Wallingford
Selectboard Minutes*
*These are
unofficial Minutes subject to the approval at the next regular meeting.
September 4, 2012
Present:
Bill Brooks, Nelson Tift, Tom Phillips, Frank Bruce, and Ann Tiplady
Others
Present: Julie Sharon,
Phil Baker, and Sandi Switzer
Chair
B. Brooks called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Minutes. The August 20th
meeting minutes were approved, on a motion made by N. Tift and seconded by F.
Bruce. Motion carried (5-0).
Selectboard
Orders. Pay
orders totaling $277,136.69 were approved on a motion made by B. Brooks and
seconded by F. Bruce. Motion
carried (5-0). This report contained
two significant invoices - the first payment for the bridge construction and the
paving invoice.
Interim
Zoning Administrator. Until the
Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the Selectboard on appointing a
Zoning Administrator, Julie Sharon was appointed as Interim Zoning
Administrator, on a motion made by F. Bruce, and seconded by N. Tift.
Motion carried (5-0).
Other
Business/Announcements. T.
Phillips discussed the municipal ticket that Julie recently issued regarding the
Clark
dog, which is leaving its owner’s property and chasing the neighbor’s
children. This dog has violated the
animal ordinance several times over the past few years. (T.
Phillips left the meeting at 6:40 p.m.)
Road
Commissioner’s Report.
Phil Baker
reported that the road crew is grading roads on the north side of Route 140 as
well as in
East Wallingford. Because of the rain, maintenance
was performed at the garage today on several pieces of equipment.
The 2003
Sterling
is lacking power and further work needs to be done to find the cause.
The air compressor no longer works due to moisture getting into it
following the flood. The Selectboard
agreed to replace it, and Frank offered to check on pricing at Tractor Supply.
Phil recommended buying the three-year extended warranty, which he feels
is a great investment. VTEL has been
working in the Hartsboro Road
area. A hole along
East Street
has been repaired. Phil reported
that once the grading is done for the season, our part-time worker will be put
on an “on-call” basis for plowing/sanding this winter.
In the spring, he will be brought back full time to perform ditching and
grading again as it saves a lot of down time using a three-man crew.
The culvert installation on the Garrow property is planned for Thursday.
Dairymen’s League Parcel. The
Selectboard discussed an email from Assessor John Tiffany.
Historically,
the Dairymen's League property has been on the Grand List as Owner Unknown
with Owner #2 as Dairymen's League. The parcel status has been active, with tax
status "nontaxable". Last
year, the State's District Advisor stated that it cannot be an active
parcel and not be taxed because it legally is a taxable parcel. Subsequently, it
was changed to taxable, which created a tax bill.
The town needs to take the steps necessary to "take" this
parcel, make it town property, keep it, sell it or otherwise dispose
of it. This 1.4 acre parcel is
located at the southern entrance of
Hartsboro Road
between Otter Creek and the railroad and has no road access.
Following some discussion, the Selectboard agreed the land is nothing the
Town would want to own, and Julie will ask the abutter, the Green
Mountain
National Forest, if they would be interested in buying this parcel.
There
is also an 8.1 parcel on the town line with Tinmouth, west of West Hill Road
in the name of Scott. From what Mr. Tiffany learned, Mr. Scott doesn't
recognize any of his land being in
Wallingford
and refuses to pay any tax liability on it. This parcel has been given zero
value by past Listers. In
researching the land records on this parcel, it shows state course and
distance easterly into Wallingford, abutting Scott's, as shown on the tax map, and refers to a 1984 survey that
may be recorded in Tinmouth. The
problem may have been generated by shifting of the town line and/or poor
surveying in the past. Julie will
seek the recorded survey from the Tinmouth Town Clerk.
Appeal
on BCA Decision. C. J. Abatiell,
Jr. has appealed the decision of the BCA to superior court.
Following some discussion, B. Brooks made a motion to authorize the Town
Agent to appoint Mr. Tiffany to represent the town in this matter.
Motion seconded by F. Bruce. Motion
carried (4-0). N. Tift pointed out
that he was not at the BCA meeting on July 12th as reported on the
official notice. His name as well as
T. Phillips will be removed.
Julie received an
amendment to the Enhancement Agreement for the
Route
140W
Bridge
grant that needed signing. The
January 14, 2009 grant amount agreement was modified from $300,000 to $700,000.
On a motion made by F. Bruce and seconded by N. Tift, authorization was
given to B. Brooks to sign this amendment. Motion
carried (4-0).
The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. |