Wallingford
Selectboard Minutes
The official copy of these minutes can be obtained at Wallingford Town
Hall
Selectboard Minutes Index
Home
April 16, 2007
Present:
Bill Lohsen, Charlie Angel, Gene Gilman, Christine Davenport, Frank
Bruce, and Julie Sharon
Visitors: Joyce
Barbieri, Betty Gagnon, Tom
Phillips, Chris Rabtoy, Jay Kenlan,
Bastian Fagginger-Auer
, Dennis Smith, and Bill Brooks
Chair B. Lohsen opened the meeting at
7 p.m.
Minutes.
G. Gilman moved to approve the April 2nd minutes.
F. Bruce seconded the motion. Motion
carried (5-0).
Selectboard Orders. Referring
to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission’s invoice for a map, C. Davenport
asked who had possession of the map. If
the town does not have the map, she felt the town should not pay the bill.
Therefore, $53.34 was deleted from the pay orders.
B. Lohsen pointed out that the $310.80 reimbursement to Don Emery for
Memorial Day flags seemed high. It
was asked if flags can be purchased from the local American Legion or
Rutland
City
at a lesser cost. Mr. Emery will be
invited to meet with the Selectboard at year end when the next budget is
established for this line item. F.
Bruce moved to approve pay orders in the amount of $18,919.54; motion seconded
by B. Lohsen. Motion carried (5-0).
Wallingford
Rescue Squad.
President
Bastian Fagginger-Auer
addressed the Board concerning their fundraising efforts for a new facility on
River Street
. They need volunteers, not only to
help with the capital campaign, but to join the squad and assist their 11-person
membership. Mr. Auer described the
facility requirements and reported they have $100,000 towards their $350,000
goal. He acknowledged the financial burden on townspeople as it coincides with
the fire department wanting a new fire truck.
Following further discussion, B. Lohsen requested that Mr. Auer return
with additional information so that they can discuss creative ways to fund this
building campaign.
Public
Comment. Jay Kenlan requested
the Selectboard sign the agreement between Rutland Regional Planning Commission
and the Town for planning services for the Orton grant.
B. Lohsen made a motion to authorize the signing of this document; motion
seconded by F. Bruce. Motion carried
(5-0).
Mr. Kenlan responded in
writing to Ed Crelin following the April 9th Planning Commission
meeting. A copy was distributed to
the Selectboard. J. Barbieri
verified with Mr. Kenlan that the Planning Commission will hold a special
meeting April 30th for the purpose of reviewing the Keeler
(Wallingford Locker) permit only.
Prudential
Committee Appointment. Chair
Chris Rabtoy recommended that Charlie Baker be appointed to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of John Shaw. He
did not believe there would be a conflict with Mr. Baker being a member of the
fire department. Rose Regula
contacted B. Lohsen to express her interest in serving on the board.
Mr. Rabtoy said he will not work with Mrs. Regula.
Following further discussion, G. Gilman made a motion to appoint Rose
Regula, which was seconded by C. Davenport.
Motion carried (5-0). Mr.
Rabtoy asked why the cleaning service was discontinued for the fire district
office. He stated that the
Prudential Committee has been trying to work with the town although it has not
been reciprocated.
Public
Comment. Tom Phillips discussed
his plans for responding to the Act 250 permit decision, pointing out that the
project is not the creation of a gravel pit, but rather a reclamation plan for
recreation purposes. He asked the
Town to consider lowering the speed limit to 25 mph on Route 140 West when
driving east. Julie was asked to
report on how to amend the speed ordinance and what signage is necessary at the
next meeting. Mr. Phillips requested the Board meet with the Planning Commission
and create a letter that states that the plans for the two properties to convert
into recreational fields would fit in with the town plan.
Dennis Smith summarized
Ed Crelin’s contact with Planning Commission meeting on April 9th.
He is concerned that no one receives the same treatment from the Zoning
Administrator and cited examples. He
felt the Zoning Administrator should be more willing to help people.
Mr. Smith stated he was issued a notice of violation for floodway when
his property is actually in a floodplain. His
other violation referred to a contractor’s yard, which apparently is not
defined in the town’s regulations but allegedly appears in another town’s
zoning
regulations where the Z.A. last worked. He
mentioned information disappearing from files.
B. Lohsen responded that
Mr. Smith articulated his points very well.
