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MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD
SEPTEMBER 18, 2006
COLE HALL
SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT
Board Present:
Wynn Metcalfe, Chairman, Cinda Morse, Bill Pennebaker, Karen Mellinger
Board Absent:
Jim Mead
Others Present:
Kathy Cardiff (Health Committee). Mike Gleason (Bennington Banner), Aaron
Chrostowsky, (Town Administrator), Susan Swasta (Recording Secretary)
1. Call Meeting to Order:
Chairman Wynn Metcalfe called the meeting to
order at 7:08 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. Warrants:
The following warrants were presented for
approval:
·
PR#11 - $ 8,117.79 payroll
warrant
·
AP#17 - $ 41,270.53
(health insurance, landfill closure)
Cinda Morse made motion to pay warrants.
Bill Pennebaker seconded.
Karen Mellinger noted that the general warrant
included payment for deed research that had been done in error. She questioned
whether this bill should be paid until the matter is cleared up. Chairman
Metcalfe stated that Aaron Chrostowsky had not been directed to follow up on
this, and it was decided to have him do so.
Ms. Mellinger also questioned payment for
October insurance benefits for a town employee who has left. Mr. Chrostowsky
replied that he had been advised by legal counsel that the October benefits
should be paid.
Motion to pay warrants was amended to
specify that the surveyor’s bill for deed research included in AP#17 not be
paid until Mr. Chrostowsky resolves the matter with the surveyor. Motion
carried 4-0-0.
3. Minutes:
September 11, 2006 Minutes:
Ms. Morse made motion to approve September
11 minutes. Ms. Mellinger seconded.
Mr. Pennebaker requested two changes to the
September 11 minutes:
Page 3, Section 5 (Landfill Closure
Update), second sentence changed to:
There was a discussion of
postponing payment of the $33,000 retainage.
Page 3, Section 6 (Pay As You Throw
Update), third sentence, “them” changed to “then” to read:
Mr. Pennebaker said that he expects monthly
revenue to drop, then level out to a steady state.
Motion to approve September 11 minutes as
amended carried unanimously.
4. Public Comments:
Chairman Metcalfe reported that the Board had
met with Grange members to discuss making the Grange Hall a community
facility. He invited town residents to join a committee to explore this
possibility. Anyone interested may contact him.
Chairman Metcalfe announced that Hazardous
Waste Day and Free Tire Day will be held Saturday, October 7 from 9:00 AM to
1:00 PM. Free Metal Week will be October 3, 5, and 7; pipes must be four feet
or less in length.
Ms. Mellinger reminded residents that latex
paint is not accepted as hazardous waste, but must be disposed of as regular
trash. Paint remaining in cans should be dried up.
5. Health Committee:
Kathy Cardiff came forward to make a Health
Committee presentation. She traced the beginning of this committee to efforts
by the late Charles Yoder, a trustee of public funds, to use dormant health
fund monies for public benefit. The committee decided to
use the money, which amounts to about $700 a
year in interest from the health fund, for public health presentations.
October has been designated Shaftsbury Health
Awareness Month, and four public presentations will be held on Thursday nights
from 7:00 to 8:30 at the elementary school. The four programs will be:
October 5 - Dave O’Brian on mental
health blues; depression and seasonal affective disorder
October 12 - Dianne Lamb on
nutrition, including quick and healthy meals and
changes in
the food pyramid
October 19th - Ed
Lanoue on medication interactions
October 26th - Pat
Carpenter and Jennifer Thuermer on diabetes and heart disease
The Committee hopes for a sizable turnout, and
all are invited. The programs will be taped by CAT-TV. Postcards on the events
will go out to town residents on Friday, and there will be a public service
announcement on CAT-TV. The Board thanked Ms. Cardiff and the Committee for
their good work.
6. Landfill Closure Update:
Mr. Pennebaker reported that there are still
issues regarding finances to be resolved. He feels Reifenberg’s bill for
spreading compost is rather high and needs to be negotiated. He detailed the
costs, which total about $15,000. The hauling cost was agreed to, but the
labor cost seems questionable. Mr. Pennebaker noted that $22,000 was still
saved on topsoil, and that this should be a negotiable number.
