Wallingford Selectboard MinutesThe official copy of these minutes can be obtained at Wallingford Town Hall. Selectboard Minutes Index Present: Bill
Lohsen, Frank Bruce, Visitors: Dave Ballou, Don Green, Joyce Barbieri, Sandi
Switzer, Russ Lattuca, Ruth Anne Barker, Missy Whitmore, Tom Phillips, and Ben
Morgan The meeting was called to order by Chair B. Lohsen at Minutes. The
minutes dated Selectboard Orders. Pay
orders were reviewed and approved for $18,204.56 on a motion made by F.
Bruce, and seconded by J. Crowley. Motion
carried (5-0). Trust Fund Investments. Trustee
of Public Funds Dave Ballou, Ruth Anne Barker, and Missy Whitmore were in
attendance to discuss the current status and future investment strategy of the
Fernfield Farm and Ralph Stafford investment accounts.
Although the market value has dropped significantly in the last year, the
Trustees are confident with the income funds and expect the value to return
within the next 14-15 months, which should spur a growth in the number of
shares. They felt transferring the
funds to a CD would guarantee a permanent loss at this time. Missy added that
although the market is down, the underlying investments are high quality.
Dave explained the year-end statement that showed the balances from 12/07
and 12/08 and the reinvested dividends. Ralph
Stafford’s will and the Fernfield Farms Trust agreement were discussed. Public
Comments. Dog Warden Ben Morgan
reported on the events that took place over the weekend at Ted Peck’s on Listers
Budget. Listers Dave Ballou,
Russ Lattuca, and Don Green attended the meeting to discuss their proposal to
take over all the Lister functions. A
very speculative budget of $40,440 was presented and discussed at length, which
outlined the number of hours required for each function in order to get up to
speed. Lister budgets for three
other towns were also shown for comparison purposes.
Annual training was discussed along with the grand list backup
procedures. The Selectboard
acknowledged the efforts and hard work performed by the Listers with the
reappraisal. No decision was made
concerning the budget. Tax
Stabilization Request – Use
of Town’s Mailing Permit – Wallingford Fire District #1.
B. Brooks made a motion to give the Wallingford Fire District #1
permission to use the town’s mailing permit for the mailing of their annual
report. Motion seconded by J.
Crowley. Motion carried (5-0). FEMA
Community Assistance Visit Follow-Up. The
Selectboard reviewed the various correspondence issued by the state in the
90’s regarding the floodplain for property at 2251 U.S. Route 7 South, now
owned by Dennis Smith. The
Selectboard agreed to send these papers to Rob Evans at the State for review and
advice on whether any of this correspondence would help toward resolving the
floodway violation. Correspondence.
Ordinance income for December and
Rutland County Sheriff’s reports for December.
The Selectboard
discussed the status of the freeze on the town highway aid payments.
VLCT recommends that towns should budget for a 5-10 decrease next year.
A resolution before the Senate to release the January payments may be
voted on soon, which may include a slight decrease in the payment amounts.
Preliminary
There
was discussion on whether or not to include the three non-binding articles
similar to the Wallingford Fire District #1’s warning.
B. Brooks made a motion to add three non-binding articles as follows:
1) Shall the Town of B.
Lohsen hesitated to approve the motion as he would prefer that the voters of
Wallingford Fire District #1 voice their opinion first.
However, following more discussion, F. Bruce made a motion to only
include one non-binding article asking voters whether the Town should take over
the fire protection budget from Wallingford Fire District #1.
Motion seconded by B. Lohsen. Motion
carried (5-0). It was pointed out
that this would be at least a two-year process. Preliminary
FY10 Budget. The Selectboard
reviewed proposed changes made to the budget since the last draft and answered
additional questions as follows: 1)
No funds will be budgeted for the gravel pit reclamation this year; 2) $1,500
will be added back in for the Road Commissioner’s annual salary; 3) The
insurance budget was lowered $1,000 based on an anticipated change in premiums
during the year; 4) The building fund was lowered to $16,200 to equal the income
from the cell tower; 5) Elfin Lake
salaries will be level funded at $7,500; 6) a
donation request received
late will not be budgeted; 7) State highway aid revenue decreased 10% to
$70,200; 8) Transfer station fees will not increase for users; and 9) Delinquent
property revenue estimated at $45,000. Julie
reported that the Town received a bill today for recycling for over $1,700, when
normally the Town receives a revenue check for $100-300.
The price per ton for commodities has dropped significantly with Rutland
County Solid Waste reporting that some of the current rates have not been seen
in almost 10 years. They did state that it is still cheaper per ton for
residents to recycle than throwing it out as trash. Because of the drastic
drop in revenues and the increase in fees, the transfer station budget was
increased from $85,000 to $91,000. There was a
lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of the Listers taking over all the
functions, increasing the Listers budget, and the terms of the contract with
Vermont Municipal Assessors. VMA’s
quarterly report was also reviewed. At
the conclusion, some of the Selectboard members volunteered to talk with Spencer
Potter of VMA regarding his contract. Because of the
increases to the budget mentioned above, B. Lohsen made a motion to decrease all
contribution requests by 10%, excluding R. Stafford Scholarship, Gilbert Hart
Library, Wallingford Rescue Squad, J. Barbieri
recommended giving Ben Morgan a Sal’s gift certificate for $50 since he never
takes his annual stipend. B. Lohsen
made a motion to add $50 to the pay order for this purpose; motion seconded by
F. Bruce. Motion carried (5-0). B. Brooks
brought up the fact that the first constable should be compensated for his
services and recommended paying him $250 a month.
J. Crowley read a proposal, on behalf of Constable Nelson Tift, that
requested $500 per month for There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned at 10: |
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