The Selectboard has learned a lot in the past year about
zoning
. The Selectboard would like the
Planning Commission to tape their meetings so that the minutes accurately
reflect the meeting. The tapes can
be helpful to refer back to if necessary.
Other
Business/
Announcements.
B. Lohsen met with the Listers today who have received preliminary
information on the reappraisal. They
plan to meet with VMA tomorrow for an explanation on land values among other
things. He feels the three Listers
are a good mix and will work well together.
Conservation
Commission Appointment. Upon the
recommendation of Deborah Scranton, Carol Macleod was appointed to serve on the
Conservation Commission for a four-year term, on a motion made by B. Lohsen, and
seconded by C. Angel. Motion carried
(5-0).
Use
of Town Mailing Permit. Gilbert
Hart Library requested use of the town’s bulk mailing permit for their
fundraising campaign mailing. B.
Lohsen made a motion to approve this request, which was seconded by F. Bruce.
Motion carried (5-0).
Route
140W
Bridge
Status Report.
The Selectboard reviewed a status report submitted by DuBois & King
and were pleasantly surprised at the condition of the bridge, which was contrary
to what was reported during the Act 250 proceedings.
DuBois
& King Contract. The
Selectboard reviewed the proposed contract.
F. Bruce made a motion to accept the contract, which was seconded by B.
Lohsen. Motion carried (5-0).
Other
Business/
Ann
ouncements.
B. Lohsen moved to accept
Shari Edmands
’ resignation as Zoning Administrator effective April 10th,
although a few of her statements in her letter were not completely accurate.
F. Bruce seconded the motion. Motion
carried (5-0).
Bill Brooks stated he is
not willing to serve as Interim Zoning Administrator but would like to be
considered for the permanent position. B.
Lohsen made a motion to appoint Julie
Sharon
as Interim Zoning Administrator, which was seconded by F. Bruce.
Motion carried (5-0). There
was discussion concerning the role of the Development Review Board and ways to
bring new business and affordable housing to
Wallingford
.
Correspondence.
The Selectboard discussed the memo from the Department of Taxes
regarding evaluating the exemption status of properties claiming public, pious
or charitable status. This
information will be passed on to the Prudential Committee as it may help in
their attempt to obtain tax exemption on the Boy’s Camp property.
The Selectboard discussed the contract between the fire district and town
concerning voting powers. This
information will be passed on to the Prudential Committee as well.
Fine income from January
through March totaled over $2,700. The Sheriff’s Incident Summary Reports for
February and March, and their activity reports for March were reviewed.
J. Barbieri reported that
Nelson Tift requested the $250 budgeted for constable expense.
It was paid out as salary, which he refused because he did not want
another W-2 form. He will be paid
$250.
Correspondence from Don
Emery on bylaw amendments was reviewed. C.
Dempster has been ordered to pay the town $200 in restitution for last year’s
burglary and petit larceny at
Elfin
Lake
. Referring to the April 10th
Rec Committee minutes, F. Bruce reported that he has two basketball hoops that
came from the elementary school, and he would be willing to donate them.
This information will be passed on to Chuck Watts.
A report submitted by
Delinquent Tax Collector Lee Perry showed $166,276 in delinquent taxes,
including interest and penalty, for tax year 2007.
The public notice for the draft certification of the Wallingford Town
Transfer Station was received.
The Selectboard discussed
the 1-4 lot subdivision application. Jay
Kenlan’s letter to Ed Crelin concludes that the Planning Commission did not
intend to require property owners to pay for an expensive survey.
B. Lohsen made a motion to move
into executive session to discuss legal issues and personnel matters; motion
seconded by C. Angel. (Motion
carried 5-0). Board members entered
Executive Session at
9:25 p.m.
and were joined by J. Barbieri and J.
Sharon
. The Selectboard came out of
executive session at
9:58 p.m.
B. Lohsen made a motion to pay
an hourly salary of $12 to Dave Ballou as head Lister, and $10 to Bill Brooks
and Russ Lattuca. F. Bruce seconded
the motion. Motion carried (5-0).
On a motion made by G. Gilman,
and seconded by C. Angel, the Selectboard agreed to fine Dennis Smith $15,000
for the violations at his Route 7 South property.
This will be in addition to remedial action involving the fill on the
property and the removal of the fence and construction equipment.
Motion carried (3-2), with F. Bruce and B. Lohsen opposed.
The meeting
adjourned at
9:50 p.m. |