Fairfax Selectboard Minutes of 08/11/08

Selectboard Members present: Judy Cleary, Bill Ormerod, Charlie Swanson, Bob Horr, and Randy DeVine. Staff Members present: Erin McSweeney, Administrative Assistant to the Selectboard, Stacy Wells, Office Assistant, and Donna Meunier, Town Clerk / Treasurer. Public Present: Paul Lavallee, and Melissa Beerworth.

1.Call to Order

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

2. Minutes

A. Bob motioned to accept the minutes from the meeting on August 4, 2008. Charlie seconded. Randy offered one amendment. None of the board members voted in favor, and all of the board members were opposed.

B. Charlie motioned to approve the minutes as amended. Bob seconded. All board members voted in favor of the minutes as amended.

3. Items on the Agenda

A. Donna Meunier- Donna attended tonight's meeting to present information to the board about the municipal tax rate. Donna recommended a homestead tax rate of $.426 and a non-resident tax rate of $1.4450.

Bill motioned to approve the 2008 municipal tax rate of $.426. Bob seconded. All board members voted in favor.

B. Randy DeVine - Randy reviewed the Water Usage Summary for July 2008. The board reviewed the correspondence between Randy and the State regarding the Sanitary Survey of the Water System. Randy indicated that he worked on the budgets that Bill created for water and sewer. Paul Langelier finished weeding the lagoons and cleaned the banks.

4. Other Business

A. The board reviewed the Findings of Fact and Order from the Development Review Board regarding 1166 Main Street, a single family home that is currently being used as a boarding house. Erin will contact Chris Boyd, the State Fire Marshall.

Bob motioned to investigate the statements in the Water Use ordinance that pertain to this situation with the Town's Attorney. Charlie seconded. All board members voted in favor.

B. The VT State Police Community Advisory Board will meet on September 2nd. The VT State Police will hold a Citizens Academy beginning in September.

C. The board reviewed the following Town policies: Policy Regarding Broken Glass on Vehicles Struck with Objects Falling From Town Vehicles, Refunding of Fees for Planning Commission / ZBA Hearings, Filling Pools from the Municipal Water System, Sexual Harassment Policy, Tree Cutting Policy, and the Overtime Policy.

Bill motioned to rescind the Broken Glass on Vehicles Struck with Objects Falling from Town Vehicles, Refunding of Fees for Planning Commission / ZBA Hearings, and Filling Pools from the Municipal Water Systems policies. Charlie seconded. All board members voted in favor.

The board discussed the Tree Cutting Policy. Bob suggested that Don Pigeon, Road Foreman, could prepare a report to be submitted during budgeting time in January for trees that are proposed for removal. Revisions will be made to the policy.

The board discussed the Overtime Policy. Bill motioned to rescind the Overtime Policy dated November 11, 2003; the information is already contained in the Employee Policy. Bob seconded. All board members voted in favor.

The board discussed the Sexual Harassment Policy. Erin will contact the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to obtain an updated example of a Sexual Harassment Policy.

D. The board reviewed the job description for the Zoning Administrator. Bob distributed proposed changes to the job description. Charlie also distributed an example of a Zoning Administrator's job description. Erin will update the job description with the changes and the board will review it next week.

E. The board reviewed Randy's proposed revisions to the proposed sewer budget that Bill distributed previously. The board will continue to work on the budgets next week.

F. The board will review the job description for the Planning and Zoning Assistant at next week's meeting.

G. Erin will ask Don to contact Capt. Sweeny of the Sheriff's Department regarding putting a speed cart on Fletcher Road, Main Street, and Hunt Street.

H. The board discussed Household Hazardous Waste Day, which will take place on Saturday, October 4th. The board will review the fee schedule at next week's meeting. The board is considering having a metal container put up at the Town Garage for one Saturday morning in the month of September; furniture will also be collected. Erin will contact David Shea at All Metals Recycling for a list of acceptable materials and a fee schedule.

I. Charlie informed the board that VTrans is proposing a local detour using Milton Westford Road for the Bridge #10 project.

J. Bob informed the board that he will be meeting with Randy Reed of VTrans, and Chris Brunelle from the State regarding a proposed project on Chaffee Road on August 19th.

K. Bill and Charlie have forwarded a list of outstanding items for the Transportation Enhancement Grant to Erin.

5. Public Input

A. Paul Lavallee asked the board if he should continue to circulate the petition to install sidewalks on the west side of Main Street / Route 104 from the top of Hunt Street to just past Fairfax Family Physical Therapy. Bill and Charlie indicated that Paul should keep the petition in circulation. Bill informed Paul that the Town will be submitting an application for a Transportation Enhancement grant to the Vermont Agency of Transportation for the 3rd time.

6. Executive Session

A. Charlie motioned to enter Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter at 7:59PM. Bill seconded. All board members voted in favor.

B. The board returned to public session at 9:12PM.

7. Adjournment

Bill motioned to adjourn the meeting at 10:36PM. Randy seconded. All board members voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 10:36PM.

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Erin McSweeney, Administrative Assistant to the Selectboard