Present: Norman John Arrison
Dave Fuller
Glenn Fisher
Dan Boyer

Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Julia Lloyd Wright
David Russell
Alice Nitka
Jeff Slade
Edith Stillson
Ernie Shand
Dave Bonta
Johnny Hinrichs
Todd Parteins
Tim Rhodes
Michael Todd

1. Call to Order: Mr. Arrison called the Weathersfield Select Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.

2. Public Lands Highways Grants, Revised VTrans Work Proposal for Stoughton Pond Road: Mr. Melen said we received a Leahy grant in 2003 for work on Stoughton Pond Road to date we have done the reclamation and base coat. (We had a 20% match and the reclamation was done with Town funds). Mr. Melen said another grant for $220,000 came through Leahy's office too but some of the grant money has been used for inside work as well as for an outside engineering firm.
Mr. Arrison explained that the State's budget includes expenses that are not needed like reclamation. We have already done this and the base coat is already there we do not need to do it again. They also have $20,000 in the budget for removing and resetting the guardrails. Mr. Arrison said he agrees that the guardrails may be a little low but they were set to the pavement level at the time they were installed. Mr. Fuller asked if the Army Corp signed off on the guardrails when they were installed, Mr. Melen said no, that at the time they said they were in our ROW. Another budget item the State has listed is traffic control for $20,000, Mr. Arrison said the highway department could do all of the traffic control.
Mr. Arrison went through the list and noted what the Town thought could be eliminated from the State's project and said the Town's budget comes to $266,000 to finish the whole project and we are trying to get VTrans on board with us. We feel it is important this goes out to bid this winter.
Mr. Shand said in reviewing the email from Scott Gurley (the Project Supervisor) it appears he doesn't have record that the guardrails were installed. Mr. Melen said we have the information from the installation and he will send it to him. Mr. Shand also said from what he can see the Town is trying to do this project themselves where as the State is budgeting the project assuming the project will be sent out to bid, they are not looking to have the Town do the work. Mr. Arrison said the assumption is correct; the Town is capable of doing this project and can do the whole project with the funds that are there.
Mr. Fuller asked how many times AOT has been to the site to try and find a solution; Mr. Melen said the VTrans project manager has been to the site two times. Mr. Fuller asked if we could find a similar project to see what the State required on that project. Mr. Arrison said he would like the State to show us where they are using these kinds of specifications on other roads.
It was decided to ask VTrans to attend another meeting with the Highway Committee this time and invite the State Representatives again to see if this can be resolved.

3. Comments from Citizens: Mr. Melen said Mr. Rolly Cann stopped by his office and he will retire as a Trustee of Public Funds in March so we will need someone for a three year term.
Mr. Arrison said he received the email for Mrs. Edith Hunter's 90th birthday party at the Weathersfield Center Meeting House unfortunately; the Select board has a meeting that same night.

4. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): Mr. Boyer made the motion to approve the minutes dated October 22, 2009. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
Mr. Fisher made the motion to approve the minutes dated November 5, 2009. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

5. Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans, David Russell: Mr. Russell provided the Board with more information on his proposal from the last meeting he attending asking again for the Board to consider adding a Resolution to the Town Warning to participate in this. He said the cost is carried by the property owners through a lien and limitations are set. He said there are benefits to the homeowner but also to the Town and to the VT economy. Mr. Russell noted this program would need an administrator.
Mr. Melen said this would require a public vote, an informational meeting and a public hearing as this would be the same process as any other bonds - like the school just went through or the last fire truck for West Weathersfield. Mr. Melen said perhaps the Rockingham or Brattleboro Land Trusts Department would be willing to administer the project.
Mr. Fuller said the banks need to be brought in, he wonders if the mortgagee would be willing to allow the Town to go ahead of them without creating hardship to the borrower.
There was discussion that the Legislature is "on board" with this and the program is up and running in Burlington, VT as well as in several other States. It was noted, we would not be inventing the program - it is out there. Mr. Melen said he would like to talk to the department in Burlington that is doing the program to see how it is working for them.
The Board said they didn't know if there was time to get this on the Warning this year. Mr. Melen suggested that Mr. Russell present this proposal to Cavendish and Ludlow (and maybe other Towns) to get more people on board.

