Town Of Fairfax Selectboard Minutes
August 3, 2009

Selectboard Members Present: Bob Horr, Bill Ormerod, John Mitchell, and Randy DeVine

Staff Present: Skip Taylor, Don Pigeon, Deb Woodward

Public Present: Elizabeth Kirkpatrick

1. Call to Order

Bob Horr, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

2. Items on the Agenda

A. Deb: Deb distributed copies of the new tax rate sheets for review and the Chair to sign off on so that tax bills can be sent out this week. Bill motioned to approve the municipal tax rate of .3915, Randy seconded the motion. Three voted in favor, one abstained. Deb noted the Town still needs to appoint a Grand Juror before the end of the year. There was brief discussion regarding the hire date, etc. of Bill Stygles and when Josh Langelier’s last day is. Suzanne will contact Josh for an answer.

B. Don: They have stocked 4,000 yards of sand as of this date, and will probably do another 800-900. Don requested the Board approve money from the budget for approximately 100 tons of hot mix to do some road patching. The cost would be about $6,500 combined with the cost of renting a roller ($60/day or $240/week plus $35/day for a trailer). Don figures it will take about five (5) days to complete the roads he wants to get done. The Board agreed it was a good idea and gave Don the “go-ahead”. Don also noted there are additional repairs needed to one corner of the Town office building. There was discussion regarding a letter from a resident on West Street Road regarding a recent washout during a storm and requesting speed bumps. Don will look into the problems with the road and ditches, but speed bumps can not be installed on any road that has a speed limit of 35 mph per State law.

C. Randy: CCR delivery is complete. Water system flushing for the year has been completed. All non-functioning water meters have been replaced or repaired, except for one (1), and Randy is working on contacting the residents. It was suggested that filters should be installed on meters of properties with their own water supply. This requirement should be added to the sewer ordinance when it is amended. Randy and Paul repaired damaged curb stops around town. The damage occurred due to snow plows or mowers and frost pushing them up out of the ground. There was discussion regarding pricing for the waterline replacement which will be discussed more thoroughly later in this meeting. Randy noted the fire hydrants should be re-painted at some point soon. The air lines also need to be cleaned. The Board reviewed a letter received from David Keefe regarding posting a safety zone around the residential area near the wastewater treatment plant and around the plant. The Board was in consensus that this be done as it is a safety hazard. Randy will give Dave the “go-ahead” to post the signs.

D. Skip: The Zoning Activity Report was distributed and reviewed. Skip reported they have begun posting public notices in the St. Albans Messenger but have not received an invoice yet.

E. Waterline Replacement: Bob reviewed the financial accounts of the Water Department with the Board. It was decided to request that Amy Sears, Utility Department, attend the August 17th meeting to discuss what she was told by the previous Town Clerk about utilizing these funds. Quotes on waterline replacement were again reviewed. Randy has revised the supply list and will now take over getting additional pricing from suppliers so the Board can make a decision by the next meeting on August 17th, 2009. We will need to draft letters to residents of Buck Hollow Road informing them we will be working in the Town right-of-way to complete this work.

3. Minutes

A. John motioned to accept the July 20th meeting minutes as written, Randy seconded the motion. Three voted in favor, one abstained.

4. Selectboard Orders & Purchase Orders

A. Bill polled the Board on how we should pay the deductible for the VLCT coverage of the Handy settlement agreement. The Board agreed to pay the $500 out of the Utility Department account.

5. General Business

A. Daisy Collins asked what they needed to do if they wanted to have a small family parade on Buck Hollow Road. The Board suggested they contact the Sheriff’s office.

B. The VLCT Property Valuation Survey was reviewed and discussed.

C. An email from Henry Raymond was briefly discussed and Bill reported he had already responded to the email stating the entrance to the Town office building will in fact be painted.

D. Skip Taylor’s reply to Hendee / Freeman was reviewed and discussed.

E. Suzanne presented a letter signed by herself and Robin Chapman; Bob made the suggestion that it be discussed in Executive Session.

6. Public Input

A. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick asked the Board if the Town of Fairfax has an ordinance regarding sexual predators living within a certain distance of the school; and if not, was there any future plan to implement such an ordinance. Bill explained that we do not have an ordinance and that the issue needs to be addressed at a State level.

7. Executive Session

John motioned to enter executive session to discuss a personnel issue at 9:04 PM, Bill seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Bill motioned to exit executive session at 9:20 PM, John seconded. All voted in favor.

Randy motioned to compensate employees who left the building during the time that they felt the building was unsafe to work in the week of July 20th, and to draft a letter of appreciation to staff that remained. John seconded the motion. Two voted in favor, one voted against, and one abstained.

Bill motioned to re-enter executive session to discuss a legal issue at 9:22 PM, Randy seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Bill motioned to exit executive session at 9:54 PM, Randy seconded the motion. Three voted in favor, one abstained.

Bill noted Mr. Handy requested use of the Health Officer report for 11 Maple Street. The Board agreed to allow him use of the report since it is a public document.

Bill motioned to re-enter executive session to discuss another personnel issue without Randy and Suzanne present. Randy wanted it noted that he has a grievance with being excused in these instances and feels he is able to be impartial. If the matter directly involves him, then he would recuse himself. The Board noted Randy’s issue but still did not want him present. John then seconded Bill’s motion to re-enter executive session at 10:00 PM. Three voted in favor.

Bill motioned to exit executive session at 10:12 PM, John seconded the motion, all voted in favor.

8. Adjournment

Bill motioned to adjourn, John seconded, all voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Suzanne Lavallee,

Selectboard Administrative Assistant

Robert A. Horr, Selectboard Chair