MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD
MAY 19, 2008
COLE HALL
SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT
Board Present: Lon McClintock, Karen Mellinger, Cinda Morse, Bill Pennebaker, Wynn Metcalfe
Others Present: Ken Moriarty, Oliver Durand (Fire Warden), Art Whitman (Economic Development Committee), Mike Gleason (Bennington Banner), Aaron Chrostowsky (Town Administrator), Susan Swasta (Recording Secretary)
1. Call Meeting to Order:
Chairman Lon McClintock called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. Announcements:
Chairman McClintock announced that the Veterans Committee Memorial Day program will be held at the elementary school on May 22 at 1:30. The parade will be May 26 at 9:00 AM. Before the parade there will be a brief ceremony at the Cole Hall Honor Roll.
Chairman McClintock announced that the Transfer Station/ Recycling Center will be closed Saturday May 24th, the Town Offices will be closed Monday May 26th, and that the Select Board will not be meeting Monday May 26, 2008.
3. Conflict of Interest Statement:
Chairman McClintock asked if any Board member has a conflict of interest with any topic on tonight's agenda. None did.
4. Meeting Minutes:
May 12, 2008 Select Board minutes
Cinda Morse made motion to approve May 12, 2008 minutes. Bill Pennebaker seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.
5. Warrants:
The following warrants were presented for approval:
General Warrant AP#48: $ 8,532.39 (diesel fuel, street lights, legal)
Ms. Morse made motion to pay the warrant. Karen Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Payroll Warrant #46: $ 6,555.46
Ms. Morse made motion to pay warrant. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Ms. Mellinger had asked about the overtime included in the payroll amount. Mr. Chrostowsky stated that one of the overtime figures in the payroll is an error, and should have been listed as sick time instead.
6. Public Comments:
Art Whitman asked about the $8000 estimate to remove the chip pile at the transfer station. Mr. Chrostowsky replied that the Town is obligated by the state to remove the chip pile, and that the $8000 is for grinding, not for moving it. Mr. Chrostowsky has proposed to burn it instead, to save money.
7. Budget Update:
Mr. Chrostowsky stated that they are looking at a potential budget deficit of $5000. He noted that the approved purchase of a thermal imaging camera by the Fire Department offers some flexibility. He suggested using $10,000 from the Department's reserve fund in order to save that amount in the general fund. There was discussion of the amount now in the reserve fund and of its intended use for future fire truck purchases. Mr. Chrostowsky said that the reserve fund is now $35,000, and Town fire trucks are all relatively new. He noted that the Department also receives $5000 per year from White Creek from the sale of a used truck.
Wynn Metcalfe made motion to reimburse the General Fund from the Fire Equipment Reserve Fund for the $10,000 purchase of a thermal imaging camera, subject to approval by Fire Chief Joe Vadakin. Ms. Mellinger seconded.
There was discussion of when fire trucks are scheduled for replacement, Ms. Morse stated that her recollection is that other Town equipment will need to be replaced. She asked Mr. Chrostowsky to bring the equipment replacement chart to the next meeting so they can have a look at it. Mr. Chrostowsky noted that Fire Department equipment is in much better shape than Highway Department equipment.
Motion for reimbursement carried 5-0-0.
Ms. Morse asked if this takes care of the projected deficit, and Mr. Chrostowsky replied that it does, although he is still a little worried about cash flow. Chairman McClintock said that it will be really close, and spending will need to be controlled.
8. Peter's Four Corners Stop Signs:
Chairman McClintock stated that Board members had received copies of the letter from Jeff Mast of the Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC), who had done the intersection study. Mr. Mast also sent him an email this morning. Chairman McClintock asked if there is further discussion on the motion on the table to reconsider a four-way stop at Peter's Four Corners. Mr. Pennebaker said that the cutting of brush greatly reduced the line of sight rationale for a four-way stop, so it makes sense to hold off. Mr. Mast's letter made this same point.
Myers Road resident Ken Moriarty said he had read the information provided to him, and that good points were made. There is now a better line of sight. He and his neighbors are still concerned about speed, which has not come down at all on the Tinkham/Coulter section. He asked that careful consideration be given to speed enforcement.
