Fairfax Selectboard Minutes of 10/06/08

Selectboard Members present: Judy Cleary, Bill Ormerod, Charlie Swanson, Randy DeVine and Bob Horr. Staff Members present: Erin McSweeney, Administrative Assistant to the Selectboard, Don Pigeon, Road Foreman, Donna Meunier, Town Clerk / Treasurer, and Skip Taylor, Zoning Administrator. Public Present: 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 September 29, 2008, as written. Charlie seconded. Charlie offered 3 amendments. 4 board members voted in favor of accepting the minutes as amended, and one board member abstained.

3. Items on the Agenda

A. Donna Meunier- The board asked Donna questions about the Town Clerk / Town Treasurer position. Bill asked when she believes she will retire from the position of Town Clerk / Town Treasurer. Donna informed the board that if someone begins working by November 1st, she would like to cut back her hours beginning December 1st. At the end of December, Donna will close out all of the finances for 2008. In January, Donna will assist the person who is hired with the compilation of the Town Report, auditing requirements, and information for budgeting for the Selectboard. Donna indicated that if she resigns on January 30th, for example, the person who is chosen for the position will be appointed until the next general election in 2010.

Donna and the board discussed the format for interviewing candidates for the Town Clerk / Treasurer position.

B. Don Pigeon - Don, Judy, and Sam Hudson will be meeting with prospective bidders who are interested in logging the Town Forest on October 20th to walk the forest. Nancy Patch, the County Forester, will be walking the woods on October 17th. Don indicated that he is logging on the corner of Wilkins Road and Fletcher Road. Don asked if the board would like him to remove some trees from the Mudgett Cemetery. Bill indicated that he would like Don to remove the trees.

The Highway Department poured a pad for the cold patch at the Town Garage last week using 5 yards of ready-mix concrete. Don informed the board that he will be hiring Doug Collins to tend to the problem with beavers on Rood Mill Road.

Judy would like Don to itemize the mileage reimbursement requests he submits.

C. Paul Bean - Paul would like to divide the land he owns in half and build another house for himself. He knows that he will have to widen his driveway to 24' wide with 2' shoulders. He indicated that he has a bridge on the property that is 16' wide. Charlie indicated that the bridge width should match the width of the approach road; a bridge should not be narrower than the approach road. Paul asked if it is adequate to maintain 24' of width. Charlie indicated that this is sufficient because the bridge will actually be wider than that by the time Paul puts the rails on.

D. Skip Taylor - Skip distributed an Activity Report for September 9th-October 6, 2008. Skip also distributed a draft of a revised job description for the Zoning Administrator; some of the information contained in the revised job description was taken from the Zoning Administrator's Handbook, and from State statute. The DRB has reviewed the board's revised job description. Cathy Raymond will
forward the DRB's comments to Erin.

Skip also distributed draft language regarding road certification. Bill noted that the written certification must contain the number of samples and a location where the core samples were taken. Charlie added that the written certification must be stamped and signed by a Vermont Professional Licensed Engineer. Charlie also noted that item number 8, should state, "…culvert size, roundness, and placement…". Skip will revise the language based on the board's recommendations.

Skip distributed a draft of a Project Condition Tracking Sheet. Bob suggested that Fire Chief Dean Potter should be informed of any project that is being reviewed. Bob also suggested that the DRB should ask Dean what type of turnarounds the Fire Department prefers.

E. Randy Devine - Randy informed the board that he attempted to contact Liquivision to verify option #1 of the quote he received for cleaning the water storage tanks. The person he needs to contact will be out of the office until Wednesday.

Randy worked on the water meter reading list. Paul Lavallee and Paul Langelier will be assisting Randy with reading the water meters. Randy did composite sampling on Monday.

Jill Quong, who owns the property at 1268 Main Street, would like clarification on whether a municipal sewer allocation will remain with the property if it is sold. Bill referred to sections 3.06 & 3.07 of the Sewer Allocation and Connection ordinance. Bill indicated that the preliminary allocation is valid for 2 years; before the preliminary expires, Jill should meet the conditions of approval stated on her application in order to secure a final allocation. The final allocation is valid for 3 years; she must then connect to the municipal sewer system before the final allocation expires. If she intends to change the use for either of the two lots she owns, she must re-apply for preliminary sewer allocations.

The board will review the Sewer Status Report at next week's meeting.

4. Other Business

A. Bob informed the board that Tom Benoit from the State's Waste Management Division attended Household Hazardous Waste Day. Tom offered names of businesses that may be available to assist with future collection events.

B. The board reviewed the property listing that is part of the renewal application for VLCT PACIF insurance. Erin will contact VLCT to find out if the Town well can be added to the property coverage.

C. The board discussed the 3 pending property tax appeals. Charlie motioned to allow the Town's Attorneys to handle the tax appeals on behalf of the Town. Bill seconded. 3 board members voted in favor, and 2 board members abstained.

5. Public Input

There was no public input this evening.

6. Executive Session

A. Bob motioned to enter Executive Session at 8:52PM to discuss a personnel matter. Randy seconded. All board members voted in favor. The board entered Executive Session at 8:52PM.

B. Charlie motioned to return to public session at 9:45PM. Bob seconded. All board members voted in favor. The board returned to public session at 9:45PM.

7. Adjournment

Charlie motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:46PM. Bob seconded. All board members voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:46PM.

________________________________
Erin McSweeney, Administrative Assistant to the Selectboard