Wallingford Selectboard Minutes

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The official copy of these minutes can be obtained at Wallingford Town Hall.

July 20, 2009

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

Visitors: Jay Eddy, Jerry Hyzer, Nelson Tift, Chuck Watts, Joyce Barbieri, Shannon Pytlik, Jeff Duchesne, Jerry Brown, Sandy Switzer, and Charlie Gauthier  

Chair B. Brooks called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  

Minutes.  J. Crowley moved to approve the meeting minutes of June 15th; J. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0).   

Selectboard Orders.  Pay orders totaling $17,064.40 were approved on a motion made by C. Angel and seconded by J. Crowley.  Motion carried (5-0).   

Public Comments.   Jerry Hyzer addressed the Selectboard again concerning the catch basin on Meacham Street.  He had photos that showed it couldn’t handle the storm water runoff earlier in the month.  [F. Bruce arrived at 6:35 p.m.]  B. Brooks explained that any mitigation would require a budget.  Mr. Hyzer believes the culvert near the Tuohy property on Prospect Street should be rerun down Hull Avenue.  J. Gilman already discussed this at an earlier meeting that more water needs to drain along Hull Avenue, and that the culvert at the former Csizmesia new home should be plugged.  B. Brooks suggested that the road crew look into getting quotes in order to add it to next year’s budget.  J. Gilman volunteered to meet with them and F. Bruce.  

Wallingford Historical Society Donation of Land.  The Selectboard discussed a request to accept a .15 acre parcel at 107 South Main Street owned by the Wallingford Historical Society because they do not carry insurance.  The land contains two marble benches, a flag pole and three marble stones valued at approximately $10,000.  The annual cost for insurance coverage for the town would be approximately $25.  Jay Eddy reported that the American Legion would be responsible for mowing the grass through 2010.  F. Bruce made a motion to accept the land and authorized the Chair to sign the deed; motion seconded by J. Crowley.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Little Red Schoolhouse. Wallingford Elementary School Board Chair Chuck Watts requested the Town’s assistance in removing and disposing of the playground equipment at the schoolhouse that the School Board has deemed unsafe.  The property hasn’t been used in recent years, and they are trying to decide whether or not to sell it. Three people expressed interest in using the school at the July School Board meeting. The School Board will be discussing the future disposition at their meetings in August and September as well.  B. Brooks told Mr. Watts to let the Selectboard know if the equipment is to be removed, and we will calculate the cost. 

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan.  Emergency Management Coordinator Charlie Gauthier, Fire Chief Jeff Duchesne, and Julie met with Rutland Regional Planning Commission last spring to update the town’s plan that was created in 2004.  RRPC is looking for comments and corrections by July 24^th.  C. Gauthier explained the purpose of the plan and asked if the town would have sand available for sand bags in the event of flooding.  C. Angel discussed a potential fire hazard he’s witnessed and discussed with the property owner.  Shannon Pytlik expressed concern that the Town’s critical facilities would be under water in the event of a flood.  The Selectboard agreed to review the plan again at the next meeting with this concern in mind.  

Elfin Lake Fees.  The Selectboard was asked to reconsider establishing a “group” pass rate, similar to the family pass.  Following further discussion, the Selectboard agreed that there would be no changes to the daily, family, and group rates already established.  Kudos were given to Keith Shelvey for overseeing the operation of Elfin Lake on a regular basis.  

Delinquent Taxes.  The Selectboard reviewed Lee Perry’s status report that showed of the $146,687.23 in taxes warranted, he has collected $59,687.23 through June 19th with approximately $87,000 outstanding for the 2009 tax year.  Joyce questioned the amount that’s been collected.  Twelve accounts were turned over to the attorney for tax sale totaling $48,995.24; however, one account totaling over $9,000 is supposedly going to bankruptcy again.  Joyce stated that we need to go after it now because the Town has a serious deficit cash flow because of the delinquent taxes.  A review of the delinquent tax report showed that approximately 10 accounts are only land and 20 are second homes; therefore, there is no reason these can’t be sent for tax sale.  Joyce reported she’s been holding on to the escrow check from a tax sale that occurred last fall and that a check for another tax sale hasn’t been cashed yet.  The Selectboard were in receipt of a complaint about Mr. Perry from the parents of Michael Gorman.

