Wallingford
Selectboard Minutes*
*These are
unofficial Minutes subject to the approval at the next regular meeting.
Present:
Bill Brooks, Nelson Tift, Frank Bruce, Tom Phillips, and Ann Tiplady
Others Present:
Julie Sharon, Joyce Barbieri, Hollis Squier, Ann Pace,
Phil Baker, Lee Houghton, Steve Benard, Marc Pramuk, Leo Farley, Ron Daly, Reggie Denno,
and Sandi Switzer
Chair B. Brooks called the
Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Minutes. The June 4th
minutes were approved on a motion made by F. Bruce and seconded by A. Tiplady.
Motion carried (5-0).
Selectboard Orders.
F. Bruce made a motion to approve the pay orders
totaling $39,323.82, which was seconded by T. Phillips.
Motion carried (5-0).
Dog Bite
Resolution.
The stray dog that bit Railroad Street
resident Nathan Butler was not a stray and actually was being taken care of by
his family. The dog has since been
adopted by a rescue organization in Pittsford.
Roadside Mowing.
Tinmouth road crew employee Hollis Squier voiced his concerns about the
unsafe conditions when roadside mowing is performed by his brother, John, on
Route 140W in Wallingford. There are no warning signs, strobe
lights or other employee working with him. The
Selectboard thanked him for coming in and will address the situation.
Rutland Co. Sheriff’s Contract.
Sheriff Steve Benard presented a new contract effective July 1, 2012 in
the amount of $17,340.
Wallingford
will be assigned a deputy through the COPS Grant program, who will work a split
patrol in Wallingford
and Clarendon for 40 hours per week of coverage on average.
It is the deputy’s goal to provide increased patrols, investigate drug
crimes and quality of life issues, while becoming involved in the community.
Although this is a four-year grant funded position,
Wallingford
is under no obligation to commit to it annually.
B. Brooks made a motion to sign the contract; motion seconded by T.
Phillips. Motion carried (5-0).
Leo Farley reported that there is speeding at the bottom of Route 140
near Routes 155 and 103.
Dog Complaint.
East Wallingford
residents Leo Farley, Ron Daly, and Reggie Denno spoke about the chronic
barking at Ann Pace’s residence when no one is home.
Mr. Farley reported that this barking has been ongoing for two years, and
there has been no resolution to his numerous complaints.
Dog Warden F. Bruce visited the property but did not hear the dogs
barking. Ms. Pace spoke to her
neighbors who say there is no problem, and she doesn’t feel you can hear the
barking down the street. She added
that there are other dogs in the neighborhood who bark as well.
Last weekend she purchased a bark control device in an effort to resolve
the complaints. F. Bruce will visit
the property again and report back to the Selectboard.
Public Comments.
East Street
resident Lee Houghton reported on the grading that
Phil Baker
did today and feels that crowning is the way to go.
However, there is a serious dust problem, and he was told by the road
crew that there is no chloride. Julie
reported that there is a $700 budgeted for chloride that has not been spent yet.
Mr. Houghton also recommended that less sand and salt be used on his road
during the winter. Phil will discuss
with the road crew possibly purchasing the chloride from
Carrara
’s before the end of the month.
Phil reported on the grading he performed on East Street
and the bottom of Sugar Hill today and said that the york
rake needs to be put back into commission.
The roads are too bare and need more material.
Phil also obtained pricing for filters from Sanel Auto Parts who are less
expensive than Allied Auto. The
Selectboard agreed that he should initiate a weekly auto parts delivery system
so that Sanel can restock filters automatically, which would save the road crew
from having to drive to Rutland.
Reclamation Status.
T. Phillips reported that Belden will be mixing the nutrasoil and
spreading it this week on the northern slope and then hydroseed.
The nutrasoil will be delivered to the well head soon, some of which will
be blended in with some of the silt. Someone
will have to hydroseed this area after 10 days and pricing for this will be
obtained from Belden, Pine Hollow, etc.
T.
Phillips reported that a ditch was installed at the top of the hill to divert
the rainwater. Belden will smooth
out the ruts on the hill and will patch more if they develop.
