Fairfax Selectboard Minutes of 02/13/06

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, Tree Warden Sam Hudson, Zoning Administrator Skip Taylor, Wanda Lafar, Bill Ormerod and Colleen Steen. These minutes are unofficial until approved by the Board at the next regularly scheduled Selectboard meeting.

The meeting came to order at 7:00 pm. Bob Horr motioned to go to executive session to discuss personnel. Judy Cleary seconded. All voted in favor. The Board came out of executive session at 7:20.

Tree Warden Sam Hudson discussed a program for communities wishing to improve or manage their forestland. Sam will review maps and work with Don and Judy to prepare a forest management plan for the town-owned property at the Fletcher Road water tower and Route 104 North Fairfax property. Grant money is available up to $4,000 matching funds or in-kind payment. The application is due by March 20th. Sam agreed to donate his time to help with a forest management plan. Judy will work with Don and Sam.

Randy DeVine reviewed the following January reports with the Board: Water System Operations Report; Water Usage Summary; Sewer Discharge 12 Mo. Average and Wastewater Permit Monitoring Information and Operations Report Aerated Lagoons (both signed by the Chair).

Skip Taylor provided an activity report for January 31-February 13, 2006. Year to date permits are as follows: 6 new homes, 5 compliances and seven building permits total. Skip informed the board that Mike Webb picked up an application for Sewer Allocation for the proposed B&B on Fletcher Road. Jill Spinelli is working with Skip on the issue of a home occupation for Chris Santee's Fairfax News. Based on the recommendation given by the Planning Commission's Chairperson Greg Heyer, Bob Horr moved to appoint Cathy Raymond as Acting Zoning Administrator. Judy Cleary seconded. All voted in favor.
At 8:21 the Board went to executive session to interview a candidate for the Selectboard Administrative Assistant position. The Board came out of executive session at 8:56 pm.

GENERAL BUSINESS: Bob Horr moved to accept the minutes from the February 6, 2006 Selectboard meeting. Doug Webb seconded. The Board accepted an amendment from Ed Nuttall which replaced the words "Budget Synopsis" with Briefing Slides. All voted in favor of accepting the minutes as amended. The Board reviewed and approved Purchase Orders from the Utility department and Road Foreman. Work orders and invoices were reviewed and signed.

OTHER BUSINESS: Judy informed the Board of her findings on the VLCT Wellness Program. Any deduction on the premium would be prorated on the number of participants. The Board would need to adopt a safety policy, draft a letter of intent and have employees fill out a willingness to participate survey by March 3rd. The Board agreed to proceed; Judy will distribute the survey to the full-time employees. Jeff reported that the Fire Department held their annual elections on February 8th. The officers were named as follows: Dean Potter - Chief, Matthew Gillilan - Assistant Chief, Justin Hayes - 1st Captain, Louis Nigro - 2nd Captain, Thomas Snyder - Lieutenant, Lucien Hayes - Safety Officer. Jim Field noted that there was a blown engine on the small 1 ton 1983 Chevy which is being replaced with a used engine for $600 plus labor. There was also a minor accident while transporting the truck to the garage for repair. The Board reviewed corrections and changes to the Town Meeting briefing slides. The anticipated budget will be included. Ed informed the Board that he passed along the Economic Development Council of No. VT grant information to Carol Lizotte as promised and reviewed the bike path document for Myles Cahoon. Ed polled the Board on whether or not he should be replaced with a new Selectboard representative for the Community Advisory Board to the St. Albans police. The Board agreed it would be a good idea and will appoint someone. Ed shared some products from the meetings with NRCP's Tim Beaucage for long range planning for development areas in Fairfax; data included elevations, flood zones, soils, etc. Bob received a call from Steve Bessette who informed him that he thought Paige Road should have been named Paige Street as it falls within the village limits.

CORRESPONDENCE was reviewed as follows: St. Albans Selectboard re: NRPC Wal-Mart recommendations; EPA Newsletter; Barber Selectboard Admin. Assistant letter of interest; St. Albans City Police re: Emergency Dispatch Advisory Committee (Fire Dept appointed a volunteer); Adelphia Cable letter

PUBLIC INPUT: Bill Ormerod, as a person working in the health industry, stressed the importance of pursuing VLCT's preventive oriented wellness program. It reduces the cost of insurance and improves the overall health of the employees. Also, implementation of a wellness program shows a reduction the first year and as you continue to prove that you have a successful wellness program, costs will continue to go down for the coming years as well.

Colleen Steen reported that she was informed at the TAC meeting that a federal program will put out $100,000,000 during 2006 to encourage school safety by building up infrastructure on corridors to schools. Colleen suggested that the Board may be in a good position to tie in Route 104 and get money because of the Route 104 corridor study that has already been completed. She will keep the Board informed.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:53 pm.

___________________________________ Jeff Blake, Selectboard Chair