Selectboard Minutes 9-27-2022

Publish date: September 29, 2022

Selectboard Minutes 9-27-2022

TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING

RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL

181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT  05736

SEPTEMBER 27th, 2022

 

This meeting had a virtual attendance option available for anyone to join.

  • Meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance
  • Board members present Don Chioffi, Joe Denardo, Mary Ashcroft, Sharon Russell, and Kurt Hathaway
  • Members of the public present Ann Scholtz, Larry Dell Veneri, Jim Scholtz, Byron Hathaway, Lydia Moriarity-Flynn, BJ Hathaway, Marcia Chioffi, Shelley Dumas, Tim Hubbard

Approval of Orders

The Board approved the orders.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for September 13th:

Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Approval of Selectboard Minutes for September 20th:

Selectwoman Russell moved to approve the minutes.  Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.

Announcements

Selectmen Hathaway’s birthday was recognized.

David Sears Rutland Town Road Commissioner:

  1. The newly hired road crew member, Benjamin Crockett, was introduced to the Board.
  2. Town Line Road reopened today. A base coat of paving has been completed. The full road will be repaved in the spring from Gleason Road to Killington Avenue.
  3. The dirt section of Quarterline and Boardman Hill Road has been graded. Fuller Paving completed this for us. Chairman Chioffi thanked Tom Fuller for his help and his responsiveness.
  4. Several other maintenance projects have been completed which had been put off.
  5. The old waste oil furnace from the Highway garage has been sold. Discussed where the funds should be credited to. Putting it in Highway Garage Utilities or putting it back into the Capital Improvement Fund was considered. Our auditor will be asked for their recommendation. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to put the money in Capital Improvements, with the approval of the auditor. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  6. Presented the final draft of the winter maintenance contract for plowing.
  7. Changes include increasing the rate per mile from $240 to $260, and an increase in the insurance required.
  8. A fuel adjustment payment is being offered this year but is not part of the contract.
  9. The raises being proposed in this contract were not budgeted for, but we expect to stay within budgets.
  10. Commissioner Sears recognized Tim Hubbard for his years of service to the Town of Rutland. This coming year will be his 40th.
  11. BJ Hathaway, who is a current plow contractor, gave the Board a projection of what the pay rate would have been for them, had increases been put into effect annually at the same rate as town employees received.
  12. Discussed if the individuals who plow are considered Town employees or if they are independent contractors. They have been and are still considered contractors.
  13. Discussed the insurance requirements. Our insurance carrier recommended a $2M per occurrence policy with a $4M aggregate. After some discussion Selectwoman Russell moved to amend the previous motion and to now require our contractors to carry a $2M per occurrence policy with a $3M aggregate. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion.
    1. Chairman Chioffi thanked Mr. Hathaway for his information on the changes to the pay rate, but the budget constraints will not allow any additional increases this year. With budget planning starting soon this can be discussed. Mr. Hathaway asked to reduce the number of callouts to 38 from 43. The Board declined to make any further changes.
    2. Tim Hubbard said they would be willing to sign the contract as it has been discussed.
    3. Selectman Denardo said an increase for the winter contractor’s compensation has not been brought to budget discussions in years past. There was an extensive discussion on changes to the number of call outs and the effect it would have on the budget.
  1. The motion passed 3 – 1. Selectwoman Russell, Selectwoman Ashcroft, and Selectman Denardo voted in favor of the motion. Selectman Hathaway voted against the motion.
  1. Commissioner Sears has asked the contractors to make a decision on accepting the contract and have contracts signed by October 3rd.

Chris Clark Rutland Town Fire Chief:

  1. There have been 7 calls for service in the last 2 weeks.
  2. The new truck is in service.
  3. A live fire training was recently held at the Pittsford Fire academy.

Kari Clark Rutland Town Clerk and Treasurer:

  1. 96% of taxes were collected for the 1st
  2. The state is sending out ballots to every registered voter in the state for the November election. Any changes to addresses after September 9th must be communicated to the office.
    1. An article will be put into the next edition of The Circle with detailed information.
    2. Ballots have not yet been mailed to our Town. We will be notified when the mailings are sent.
  3. Interviews for a third office staff person have begun. A candidate is expected to be named at the next Board meeting.
  4. Budget planning sheets will be prepared and will ready for the next Board meeting.

Ed Dumas Rutland Town Police Chief:

  1. Recent calls for service were provided.
  2. Directed patrols in the plaza have begun on a regular basis.
    1. There were no thefts while they were there. Shortly after leaving there were several thefts reported. Officers went back and there were no more reports.
    2. The feedback from the public seeing us there was overwhelmingly positive.
  3. Discussed establishing an address for the parking lot at the Green Mountain Plaza to help accurately track cases and locations.
    1. 296 US Route 7 South is a historical address but is not recognized by E-911.
    2. Town Lister Howard Burgess said the Board would have to approve the use of the address.
    3. Selectwoman Russell moved to establish the parking lot at the Green Mountain Plaza as 296 US Route 7 South. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  4. Chief Dumas thanked the Board for all their efforts to help mitigate the issues caused by the population staying at the Cortina Inn.

Selectwoman Russell left the meeting at 7:16PM.

Bill Sweet Town Administrator:

  1. Provided two Town policies for review and discussion for possible changes.
    1. Discussed the Social Service Agency Appropriation Policy.
      1. The policy outlines how agencies can put an appropriation on the Town ballot.
      2. Discussed if language should be added for appropriation requests that are over $100,000, requiring additional voter petitions to be signed or including it as a budget item. No decisions were made.
  • This topic will be added to the next agenda.
  1. Discussed the Credit Card Policy.
    1. Some changes were suggested and will be included in a new draft. This will be taken up at the next meeting for review.
  2. Provided closure documents for the Post Road water line project.
    1. The project is complete and ready for the Board to sign off on.
    2. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve signing the paperwork for the Post Road water line project completion, and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  3. Provided a water connection request for 1461 Post Road.
    1. Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to approve the request. Selectman Hathaway seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 0.
  4. VLCT policy renewal documents are being completed currently. All the departments are completing their sections. The packet is due back to VLCT next week.
  5. Consolidated Communications has been installing their new internet connections around town. The project is almost complete. It made sense to change to Consolidated in part due to the availability of high-speed internet at every town building where we were limited by Comcast. We will be able to increase security at town buildings and create a public Wi-Fi network when this is done.

Discussed starting the budget process. Committees should plan to start meeting in the next few weeks. Budgets should be close to the final draft by the end of November, so they can be finalized in early December.

Old Business: Board to review for approval, changes to the Permit Tracking Ordinance:

After some discussion Selectman Hathaway moved to table the discussion. Selectwoman Ashcroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 – 0.

New Business: Board to discuss the Delinquent Tax Collector transition:

Delinquent Tax Collector Jim Scholtz was present and discussed with the Board the future of the Delinquent Tax Collector position. Mr. Scholtz indicated he plans to give the Board his resignation by the end of this calendar year. Mr. Scholtz said he would be willing to help train the person who would fill the position, if needed. The current term expires March of 2024. Mr. Scholtz discussed with the Board some of his concerns, suggestions and recommendations regarding the person who will succeed him. Chairman Chioffi thanked Mr. Scholtz for the work he has put into the position.

Selectwoman Ashcroft moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:13 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Bill Sweet

 

 
Don Chioffi, Chair
 

 
Joseph Denardo, Clerk
 
Mary Ashcroft
 
Sharon Russell
 
Kurt Hathaway

 

Center Rutland, VT.

Rutland Town News

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