Belden will also clean up the silt that has settled on the trail and
replace the surpac that washed away. Joyce
asked if T. Phillips would pass his savings on to the Town from acquiring this
nutrasoil; however, he reported that Kurt Belden told him that this procedure
was more time-consuming for him. Marc
Pramuk asked questions about the progress of the project and what preventive
measures are being taken to prevent the impact of runoff.
T. Phillips replied that the ditching has helped, Belden does this type
of work all the time, and that once the grass grows, the slope should be
satisfactory. Belden Company will
issue a one-year warranty as well.
Joyce presented the loan documents that will pay for this project.
B. Brooks made a motion to approve executing loan documents with
Merchants Bank in the amount of $90,000 to be repaid in four annual installments
of $22,500 plus accrued interest at a rate of 2.57% per annum.
Motion seconded by N. Tift. Motion
carried (4-0). T. Phillips
abstained.
Tree Removal Quotes. Bids were
received to cut down the tree on the corner of Cook Drive
from Robert Barker, Eric Holmquist, G. M. Tree Tech, LLC, and Ace Arborist.
On a motion made by F. Bruce and seconded by T. Phillips, low bidder Eric
Holmquist was awarded the contract at $400, subject to proof of liability
insurance. Motion carried (4-0).
A. Tiplady abstained.
Proposed
Time Off Policy. The Selectboard
reviewed the newest draft that grouped sick, personal and holiday time off
together while keeping vacation leave separate. Julie
recalled that the Selectboard recently approved observance of another holiday;
however, she had neglected to add it to the list.
A motion was made by
N. Tift
to approve the policy as proposed, adding the ninth holiday; motion seconded by
F. Bruce. Motion carried (5-0).
Julie inquired about the status of the short-term disability coverage
that N. Tift had proposed earlier. Following
some discussion, N. Tift amended his motion to include offering Plan 2
short-term disability insurance to the four full-time employees at an annual
cost not to exceed $825. Motion
seconded by F. Bruce. Motion carried
(5-0).
Retaining
Walls/Roaring Brook. Julie
reported that earlier today, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
confirmed that this project would not be eligible for any of their programs.
Therefore, she has notified FEMA of this and will await their reply on
whether or not they will fund this final project.
Year-End
Projected Financials/Paving Projects. Joyce
reported that we may break even as there is $49,000 in the checking account,
with $39,000 earmarked for the pay order,
$22,000 incoming from the Green
Mtn.
Forest
Service for payment in lieu of taxes,
$11,000 to be reimbursed to the listers CD, pension payment and two payrolls
remaining in June, and monies to be reimbursed to the building fund.
She will have a firmer figure at the July
2nd meeting. (Unbudgeted)
Tropical Storm Irene expenses total $132,192.19 of which only $100,132.32 has
been reimbursed. FEMA will reimburse
90% of eligible costs; the State share will be 5%.
Creek
Road
Bridge
Engineer’s Report.
The Selectboard reviewed the report on the condition of the Creek
Road
Bridge. Three alternatives to address the
bridge needs were investigated and a minor bridge rehabilitation would provide
5-10 years of service life for the bridge before replacement with a new bridge.
The Selectboard will consider this during FY14 budget discussions.
Special
Town Meeting – June 25th. Questions
for the engineer and VTrans Monday evening were compiled and will be forwarded
to them.
Other
Business/Announcements. A.
Tiplady discussed her written report of the meeting with Jaron Borg of the
Agency of Natural Resources regarding the possible widening of Waldo Lane and
rebuilding a portion of Hartsboro Road.
B. Brooks asked for the clarification of the
ordinance pertaining to keeping lawns mowed in the village.
J. Barbieri requested that the Selectboard
send Mrs. Bill Brown a condolence letter on the death of her husband.
He worked for the highway department for several years.
B.
Brooks requested Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel
matters; F. Bruce seconded. Motion
carried (5-0). The Board moved to
Executive Session at 8:47 p.m. and was joined by Julie Sharon and Joyce
Barbieri. The Selectboard
returned from executive session at 9:02 p.m.
No action was taken.
The meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m. |