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MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD

NOVEMBER 6, 2006

COLE HALL     

SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT

 

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

Others Present: 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 7:05 PM.

 

2.         Conflict of Interest: 

 

Chairman Metcalfe asked if any board member had a conflict of interest with any of the issues on tonight’s agenda.  None did.

 

3.         Announcements:

 

Chairman Metcalfe thanked the fire department for the great job on the Halloween hay ride and the closing of Cleveland Avenue for treat-or-treating. He also thanked Aaron Chrostowsky for making arrangements.

 

Chairman Metcalfe recognized the road crew for their excellent work on Shaftsbury Hollow Road, which was finished today.

 

He announced that work on the budget will begin next week, and the Board is still looking for people to join the Budget Committee. There will be six meetings on Mondays at 5:00 PM. He noted that last year’s volunteers were very helpful and enjoyed the experience.

 

4.         Warrants:

 

The following warrants were presented for approval:

 

·   PR#18  -                        $         6,323.21   Payroll Warrant

 

·   AP#23  -                        $    504,893.60   General Warrant (repayment of tax anticipation note)

 

·   #22R  -                          $            636.71   Retirement Warrant

 

·   General Warrant  -      $       22,912.33  

 

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

Ms. Mellinger stated that a resident who watches the meetings on television thought that the Board goes through the warrants very quickly. She explained that Board members get the warrants over the weekend and look them over before the meeting.

 

5.         Minutes:

 

            October 30, 2006 Minutes:

 

Ms. Morse made motion to approve October 30 minutes. Ms. Mellinger seconded.

Motion carried 5-0-0.

 

Ms. Morse wanted to clarify something from the last meeting, concerning Bill Fisk’s appointment as Trustee of Public Funds. Mr. Fisk’s term will be until the March elections.

 

6.         Public Comments:

 

There were no public comments.

 

7.         Transfer Station:

 

Mr. Chrostowsky went over the figures on the amount of construction and demolition waste (C and D) that may be accepted by the town transfer station. It is 1000 cubic yards annually.

 

Ms. Morse asks how that figure translates into a visual volume. Bill Pennebaker estimated that ten cubic yards would be about two-thirds of a dump truck load. Mr. Chrostowsky stated that the town accepts about eight cubic yards of C and D in a given month.

 

Ms. Mellinger asked how much of this is transferred from TAM, and how much is town waste. Mr. Chrostowsky replied that the TAM receipts don’t specify the two amounts, which are commingled.

 

Ms. Mellinger stated that the issue is the dumpsters that TAM drives in on days that the transfer station is not open.  Mr. Chrostowsky noted that the state has no problem with this as long as the amounts are under those specified. Amounts are reported by TAM.

 

Mr. Pennebaker asked what the cubic yardage was for the month of September. Mr. Chrostowsky replied that the amount is recorded in tons, not cubic yards. Ms. Mellinger asked how cubic yards equate with tons and Mr. Pennebaker replied that one cubic yard would equal about 1000 pounds if very well compacted.

 

Ms. Mellinger stated that she thought this issue had been handled in the contract with TAM -- that the transfer station is open to residents, not to the contractor bringing in material from his private route. How much material and where it comes from is open to question, and the onus is on the town, no matter what the state says.

 

Chairman Metcalfe asked if we know from TAM’s weight slips whether the total has been staying under ten cubic yards, and Mr. Chrostowsky reiterated that it’s recorded in tons, not cubic yards. Mr. Pennebaker noted that on September 6 a very large container, close to ten cubic yards, was brought in by TAM. The records show no entry for September 6, and he does not know what that means. He speculated that perhaps it is not recorded until the dumpster is full.

 

Mr. Mead stated that TAM has a copy of the town limits and knows the guidelines. Chairman Metcalfe repeated Ms. Mellinger’s point that the onus to stay within limits is still on the town. Ms. Morse agreed, saying that we have to monitor the activity, and she thinks we just want to do town business at the landfill.

