recommendation for a plan to move forward. This should be available by the second week of April.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Reviewed appointments needed after the recent election. There are several people interested in various positions. Discussed posting the various appointments. The information related to the positions will be posted to give anyone interested an opportunity to reach out.
2. Reviewed town committee assignments. Some minor reassignments were suggested. This will be discussed again at the next meeting.
3. Discussed changing the speed limit on McKinley Avenue from 35 MPH to 25 MPH on the section to the West of North Grove Street. Selectman Denardo moved to start the process to make the change. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
4. Reviewed a sewer allocation update which was sent to GE Aerospace based on their usage for 2025.
5. Received a water connection request for a new house on Campbell Road. They have already received approval from the City to connect. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the water allocation request for 490 gallons per day. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
6. Two departments have made requests for the VLCT grant. This should be ready to be submitted soon.
7. Mowing bids are out and scholarship applications have been advertised.

Selectman Denardo moved to enter executive session to discuss personnel matters and possible litigation. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The Board entered executive session at 8:08 PM.

Upon leaving executive session, Selectman Denardo moved to pay missing contributions to VMERS for Police Chief Dumas to be taken from the Police budget. This is for a gap in contributions from when he was eligible, but no payments were made. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Selectman Getty moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:08 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

 

________________ABSENT______________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

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Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.