Wallingford Selectboard Minutes

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March 16, 2009

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

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

Visitors:  Joyce Barbieri, Lee Perry, Philip Woodward, Gary Fredette, Dennis Smith, Derek Farmer, and Sandi Switzer  

Selectboard Reorganization.  Town Administrator Julie Sharon opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and presided over the election of Chair.  C. Angel moved that F. Bruce be elected as Chair.  The motion failed for lack of a second.  J. Crowley moved that B. Brooks serve as Chair; J. Gilman seconded the motion.  With there being no other nominations, J. Sharon closed the nominations. The Selectboard chose B. Brooks to be the Chair with three members in favor (J. Crowley/J. Gilman/B. Brooks) and two opposed (F. Bruce/C. Angel).  B. Brooks asked for nominations for the Vice Chair.  J. Crowley moved for the nomination of F. Bruce as the Vice Chair; C. Angel seconded the motion.  With there being no other nominations, B. Brooks closed the nominations.  The Selectboard chose F. Bruce to be the Vice Chairperson with four members in favor and F. Bruce abstaining.  Regular meetings are to be held monthly on the first and third Mondays at the Wallingford Town Hall.  The Selectboard agreed to start the meetings at 6:30 p.m. at the request of F. Bruce.  The Selectboard agreed to Roberts Rules of Orders.  B. Brooks welcomed new Selectboard member Joshua Gilman.  

J. Crowley made a motion to move into executive session at 6:33 p.m. with Attorney Philip Woodward and J. Sharon present to discuss legal issues; motion seconded by F. Bruce.  (Motion carried 5-0). The Selectboard came out of executive session at 7:08 p.m. with no action taken.  

Minutes.  F. Bruce moved to approve the meeting minutes of March 2; J. Crowley seconded. Motion carried (4-0) with J. Gilman abstaining. 

Selectboard Orders.  Pay orders totaling $55,461.01 were approved on a motion made by F. Bruce and seconded by J. Crowley.  Motion carried (5-0).   

FEMA Community Assistance Visit Follow Up.  The Selectboard reviewed a letter dated March 9 from Floodplain Program Manager Rob Evans regarding the fill placed at Dennis Smith’s property on Route 7 South.  Mr. Smith stated that he removed the fill that he placed there; however, he does not have any documents or photos to substantiate his claim.  B. Brooks requested that the Selectboard review the aerial photos again sent by Mr. Evans and get this resolved with Mr. Smith.  

Delinquent Tax Collection Efforts.  Delinquent Tax Collector Lee Perry appeared before the Board with a suggestion that reminder letters be sent out to those taxpayers, who haven’t paid their October tax payment, before the April payment due date in order to avoid the 8% penalty.  Julie reported that these taxpayers already receive interest due notices on a regular basis.  Mr. Perry gave a report on tax delinquencies, which currently total approximately $36,000.  Following the April due date, he plans to go to tax sale on at least two properties that account for approximately $15,000 of the total delinquencies.  The Selectboard thanked Mr. Perry for his suggestion but agreed to continue sending interest due notices.  

Public Comments.  Pembroke Lane resident Gary Fredette requested that the manhole cover in the road near his driveway be repaired by whoever is responsible, the Town or the Fire District.  

2009 Town Meeting Non-binding Article.  Since those in attendance at Town meeting overwhelmingly voted to have the Town begin the process of taking over the fire protection budget, except for Fire District #2, a letter drafted for the Prudential Committee stating this was reviewed.  Joyce read an excerpt from the Prudential Committee minutes of February 25th as follows:  The item on the warning for the town meeting is for the Fire Protection portion only to be taken over by the town.  This was the lowest grossing positive poll to be taken over by the town. The fire district poll was to take over everything or no change at all were the same.  We have decided that this is now a dead issue as less than 10% wanted only the fire protection to be taken over by the town.”   In order to follow the will of the voters at Town Meeting, the Selectboard agreed by consensus to sign the letter.  B. Brooks stated that he will attend the next Prudential Committee meeting.  