Ms. Mellinger agreed that speeding is a dilemma, and noted similar problems on East Road. After discussion it was agreed to talk to the sheriff's department about the the matter. Mr. Metcalfe also suggested giving license numbers of speeders to the police. Mr. Moriarty said that speeding seems to be most common between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, and 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The tabled motion from the May 5 meeting was put up for vote:
Ms. Mellinger made motion to reconsider the Select Board decision to put in a four-way stop at the Peters Flats intersection. Mr. Pennebaker seconded.
Motion carried 5-0-0.
Ms. Morse made motion, the Board having agreed to reconsider the decision to put in a four-way stop at the Peters Flats intersection, not to place stop signs on Tinkham and Coulter Roads. Ms. Mellinger seconded.
Mr. Pennebaker offered a friendly amendment to put up intersection advisory signs as a compromise.
Mr. Metcalfe opposed intersection advisory signs, stating that people already know the speed limit there, the signs can't be enforced, and the road crew will have to maintain them. Mr. Pennebaker said he is not sure he agrees, but will withdraw the amendment and may revisit the matter later.
Motion not to place stop signs on Tinkham and Coulter Roads passed 5-0-0.
There was discussion of the importance of brush cutting on Town roads. Mr. Metcalfe stated that the Board needs to raise expectations higher for the road crew. Ms. Morse said that the road plan helps for major improvements, but they may need a similar plan for routine maintenance.
9. Landfill Brush Pile Burn Permit:
Fire Warden Oliver Durand stated that Mr. Chrostowsky had applied for a burn permit, and that the two of them had communicated with Buzz Surwillo of the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). Mr. Durand said that the Town has burned waste in the past, and had heard complaints about smoke from neighbors. He believes that the Town may no longer be certified to burn waste, and that the brush pile is too big to burn. Mr. Surwillo's letter says that he thinks they are still certified, but that the state prefers that the pile be chipped rather then burned.
There was a discussion of costs. Mr. Chrostowsky said it had cost $2000 in the past but would now cost $8000. It would be put out to bid, but there are not a lot of people who do this. Mr. Durand said that in the future the Town should chip once a month with its own chipper. There was discussion of whether residents should be allowed to dump brush at no charge, and if a charge is introduced, whether there should be different rates for individual and commercial.
Chairman McClintock asked Mr. Chrostowsky to get information about what other towns charge, put the present chipping job out to bid, and find out what it would cost to have the pile chipped once a month by the Town. Two letters from Shaftsbury residents opposing the burn were placed in the Board packet on this matter.
10. SWAP Shed:
Chairman McClintock stated that it looks like the Swap Shed is a go. Mr. Pennebaker confirmed that the BCRC has the money in hand. The Solid Waste Committee will meet tomorrow to identify everything that needs to be done on the project.
11. Eagle Square ANR Easement:
Mr. Chrostowsky stated that years ago waste was dumped in one area of the Eagle Square site. The state wants an easement to permit access to the property to inspect it, prevent development, and protect public health and the environment. They would like the Town's approval of the easement. He said that the owner of the property is happy with this because it increases property value by reducing owner liability.
Ms. Morse made motion to support TFP Realty's granting of an easement to its Eagle Square property to the state. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0.
12. Town Administrator's Update:
Mr. Chrostowsky announced a June 24 workshop on governmental accounting and auditing in Montpelier.
13. Other Business:
Ms. Mellinger announced that people redeeming bottles at Foster's, Willie's, and Bennington Beverage may have the deposit money go to the Howard Park Fund.
Mr. Metcalfe recommended that people attend the Thursday Memorial Day presentation.
Mr. Metcalfe suggested that the Board resume the past practice of having a liaison from a Town department come to a meeting each week for a conversation. He said that if this is approved he will ask his liaison, from the Sheriff's office, to attend in two weeks. Board members agreed, and decided that in subsequent meetings Ms. Mellinger, Ms. Morse, and Mr. Pennebaker (in that order) would ask their liaisons to attend.
Mr. Chrostowsky reported that Big Truck Night had had great participation and turnout.
Ms. Mellinger thanked the Town water department, Kent Coonradt, Phil Harrington and crew, and the North Bennington Water Department, and Jerry Mattison for their work.
Ms. Morse made motion to adjourn. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Swasta