 

Chairman Metcalfe suggested that he and Ms. Morse sit down with Trevor Mance and try to work this out. Ms. Mellinger asked that they keep in mind what she thought was the intent of the Board when the contract was signed -- that the town does not want to be in the position of monitoring those dumpsters. Mr. Chrostowsky will set up an appointment.

 

8.         Sidewalk Update:

 

Mr. Chrostowsky reported that he received an estimate from the archeologist that is $2000 less than before. They can do the work before the end of the month for $5,557.60. This includes a final report to the state, which will be ready in about eleven weeks.

 

Ms. Mellinger asked if a request for proposals (RFP) has gone out for a consultant, and Mr. Chrostowsky replied that the RFP is ready but has not been put in the paper yet. Ms. Mellinger noted that they had hoped to have final plans in December, and now won’t even have the archeologist report until into next year.

 

She asked if planning work can be done without that report. Mr. Chrostowsky stated that he thinks preliminary planning work can be done before the report is completed.

 

9.         Other Business:

 

Chairman Metcalfe stated that budget planning will begin November 13. A letter has been sent to the people who need to come before the Board, along with questions from Board members to help them prepare for the meeting. They have been asked to prepare and bring a budget worksheet. Ms. Morse and Mr. Mead stated that they will not be here next Monday.

 

Mr. Pennebaker asked Mr. Chrostowsky about transfer station recertification, and he replied that it is moving forward. Mr. Pennebaker said that he is concerned about time, since there needs to be a warned hearing. Mr. Chrostowsky said that he expects to talk to Buzz Surwillo and Jeff Bourdeau tomorrow.

 

Mr. Pennebaker announced that a hearing on the gravel pit reuse study will be held by the Planning Commission tomorrow night at 7:30 PM. They are looking for ideas. Pit owners have been invited to attend.

Ms. Mellinger announced that the North Bennington Select Board meeting is tomorrow night at 7:00 PM, and Lake Paran is on the agenda. She would like to consider Lake Paran in light of the project the town needs to do. The millefoile problem is a possibility. They are also trying to build a ramp for disabled access and are about $15000 short. The meeting will include a discussion of concerns about shooting towards the railroad tracks.

 

Ms. Mellinger said that she would ask the people who do the school newsletter to put in a notice for people interested in serving on the Recreation Committee. There will be work to do on Howard Park.

 

Mr. Mead asked Mr. Chrostowsky if the town needs someone for sidewalk clearing, and Mr. Chrostowsky replied that they do. Anyone interested in clearing and sanding sidewalks should talk to Mr. Chrostowsky.

 

In reference to Ms. Mellinger’s statement about problems with shooting at Lake Paran, Chairman Metcalfe stated that a couple of men have duck blinds there, and that shooting is legal. It is under the control of Fish and Wildlife, and he and two other wardens will be making a presentation at the meeting tomorrow night.

 

Chairman Metcalfe noted that there are no dwellings within eighty yards and there is no danger to golfers or trail users. Hunting is a permitted use and is safe and legal. Hunter harassment is against the law.

 

Ms. Mellinger asked about the possibility of putting up warning signs, and Chairman Metcalfe replied that in deer season there will be shooting everywhere. It is necessary to wear orange if walking in the woods.

 

Chairman Metcalfe stated that the spillway at Lake Shaftsbury is being rebuilt, and the heavy equipment traffic has left the road in terrible shape. Several years ago the head of state parks visited and promised to get back to the town about the road, but never did. Chairman Metcalfe would like to invite him to a Board meeting and suggest that the road be blacktopped. The Board agreed to invite him.

 

Chairman Metcalfe noted that the Bennington Banner had reported a 35% increase in Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) health insurance. He asked Mr. Chrostowsky to check on this amount.

 

10.       Executive Session:

 

Ms. Morse made motion to go into Executive Session. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0. The Board went into Executive Session at 7:40 PM.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Susan M. Swasta

 

 

 

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