The Selectboard will again request that Mr. Perry attend the next meeting so they can make some suggestions on proceeding more rapidly on tax sales as the high number of delinquencies is directly affecting the town’s cash flow.  Joyce has to borrow money to pay the bills.   

Truck Extended Warranty.  The Selectboard reviewed the extended warranty options for the 2008 Ford 550 as $1,900 was budgeted for this purpose.  Additional coverage for six years or 75,000 miles can be purchased to cover either 29 or 84 components with a $50 deductible.  Derek Farmer at John C. Stewart & Son highly recommended the 84 component warranty.  After discussing the potential labor cost for motor or transmission work, F. Bruce made a motion to purchase the warranty that covers 84 components at a cost of $2,185; motion seconded by C. Angel.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Heating Oil Quotes.  A review of fixed rate heating oil prices from six companies was reviewed.  After discussion, J. Gilman made a motion to pre buy 4,500 gallons at $2.245 per gallon through Proctor Coal, with the first of ten payments of $1,010.25 due with the signed contract.  F. Bruce seconded the motion.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Revised Reclamation Plan.  The permit amendment application is still not finished as the Selectboard needs to develop a plan.  J. Gilman gave a report on the two meetings held with members of the Recreation and Conservation Commission.  They walked the entire property and existing trails that will be improved and it was quite impressive.  They discussed ideas that are shown on the reclamation plan map from 1997.  J. Gilman requested permission to allow volunteers to grade the trails and the proposed parking lot, both on the south end of the pit.  There was discussion on moving the berm across from the pedestrian bridge, which would likely need approval from Bill Burke.  J. Gilman mentioned the “Pit Development Committee” to which C. Angel argued that that the Selectboard did not formally give approval for the creation of this committee.   

Following more discussion, B. Brooks made a motion to write to Bill Burke requesting permission to remove the berm a few feet north and south across from the new pedestrian bridge to allow access to the pit from the bridge and perform minor re-grading to construct a pat h from the location where the berm is removed and to establish the parking lot shown in the 1997 plan for development of the pit.  J. Crowley seconded the motion.  Motion carried (5-0).    There was discussion on the future use of the wellhead.    

FEMA Community Assistance Visit.  The Selectboard was in receipt of a letter from Rob Evans of the Agency of Natural Resources dated June 29^th to the Selectboard and a letter from Brownson Spencer dated July 10^th to Rob Evans disputing his claims, both concerning the FEMA issues on Hugh Bailey’s property at 412 School Street.  The Selectboard will wait to hear from Mr. Evans further.  

Road Commissioner’s Report.  F. Bruce reported that Belden Construction should be paving two sections of Prospect Street that were excavated by the Wallingford Fire District #1.  There was a small washout by the bridge near St. Onge’s on North End Drive.  The road crew removed some tree trunks from the Birdsey property on High Street.   

Other Business.   The Selectboard reviewed an email from Wallingford Fire District #1 that reported their 2009 budget as follows:  Fire Protection: $84,717; Truck Payment (for 5-years) $37,761.46; and Air Pack Payment (for 10-years) $7,482.71, plus a down payment of $13,204.78 for a total WFD #1 budget of $143,165.95 compared to $77,059 last year.  

Jane Duda resigned from the Planning Commission due to time constraints.  

Correspondence.    Vermont Assessor Quarterly Report; 6/29 Conservation Commission Minutes; 6/29 Development Review Board Minutes;  July VLCT News;  June Sheriff’s Reports; Forest Legacy Program; Judicial Reports May & June; and Trustee of Public Funds Quarterly Investment Report.  

The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

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