Selectboard Minutes 7-25-2025

Selectboard Minutes 7-25-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

July 15^th, 2025

 

• The meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance.
• Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Sharon Russell, Kurt Hathaway, and Matt Getty
• Members of the public present Josh Brown, Lisa Knickerbocker

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for July 1^st

Selectman Getty moved to approve the minutes.  Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. There was a change made to correct the date at the top of the document. The motion passed 3 – 0. Selectwoman Russell abstained.

Approval of Orders

Selectman Getty moved to approve the orders.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Marty Wasserman – Rutland Town Emergency Management Director

1. Presented the updated Local Emergency Management Plan for the Board to review.
2. The form is updated to meet the new State requirements.
3. A discussion in the future regarding warming and cooling locations.
4. After reviewing the document, Selectman Getty moved to approve the updated document and to authorize Selectman Hathaway to sign stating the plan meets NIMS requirements, and to authorize the Chair to sign approving the document at a duly warned meeting. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Ted Washburn Rutland Town Deputy Police Chief:

1. Introduced our School Resource Officer Mark Perkins to the Board.
2. Provided a review of calls for June. 50% of all calls were generated by the South end of the town.
3. The homeless prevention coalition has been handing out tents.
4. The new cruiser is in quality control. Once that is done, it will be detailed and then will be ready to be picked up.
5. Discussed ongoing calls to the Diamond Run Mall property. The Act 250 permit still in effect requires the owners to provide security. Officer Plakas had reached out to the security company who said they do not believe a contract still exists and the mall is ignoring their calls.  A message to the owners will be sent requesting follow up on security information.
6. The company who had a truck turn around in the new public safety building driveway damaging the asphalt has been contacted. They are aware of what happened, and their drivers were told not to use our parking lot.
7. Reviewed the progress in getting the fingerprint machine online. Bill spent significant time working on it to get it done and after some technical issues with our internet service provider, could not complete it. Our IT vendor has been contacted and will be coming to help us.
8. Discussed the transfer of Cortina Settlement funds to the Police Budget. Selectman Getty moved to allocate $12,353.98 from the Cortina Inn Settlement fund to balance the Police budget for the last fiscal year and to carryover the amount of $41,964.77 which was not spent from the Cortina Fund but approved by Town voters per the vote made by the board prior to the end of the fiscal year. Selectman Hathawy seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. The next senior lunch is at the pool July 22^nd at 11AM.
2. Thanked Bill for installing new cameras at the storage building.
3. The pool has been very busy with the weather.
4. The bathroom doors at Dewey need to be replaced. 1 quote has been received and others are being asked for.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. A culvert on North End Drive was replaced. There was little left of it.
2. A diesel tax exemption has never been filed for. The process has started and is being worked through.
3. Easements are being worked on to allow the sewer project to move forward.
4. Paving work has started on East Pittsford Road. There were some unexpected issues. It may take 3 or 4 days instead of 2.
5. Reviewed topics from the recent Highway Committee meeting. There were no action items.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

1. Chief Clark was not present but left an application for a new member for Board approval. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the application for Josh Brown. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. A meeting to set the tax rate is needed soon. After discussion, it will be set for Wednesday, July 23^rd at 5PM.
2. The annual audit is nearly complete.
3. There is a BCA meeting on Thursday the 17^th to discuss the voter checklist.
4. A board of abatement meeting will be needed in the near future.
5. Discussed who should be in charge of the account for the town seniors. This will be discussed with our auditor about what the best practice would be.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Reported on the recent grievance hearings.
2. There have been some unexpected challenges this year with forms but they are being worked on.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Provided copies of bid requests for oil and propane for the coming year. No changes were made; they will be sent out.
2. A water connection request was made from James Haff. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the request. Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Selectman Hathaway moved to enter executive session to discuss possible litigation and a personnel matter with Deputy Chief Washburn attending. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0. The Board entered executive session at 7:23PM.

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 7:33 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

_________________ABSENT_____________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

_______________________________________________
Sharon Russell

 

_______________________________________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

 

Center Rutland, VT.