Selectboard Minutes 5-19-2026

Selectboard Minutes 5-19-2026

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

MAY 19^th, 2026

 The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.

• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present Craig Jewett, Joe Anthony, Keith Whitcomb, Mason Fox, Robert Clark, Chris Howe, Beau Sizemore, Ziv Goldberg, Robyn Sweet, Jeff Carr, David Grayck

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for May 5^th:

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0. Selectman Hathaway abstained.

Approval of Orders

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

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Presented information on the last installment of the local option payment for this fiscal year.
   316. We received $366,316.69.
   317. The total for the year is $1,613,443.97. This is $313,000 over our anticipated amount of income for the year.
2. With the last tax installment due date past, about 95% of taxes were collected on time. This is below the historical amount of 97% to 98%.
   1. This leaves about $244,000 of taxes unpaid for the third installment.
   2. The total unpaid for the year is now approximately $398,334.
   3. There were some issues with payments this year including people using last year’s amounts instead of this year, checks filled out incorrectly or incomplete.
3. The unpaid property tax balance has an impact on the available funds for the Town to be able to cover expenses.
4. There is a BCA meeting on the 27^th. Board members are encouraged to attend.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. More than 40 people attended today’s senior lunch at Baxter’s restaurant. The next event is a lunch cruise on either Lake George or Lake Champlain.
2. The anticipated pool opening date is June 6^th.
3. Pool pass / swim lesson signups are June 2^nd and 3^rd.
4. Met with the Rutland City Alderman and City Rec Director recently about the planned event for Friday July 3^rd from 4PM to 8PM. There are many games, events and food truck vendors planned. A flyer for the event was provided to Board members. There are some logos which need to be added, once they are, banners and other advertisements will be created.
5. A new banner for the Town event, renamed Rutland Town Community Day, will be made.
6. Food truck vendors would be subject to our vendor permit process. Discussed waiving the fee for the event. Selectmen Denardo moved to approve waiving the vendor permit fees for this event. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion The motion carried unanimously.

Ted Washburn Rutland Town Police Chief:

1. Officer Dumas has obtained his FAA drone pilot license. He can fly the drone as needed.
2. Officer Plakas and K9 Rooster have been recertified in tracking and are good for another year.
3. A Police Committee meeting is needed to discuss the interview process for the vacancy. There are 2 candidates who need to be interviewed.
4. Assisted the school with an evac drill. It went well.
5. Officer Perkins has given his notice that he is leaving the Police Department in June. He has accepted a position with a department in Florida. This position will be advertised as well.

Barbara Pulling Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair:

1. Meetings on content for the pocket park signs are planned. The first one is June 4^th at 530PM. There are several groups of information being focused on.
2. There is no update on the definition language from the new bylaw.

Board to review the municipal impact questionnaire for the Walmart project.

