SELECTMEN'S MEETING

May 15, 2000

Members Present, Eric Osgood, Brad Reed, Daryl West, Blaine Delisle, Franklin Hooper, Selectmen; David Barra, Town Attorney; Barbara Farr, Gordon Smith, George Pearlman, Stuart Rowe, Village Trustees; Robert Lamb, Arlen Ingalls, Willard Lamphear, Roland Dumas, Mary Lamphear, Lorraine Dumas, Diane Ingalls, Pauline Fuller, Pete Synder, Brad Worthen, Vermont Rail Link; Nikki Carpenter, Craig Carpenter, Dave Burnham, Cindy Kullmann, Grace Adams, Ellis 0'Hear, Kathy McKnight, Laurie Wells, Amy Schulz; Bob C. Philbrick, New & Citizen; Rosemary Audibert, Clerk.

Eric called meeting to order.

Board viewed and signed orders.

Board accepted last month meeting minutes.

Pauline Fuller asked what is happening upstairs. Eric stated that the State Labor & Industry permit has been denied. Chris Parker has written a letter to the State addressing there concerns. Will not be used for a assembly space. The two Boards need to get together to discuss what the usage will be. There has been interest from the planning commission, a church group to use the space.

Blaine asked about what has been done to get a separate building. Pauline stated that waiting for someone to build a building. Did put in for a grant for funding for a study, did not get the grant.

Barb stated that there are matching funds available though Vermont Community Development for lower to mderate income. Income is lower in the Village than the Town and the project would be in the Village. Would need to submit a letter of intent, application deadline is June 15, 2000. Town or Village would have to sponsor. Johnson has received a lot of grant money over the past few years, may not get a grant.

Pauline stated that have gotten two grants for classes, for computer and art. Using the United Church now.

Daryl stated that the building will be done in June and will serve the immediate need, and will also see if there is a need for a separte building. Could put a grant request in later.

Rocky moved to apply for grants for a senior center, Brad seconded, so voted. Barb stated that the Board will need to go though Michele at Lamoille County Planning Commission for the grants.

Peter Synder from the Vt. Rail Link made a presentation to preserve the 125 year old railroad corridor between Swanton - Morrisville - St. Johnsbury. The 96 mile line has served 15 Vermont communities. Currently, Lamoille County is the only county in Vermont without an operating rail system. Want to operate the line, provide freight service to reduce trucking on the roads, encourage the tourist trade. Could carry Cambridge and Johnson students to LUHS. Now have 15 shippers committed to the project ASAP. 90% of Morrisville and Hardick businesses have signed a petition of support.

The State Agency of Transportation is working to secure the transfer of the railroad leasehold to an operating committee comprised of three members each from Franklin, Lamoille, and Caledonia Counties' Chamber, Economic and Planning Councils/Committees, The Lamoille County group is comprised of Michele Boomhower, LCPC; John Sullivan, LEDC, and Penny Mason Anderson, LVCC.

Peter asked that the Board assist in preserving this rail line so the Vermont can maintain a valuable transportation alternative for generations to come. Requested a endorsement of this rail preservation by writing Governor Dean, AOT Secretary, Searles, Senator Bartlett and Representative Woodward.

Businesses are interested is using the rail for freight and other business will come along latter. All forms of transportation are subsided by State and Federal money. This will bring back tax dollars to Lamoille County. Benefits will be increased tourism and lower fuel costs. Rail will run a regular schedule 6 days a week, 4 times a day. Would need one construction season to get the rail up and running.

Gordie stated that Sharon Burns would like to donate a bench in memory of George Wells to be placed by the Town Clerk's Office. Would like to start a joint landscape committee. Brad stated that people have approached him about placing the war monuments by the office. Gordie stated that the Village is purchasing a new propane generator, costs between $25,000.00 and 35,000.00. Will put in a slab. Building will be a command center in case of a disaster. Brad, Daryl and Blaine volunteered to be on the committee. George stated that the stones are creaking. This is something the committee could work on.

Barbara stated that the grant for Cubbs trailer park was awarded on March 30, 2000. Village will get a sewer line. Town will get land that will not be develop that is in the flood plain. State signed the contract today. Could have a closing on the property by next Wednesday. Board reviewed resolution to designate a public agency.

Rocky moved to appoint Lamoille County Planning Commission to undertake the following activities, program management and grant administration for the relocation of the mobile home park and the extension of the municipal sewer lines to the park, Brad seconded, so voted. Board signed resolution.

Barb stated that Ken Harvey is working with the engineers on the sewer line. Would like to put the line in this year. Trustee Board stated that need to met with Ken and his engineers to discuss this, may need to rebuild the pumping station on River Street.

