Selectboard Minutes 4-8-2025

Selectboard Minutes 4-8-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

APRIL 8^th, 2025

 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 Chris Howe, Stephanie Bennett, Shelley Dumas, Robyn Sweet, Lisa Knickerbocker

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for March 25^th:

Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the orders. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

Reminded Board members of the Selectboard meet up tomorrow night in Castleton.

Green Up bags are in and available at the transfer station.

Question from the Floor / Public Comment

Stephanie Bennett was present to discuss the issue of trash and debris at the end of Park Street, on Town land. After discussion, her information will be given to our Transfer Station manager so she can bring items she picks up there to our transfer station at no cost.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Baseball fields are ready for the season to start. Games start in the first week of May.
2. The cover will come off the pool soon so it can be cleaned.
3. The last senior luncheon went very well. The next one is April 29^th at the new fire station.
4. The following one will be May 22^nd at the West Rutland Town Hall. There will be 2 bands playing.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Maintenance projects have been completed.
2. Upgraded the lighting in the garage to LED bulbs. It is a substantial improvement.
3. Asked residents to call the garage and leave a message where they left green up day bags so they can be collected.
4. Provided a review of the paving bids which were recently received and opened. Wilk paving was the low bidder for our regular street paving. Wilk was also the low bidder for the East Pittsford Road project, which will get done if we get a grant. Wilk was not the low bidder for the Center Rutland Fire Station. Their bid was $700 more than the low bidder. Commissioner Sears recommended to the Board awarding Wilk Paving all of the work. Selectman Denardo moved to approve Wilk Paving be awarded the work per the recommendation of the Road Commissioner. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. Discussed reclaiming East Pittsford Road as part of the paving project. A decision will be made if the grant request is successful. The motion passed 5 – 0.
5. Discussed bids received for sewer / culvert cleaning services. A-1 Sewer and Drain bid $2800 per 8-hour day for cleaning and $1800 per day for inspection. BP Wastewater bid $3800 per 8-hour day for cleaning and $3300 per day for inspection.  Commissioner Sears is recommending approving both bids. A-1 would be used for routine work. BP Wastewater would be used for specialty work. After discussion, the current purchasing policy allows Commissioner Sears to contract the work as needed.
6. Reviewed topics from the recent Highway Committee meeting.
   1. Reviewed a form created to allow town residents to request loads of fill be delivered to their house. A minor change was suggested and will be incorporated. This will be brought back to the Board so it can be adopted as a policy.
   2. Discussed results of the traffic study done at the Green Mountain Plaza intersection.
   3. Discussed the Post Road sidewalk grant. To make it ADA compliant will be an additional expense.
   4. Reviewed the proposed purchase of a new plow truck. The quote is from a vendor on the state contract list. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to approve the purchase of a new truck from ATG for $285,000 minus a trade in credit of $50,000 for the Kenworth, with the funds to come from the depreciation account. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
   5. Discussed the purchase of an excavator. A quote has not been received yet. The pricing would be under a cooperative pricing agreement. No action was taken.
   6. Discussed an additional case of excavation in the Town Right of Way without a permit. The details have been forwarded to our town Counsel for advice on next steps.
   7. An addressing issue was brought to us by a State E-911 coordinator. Heather Lane is used both in Mendon and Rutland Town. This has caused some delivery, and other issues. The State is recommending the 2 Selectboards meet to discuss it.
   8. Discussed the Route 7 South sewer issue. This should be fixed before next winter. A meeting with our engineer will be scheduled as soon as possible.
   9. Discussed starting the Act 250 amendment process for replacing the salt shed. The Board was in favor of Commissioner Sears looking into what will be needed for the application.
   10. Discussed the Route 7 South sewer issue and coordinating the work within the guidelines of the State.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Recent calls for service were provided.
2. A Police Committee meeting is needed to discuss an unexpected bill.
3. The fingerprint machine was delivered and installed. Unknown until the time of installation, a static IP address is needed for it to work. Our building is not setup with one. We are working with Consolidated Communications on options.

Joe Denardo Public Safety Building Clerk

1. VMS will be on site April 9^th to install the panel under the kitchen sink. The balance of items on the list will be addressed over the next several weeks.
2. The trash cans will be moved to the back of the building.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Discussed the options to be able to create the park without the grant funding.
2. There is a small committee still working on the updates to our subdivision ordinance.
3. The Regional Planning Commission received an MOU from the town to help with education and outreach as part of our MS4 permit. Andres Torizzo from Watershed Consulting will be attending the April 22^nd meeting to discuss this. A joint project with the City of Rutland could give us access to funds to help cover the costs.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. Selectman Denardo reported for Chief Clark the auxiliary antennas for the garage doors have been installed.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Discussed the new executive order regarding federal elections.
2. There is a Board of Abatement meeting on April 21^st at 10AM

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Provided copies of the policies which are new or updated to be signed.
2. Provided a sewer allocation request for MJC Property Services. This is to increase their allocation to 8 gallons per day. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the request. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 – 0.
3. The grant application for the emergency operations center technology has been conditionally approved. We are waiting for the grant agreement to be able to move forward.
4. We received notice from the State grant compliance office that paperwork was filed saying we needed to submit a single audit and had not. This triggered our grant funding as a whole to be suspended. A correction was submitted, and we are waiting for confirmation the funding has been restored. We will follow up with the State to confirm.
5. A landowner next to the Public Safety Building has asked the town to contribute to erecting a privacy fence between their property and the new building. This may be due to someone looking for our Police department going to their house. A sign has been ordered by the Road Commissioner to be installed directing people to the entrance for the police office.
6. Andres Torizzo will be coming to the next Board meeting to discuss the Wynnmere MS4 project. The next phase will be construction. He will also be discussing the public education component we need for our permit as well.
7. We have been awarded restitution from the people involved in the break in and vandalism at Northwood Pool.
8. The VLCT Safety grant application will be submitted soon. If any departments are interested in qualified items please get ahold of Bill soon.
9. Reviewed the new personnel policy. This entire policy does not apply to elected officials.
10. Discussed priorities and projects for this year and updated the list.
11. The Otter Creek Communication Unified District appointment form will be ready for the next meeting.
12. The Regional Planning Commission needs to come and talk with the Board about the Regional plan. They would like to meet with the Board at a special meeting April 29^th at 6PM. After discussion, the meeting will be warned.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:36 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.