Select Board 3-05-09

Weathersfield Select Board Meeting Minutes March 5, 2009 Present:        Daniel Boyer Glenn Fisher Norman John Arrison Henry C. Cobb Dave Fuller Others Present:    Larry Melen, Town Manager Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary Edith Stillson Peg Merrens, UVLT deForest Bearse Steve Aikenhead George Ainley Bartlett Mair Willis Wood Deb Ostrum, SAPA Tina Wood Mary Beth Reville Chris Harris Annmarie Christensen Gary Pelton 1.  Call to Order by Town Manager: Mr. Melen called the reorganization Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday March 5, 2009 at Martin Memorial Hall. 2.  Election of Chairperson: Mr. Boyer nominated Mr. Arrison as the Chairperson of the Select Board, Mr. Cobb seconded the nomination.  There were no more nominations.  Mr. Cobb made the motion to appoint Mr. Arrison the Chairperson of the Select Board.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent. 3.  Election of Vice-Chairperson: Mr. Cobb nominated Mr. Boyer as the Vice-Chairperson of the Select Board, Mr. Fisher seconded the nomination.  There were no more nominations.  Mr. Cobb made the motion to appoint Mr. Boyer the Vice-Chairperson of the Select Board.  Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.  4.  Election of Board Clerk: Mr. Boyer nominated Mr. Cobb as the Select Board Board Clerk, Mr. Fisher seconded the nomination.  There were no more nominations.  Mr. Boyer made the motion to appoint Mr. Cobb the Board Clerk of the Select Board; Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent. 5.  Appointment of Recording Secretary: Mr. Boyer made the motion to appoint Lisa A. Sargent the Recording Secretary for the Select Board.  Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent. 6.  Designate regular meeting dates, times, and locations: Mr. Cobb made the motion that the Select Board meetings will be held the first and third Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall unless otherwise warned.  Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent. 7.  Designate newspaper of record for the Town: Mr. Fisher made the motion to designate the Eagle Times the newspaper of record for the Town, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion.  Mr. Cobb asked how many years we have been with the Eagle Times and if they are still cost effective.  Mr. Melen said it has been three years and they are cost and time effective.  Motion passed unanimously. 8.  New Business A.  Application for Scenic Byway Grant, Acquisition of Real Estate – Peggy Merrens, Upper Valley Land Trust: Ms. Merrens was present to talk about seeking support from the Select Board to have the Town of Weathersfield acquire 314 of land off Thrasher Road.  She said she is trying to obtain the land from a service organization in Springfield and that the Upper Valley Land Trust would purchase the property and then give it to the Town of Weathersfield as a town forest.  Upper Valley Land Trust would hold a conservation easement.  Ms. Merrens said it would be purchased with a grant that covers 80%.  She said she will seek the 20% match elsewhere.  Mr. Melen said there is a verbal agreement with the Department of Forest and Parks for maintenance.  Mr. Boyer mentioned he thought it was logged about five years ago.  Ms. Merrens said she believes it was logged in the 90’s and again about five years ago.  Mr. Boyer asked if there was access other than through the State Park.  Mr. Melen said the Abbot and McDermott properties abut this land so it may be possible for the Town to gain access through one of their properties.  Mr. Arrison asked what tax revenue would be lost, Mr. Melen said $1,500.  Mr. Cobb asked what happens if the 20% match isn’t available.  Ms. Merrens said she had another potential source.  Mr. Cobb asked what happens if it is logged again and money is received for the wood, Ms. Merrens said it would go to the Town. Mr. Fuller asked if it had been surveyed, Mr. Melen said there is no record of a survey.  Ms. Merrens said the State Park boundaries are marked.  Mr. Fisher asked if there were other potential buyers.  Ms. Merrens said yes, there is someone looking at it for gravel extraction and another for major timber extraction.  Mr. Fuller asked how it was zoned, Mrs. Bearse said conservation c10.  Mr. Fuller asked how much property the town owns already.  Mr. Melen said several bits and pieces.  Mr. Fuller said he would be interested to hear how many parcels and how many acres the town currently owns.  Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the acquisition letter and to have the Chairperson of the Select Board sign the letter dated March 5, 2009 to Vermont Agency of Transportation supporting the acquisition of the land on the southeast face of Mount Ascutney, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Fuller said he is in favor of conserving land but he is reluctant to vote on something at the same meeting he is presented the information.  Ms. Merrens said VLCT is just looking for an indication from the Select Board that they are interested.  Mr. Arrison confirmed with Mr. Melen that he has been involved with this for a while.  Mr. Melen said he, Mr. Willis Wood and Ms. Merrens have been discussing this for a few years.  Mr. Melen said he sees this as a benefit to the town.  Motion carried unanimously. B.  Safe Routes to School – Vermont Agency of Transportation: Mrs. Bearse gave a presentation and noted she would like to apply for a grant.  