Wallingford Fire District No. 1

 MINUTES OF THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
 January 7, 2008
The official copy of these minutes can be obtained at Wallingford Fire District #1 Office.

Called to Order:

Chris Rabtoy called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.   Also present were Chris McPhee, Rose Regula and Stephanie Biagini/Clerk-Treasurer.  

Visitors:  Scott Sendra  

Approval for Minutes:  C. Rabtoy made the motion to approval the minutes for December 28, 2007 .  R. Regula seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (3/0).  

Prudential Committee Pay Order:  No pay orders.  

New Business:  

Review CPA Contract:  The approval of the CPA Contract is still being reviewed.  C. Rabtoy made the motion to approve the Certified Public Accounts contract as presented.  C. McPhee seconded the motion. There was a brief discussion regarding the need and cost.  C. McPhee didn’t see how they could find an accountant to do it cheaper.    C. McPhee said that No further discussion.  Motion carried (2/1), R. Regula opposed.   

Warning for Annual Meeting:  The warning was read by C. Rabtoy.  Articles 1-5 were approved with no changes and/or additions.  An Article for the Lodge Fund Budget was discussed.  R. Regula said that the Lodge did not to be in the warning, because it’s not in the district and it’s self sufficient.  She also said that it was brought up a long time ago and the lodge was cut out of district business.  C. Rabtoy replied that it is the districts property and because there had never been a budge formulated for the lodge. R. Regula said the people such as M. Bird and J. Perry were very adamant to keep the lodge out of the district, it’s self sufficient and the people approved that.  She remembers it very clearly, but the budget for the lodge could be put in the book. 

An Article to change the terms from 1 year to 3 years for the Clerk, Treasurer and Delinquent Tax Collector was discussed.  R. Regula said that was voted down and the people did not want that.  C. Rabtoy said that part of the reason it was brought up, is because they should give the people the opportunity is to look at it.  The bookkeeping is more involved and more labor intensive trying get someone trained if we change staff every year.  R. Regula said that’s the way the Charter states it’s a 1 year term.  C. Rabtoy said that’s why were asking and it’s worded the same as it was in 2002. 

C. Rabtoy made the motion to change the Fire District Clerk from a 1 year term to a 3 year term.  The changes if passed would be for 2009.  C. McPhee seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (2/1), R. Regula opposed.

C. Rabtoy made the motion to change the term for the Fire District Treasurer from a 1 year term to a 3 year term.  The changes if passed would be for 2009.  C. McPhee seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (2/1), R. Regula opposed.

C. Rabtoy made the motion to change the term for the Delinquent Tax Collector.  The changes if passed would be for 2009.  C. McPhee seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (2/1), R. Regula opposed.

There was a brief discussion about entertaining the idea of bringing the auditors back.  C. McPhee said that if we are getting reviews, he doesn’t see the benefit.  Just because in the past, issues had not been caught be the auditors.  They were doing their best and they were looking at was happening with rates.  He’s not sure that it would benefit us to have auditors and it’s not easy to get them.  The people last year did vote to have the auditors removed.  C. Rabtoy mentioned that each month on a rotation basis a Prudential Committee Member come into the office and be a seconded pair of eyes for the Treasurer. 

The remaining Articles regarding borrowing money as necessary to meet operation expenses, to approve the report as submitted and any legal or necessary business remained the same without any changes.

The clerk requested any articles that were due for the Annual Report be brought into the office by the end of the week, so that the report could be printed and sent out in a timely manner for the citizens review.

The Fire District Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m. , at the Wallingford Elementary School (Gym) and voting will commence on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at Town Hall, 1st Floor – Fire District Office from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.    

Fire District 3:   C. Rabtoy read an excerpt from as far back as April 1, 2002 from a previous Select Board Meeting minutes regarding District 3 having the right to vote on the Fire Protection Budget.  C. McPhee suggested that the issue be brought up at the Annual Meeting under Necessary Business.  

Format of the Budget:  R. Regula asked how the budget format was going to appear in the Annual Report.  C. McPhee made the motion to have the budget be put in the format that had been in the book previously to last years.  C. Rabtoy said that there had been copies of the detailed budget available.  He also said it was the recommendation of the Accountant to show the budget in the format that was printed in the 2006 Annual Report. R. Regula seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (2/1), C. Rabtoy opposed.  

Correspondence from Town Administrator:  C. McPhee will contact W. Allen to see the Fire Department would be interested in taking part in the committee that would be trying to locate fire ponds.

Oil Prices and Usage:  Oil usage was available for the Fire Stations.  C. Rabtoy asked if any of the committee members had contacted other fuel companies.  C. McPhee mentioned Johnson Energy and Ultra Mart.  R. Regula hadn’t gotten any information at this time.

New Business:

Highland Water Supply Association: C. Rabtoy made the motion to start billing Highland Water Supply Association starting with the reading for January – March 2008.  C. McPhee seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (3/0).

G. McCloud from Highland Beach Association had come into the office to offer an update on their progress on water leaks.  The water line over 140-West has been completed, which had eliminated 2 leaks.  They have one more water leak that has been identified and would be fixed. 

Fire District Tax:  C. Rabtoy made the motion to bill for the new grand list starting with January 2008 billing cycle.  C. McPhee seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (2/1), R. Regula opposed.  C. Rabtoy said that we would not be billing on a budget that if we went this way, that we wouldn’t be billing on a budget that wasn’t approved. 

1975 Turbidity Meter Sewer/Water Plant:  M. Breznick put in a written request to replace the meter and C. Rabtoy had remembered J. West mention the issue previously.  C. Rabtoy made the motion that we go on the recommendation of M. Breznick and J. West and replace it.  The cost would be approximately $800.00 with out shipping/handling.  C. McPhee seconded motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (3/0).

Public Comments:  None.

Other Business/Announcements:  

Executive Session:  None.

Next Meeting:  The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Prudential Committee will be held on January 23, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m. – Town Hall. 

Adjournment:  C. Rabtoy made the motion that the meeting be adjourned.  C. McPhee seconded the motion.  No further discussion.  Motion carried (3/0).  Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted:

Stephanie P. Biagini - Clerk/Treasurer                                       Date Approved:   January 23, 2008

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