TOWN OF FAIRFAX

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, April 4, 2011

FAIRFAX TOWN OFFICE

Selectboard Members Present: Bill Ormerod, Bob Horr, Randy DeVine, Peter King and Chris Santee.

Public Present: Carolyn Branagan.

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Bob Horr, Vice-Chair at the new starting time of 6:30 PM.

Agenda:

Don Pigeon – Road Foreman

Don is in tonight with two grant applications, from the State of Vermont Standard Grant Agreements, that the Board needs to sign. One of the grants is for a Class 2 - resurfacing grant, to be used on Buck Hollow Road, approximately 1.3 miles. The other grant is for removing an old 7’ boiler tube at Polly Brook on Woodward Road and replacing it with a concrete box culvert. The “Annual Report” for the state also needs to be signed.

Randy made the motion to have Bob sign the two Standard Grant Agreements and the “Annual Report” that Don has presented to the Board.

Peter seconded the motion. Discussion.

Motion carries. Vote 3-0-1

The condition of the covered bridge was again discussed, with concern over the damage done to the bridge during the detour last summer, as well as weather and traffic wear to the bridge. Bob and Don met with Jim Cota, State of Vermont District 8, Agency of Transportation, at the bridge to discuss the detour damage and to get feedback from him. In the meantime, we will look into available grant money for repair of the bridge. Don stated they have been busy repairing the roads; they have used 22 tons of cold-patch so far this year, using the new hot box.

Skip Taylor, Zoning Administrator – tabled until later in the meeting.

Randy DeVine, W/S Superintendent

Randy reported on his monthly activities for March. He stated Paul and he had lowered the lagoons in anticipation of water runoff from snow melting and spring rains. Sewer discharge is within permit conditions. Water demand during the month of March was 32,000 gal./day. The pollution control plant expansion placed 9th on the Vermont Clean Water SRF priority list. Randy is gathering information for a new lawnmower. Chris asked if it would be more feasible to contract out the mowing. Randy would prefer to keep this in-house. Disconnect notices for delinquent water/sewer bills were discussed. The Town Service Officer position will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

Minutes 3/21/11:

Bob made the motion to approve the minutes as written.

Chris seconded the motion.

Motion passed. Vote 4-0-1

Skip Taylor, Zoning Administrator

Skip handed out his Activity Report covering the time period from 3/15/11 – 4/4/11. The Board asked Skip about the sewer line connection to the municipal sewer system for Paige Estates on Main Street. The Board would like a letter from GME stating that the plans meet the specifications for that development. Skip expected the mylars for Paige Estates to be submitted to the DRB this week for approval. Once the Town and the Towns’ Engineer’s have signed off on the sewer connection, the DRB will need a letter stating this. Skip touched base on the Capital Plan & Budget. Brandy from PlaceSense will be here on April 12 to talk to the different departments with their data. She will also be meeting with the PC on that same evening. Skip felt that someone from the SB should sit in on that PC meeting. The Town Road and Bridge Standards document was discussed. Skip will add an adaptation section to the document, per the request of the Board and re-post. A hearing to adopt this will be held on April 18, 2011 at 8:00 PM at BFA – Elementary Gym following the Sidewalk Scoping Study meeting at 7 PM.

Carolyn Branagan – District Representative

Carolyn stopped in to talk with the Board. She talked about what’s going on in Montpelier regarding the healthcare bill. She talked with the Board on their concerns with the covered bridge. Lastly, she said that aid for transportation is about the same as last year. The Board thanked Carolyn for coming in and for her all her help.

Amy Sears – Utility Department

Amy is here to talk to the Board regarding late charges being applied to delinquent water and sewer accounts. The Board was poled on adding a late fee to these accounts: 3-yes with 2 no. Amy presented a sample of a resolution, for late fees, written by Jim Barlow, Senior Staff Attorney at the VLCT. It was agreed that a $25.00 late fee would be applied per account number on delinquent accounts. If a payment arrangement has been made with the Town, no late fee will be applied. However, if they miss a payment on the payment schedule, a late fee will be added. Amy will include the warning effective the July billing period. A hearing will be held on April 18th, 2011 at 8:00 PM at BFA – Elementary Gym following the Sidewalk Scoping Study.

The three delinquent accounts are as follows:

Account #: OA0042 - $269.54 (Note: This was paid 4/7/11.)FR0030 – $353.89

HW0038 - $513.17 (since 6/2008)

The Board agreed to file liens against the properties of the delinquent accounts. The motion was seconded. Motion carried. Vote 4-0-1

Amy asked the Board what they wanted to do with the sewer CD that is up for renewal. Bill asked the Board what was their pleasure.

Bob made the motion to renew the CD. Peter seconded the motion. Discussion. Interest rates were discussed. Motion carried Vote 4-0-1

Orders & Purchase Orders: Reviewed by Randy.

Other Business:

1. Sheriff’s contract is up for renewal. We will discuss this at the next SB meeting 4/11/11.

2. Liquor & Tobacco Licenses:

Adam’s Quick Stop

Peter made the motion to sign the licenses. Chris seconded the motion.

Motion carried. Vote 4-0-1

Nan’s Mobil

Peter made the motion to sign the licenses. Bob seconded the motion. Motion carried. Vote 4-0-1

Country Pantry (liquor license only)

Peter made the motion to sign the license. Chris seconded the motion.

Motion carried. Vote 4-0-1

3. HHWD fees were discussed and adjusted. The next HHWD is April 16, 2011 from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Town Garage on Fletcher Road. Please see fee schedule posted in town.

4. Land acquisition survey. Chris made the motion to delete the names of public comment on the survey. Peter seconded the motion. Motion carried. Vote 4-0-1

5. Recreation Department: Katrina is looking for clean-fill that someone might like to donate. She is looking into renovating the softball and baseball fields.

6. Sidewalk Scoping Study: A meeting was held this morning, 4/4/11 at 10:00 AM, at the Town Office. In attendance were Rob Hall, Kevin Russell and Jim Cota from the State of Vermont, along with Eric Sandblom and Bretton Gardner from KAS, Inc., Bob Horr, Selectboard and Stacy Wells, Project administrator. The meeting was to discuss the project and any concerns they may have with it. Several members from the meeting walked the project site after the meeting.

7. Land acquisition: A committee has been formed to scout out land as the possible site for a municipal building. Members of the committee are in the process of contacting landowners in the Growth Center. They will keep us up to date on their findings.

8. CFC grant application: The application has been put on hold for the time being. This was a grant to help defray the cost of acquiring the Baptist Building located on Main Street

Adjourn:

Peter made the motion to adjourn at 9:30 PM.

Bob seconded the motion.

Motion carried. Vote 5-0

Respectfully, submitted by Stacy Wells, Adm. Asst.

________________________________

William Ormerod, Chair

WO/sw

The minutes are unofficial until approved at the next Selectboard meeting.