She said she is asking the Select Board to sign a letter of support.  She noted she had one from the School Board and Superintendent already.  Mr. Fisher asked what the grant for $10,000 will do.  Mrs. Bearse said part of it will be for a study, part for signage, part for awareness.  She said this will help us provide objective evidence as to if we should go for it or not.  Mrs. Bearse said there will be a team of people looking at this project which consists of one point person, two stipend positions and the rest of the team will be volunteers.  Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the letter and have the Chairperson of the Select Board sign the letter dated March 5, 2009 supporting the application for “Safe Routes to School” grant funding.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed unanimously.  Mr. Arrison convened as the Board of Liquor Commission 9.  Board of Liquor Commission A.  Coco Mart, Inc., DBA Colonial Deli Mart: Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Class II Liquor License for Coco Mart, Inc., DBA Colonial Deli Mart, Mr. Boyer seconded the motion.  Mr. Cobb asked if the violation information was received, Mr. Melen said yes it was all motor vehicle violations.  Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Tobacco License for Coco Mart, Inc., DBA Colonial Deli Mart.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.  B.  D. Scott Rogers, LLC, DBA Scott Rogers, LLC: Mr. Cobb made the motion to grant D. Scott Rogers, LLC, DBA Scott Rogers, LLC a Class II Liquor License. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Mr. Cobb made the motion to grant D. Scott Rogers, LLC, DBA Scott Rogers, LLC a Tobacco License.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent. C.  HIYA, LLC, DBA Hiya Convenience Store:  Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Class II Liquor License for HIYA, LLC, DBA Hiya Convenience Store.  Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent. Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Tobacco License for HIYA, LLC, DBA Hiya Convenience Store.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.  Mr. Arrison adjourned the Board of Liquor Commission 10.  Adopt Policy for conduct of Meetings and Hearings: Mr. Boyer made the motion to adopt the policy for conduct of meetings and hearings, Mr. Cobb seconded the motion.  Mr. Fuller asked if this was taken from VLCT, Mr. Melen said yes it is a model from VLCT.  Mr. Boyer withdrew his motion and Mr. Cobb withdrew his second in order to give Mr. Fuller time to review the policy. Tabled until March 19, 2009 11.  Adopt Ethics Policy: Tabled until March 19, 2009 12.  Appoint Representative to Fire Commission, Daniel E. Boyer:  Mr. Cobb made the motion to appoint Daniel E. Boyer the Select Board representative to the Fire Commission.  Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent. 13.  Appoint Representative to Highway Committee, Norman John Arrison:  Mr. Cobb made the motion to appoint Norman John Arrison the Select Board representative to the Highway Committee.  Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.  Appoint Representative to the Veterans Memorial Committee, Henry C. Cobb: Mr. Boyer made the motion to appoint Henry C. Cobb as Chair of the Veterans Memorial Committee.  Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.  14.  Establish procedure for handling of complaints and citizen inquiries: There was discussion that the Select Board thinks this has already been completed (last year).  Mr. Melen will check and if not put back on the agenda. Treasurer Reports: Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows: General Fund Payroll                    $16,586.91 General Fund Operating Expense                $17,859.46 Highway Fund Payroll                    $16,338.37 Highway Fund Operating Expense                $  3,007.95 Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll            $  2,806.01 Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense    $   5,831.92 Reserves                            $      539.00 Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed unanimously.  15.  Adjourn: Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn.  Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.  The Weathersfield Select Board meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lisa Sargent Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on March 19, 2009 ______________________            Norman John Arrison ______________________            Daniel Boyer _______________________ Henry C. Cobb _______________________ Dave Fuller Appendix Website policy - Larry Ancient roads (continue working on) - deForest Posting sign policy - John Use of Weathersfield Elementary School - Chip Capital asset inventory – Chris Adams No Parking Signs by Thomas residence Review and increase of land use fees - deForest 03/08/07    Procedure for handling of complaints and citizen inquiries - Pat 05/03/07    Emergency communication - Dan 05/03/07    Radio Station designation for emergencies – Mike Thomas 08/16/07    large gathering permit - John 10/18/07    Economic depreciation factors from AMPTA - Pat 11/01/07    Designation of emergency shelter and power supply - Dan 03/20/08    Cascade Falls Road Parking Area (maintenance) 06/19/08    Tenney Hill Pond 06/19/08    Noise Ordinance 07/10/08    Community Garden 07/10/08    Energy Audit at Town Garage & Martin Memorial Hall