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MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD

AUGUST 21, 2006

COLE HALL     

SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT

 

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

 

Others Present:  Tom Vachon, Kathy Vachon, State Representative Alice Miller, Merton Snow, Oliver Durand, Matt Tuthill (Bennington Banner), Susan Swasta

 

 

1.         Call Meeting to Order:  

 

Chairman Wynn Metcalfe called the meeting to order at 7:10 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 requested a moment of silence in remembrance of two pillars of the community who had recently died, John Thompson and Alvan Lawrence.

 

He made several announcements:

 

            The Town Administrator’s office is closed this week. Contact Select Board members if you need assistance with anything.

 

            Buck Hill Road paving has been completed. The Highway Department and Beau-              doing Paving were thanked for finishing the project quickly.

 

            There will be temporary road closures this week on part of Townline Road, in                    front of the Gulley residence, and on Shaftsbury Hollow near the intersection               with Marsha Road. Myers Road is still closed for box culvert work.

 

            The street dance and cruise-in will be held from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM Saturday                 on Church Street and Cleveland Avenue. There will be a Ferris wheel, dunking                       booth, food, dance contest and costume contest.

 

Karen Mellinger announced the annual Historical Society book sale to be held Saturday, September 2.  Donated books (no textbooks), tapes, CD’s, and videos may be dropped off Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. People may also call Ruth Levin at 442-9003 or Fay Hardy at 442-4075 for pickup, or contact Angie Abbatello.

 

2.         Warrants:

 

The following warrants were presented for approval:

 

·   PR#7  -                          $        6,966.97            payroll warrant

·   AP#10  -                        $    153,235.77  ( paving, calcium chloride, gravel, culvert)

 

·   AP#11  -                        $      2,285.00   ( Ferris wheel rental -- will be reimbursed)

 

·   Warrant#W8W    -        $    37,446.50 (water warrant)

 

Cinda Morse made motion to pay warrants. Karen Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.

 

3.         Minutes:

 

            August 14, 2006 Minutes:

 

Ms. Morse made motion to approve August 14, 2006 minutes. Ms. Mellinger seconded.

 

The following corrections to the August 14 minutes were requested:

 

Page 1, Section 2 (Warrants), amount of W#8 warrant added:   W#8 - $ 423.00 (postage paid by the Board)

 

Page 4, Section 8 (Other Business), paragraph three, last sentence changed to:

 

The town has not heard from the judge, but this is the suggestion of Bennington Highway Superintendent Pat Kinney.

 

Motion to approve August 14 minutes as amended carried 5-0-0.

           

4.         Public Comments:

 

Tom Vachon of Cold Spring Road stated that he is here to find out about the problem with the culvert. He wants to hear the bottom line concerning how the town will deal with his blocked drainage pipe. Jim Mead said that he had talked to Road Foreman Ron Daniels about it a week ago and had asked him to check it out. He is not sure if Mr. Daniels has done so.

 

Mr. Vachon stated that he had started digging a trench to find the pipe to see if he can clear it, but because it keeps raining he has been unable to find it. Mr. Mead stated that the problem is off the town right of way, and it is a tricky situation because if we say we caused it totally, do we then have to dig up the whole lawn. Mr. Vachon said that he just wants to get the pipe unplugged, sixty feet from the road.

 

Mr. Mead stated that the highway crew said they had run into a root in trying to clear the pipe and thought the blockage might be caused by a root. Mr. Vachon denied that the blockage was caused by a root, stating that the water had been running before the culvert was replaced at the request of his neighbors. The neighbors felt there was too much water coming onto their property, but Mr. Vachon believes it was the normal amount from spring rain. The culvert was reset because everyone got nervous about flooding.

 

Mr. Mead stated that Mr. Daniels had been busy with the paving last week, but that he knows the situation and needs to go and check it out. Mr. Vachon said that it wouldn’t cost the town anything except for a digging machine. He stated that when the pipe was snaked they were hitting gravel. Kathy Vachon noted that they were not warned about the road work, and they had asked to be warned.

 

Chairman Metcalfe said that between now and Monday Mr. Daniels will go up there and then advise us, and we will call you. Ms. Vachon said that they had bought prime property and now has swampland, and would appreciate any help. Mr. Vachon asked that he be kept informed. Chairman Metcalfe said that he would let them know.

 

Merton Snow reported that the Sawmill Road work had come out well, and that except for the guard rails it is looking great. His daughter and son-in-law are happy with it.

