Fairfax Selectboard Minutes of 07/07/08

Selectboard Members present: Judy Cleary, Bill Ormerod, Charlie Swanson, Randy DeVine, and Bob Horr. Staff Members present: Don Pigeon, Road Foreman, and Erin McSweeney, Administrative Assistant to the Selectboard. Public Present: Joan Wotherspoon, Carolyn Branagan, and Paul Lavallee.

1.Call to Order

Judy Cleary, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.

2. Minutes

Charlie motioned to accept the minutes from the meeting on June 30, 2008. Randy seconded. 4 board members voted in favor, and one board member abstained.

3. Items on the Agenda

A. Don Pigeon- Don informed the board that the pavers are finished paving. The total cost of paving was $300 less than the amount that was budgeted. Don will be concentrating on fixing driveways and shoulders in the areas that were paved. Don was unable to meet with Judy and Sam Hudson last week to work on the Forest Management Plan because he was working on a plugged culvert on Rood Mill Road; he was able to break up the beaver dam that had been constructed in the culvert.

Don received a quote from DJ's Tree Service of $1,200 to remove the maple tree on the Rowell's property located at 1040 Main Street. Two other tree removal services did not respond.

Don reviewed an Access Permit application from Bill Superneau for a proposed project on Fletcher Road, across form the Town Garage. Don indicated that no culvert is required, and no brush needs to be cut. However, Judy noted on the application that the grade should be reduced to -2% from the intersection of Fletcher Road.

B.Randy DeVine - Randy informed the board that Paul has completed the maintenance on all of the fire hydrants in Town with the exception of 2. The 2 hydrants that are left have to have additional work done on them.

Randy discussed purchasing other types of hydrant markers. The current markers can sometimes make it difficult to loosen the tops of the hydrants.

Randy gave a summary of his activities for the week, including, but not limited, to: installed 2 manhole risers on Hunt Street, transferred chlorine at the chlorination building, responded to an emergency light on the chlorination pump, replaced a part in response to the emergency light, and listed out streets and roads for the distribution of the water system Consumer Confidence Survey. He took composite samples today.

Judy asked Randy if he has had an opportunity to visit the site on Fletcher Road for Bill Superneau's proposed project across from the Town Garage. The board would like Randy to visit the site to ensure that the proposed project is not going to be built in the well-head source protection area of the Town well. Randy indicated that he will contact Bill Superneau.

4. Other Business

A. The board reviewed information regarding an opportunity to apply for a pre-disaster mitigation grant from Vermont Emergency Management and FEMA. The board will discuss possible projects for this grant at next week's meeting when Don is present.

B. The board reviewed information regarding the education tax rate.

C. Bill distributed a draft of a proposed budget for the Utility Department based on the information from the Profit and Loss Reports from Amy Sears. The board has a couple of questions for Amy; the board will review the budgets at a future board meeting.

D. Amy Sears will include a notice in all of the sewer bills that will be mailed in July advising account holders that the list of delinquent accounts may be published in a local newspaper beginning October 1, 2008.

E. The board reviewed the addendum to the current contract with All-Cycle for trash service in the Town. Charlie motioned to sign the addendum to the Municipal Solid Waste and Recycling Collection agreement dated July 23, 2007, with All-Cycle. Randy seconded.

Bob stated that everyone in Town is entitled to the same service, whether they live on a Town road or a private road. He noted that the community should realize that everyone pays a different amount for trash service, since it is part of their property taxes. Bob suggested that the board should research whether there is funding available for setting up a transfer station.

3 board members voted in favor, and 2 board members were opposed to signing the addendum to the contract with All-Cycle. Judy signed the amendment on behalf of the board.

F. The board discussed the Transportation Enhancement Grant. The Town has applied for this grant twice before; the grant funds would be used to construct sidewalks between the top of Hunt Street and Nan's Mobil on the west side of Route 104. Carolyn Branagan indicated that she has contacted Curtis Johnson at VTrans regarding the grant.

G. Randy informed the board that he will be flushing the water system during the week of July 21st.

H. Erin will follow up with Shaun Coleman at Northwest Regional Planning regarding the draft of the Hazard Mitigation Plan. A copy of the plan is available at the Town Office; comments on the plan may be submitted no later than the close of business on Wednesday, July 9th.

I. The board reviewed a revised draft of a letter to the Fletcher Selectboard regarding the Rose Hill subdivision, which is proposed to have homes located in both Fairfax and Fletcher. Charlie indicated that the letter should come from Fire Chief Dean Potter and Rescue Chief Mike Spaulding, as the Fire Department and Rescue Squad will be providing emergency services to the residents on the road.

J. Giles Boissoneault attended last week's meeting and requested that Ledge Road, between Sam Webb Road and Buck Hollow Road, be classified as a Class IV Town road. Giles referred to a survey from the 1800's that contains Ledge Road. Bill asked the board how it is in the best interest of the Town to classify Ledge Road as a Class IV road. He suggested that the board should vote on this. The Selectboard has the authority whether or not to classify a road.

Bill motioned to not classify Ledge Road as a Class IV road. Randy seconded. 3 board members voted in favor, and 2 board members abstained. This motion passed; the board will not classify Ledge Road as a Class IV Town road.

K. The board discussed the presentation Jon Bondy gave at last week's meeting regarding broadband access. Bill indicated that he will follow up with Jon, as Bill was not present at the meeting last week.

L. Bill expressed concern that the board approved the purchase of a new phone system for the Town Office as there are no funds in the budget for this. Bill indicated that the scope of this purchase will grow, as internet service is not included in the proposal. Bill has questions about the proposal that was reviewed and he will contact Tim Wills at All Line Communications.

M. The board discussed the maple tree on the Rowell property located at 1040 Main Street. As Don stated earlier, he received a quote of $1,200 from DJ's Tree Service to remove the tree.

Bob motioned to not subsidize the removal of the tree from the Rowell property. Charlie seconded. All board members voted in favor. Erin will follow up with the Rowell's in writing.

N. Bob motioned to review and revise the job descriptions for all Town employees. Bill seconded. 4 board members voted in favor, and one abstained.

5. Public Input

Paul Lavallee attended tonight's meeting to ask the board whether construction of sidewalks on Route 104 can be put on the ballot as a warned article or a bond vote for next Town Meeting. Bill informed Paul that the Town has obtained a grant through the Safe Routes to School Program for a feasibility study to construct sidewalks in a 1.5 mile radius around the school. Bill suggested that an article pertaining to sidewalks can be put on the ballot if the Town Clerk receives a valid petition. Bill suggested that Paul speak to Donna or Stacy about submitting a petition.

Paul expressed concern about Amy's availability in the Utility Department. He asked the board if Amy has a set schedule; Charlie informed him that Amy does not have a set schedule because she is a part-time employee. Charlie suggested that Amy could designate a block of time every Monday that she will be available.

Paul noted that motions made by the board should be positive statements, rather than negative. The board should vote down a positive motion rather than approving a negative motion.

6. Executive Session

A. Bob motioned to enter Executive Session at 9:24PM to discuss a personnel matter. Bob would like Erin McSweeney to be present in the session. Bill seconded. All board members voted in favor.

B. Bill motioned to return to public session at 9:46PM. Bob seconded. All board members voted in favor. The board returned to public session at 9:46PM.

7. Adjournment

Bill motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:55PM. Charlie seconded. All board members voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:55PM.

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Erin McSweeney, Administrative Assistant to the Selectboard