Selectboard Minutes 3-24-2026

Selectboard Minutes 3-24-2026

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

MARCH 24^th, 2026

 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 present Jim Marsh, Josh Lemieux, Keith Whitcomb Jr, Chris Poirier, Chris Howe, Tim Short

Selectwoman Russell moved to appoint Ted R. Washburn to the position on Chief of Police in and for the Town of Rutland Police Department and is there by granted the authority and assigned to perform the duties of that office. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Selectboard Chair Ashcroft administered the Oath of Office to Chief Washburn.

The Board recessed at 6:06 PM to allow those in attendance to congratulate Chief Washburn. The meeting resumed at 6:19 PM.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for March 10^th:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. Selectman Hathaway abstained.

Approval of Orders

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

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Thanked Mike Rowe, Chief Washburn and Selectwoman Russell for their work on the senior luncheon today.

Thanked Ted and Bill for their work bringing together the retirement party for Chief Dumas.

Thanked Officer Plakas and Bill for bringing together the event for Chief Washburn tonight.

Question from the Floor / Public Comment

Tim Short, from the Rutland Railway Association and museum was present to talk with the Board about a restoration project. They have a historic Rutland Railway caboose which is in need of restoration. They are looking for various sources of funding to help support it. Discussed how they could get support from and through the Town.

Jim Marsh, representing the Rutland Airport Committee was present to update the Board on the work the regional committee is doing.  There are some substantial plans, new hangers and a relocation of the main terminal planned.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Dog registrations are due by April 1^st.
2. The next installment of taxes are due in May.
3. Discussed any possible issues adding the Patriot system for the Listers would have on their office. The scope is not yet known.

Ted Washburn Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Thanked everyone who attended the retirement party for Chief Dumas on Friday.
2. Discussed the senior luncheon presentation today on avoiding scams. It went well.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Spring clean-up will be starting soon at Northwood Park.
2. The job opening for Dewey Field has been posted.
3. Passed the certified pool operator course renewal. This is good for 5 years.
4. Discussed the proposed contract to engineer plans for the new pool. This will be added to the next agenda.
5. Baseball will be starting soon.

Selectwoman Russell moved to enter executive session pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(1) to discuss a personnel matter. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The board entered executive session at 6:51 PM. The Board came out of executive session at 6:57 PM with no action being taken.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. The contractors are still at 48 call outs.
2. Several mailboxes have been taken care of lately from winter damage.
3. Repair or replacement of street signs has been on going.
4. Paving bids have gone out and are due back in April. Discussed how best to review them. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to authorize Commissioner Sears to open and compile the bids for a committee meeting, then to forward the recommendation to the full Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
5. Reviewed the MS4 annual report needing approval. There was extensive discussion on the projects being developed by Watershed Consulting, what the goals were and issues we are experiencing. The principal, Andres Torizzo, will be invited to a future Board meeting to discuss some of these projects with the Board. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to approve annual MS4 report and to authorize the Chair to sign the form on behalf of the Town. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
6. Presented a quote for a new excavator.
   • There is a small increase in cost due to the original quoted trailer being sold.
   • The approval for the machine and trailer was given by voters at Town meeting.
   • Discussed purchasing the machine from the current budget under new equipment.
   • Any deficit will be covered by the carryover balance. For the next fiscal year, the exact amount needed can be raised and credited back to the new equipment line. Any surplus would go back to the carryover line at the end of the next fiscal year.
   • The bid price was received as part of a collective purchasing agreement we are a part of. The Board agreed this meets the requirements for bidding established in our purchasing policy.
   • After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to approve the purchase of the excavator for $127,619.46 and trailer for $18,907 for a total of $146,526.46 as quoted with the funds to come from the Highway Department new equipment line. This amount will be reimbursed from taxes in the next fiscal year, and to authorize the Chair sign the quote approval on behalf of the Board. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 1. Selectman Hathaway voted against the motion

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. The parking lot at the Center Rutland station will be paved soon. A catch basin for the gutters needs to be installed prior to the paving work being done. This work will be done by the Highway department.
2. The paved edge of the driveway along McKinley Avenue at the new station has started to crack. Selectman Denardo will contact the paving contractor to look at it.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. The subdivision bylaw is nearly complete. Some minor edits are needed. The public hearing for the Planning Commission will be April 23^rd.
2. Met with the attorney representing the developer in the Walmart project. They told the Commission demolition is delayed to allow it to be done in conjunction with construction of the new building. A delayed demolition was not part of the representation made to the Town as part of the Act 250 permit presented regarding demolition. Discussed sending a letter to the developer about this issue.
3. Discussed a proposed solar project, the notice for which was just received. The developer is being invited to the April 23^rd meeting,
4. Historians related to the Pocket Park project are coming to the April 2^nd