2009 Liquor License Renewal Applications.   F. Bruce made a motion to approve liquor license applications for Sal’s, Victorian Inn, Midway Oil, Sherman V. Allen and the Wallingford Country Store.  Noting the one liquor violation made by Midway Oil, J. Gilman asked if the Selectboard could adopt a “zero tolerance” ordinance.  J. Barbieri answered that the Selectboard didn’t have to approve a license.  J. Crowley seconded the motion.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Safe Routes to School Program Application.  The Selectboard agreed by consensus to sign the letter of support for Wallingford Elementary School Principal Jason Morse ’s grant application through VTrans.  The Safe Routes program is about getting kids to walk and bike to school.  A committee must be formed, which requires a Selectboard member, and J. Gilman volunteered to serve on the committee.  

VTrans Annual Financial Plan.   Julie explained how the form is completed.  C. Angel made a motion to approve the plan.  F. Bruce seconded the motion.  Motion carried (5-0).  

Town Highway Class 2 Roadway Program.  Julie prepared a grant application in the amount of $175,000 for paving 1.685 miles of Route 140W, which is west of the steel bridge to Mooney Road.  The Town must match 10% or 20% and we will have two years to complete the work.  F. Bruce moved to approve the application; J. Crowley seconded the motion.  Motion carried (5-0).

2008 Bridge Inspection Summary Reports.  The Selectboard reviewed the reports prepared by VTrans.  J. Gilman spoke on the deteriorating condition of the Creek Road Bridge.  Deficiencies should be addressed in FY12, which will be after the Route 140W Bridge repairs are paid for.  F. Bruce moved to sign the Town’s receipt of the 2008 bridge inspection reports; motion seconded by C. Angel.  Motion carried (5-0).

Scholarship Committee Appointment.  F. Bruce agreed to continue serving as the Selectboard representative, which was approved by the consensus of the Board.

Road Commissioner Appointment.  The position was advertised starting March 4th and no applications were received. C. Angel nominated Frank Bruce as Road Commissioner; motion seconded by J. Crowley.  Motion carried (4-0) with F. Bruce abstaining.

Annual Appointments.  F. Bruce recommended asking Eileen Holmes to fill the Auditor vacancy.  See permanent minutes for listing of annual appointments and their motions.

The Selectboard by consensus accepted the resignation of Charles Watts from the Recreation Committee.  B. Brooks asked Derek Farmer if he would be interested in serving on the Recreation Committee.  Mr. Farmer was not ready to accept the position tonight.  

The statute for appointing three Fence Viewers reads “may” thereupon appoint…..; therefore, on a motion made by J. Gilman and seconded by C. Angel, the position of fence viewers was deleted.  Motion carried (4-1) with F. Bruce opposed.  

The position of Sanitation Inspector is no longer necessary because the State has taken over septic approvals.  Therefore, the position of Sanitation Inspector was deleted on a motion made by F. Bruce and seconded by J. Crowley.  Motion carried (5-0).

B. Brooks made a motion to move into executive session at 8:18 p.m. with J. Sharon and J. Barbieri present to discuss personnel issues; motion seconded by J. Crowley.  (Motion carried 5-0). The Selectboard came out of executive session at 8:55 p.m.

The Selectboard would like to invite the Recreation Committee to their next meeting to discuss the plans for the recreation program that is being proposed for the summer, along with the allocation of town funds, salary, lifeguard situation, release forms, etc.

Road Commissioner F. Bruce will notify the Highway Department that the winter temp position will officially terminate on April 1st although he remains on a “on-call” basis for plowing.  At the last Selectboard meeting, F. Bruce reiterated Bill Lohsen’s desire to remain involved in the pedestrian bridge project.  He also asked if Bill could remain involved with Lawrence White, who has shown interest in extracting material from the Waldo Lane property owned by the Town and the Phillips.  Joyce thought he should double check with Bill Lohsen on the gravel situation.  Joyce reported that two reps from VTrans met briefly last week with Keith Shelvey regarding the pedestrian bridge.  Keith oversees the little league program which may be disrupted this summer because they need to create a temporary road near the softball field for the installation of the bridge.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

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