Weathersfield Select Board

Minutes

September 16, 2010

Present: Norman John Arrison

Glenn Fisher

Gordon Eglintine

Dave Fuller

Others Present: Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary

Wes Hazeltine, Highway Superintendent

Edith Stillson

Rodney Spaulding

Peter Korbet

Steve Hier

1. Call to Order: Mr. Fisher called the Weathersfield Select Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Ascutney Volunteer Fire Station.

2. Comments from Citizens and Select Board: Mr. Korbet gave the Select Board additional photos to go with the information he has submitted since July.

Mr. Spaulding welcomed the Select Board to the fire station for their monthly "on the road" meeting.

Mr. Hazeltine thanked the Ascutney Fire Department for helping clean the "tube" on the School House Road.

3. Review Minutes from Previous Meeting(s): Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the minutes dated September 2, 2010. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

4. Old Business

A. Solid Waste Management Budget, Approve Revised Fee Schedule: Mr. Mullen said he recommends increasing the punch tickets from $1.50 each to $2.50 each in order to make up the deficit we currently have and not continue to lose money. He said he we should also raise the fee to dispose chunk wood, antifreeze, batteries, tires and fluorescent lights. It was noted that sale of tokens has declined over the past two years partially because of the economy but also because people are recycling more.

Mr. Fuller asked what the solid waste facility "paid" the highway department for. Mr. Mullen said the highway department provides services in man hours but also machine hours so they are charged for time the men and equipment work there.

Mr. Mullen said he hopes other changes over the next several months can help like having recycling bins available 24/7 and maybe having a scale installed so we charge by weight.

Mr. Fuller made the motion to increase the price of a punch ticket to $2.00 and monitor the budget until December 31, 2010 for further review, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Eglintine said he doesn't think $2.00 per ticket is a large enough step to off set the deficit and Mr. Fisher agreed. Motion failed 1- 3 (Mr. Arrison, Mr. Eglintine and Mr. Fisher being the dissenting votes).

Mr. Arrison made the motion to increase the price of the punch tickets to $2.50 effective immediately, Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion. Mr. Fuller questioned if the town was ready and willing to waive the $40 annual fee charged to each parcel if there isn't a building on each parcel. It was said it has been done in the past and could be done. Motion carried 3 - 1 with Mr. Fuller being the dissenting vote.

B. Policies/Resolutions

1. Review Purchasing Card(s) Policy (Second Reading): Mr. Arrison made the motion to move this to the third reading for approval with the changes noted. Mr. Fuller seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

2. Adopt Amendment to Policy Regarding Class IV Town Highways: Mr. Mullen will have for signing at the next meeting.

3. Delinquent Tax Sale, Shall the Town Bid on Any of the Properties: Mr. Mullen said he checked with the Steve Ankuda and he said we can bid on property if we want but this should be discussed in Executive Session later tonight.

5. New Business

A. Highway - Requests for Proposals/Bid Awards, Award Stoughton Pond Road Paving Bid: Mr. Mullen said he recommends going with Pike for $197,075 and then amend the contract to increase the tonnage by 25% if needed. Mr. Fuller made the motion to award the contract for paving for the Stoughton Pond Paving Project, PLH TSDP(1), to Pike Industries for Alternate A for $197,075, subject to VTrans review and approval. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison asked where the money for the Clerk will come from; Mr. Mullen said we have that already accounted for. Mr. Arrison confirmed this would be hands off as far as the highway crew goes, Mr. Hazeltine said yes. Mr. Mullen noted the town crew would have to be sure the crown of the road and slope is ok. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Interstate Overweight Truck Legislation: Mr. Mullen asked the Board if they have seen any changes positive or negative since the State raised the limit for trucks traveling the interstate. It was noted there has been less truck traffic on Route 5 and the Board believes raising the limit on the interstate has been effective in reducing Route 5 and Route 131 truck traffic.

C. Capital Equipment Notes: Mr. Hier said Peoples Bank is offer a two year note for 2.50% for the police cruiser and he recommends accepting this offer. Mr. Eglintine made the motion to borrow $25,825 for the purchase of a police cruiser through Peoples United Bank for two years at a fixed rate of 2.5%. Mr. Fuller seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Mr. Hier said we have $79,800 remaining on the grader and he recommends renewing the note with Peoples United Bank. Mr. Eglintine made the motion to borrow $53,200 from Peoples United Bank for two years at 2.50% for the grader, Mr. Fuller seconded the motion. Mr. Fuller asked Mr. Hier if he shopped for rates, Mr. Hier said yes. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Errors and Omissions, Listers: Mr. Mullen said the Lister's had a house listed a single family dwelling and it should be a mobile home and as a mobile home it decreases the value. Mr. Fuller made the motion to adjust the grand list from $120,600 to $84,500 for parcel #130238. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

6. Monthly Reports:

Mr. Mullen said we are only a few months into the year to its kind of early to tell what is going on.

Mr. Hazeltine said the Weathersfield Center Road paving project is wrapping up and as of today we are one hundred fifty one tons under so we should end up with about one hundred ton left. He asked the Board to grant Tom Fuller permission to go down and put the left over on Maple Street along with another one hundred ton. He said Mr. Tom Fuller has agreed to charge the same amount, $63 per ton. Mr. Hazeltine said we have applied for a grant but that will be a few years away and this will help the road last for the next few years.

Mr. Fuller asked where the additional funds would come from. Mr. Hazeltine said he believes he can make it up in his budget. Mr. Mullen noted there is $6,100 in the budget for paving.

Mr. Fuller made the motion to have Fuller Sand & Gravel put pavement on Maple Street, not to exceed two hundred ton, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Mr. Eglintine confirmed one hundred ton would come from left over on Weathersfield Center Road and the other one hundred ton would come from the budget. Mr. Mullen noted the only connection to the Weathersfield Center Road paving Article will be the contractor. Motion carried unanimously.

7. Appointments: None

8. Sign Treasurer's Warrants: Mr. Arrison made the motion to approve the Treasurer's Warrants as follows:

General Fund Payroll $18,258.77

General Fund Operating Expense $37,198.45

Highway Fund Payroll $17,383.13

Highway Fund Operating Expense $53,280.33

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,336.67

Solid Waste Management Fund Operating Expense $ 2,883.20

Grants $ 56.06

Agency Monies $ 50.00

Reserves $ 170.00

Library $ 812.55

Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion. Mr. Arrison said we should consider bidding out traffic control in our bids. Motion carried unanimously.

9. Future Agenda Items: buses, speed limits

10. Executive Session: Mr. Arrison made the motion to go into executive session for real estate, personnel and Brown gravel pit. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

The Select Board came out of executive session at 9:28 p.m.

Mr. Fuller made the motion to put a freeze on the Veterans Memorial construction project on the Perkinsville Green until the next meeting. Mr. Eglintine seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

11. Adjourn: Mr. Eglintine made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board October 7, 2010