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MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD

MAY 22, 2006

COLE HALL     

SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT

 

Board Present: Wynn Metcalfe, Chairman, Karen Mellinger, Cinda Morse, Bill Pennebaker,

Jim Mead

Others Present:  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.

 

2.         Minutes:

           

            May 1, 2006 Minutes:

 

Cinda Morse made motion to approve May 1 minutes. Karen Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.

 

            May 8, 2006 Minutes:

 

Ms. Morse made motion to approve May 8 minutes. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 4-0-1. (Jim Mead abstained because he was not at the May 8 meeting.)

                       

3.         Warrants:

 

The following warrants were presented for approval:

 

·  PR#45 –                                    $   6,630.11  Payroll Warrant

 

·  AP#49 –                                    $ 32,037.42  General Warrant

 

·  Retirement Warrant –                 $      341.16 

 

Ms. Morse made motion to pay warrants. Mr. Mead seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

4.         Public Comments:

 

There were no public comments.

 

5.         Town Administrator Report:

 

Aaron Chrostowsky stated that he had attended the Bennington Rescue Squad open house on Saturday. He reported on the Vermont Town and City Manager’s Association conference recently held in Springfield. The conference included a presentation on Efficiency Vermont, for which Shaftsbury’s energy audit was used as an example. There were also presentations on water quality, storm mitigation grants, and flu pandemic preparedness.

           

Mr. Chrostowsky gave details on the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) insurance division’s Leader Program and passed around information. This initiative offers discounts on health insurance premiums based on taking part in a self-assessed self-improvement program. He recommends that the town participate.

 

Mr. Chrostowsky reported on state grants awarded to the town. A $66,000 Agency of Transportation grant will replace pipe and do a box culvert on Bennett Hill Road, and a $90,000 grant will be used for paving. He passed around a landfill closure grant agreement recently received and discussed details of the agreement, which sets a time limit of January 1, 2007 for completion of landfill closure.

 

Mr. Chrostowsky stated that he will send out a letter to Shaftsbury Hollow residents concerning upcoming road work. He reported that work on Sawmill Road is almost complete. Street sweeping bids have gone out, and he should hear back soon. The list of unlicensed dogs has been received from the town clerk, and Mr. Chrostowsky will now inform the constables, since all those in violation have been sent two notification postcards.

 

6.         Myers Road Box Culvert:

 

Mr. Chrostowsky opened bids for the Myers Road box culvert installation. Burgess Brothers bid $36,006.00, and Weaver Landscaping bid $32,256.00. He noted that the project is entirely funded by the state and that the box culvert has already been purchased.

 

Ms. Mellinger made motion to approve the Weaver Landscaping bid for installation of the Myers Road box culvert, contingent on Ron Daniels’ approval. Mr. Pennebaker seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.

 

7.         Semiannual Groundwater Monitoring:

 

Chairman Metcalfe stated that KAS has been doing the monitoring, and that Mr. Chrostowsky suggests finishing this year with KAS and putting the job out to bid next year. KAS prepares a report that goes to the state for $1600, and lab fees are $2400. Board members agreed to continue KAS services for the rest of this year.

 

8.         Landfill Update:

 

Chairman Metcalfe announced that the bid specifications deadline has been extended one week because of a revised site plan from KAS dealing with the Bentomat. He stated that Reifenberg and Capital Earthmoving are still interested.

 

Bill Pennebaker reported that he has put together a spreadsheet on soil costs, and finds the numbers startling. He thinks that purchase, transport, and screening of soil will be in the neighborhood of $200,000. There was a discussion of the materials available from TAM and from Harrington, prices, and whether or not materials are likely to require screening. Mr. Pennebaker noted that if sand at the town landfill can be used for some cover purposes, there may be some savings.

 

Board members discussed whether use of the Bentomat would save money in the closure, and noted the possible advantages it offers. Mr. Chrostowsky stated that three contractors who have expressed interest-- Rifenberg, Markowski, and Capital Earthmoving -- have been invited to bid, and bids are due next week.

 

There was discussion of landfill closure funding, the amount awarded by the state and when it will be available, and the advantages of arranging a line of credit. Chairman Metcalfe asked Mr. Chrostowsky to discuss funding possibilities with Treasurer Henri Billow.

 

9.         Transfer Station RFP

 

Board members went over draft number seven of the request for transfer station proposals. Chairman Metcalfe asked for changes or additions, noting that the document needs to go out tomorrow. Ms. Morse asked whether the recertification request is for a regular or mobile transfer station. Chairman Metcalfe replied that the state solid waste representative has advised applying for a regular transfer station rather than a mobile one because there is not that much difference and it offers more flexibility. Right now, the town intends to continue operating as a mobile transfer station.

 

There was a discussion of the two options offered to bidders for handling recycling. Board members decided that the document should specify that option two, in which the town shares in recycling profits, only includes materials that go to the MRF (materials recycling facility). Tires, metal, and brush are excluded. Mr. Pennebaker noted that solid waste per bag charges should not be included on the bid sheet. Mr. Chrostowsky will remove them.

 

Ms. Mellinger suggested an addition concerning courteous behavior expected of the transfer station employee. Ms. Morse and Ms. Mellinger noted some minor editorial changes. Chairman Metcalfe asked Mr. Chrostowsky to make changes, email the revised document to the Board for discussion, and try to get it out by tomorrow night. It will be sent to BMI, TAM, and Casella. Ms. Mellinger suggested sending it to Green Mountain Disposal as well.

 

10.       Other Business:

 

Mr. Pennebaker received a request from Jake Jakubowski to borrow the town’s speed machine to use during the upcoming car show in Pownal. Board members agreed to lend the machine.

 

Ms. Mellinger asked Mr. Chrostowsky to follow up with Mr. Jakubowski on potential grants for brownfields.

 

Ms. Mellinger reported on a letter from Tyler Resch concerning a problem with a Cold Spring Road culvert which is not draining properly. Mr. Chrostowsky said that Mr. Daniels has a copy of the letter and will check into the problem.

 

Ms. Mellinger asked what was going on with the situation Jim Gulley presented to the Board concerning his driveway and Town Line Road. Chairman Metcalfe stated that Mr. Daniels has lowered the road at the intersection with Mr. Gulley’s driveway and is continuing to work on it in small stages. Mr. Gulley is not satisfied and has petitioned the court to have a county road commission take up the matter.

 

Ms. Morse asked if Mr. Daniels has looked at the Elm Street curb cut, concerning its proximity to the intersection with Grant Street. Mr. Chrostowsky stated that he had not been able to find out what the legal distance is yet. Chairman Metcalfe advised him to check zoning bylaws and to contact attorney Rob Woolmington concerning legal recourse.

 

Chairman Metcalfe noted upcoming Memorial Day events, stating that it would be nice if Board members attended the parade. He said there has been talk of closing off part of Church Street for a street dance. Tracy Galle is very interested, and Chairman Metcalfe would really like to pull this off. He asked if Board members would be willing to give up their July stipends to hire a band, and those Board members who take stipends are willing.

 

The Board agreed to hold off discussion of Pay As You Throw (PAYT) until bids on the transfer station come in, so that there is information on management fees to factor in. Ms. Mellinger and Mr. Pennebaker said that discussions on an employee could begin. Chairman Metcalfe stated that bids are due in two weeks, so a PAYT discussion could be put on the agenda for the next meeting, in two weeks.

 

Ms. Morse made motion to go into Executive Session (Personnel) at 8:50PM. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:50 PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Susan M. Swasta

                                                                                                                                   

 

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