1. Attorney David Grayck spoke to the cleanup effort at the mall site.
   1. Hubbard Brothers has been hired to provide clean up services.
   2. They initially removed 26 tons of debris not including scrap metal.
   3. A camper trailer was towed away today.
   4. Hubbard’s will be making regular visits to the site to check on it.
2. There is a signed agreement with The Bus to provide transportation services. This will commence on the first day of business.
3. Jeff Carr presented and discussed the analysis of financial impact report.
   1. Reviewed local option tax impact and forecasted amounts.
   2. Reviewed other financial impacts Mr. Carr estimated.
   3. Discussed the impact on the Town Police Department at the initial opening being able to provide services based on calls for service at the current location. Our Police Department would not be able to handle the increased call volume.
4. Discussed Police responses to the current site. Mr. Sizemore said there are very few calls a month generated from the store. Chief Washburn reviewed hundreds of calls for service to the address which is what the Police are using to determine the ability to serve. Discussed extensively the ability to serve versus the financial impact the project will have on the Town long term.
5. Discussed the ad valorum cost which is charged by the City of Rutland.
6. Walmart representatives discussed calling the State Police as a backup. Their policy may or may not get a response. They brought up having a contract with another law enforcement agency.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Robert Clark from Otter Creek Engineering was present to review the bids received for the Stratton Road culvert installation work.
   45. The culvert structure was part of a different bid process and is going to be purchased from Miche for $159,045. It would be ordered once the state permit is approved.
   46. The excavation bid process is a standard process they do. Otter Creek prepared the bid documents, sent them out, opened, and reviewed them.
   47. The apparent low bidder was KT Hathaway construction at the bid opening. There were some irregularities in the bid as some incorrect figures were entered in certain points. Otter Creek engineering cannot determine intent, only what is written.
   48. The next low bidder was Waters Excavation. Mr. Clark checked their references and based on those believes they are qualified to do the work.
   49. Discussed waiving the irregularities and any issues that it may present for future bidding work.
   50. Selectman Hathaway recused himself from this discussion since he is the owner of KT Hathaway construction.
   51. Discussed the irregularities. A total price was put in place of the unit price. Additionally, there was some missing documentation which, in his experience, has seen other towns waive the irregularity and have the bidder provide the paperwork prior to signing the contract.
   52. The KT Hathaway bid was $183,000. The next lowest bidder was Waters at $255,000.
   53. Regardless of who does the work, Otter Creek Engineering would oversee the work being done.
   54. The submitted bids are good for 60 days.
   55. The issue will be brought to the Town attorney for his opinion.
2. The excavator has been picked up.
3. There are several culverts around town which are planned for replacement.
4. Discussed topics from the recent Highway committee meeting.
   1. The entire length of Quarterline Road may be reclassified as Class 3 as opposed to it being segmented as 3 and 4 right now.
   2. Reviewed the Public Works Mutual Aid Agreement. It was updated with current information. Selectman Denardo moved to approve it and authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
   3. There may be an opportunity to work with a current vendor to get salt delivered on a regular basis over the summer to help get it in.

Marie Faignant Rutland Town Lister

1. Provided a request to postpone lodging of the Grand List for 33 days. After discussion, Selectman Denardo moved to approve the request and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Provided a detailed job description for the Board to review. No one has submitted a letter of interest for the open Lister position.
3. There is a lot of returned mail from tax bills and other important documents being sent out. It is important to contact the Town office when your address changes.
4. Habitat for Humanity has requested follow up information regarding their denial to have their taxes waived. Ms. Faignant will provide them with a summary.
5. Discussed what to do if no one applies for the vacant position. Ms. Faignant suggested creating a committee to discuss the future plans for the office.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Reviewed the updated Local Emergency Management Plan. It has been updated to account for changes in personnel and other important data. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the new document and to authorize the Board chair and Selectman Hathaway to sign when needed. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. The Board reviewed the 36-month contract with Frost solution for the budgeted weather stations to be put around town. The total is $43,250. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the contract and to authorize the Board Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
3. Received follow up on 2 grant applications. One from AARP to install crosswalk lights out front of Town Hall. The other was for a Congressional Direct Spending allocation to remodel the downstairs at Town Hall. Neither application was selected for funding.
4. Town Hall will be closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.
5. Cornerstone caregiving recently opened up a new location in the Town. The Chamber of Economic Development for the Rutland Region held a ribbon cutting ceremony to which the Rutland City Mayor was present, but no one from town was invited. The Chamber apologized and said they would discuss this to ensure the correct municipalities are invited in the future.
6. The scholarship committee met recently and determined awards. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the recommendation from the committee. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The award recipients and amounts are not released until after the school award ceremonies.
   1. Discussed the length of the residency requirement. It is currently 2 years. Discussed other options. No changes were made.
   2. There were some applicants who did not qualify. Letters will be sent following up with them.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

 

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

_______________________________________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

________________ABSENT______________________
Sharon Russell

 

_______________________________________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.