Wallingford Selectboard Minutes

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January 5, 2009

Present:  Bill Lohsen, Frank Bruce, Charlie Angel, Bill Brooks, Joan Crowley, and Julie Sharon  

Visitors: Dave Ballou, Don Green, Joyce Barbieri, Sandi Switzer, Pete Walczuk, and Carl Buffum  

The meeting was called to order by Chair B. Lohsen at 6:45 p.m.   F. Bruce made a motion to move to executive session to discuss a contract, joined by Dave Ballou, Don Green, Julie Sharon and Joyce Barbieri; motion seconded by C. Angel. (Motion carried 5-0). The Selectboard came out of executive session at 7:25 p.m. with no action taken.  

Minutes. The December 15th minutes were approved on a motion made by B. Brooks and seconded by F. Bruce.  Motion carried (4-0-1).  J. Crowley abstained.  

Selectboard Orders.  $369.94 was added to reimburse Joyce for the Quickbooks update charged to her credit card and $518.15 to the State for overpayment of the railroad’s taxes.  Pay orders were amended to $22,984.03 and approved on a motion made by F. Bruce, and seconded by J. Crowley.  Motion carried (5-0).   

Public Comments.  Green Hill Lane resident Pete Walczuk came to discuss the Selectboard’s letter he received following his neighbor’s complaint that he’s plowing snow into the road.  He showed a photo he took of snow plowed into the road from the Lohsen property on Hartsboro Road.  Mr. Walczuk requested that speed limit signs be posted and that the Sheriff come down as there are vehicles speeding regularly on Green Hill Lane.  The Selectboard agreed to notify the Sheriff.  

Dept. of Taxes Equalization Study.  The Department of Taxes equalization study report showed the Town’s equalized education property values at $227,269,000, a coefficient of dispersion of 12.184%, and a common level of appraisal of 103.51% effective 1/1/09 .  Last year’s figures were $217,398,000, 13.74% and 107.61 respectively.    

2009 Certificate of Highway Mileage.  B. Brooks made a motion to sign the Certificate of Highway Mileage for year ending 2/10/09, which was seconded by F. Bruce.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Planning Commission Appointment.  At the recommendation of the Planning Commission, Jane Krate Duda was appointed to the Planning Commission, on a motion made by B. Brooks, and seconded by F. Bruce.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Town Report Bids.  Four bids were received for printing the town report.  B. Lohsen moved to accept the lowest bid by Rutland Printing for $1,250, which was seconded by F. Bruce.  Motion carried (5-0).  Julie reported that West Rutland prints their town report in house and only prints copies on request, usually only 300 copies.  They mail a 4-page summary to each household.  The Selectboard agreed to include a blurb in their report that they are considering this change, along with publishing the town report on the website.  The Selectboard discussed the cover and dedication for the Town Report.  Changes were made to the first draft of the Selectboard report.  

VTrans Enhancement Grant Agreement.  B. Lohsen made a motion to sign the grant agreement for Phase II of the Route 140W Bridge renovations, which was seconded by F. Bruce   Motion carried (5-0).  

Moratorium on Scrap Metal Fees.  The Selectboard agreed in May to suspend charging for scrap metal disposal to encourage people to bring in their scrap metal.  Given the current scrap metal market, which has dropped from $179/ton to $58, B. Lohsen made a motion to reinstate the metal fees charged at the Transfer Station immediately; motion seconded by F. Bruce.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Correspondence.   Response from MRU School Board Chair regarding level-funding budget; Response from WFD #1 regarding manhole; VLCT Notice on Legislative Priorities; Notice of Zoning Violation to Spencer Nimtz; Pike’s Quarterly Report; Thank you from “Home-Bot Boys” for Lego’s project; and Conservation Commission’s January 7th Presentation notice.  

Road Commissioner’s Report.  F. Bruce reported that the brakes on the Sterling truck were replaced by the road crew.   The road crew is happy with the sand that was purchased for the roads.  