The contractor’s charges for covering an
additional area, discussed at the last meeting, still need to be resolved. Mr.
Chrostowsky stated that John Endres has not yet completed the survey to
determine the total area covered, and Mr. Pennebaker emphasized that this
survey is needed as soon as possible. Mr. Chrostowsky has emailed Reifenberg
in order to set up a meeting on these issues.
Mr. Pennebaker reported that he and Mr.
Chrostowsky had met with the state on transfer station recertification. They
had thought that it would be possible to fast track the process by using the
short form, but were told that the long form must be used because the landfill
was just closed. Mr. Pennebaker stated that it is essential that this be
completed by the end of the month.
Ms. Morse asked if technical help is needed to
complete the long recertification form. Mr. Chrostowsky replied that he does
not think this is necessary because he received a good template and
information and anticipates completing a draft by Friday. He stated that
technical information is not required. Mr. Pennebaker will be the Board
liaison with Mr. Chrostowsky on completing the form.
Mr. Pennebaker reported that all four methane
wells on the landfill now read at above LEL (lower explosive level). Because
the measuring device does not give specific levels, he cannot get quantitative
readings, so cannot tell how high levels actually are, or in what direction
they are moving.
Mr. Chrostowsky stated that he has been
informed by Buzz Surwilo that the town has three weeks to put a remediation
plan in place for the methane wells. Mr. Surwilo told him that any competent
engineer could develop a satisfactory plan. Mr. Chrostowsky asked KAS to put
together a proposal, and received a quote of $5900 for a remediation plan.
There was a discussion of whether this is a reasonable quote, and of past
problems in dealing with KAS.
Mr. Pennebaker stated that he thinks these
high methane levels were triggered by the landfill closure, but that it
indicates that the gas collection system is not working well. There was a
discussion of whether a methane level increase is a normal consequence of the
landfill closure process and should have been anticipated by the contractor.
Mr. Chrostowsky stated that Mr. Surwilo had
not had an answer about that, but had noted that the methane wells had spiked
in the past. Mr. Pennebaker said that if an updated gas venting system is
required, he believes it should be considered as a part of the landfill
closure process and paid for with those funds.
Mr. Chrostowsky said that he will call people
for answers as to whether the methane problem should have been anticipated. He
will also call Bennington to see if they have a measuring device that will
indicate specific methane levels. Mr. Pennebaker reminded the Board that this
must be taken care of in three weeks.
Mr. Pennebaker made motion to reluctantly
accept the $5900 KAS bid for a remediation plan.
There was a discussion of the evident
inadequacy of the gas collection system, and whether in designing it KAS had
not taken past methane problems into account. They were paid once to design
it, and now want an additional $6000 to make it right. Board members discussed
other engineers who might be able to handle this. Despite the time pressures,
it was decided some other engineers should be called.
Mr. Pennebaker made motion to give Mr.
Chrostowsky authority to spend up to $6000, in consultation with Mr.
Pennebaker, to hire a competent engineer for a remediation plan. Ms. Morse
seconded. Motion carried 4-0-0.
7. Other Business:
Chairman Metcalfe reminded Board members to
get information for the newsletter to Ms. Mellinger by tomorrow.
Chairman Metcalfe stated that he is always
concerned about missing things that should go on the agenda. He asked Board
members to think about agenda items to get on the table. Ms. Morse brought up
finishing the personnel policy and the conflict of interest policy. Ms.
Mellinger suggested discussing historic preservation grant money, and the
Grange Hall. Mr. Chrostowsky stated that he had prepared a list of items that
he believes require follow-through, which he will email to Board members.
Ms. Mellinger asked Mr. Chrostowsky if he had
found an archeological consultant for the sidewalk grant, and he replied that
he had and will receive a price tomorrow. He will also get a price for a
sewer feasibility questionnaire from the UVM Center for Rural Studies.
Ms. Morse reported that the Economic
Development Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow night has been postponed.
8. Executive Session (Personnel):
Ms. Morse made motion to go into Executive
Session (Personnel). Ms. Mellinger seconded.
Motion carried 4-0-0. Board went into Executive Session at 7:56 PM.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan M. Swasta
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