Selectboard Minutes 8-26-2025

Selectboard Minutes 8-26-2025

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

AUGUST 26^th, 2025

 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 Lisa Knickerbocker, Keith Whitcomb, Robyn Sweet, and Shelley Dumas

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for July 12^th:

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

Approval of Orders

Selectman Denardo moved to approve the orders. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

Update from the Selectboard Chair

The deadline for the fall edition of The Circle is September 15^th.

Thanked everyone who participated in the Town Wide Celebration.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

1. Reported on some projects related to MS4, and other areas, which have had maintenance tasks completed.
2. New line stripes are being painted. Post Road was done today.
3. The preconstruction meeting for the sewer replacement project is tomorrow morning on site at 9AM.
4. A grant reimbursement letter for our Route 7 North sidewalk project was provided. The request is for $9700.86 after our match. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the request and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
5. A notice to proceed for the sewer line replacement project was provided. Reviewed the conditions. Selectman Hathaway moved to approve the document and to authorize Bill Sweet to sign on behalf of the Town. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.

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

1. Discussed a camper which was recently found abandoned at a pull off in the VTrans right of way. The cost to remove it is approximately $3000. With this being in the state right of way, it will be up to them to remove it.
2. Two new laptops are needed, to replace ones that are approximately 7 years old. The total cost of the new machines, with the required mobile docking stations, is $6666.00 The funds would come from the depreciation account. The vendor for the laptops and docks comes from the state bid list. After discussion, Selectman Getty moved to approve the purchase as quoted with funds to come from the depreciation account. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion carried 4 – 0.
3. The new firearms have been picked up. Some holsters are still on order.
4. Officer Dumas has become certified as a firearms instructor. This will be a big benefit for us.

Mike Rowe Rutland Town Recreation Director:

1. Thanked everyone for their help with the Town Wide Celebration.
2. There are some tiles in the pool which are damaged. A company will be contacted to come and repair it.
3. Discussed dates for next year’s Town Wide celebration. Sunday August 16^th was requested. Also discussed having the fireworks on July 4^th After discussion this will be sent to the Rec committee.
4. There were over 10,500 visits to the pool this season.
5. The senior luncheon today was at Lake St. Catherine. It went very well.
6. Soccer has started for the season. Local leagues will play at Northwood starting at 6AM on Saturdays.
7. There are plans for live music at the pool Sunday evenings next year during the summer.
8. Discussed the plans to replace the doors at Dewey Field. The vendor who was contacted for a second quote needs to meet with Mr. Rowe at the site with the rep for the doors. The vendor will reach out to Mr. Rowe to schedule a time.
9. Discussed the tabled motion for the purchase of a new mower. This will be discussed at a committee meeting when it is planned.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

1. Tax bills have been sent out for the year. The first installment is due by September 10^th.
2. Provided the review for the first installment of local options taxes for this fiscal year.
3. Challenge letters were sent out to some voters registered in town. If you receive one, please fill it out and send it back.
4. There was a recent Board of Abatement meeting regarding a property that had a building loss due to fire. The tax bill was adjusted based on this meeting.

Joe Denardo Rutland Town Public Safety Building Clerk

1. Discussed some recent invoices received, which were combined with the request to pay the retainage. They were separated out.
2. Options for lighting the letters on the side of the building are still being researched.

Marcia Chioffi Rutland Town Head Lister

1. Provided an errors and omissions statement for the Board to review for approval. After discussion, Selectman Getty moved to approve the form. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 – 0.
2. Several of the assessing firms which reappraisal service requests were sent to have been contacted. The earliest they say they can do this, is 2031. A meeting with Christie Wright has been requested for guidance since the State has mandated a reappraisal by 2029.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

1. Provided a draft letter to be sent to the owners of the Diamond Run Mall property regarding security concerns. Selectman Denardo moved to approve the letter. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. After discussion, language was added to encourage them to cooperate with law enforcement to support prosecution when possible to alleviate the issues. Discussed how to communicate some of these issues to the district commission. The Board request Bill to reach out to the District Commissioner and find out the status of the application for demolition. The motion carried 4 – 0.
2. Provided a letter from VTrans following up on the joint request from our Town and the Town of Mendon regarding speed limits on Route 4 from Home Depot traveling East. VTrans does not see a need to change speed limits. There is a meeting coming up in September members of the Town may attend to discuss this conclusion.
3. The price from Irving Energy for propane was confirmed. We have begun setting up and account with them.
4. Some residents on Heather Lane have followed up with us on the name change. They have offered some suggestions for a new name, either extending Crossman Drive, or creating Crossman Drive Extension. Both are viable options.

Read thank you letters from some of this years scholarship award winners.

Don Chioffi, Rutland Town Delinquent Tax Collector, was present to request an executive session to discuss a possible tax sale. After discussion, a reason under current executive session rules could not be identified. The Board declined to enter executive session and asked for Mr. Chioffi to refine his request to be added to a future agenda.

Selectman Hathaway moved to adjourn. Selectman Getty seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet, Town Administrator.

_______________________________________________

Mary Ashcroft, Chair

 

_______________________________________________

Joseph Denardo, Clerk

 

_________________ABSENT_____________________
Sharon Russell

 

_______________________________________________

Kurt Hathaway

 

_______________________________________________

Matt Getty

Center Rutland, VT.