 

5.         Shaftsbury Community Center:

 

Mr. Snow, secretary of the Taconic Community Grange, came forward to make a presentation on the Grange Hall, located next to the Head Start school. He gave a history of the building and described the facility, presenting Ms. Mellinger with a key in case it rains Saturday for the block dance and the building is needed. Mr. Snow talked about the history of the Grange movement and its accomplishments.

 

He stated that there are now 42 local members. The building is used for a meeting once a month and for the occasional district meeting. It is available for rent, but many don’t know about this. It will cost $4000-$5000 a year to keep the building going.

 

Mr. Snow said that he had talked to many people in town about making the Grange a community center, and no one had thought it was a bad idea. The building can seat 100 for a dinner, or 175 for a show. It could provide a needed community center for the town, and the location right near the center of town is especially good.

 

Ms. Morse asked Mr. Snow exactly what he is proposing, and he answered that he would like a marriage between the Grange and the community. Otherwise, down the road the Grange Hall might have to go on the market. Members would prefer that it be used for the community. He noted that the Grange is exempt from property tax, but it’s still difficult to cover the funds needed to keep it open.

 

Ms. Mellinger stated that she had visited the building today and thinks it is a very neat space and a wonderful resource in the middle of town. She would hate to see it lost to the town. She thinks the first step is just to bring attention to it.

 

Chairman Metcalfe said that it would be helpful for the Board to meet with Mr. Snow and look at the facility in the next couple of weeks. Mr. Snow agreed. Chairman Metcalfe and Ms. Mellinger thanked him for the presentation.

 

6.         Treasurer’s Report:

 

Treasurer Henri Billow reported on the 2006-2007 tax rate referring to a handout giving the figures. The amount to be raised by taxes is $1,025,232, which divided by the Grand List of $2,313,650 gives the town tax rate of .4431 per hundred. This represents a 1% increase from last year. The amount of .0005 per hundred must be added to this to cover the taxes for the Grange Hall, so the total is .4436 per hundred. The Board was glad to hear this good news.

 

Ms. Mellinger made motion to set the tax rate at .4431 per hundred. Bill Pennebaker seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

 

7.         Landfill Closure Update:

 

 Mr. Pennebaker reported that there has been a lot of progress. He passed around a photograph showing the geo-synthetic liner being put on. Since this process is going very quickly, it’s possible that bills may come in a little faster than anticipated. Ms. Billow stated that the $180,000 grant from the state has come in, but we are still waiting for the $39,700 grant. She will have the paperwork done for the line of credit soon.

 

Ms. Mellinger confirmed with Mr. Pennebaker that none of the sand had had to be screened. Mr. Mead asked if anyone from KAS had been at the landfill, and Mr. Pennebaker replied that he had not seen anyone, and had expected to see them today.

 

Mr. Pennebaker reported that he had seen one area of the landfill that needed attention and did not pass the “smell test.” He had not run into John, but knows that John has been submitting weekly reports to Aaron Chrostowsky.

 

Chairman Metcalfe reported that he has received a figure of $12 per cubic yard for topsoil from Pat Wellington, which is less than half what had been expected. He asked Mr. Pennebaker to call Mr. Wellington about this price.  Chairman Metcalfe said that between the use of pond fill and the compost at this lower price there should be significant savings. Mr. Pennebaker said that he is working out details for delivery with Art Whitman. He reported that Buzz Surwilo had been here to see the progress and was quite pleased.

 

State Representative Alice Miller expressed concern about the $39,700 grant, stating that the town was to have submitted an application. Mr. Chrostowsky had reported that changes in numbers had been required, and assured her that it was taken care of. Chairman Metcalfe will check with him on this.

 

8.         Other Business:

 

Ms. Morse said that she had received a call from someone in North Bennington concerning the proposed construction and demolition landfill site on Route 67 in New York. She does not think the state application has been done yet. There will be a 7:00 PM meeting on this at the Armory in Hoosick Falls, and she thinks it might be worthwhile for some Board members to attend. Chairman Metcalfe agreed, noting that trucks would be going right through our town.

 

Chairman Metcalfe reminded everyone of Saturday’s street dance.

 

8.         Executive Session (Personnel):

 

Ms. Morse made motion to go into Executive Session (Personnel). Mr. Mead seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0. Board went into Executive Session at 8:10 PM.

 

Meeting adjourned at   PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Susan M. Swasta

 

 

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