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Reviewed the list of appointments needed after Town Meeting Day.
   • The Regional Board of Commissioners has 2 appointees. Jim Marsh is the current primary. Demetrio Gagnon is the current alternate. Both have said they would like to be reappointed. Selectwoman Russell moved to reappoint both candidates and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
   • The Regional Transportation Advisory Council has 2 appointees. We have Jason Bathlon currently as our primary appointee, and we have no alternate. Jason has asked to be the alternate as he has not been able to make many of the meetings. Christopher Poirier provided the Board a letter of interest for the appointment. Selectman Getty moved to appoint Christopher Poirier as our primary appointee and Jason Bathlon as our alternate, and to authorize the Board Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
   • The Regional Committee for The Bus is vacant. No one has submitted a letter of interest for this position.
   • The Town Service officer position needs to be filled. Former Chief Dumas had acted in this role for several years but has stepped back from this role with his retirement.
   • Discussed the list of historical / optional appointments from State statute.
   • Discussed the Tree Warden position, and duties from the statute. After discussion, Selectwoman Russell moved to reappoint Chris Howe as our Tree Warden and to appoint Byron Hathaway as our Deputy Tree Warden.
   • We have had 3 fence viewers in the past, Byron Hathaway as one of them. Of the other 2, one cannot be reached and the other has asked to not be reappointed. Mr. Hathaway has also asked to be appointed as the Inspector of Wood. Selectman Getty moved to appoint Byron R. Hathaway as a Fence Viewer and the Inspector of Wood. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
   • Discussed the pound keeper and service officer position and if they should continue to be filled. The Board agreed they did not need to be filled any longer. Selectman Getty moved to do away with the pound keeper position. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.  Selectman Denardo moved to do away with the service officer position. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
   • Lucas Hubbard has been our Weigher of Coal. Selectman Denardo moved to maintain his appointment. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
   • There are 4 Planning Commission members who are up for reappointment. They are Sherman Hunter, Howard Burgess, Andy McKane and Jerry Stearns. All of them would like to be reappointed. Selectwoman Russell moved to reappoint all 4 members. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. A letter of interest was received for the Planning Commission. This will be kept on file if a vacancy occurs.
   • A Town Moderator is needed. Dan Alcorn was appointed by the Board last year to fill the role. Selectman Denardo moved to appoint Dan Alcorn as Moderator. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Reviewed the list of committee assignments. There is only one small change from last year. Also discussed the War Memorial Committee. Bill has been asked to reach out to their Committee Chair to get an update on where they are.
3. Provided the bid detail for the mowing bid. 13 bids were received. The building committee will open and review them to provide a recommendation to the Board.
4. Provided the form to approve the warning to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Ordinance. If no petitions are received it would go into effect May 25^th, 2026. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the amendment to the Rutland Town Vehicle and Traffic Ordinance lowering the speed limit from 35 MPH to 25 MPH on the section of McKinley west of the intersection with North Grove Street. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
5. Provided a draft letter of support from the Selectboard to be included in our application for Congressionally Directed Spending to support the remodel of the downstairs at Town Hall. Additionally, the Rutland Town Seniors provided a letter as well as the Chamber of Economic Development for the Rutland Region. The total project is approximately $830,000 and would require a 20% match from the Town. Selectwoman Russell moved to approve and sign the letter. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
6. Provided a quote from Adorama for the purchase of a drone. This is the best option found by Mr. Sweet and Officer Jared Dumas discussing it with several vendors. The total is $12939.40 and includes everything we would need for it. This can and would be added to our annual insurance policy. The cost would be about $200. Officer Dumas would be a licensed operator for it, and we could assign other exempted users. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to approve the purchase with the funds to come from the new equipment line in the general budget. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
7. GE Aerospace responded to the letter notifying them they exceeded their sewer allocation. They believe there was an issue which led to the overage and they have corrected it. They will be submitting a formal request to the Board to delay redetermination. The 1^st quarter bills from Rutland City should be available soon and we can review it and ese if the trend is corrected. No action is needed at this time.
8. Provided the application for VLCT for their 2026 PACIF grant. The application is for new cameras for the Transfer Station and the Center Rutland Fire Station. The total is $13,197.14. There is a 50% match requirement. Most of the cost is for the transfer station and the cost will come from the depreciation account for it. Selectman Getty moved to approve the grant request and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

The Board discussed publishing their emails addresses so people can contact the Board members directly. After discussion, the email addresses for Board members will be added to the Town website.

Discussed the 1% local option tax we collect. This may apply to liquor sales also. This will be researched. Also talked about earmarking some of the 1% LOT money to be set aside annually to help fund the construction work needed downstairs at Town hall.

Discussed the proposed regional land use map updates. The Board has some questions about the designations. Board Chair Ashcroft will be following up on it.

Selectman Getty moved to enter executive session pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(1), and 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(6) for a personnel matter and possible litigation.  Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The Board entered executive session at 8:49 PM.

Upon leaving executive session, with no action being taken, Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:17 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.