Fairfax Selectboard Minutes of 01/23/06

Selectboard Chair Jeff Blake and members Doug Webb, Judy Cleary, Bob Horr and Ed Nuttall were present at the meeting. Also present were Road Foreman Don Pigeon, Water/Sewer Superintendent Randy DeVine, Carolyn Branagan, Bill Ormerod and Colleen Steen. These minutes are unofficial until approved by the Board at the next regularly scheduled Selectboard meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm. Randy DeVine reported that he attended the Champlain Water District training last week; he felt he learned a lot about lab work that he had not had previous experience with. Randy reported that 1008 gallons total discharge left the waste treatment plant within a 24 hour period from the rain storm last week. There was a lot of influent and a lot of grit to clean up after. The Town well continues to yield 60 gallons per minute on average.

Don Pigeon requested that he be permitted to order the pressure washer; the cost will be split between the Highway Dept. and W/S Dept. Don does not expect the pressure washer to be ready for at least a month. The steam generator that he is currently using is dangerous; it has caught fire and blown up; VLCT recommends discontinuing its use. The Board signed the AOT District 8 Town Highway Class 2 Roadway Grant to shim and resurface 1.2 miles of Buck Hollow Rd. starting at Hawley Rd. The Town's portion (20%) would be $12,200; the State's share (80%) would be $48,800 for a total project cost of $61,000. Don explained that before applying for the AOT Structures Grant, he would sit down with Sam Ruggiano to review the River Road project to determine the amount of the price increase. The structure price increased 5% and pilons will be needed. Don will apply for this price increase through the Structures Grant.

District Rep. Carolyn Branagan gave the Board a legislative update. Carolyn explained that the local option tax was still around. If it passes it will be the option of each community to enact it or not. A lot of federal money will be available thanks to Senator Jeffords for the transportation budget over the next five years however the money must be matched by the State. Legislators are looking for ways to do it without enacting a gas tax, possibly through fees. No projects are earmarked for Fairfax or Georgia. Carolyn reported that the Dept. of Liquor Control wants to raise their fees. Legislation may pass to allow communities wanting to assume all of the responsibilities for monitoring liquor consumption to keep the fees. Ed asked Carolyn if she had any involvement with the VT Council on Rural Development; she had not. Bob asked how much of the federal transportation money would be used for repairing State Roads; Carolyn did not have this figure. The Board discussed privacy issues and on-line registries for sex offenders. Judy stated that she understood Douglas is against stalking cars with people without seatbelts; Judy stated that she is against it as well. Doug Webb asked what Carolyn thought about education spending with Vermont having the lowest pupil per teacher ratio in the United States. Carolyn reported that education spending across the state is going up much faster than inflation, 6% over the last 6 years and 8% last year. She feels education spending is out of control. If local school boards don't take the initiative to get school budgets under control, within next year or two it will be mandated by the State. The CLA system of taxation to pay for education spending is drowning taxpayers. There are fewer children in school and the rate of increase of spending makes no sense.

GENERAL BUSINESS: Bob Horr moved to accept the minutes from the January 16, 2006 meeting. Judy Cleary seconded. All voted in favor of accepting the minutes as written. The Board reviewed and approved Purchase Orders from the Road Foreman and Zoning Office. Work orders and invoices were reviewed and signed. The Board authorized the Warning 2006 Fairfax Annual Town Meeting.

CORRESPONDENCE: Judy read a letter from Peg Stewart, School Board Chair, in which they recommended the Selectboard support the Vermont Council on Rural Development presentation and request assistance for Fairfax. The Selectboard also reviewed and approved an invoice from Stitzel, Page and Fletcher. Jeff distributed a resume from Patricia Crowley to the Board and a memo from Skip Taylor which will be discussed at next week's meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS: Ed Nuttall distributed an e-mail from State Trooper Lt. Evans which was a weekly summary of activity report for Jan 2-Jan 8, 2006 that addressed the entire county. Ed reported that he will work on filling out the 2006 Household Hazardous Waste Grant application. Judy reported that the Library Trustees have a meeting this Thursday and that Joy LeBaron has handed in her resignation. Bob Horr explained that Joy had been selected to retire in June. Her replacement will be chosen solely by the School Board without input from the Library Trustees or current librarians.

PUBLIC INPUT: none. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 pm.

___________________________________ Jeff Blake, Selectboard Chair