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MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD
FEBRUARY 20, 2006
COLE HALL     
SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT
 
Board Present: Wynn Metcalfe, Chairman, Karen Mellinger, Cinda Morse, Skip Fagerholm, Jim Mead
Others Present:   Henri Billow, Bill Pennebaker, John Tiffany, Jim Meskun, Ed  Armstrong, Clover Whitham (Bennington Banner), Aaron Chrostowsky, Susan Swasta
 
1.         Call Meeting to Order:  
 
Chairman Wynn Metcalfe called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM. He asked if any board member needed to recuse himself or herself from discussion of any agenda topic scheduled for tonight. None did.
 
Chairman Metcalfe thanked Rep. Alice Miller for obtaining grant funds for landfill closure, and recognized Bill Pennebaker’s efforts in researching funding sources. He also thanked everyone who had helped put up the town Olympic banner honoring Andy Newell.
 
Karen Mellinger expressed appreciation to Rep. Miller for hosting her at the recent local officials day in Montpelier. She learned a lot, and was able to be present on the floor of the Senate for the landfill funds vote, and to thank the legislators on behalf of the town.
 
Calling attention to the new town report, Chairman Metcalfe praised auditors Joan Vargo, Jim Meskun, and Janet Daniels as “unsung heroes” for their outstanding work on the report.
 
2.         Minutes:       
 
            February 13, 2006 Minutes:
 
Cinda Morse made motion to approve minutes. Ms. Mellinger seconded.        
 
The following changes to the February 13 minutes were requested:
 
Page 4, Section 7 (Town Administrator’s Report), sixth paragraph:
 
Mr. Chrostowsky reported that any change in town meeting format must be warned, then voted on by the electorate.
 
Page 4, Section 8 (Curb Cut Application), first paragraph:
 
Mr. Chrostowsky reported on a curb cut application from Marshall Case on Erich Road. He noted that the curb cut has a good line of sight and that the application is complete, including pictures.
 
The motion to approve amended minutes carried 5-0-0.
 
3.         Warrants:
 
The following warrant was presented for approval:
 
·  PR#33 –                       $   5,595.64  Payroll Warrant
 
Ms. Morse made motion to pay the warrants. Ms. Mellinger seconded.  The motion to pay warrants carried 5-0-0.
 
4.         Public Comments:
 
Mr. Meskun asked residents to contact the auditors or Mr. Chrostowsky with any comments or recommendations concerning the town report. They want to make the report a better product for everyone.
 
Ed Armstrong asked if highway foreman Ron Daniels could attend select board meetings once a month to answer questions on road matters. He also requested that individuals who make presentations to the board sit at the end of the table where they can be seen on camera, and that they introduce themselves.
 
Mr. Armstrong commented on the sidewalk grant and sidewalk work. He felt that Karen Mellinger and grant writer Chuck Putney should have been thanked in the select board report rather than Mr. Chrostowsky. Chairman Metcalfe reminded him that Mr. Chrostowsky had done a tremendous amount of preparation work for the grant. Mr. Armstrong questioned the placement of the sewer study under sidewalks and pointed out an error in the donation totals for sidewalks.
 
5.         Road Report:
 
There was no road report this week.
 
 
6.         Town Administrator’s Report:
 
Mr. Chrostowsky had nothing to report this week.
 
 
7.         Budget Presentation:
 
Chairman Metcalfe reported on the budget, accompanied by Powerpoint slides. He began with a “state of the town” overview for 2005-2006, with fiscal highlights and select board report. The latter focussed on activities of the highway and fire departments, policies and procedures committee, economic development committee, and solid waste committee.
 
In his discussion of the upcoming year’s budget, Chairman Metcalfe described the work of the budget committee, which included citizen representatives, detailed the effect of the budget on the taxpayer, listed new expenditures and revenues, and presented goals for 2006-2007. He reminded residents to attend town meeting on March 6 and to vote on March 7. Details of a pot luck supper before town meeting are still being worked out.
 
Chairman Metcalfe asked for questions on the budget.
 
John Tiffany stated that $2000 listed under audit should not be a line item in the budget, but is a reserve fund, and therefore must be voted on. Ms. Morse replied that the board realizes that both this audit amount and the reappraisal fund have to be voted on, and will be put on the November ballot. She said that the budget notes make this clear.
 
Mr. Armstrong asked why no funds have been set aside for sidewalks. Chairman Metcalfe replied that a commitment has been made to complete the grant-funded mile route, that the town is doing well to get to this section, and that funds are needed for other things as well. Mr. Armstrong asked why it takes so long to get anything done on sidewalks, and was told that the state controls the timing of dispersal of grant funds, and that the criteria must be followed.
 
Ms. Mellinger stated that the town has the money in hand for matching the grant, and will get in-kind donations, so is prepared to carry out the project. She asked Mr. Armstrong to consider joining the sidewalk committee.
 
8.         Curb Cut Application:
 
Mr. Chrostowsky presented a curb cut application from Jeffrey Hirsch on Mattison Road. He stated that the application is complete.
 
Mr. Mead made motion to approve Jeffrey Hirsch’s Mattison Road curb cut application. Mr. Fagerholm seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
 
Mr. Chrostowsky reported that he had received a letter from zoning administrator Tony Zazzaro concerning an unauthorized curb cut at 367 Turnbull Hill Road on the property of Michael Twardy. Mr. Chrostowsky will write a letter to Mr. Twardy on this matter.
 
9.         Fire Department Reimbursement Ordinance:
 
Chairman Metcalfe asked if the board wanted to act on the ordinance.
 
Mr. Fagerholm made motion to accept the fire department reimbursement ordinance. Mr. Mead seconded.
 
Mr. Fagerholm stated that there was a misunderstanding on the part of some of the public that the average citizen would be charged for incidents involving fire department services. He emphasized that reimbursement would only be sought in cases involving negligence. Chairman Metcalfe stated that insurance companies will be billed, not individuals.
 
The motion to accept the fire department reimbursement ordinance carried 5-0-0.
 
10.       Other Business:
 
Mr. Mead reported that Henry Martinko has estimated the tractor repairs at $200-$300. Chairman Metcalfe stated that it was OK to proceed with repairs; it is covered in the regular budget.
 
Mr. Fagerholm made motion to go into executive session (contract) at 8:00 PM. Ms. Mead seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.
 
The board came out of executive session at 8:46 PM.  Meeting adjourned at 8:48 PM.
 
 
Respectfully Submitted,
 
Susan M. Swasta
                                                                                                                                   

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