David Barra explained the transfer of land. Need to get a State subdivision permit before Harvey can give the land to the Town. Harvey will own all the land and the Town will hold the first mortgage. Ken will get all the necessary permits and deed the land over to the Town and Village. Working on the documents now, should have a closing next week. Once the State places the money in the account have 10 days to spend it.

Barb stated that will need to go out to bid on a engineering firm unless Ken is going to pay for it. Also need a archeology assessment.

Brad moved that Eric sign the letter regarding David Barra conflict of interest, Rocky seconded, so voted.

Board reviewed letter from NECCO. Barb stated that they did not attend the walk though. No bidder did. Bids were not apple too apple, were asked to adjust bids. Have had experience with DEW. Did not sign a new contract, went though a change order process. Barb stated that project was bid properly and awarded properly. Blaine moved to not to pay bill from NECCO, Daryl seconded, so voted.

Craig Carpenter here regarding coaching for the baseball teams. Coached a team last year and wanted to do it again this year with a assistant. In the past if coach one year and wanted to coach the next year you could. That did not happen this year. Recreation committee is not following there bylaws. Meeting for the coaches was posted as a executive session not a special meeting. Grace stated that was her error. Nobody else showed up for the meeting so they did not go into executive session. Craig stated that the Town President for Little League was not involved in the process for picking coaches. Grace stated that for special meetings she posts the notice on the door, for regular meetings she posts on the bulletin board. Rick Aupperlee, Town President stated that historical the Town President was part of the recreation committee. The recreation committee picks the Town President.

Recreation committee stated that the county baseball association does not have tenure. The Little League Association says the Town president has jurisdiction. Recreation committee sent roosters to Rick and he reviewed them and sent them to Little League. Other towns do not have a recreation committee. Recreation committee cannot over ride the Little League rules.

Amy stated that had three or four meetings regarding baseball and Rick was absent. Committee acted in the best interest for the kids. There was no malice intended. Thought what they were doing was correct.

Lori stated that the picked the coaches based on the applications submitted. Cathy stated that Rick was notified of the meetings and was unable to attend. Rick was also notified of all the decisions that were made. Rick stated that he supports the decisions made by the recreation board.

Craig stated that the coaches pick are husband and ex husbands of the committee members. Board stated that they did not vote. Craig stated that they were involved in the discussions. Board stated that policies are not part of the bylaws. Policies are for the day to day operations. Coaching guidelines are the same as in 1993 only added the mission statement. Rick had the right to veto the vote. Rick stated that it is more fair to have a committee pick the coaches than one person. Lori stated that Craig could have participated as a assistant coach he choose not to.

Eric stated that the Selectboard is not going to pick coaches. If need to, rewrite the bylaws as to what is actually happening.

Board reviewed letter from Orost regarding boundary fence between them and Kilburn's. Blaine stated that Wescom's would like to buy some land from Earle Morse. There is a class 4 highway that is the boundary. If Wescoms brought the road up to class three standards fence would be in the road.

Bids on cemetery mowing Evergreen and Whiting Hill.

$1800.00 Pamela Byrne.

Blaine moved to accept Pamela Byrne bid, Brad seconded, so voted.

Rate of compensation tabled until next month.

Blaine moved to appoint Alfred Cepppetelli to the Lamoille Union High School Board, Brad seconded so voted.

Brad moved to accept proposal from Duferne Henry for testing at the landfill, Blaine seconded so voted.

Blaine gave the road Forman report. There was some damage done in the last heavy rainstorm to the bridge on Ben Ober road. Temporary fix with a few loads of gravel.

Blaine stated that he heard from a friend that attended a grader school which Rocky attended, that Rocky made negative comments about the road crew. Blaine stated that he is bothered with this kind of comments. Comments were rude and malicious. Rocky denied making any statements. Rocky stated that work is not being done that should be done, like the ditches are not being cleaned out. Blaine stated that don't have the budget to clean out every ditch each year. Rocky stated that the crew doesn't have any pride in the roads. Stones and just rolled around. Culverts are put in without permission of the landowners. Blaine stated that he has received compliments on how goods the roads are. Rocky stated that had complaints from Cummingham. Blaine stated that he and Willie discussed the culvert with Mr. Cumminghams. Town put two loads of gravel in this driveway. Daryl stated that the Board need to work together on making the roads better. Blaine stated that today the guys pick up trash that was very disgusting on Ober Hill. Blaine stated that he or Willie have not refused to talk to anybody regarding the roads. Rocky stated that there are no crowns on the roads. Blaine stated going to do 1 mile of ditching this year on Foote Brook road to Plot Road.

Blaine stated that there is still some money available though Project impact that didn't use last year. Michele has stated that could use the money this year on some projects.

Blaine moved to adjoined, Daryl seconded, so voted.

Meeting adjoined at 9:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by

Rosemary Audibert, Clerk