6. Highway
A. Jenness Road: Mr. Melen said the turn around's at the end of the road have been blocked but there will be discussion next week to hopefully open them back up.
B. Caterpillar 140M Grader: Mr. Melen said there is an engine problem with the Grader and Jeff Slade, sales representative from CAT was here to let the Board know what was happening. Mr. Slade said there have been some complaints on the horsepower for a while now so CAT is opting to replace all engines in the 140M models. He said Weathersfield's grader was picked up last week and CAT hopes to return it by the 30th. He said there are two other graders affected by the "problem" in Vermont and they will be done as well. Mr. Slade said the 7.1 liter engines will be replaced with a 9.1 liter engine.
Mr. Arrison asked when the warranty would start. Mr. Slade said the Town's 5 year, 5,000 hour warranty does not start over. Mr. Arrison asked if this would cause a strain on any of the attachments, Mr. Slade said no.
Mr. Arrison asked about the hydraulic noise, Mr. Slade said that issue hasn't been resolved but they are monitoring it. Mr. Arrison asked about the sensitivity of the steering, Mr. Slade said CAT is still refining the steering.

7. Potential Town Bridge Project: Mr. Melen said this wasn't our request and it is there because the State is using the access to log. Mr. Melen noted that our representative, Neil Daniels, asked the State to look at the Lavigne Bridge instead and have that added to the list.

8. Monthly Reports:
Report from Land Use and Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District received.
Mr. Fuller said the letter sent to the abutters for the Ancient Roads should have received a cover letter explaining the reason for the Public Hearing. He said he has looked at the list of abutters and he knows it is not complete. Mr. Melen said they did the best they could do using the town maps to get all the names.

9. Old Business
A. Policies and Procedures, Zoning Board of Adjustment Alternate Member Use Policy: Mr. Boyer made the motion to move this to the third reading. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

10. New Business
A. Vermont League of Cities & Towns
1. Health Trust Rates for Calendar Year 2010: Mr. Melen said there will be a 20% jump in rates but we are still less than 2007.
2. Annual Dues: Mr. Melen said our dues have increased because the base rate went from 69 cents to 95 centers per person because VLCT operations costs increased.
3. Flexible Spending Account and COBRA Vendor Change: Mr. Melen said a new contract will come down shortly; they have changed the Vendor firm.
B. Fiscal Year 2011 Budget
1. Revised Long Term Debt Service: Mr. Melen gave the Board a copy of the Long Term Debt schedule and it was decided that this needs to be looked at during the budget sessions.

11. Appointments
(ii) Budget Committee: Mr. Fuller made the motion to appoint Michael Todd to the budget committee. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.
(iv) Connecticut River Joint Commission: Mr. Fisher made the motion to appoint Gilbert Whittemore to the Connecticut River Joint Commission. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

12. Sign Treasurer's Warrants: Mr. Fisher made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:

General Fund Payroll $15,932.62
General Fund Operating Expense $ 9,159.34
Highway Fund Payroll $12,056.35
Highway Fund Operating Expense $ 5,686.05
Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,351.77
Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 463.36

Mr. Boyer seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison asked Mr. Melen about using Nextel for cell phones when people are saying the service is not good. Mr. Melen said he is trying to find a replacement carrier. Motion carried unanimously.

14. Next Meeting's Agenda Items: Public hearing

13. Executive Session: Mr. Boyer made the motion to go into executive session for the appointment or evaluation of a Public Official. Mr. Fuller seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

15. Adjourn: The Board decided that there will be a joint meeting with the Fire
Commission at 7:00 p.m. on December 2, 2009 at the West Weathersfield Fire Station. Mr. Boyer made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Fisher seconded the motion, which
passed without dissent. The Select Board meeting was adjourned at 10:03 P.M. on November 19, 2009.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on December 3, 2009

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John Norman Arrison

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Glenn Fisher

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Daniel Boyer

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Dave Fuller