FY10 Expenditures.  Charitable requests were level funded for the budget.  The following amounts were approved: Rutland Visiting Nurse/Hospice - $2,500; SW VT Council on Aging - $1,000; Gilbert Hart Library - $32,000; Rutland County Humane Society $300; Rutland Mental Health Services - $1,427; RSVP - $300; Wallingford Rescue Squad - $7,000; Mt. Holly Rescue Squad - $2,100; Regional Ambulance Service - $1,137; Rutland Co. Women’s Network - $200; VT Center for Independent Living - $280; Vermont Adult Learning - $1,000; VT Assoc. for the Blind - $100; Green Up Vermont - $150; Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District - $200; Wallingford Merchants Association $100; NeighborWorks - $100;  ARC - $200; and Preservation Trust of Vermont - $250.  Requests were not received from George D. Aiken RC& D, BROC, and Rutland Co. Parent/Child Center.    

FY10 Revenues.  The Selectboard discussed the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Committee’s decision to hold the January state highway aid payment, which is $19,311 for Wallingford.  This action is dramatically affecting the towns by forcing them to borrow funds.  Following further discussion, B. Lohsen made a motion to direct the Town Treasurer to hold back all state payments until the state highway aid is addressed; motion seconded by C. Angel.  Motion carried (5-0).  This directive was made to make a point; the fees collected only total a few hundred dollars.  

B. Brooks relayed that the Wallingford Fire District #1 Prudential Committee agreed in concept to include three non-binding articles in their annual meeting warning as follows:  1) should the fire district merge with the town; 2) should the town take over the fire protection services; and 3) should WFD #1 remain as is.  

All revenues were budgeted the same as last year except for:  4504-Town Share RR Taxes $400; 4510-Dog License/Fines $4,500 (the state is increasing the fee by $1 on 4/1/09); 4512-Marriage/Civil Union License $2,000; 4513-Building/Zoning/DRB Permits $2,000; 4515-Heavy Metal $4,000; 4517-Recording Fees $12,000;4519-Copier Service $2,000; 4521-1% Interest $10,000; 4522-Earned Fin. Mgmt & Svgs $2,000; 4524-Previous Year’s Balance Zero; 4527-Fernfield Farms Income $5,652.97; 4528-Ralph Stafford Scholarship $4,691.96; 4540I-Fire District Reimbursements $500; 4540L-Land Use Reimbursement $7,000; 4540P-Passports $2,500; 4540T-Lease Payment $16,200; and 4540Y-Elfin Lake $5,000.  

Joyce announced that the town’s investment portfolio has decreased significantly during 2008.  The Fernfield Farms account dropped from $166,444 as of 1/1/08 to approximately $133,000 as of 9/30/08 and the Ralph E. Stafford account dropped from $113,195 to approximately $90,000 respectively.  She would like to put some of these funds into the general fund to keep the budget level.  Joyce explained that the principal amount of the Stafford funds can not go below $50,000 and that the Fernfield Farms funds came from the sale of land to the U.S. Government, which was then removed from the grand list, resulting in a loss of tax revenue to the Town.  Following more discussion, the Selectboard requested that the three Trustees be invited to the next meeting to discuss the future strategy of the portfolio.  

Joyce suggested another idea to increase revenue for the Town would be to change to a town manager form of government.  Wallingford had a town manager in the 70’s.  The Selectboard could take on the responsibilities of the Road Commissioner, and her office could collect delinquent tax payments so that the Town would receive the 8% penalty payments. The Selectboard reviewed the duties of a town manager and agreed with Joyce to put an article before the voters. She volunteered to research the wording for the town meeting warning.   

FY10 Administration.  All expenses were budgeted the same as last year except for: 5000-Auditors $150; the Listers budget wasn’t changed yet; and 5010-Road Commissioner Zero.  

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

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