Members present: Eric Osgood, Franklin Hooper, Blaine Delisle, Brad Reed, Howard Romero, Selectmen; Duncan Hastings, Administrator; P. Stephen Smith, Road Foreman; Larry Rogers, Chris Perkins, William Jewett, Nancy Jewett, Gordon Davis, Mike Davis, James Davis, Beth Davis, Gordon Smith, Sandy Lockerby, Walter Pomroy, Glenn Callahan, Rosemary Audibert, Clerk.
Eric called meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Board viewed and signed orders.
Board reviewed meeting minutes from April 15, 2002. Brad moved to accept meeting minutes, Howard seconded, so voted.
Eric congratulated Steve Smith as the new Road Forman.
Steve stated that the road crew is working on getting the roads graded. Crew attended a mine class in Hyde Park. Blaine is looking into a CPR class for all employees. Larry is to go to a screen safety class this week. Crew has been cleaning bridges to get off the winter sand. Have replaced the broken boards on the Scribner Bridge. Have order a new culvert for the Nelsen Dubu field. A Cassella Truck broke though the culvert. Did put up road closed signs and people ignored them. Should have a pedestrian only sign. Would like the new town truck to have a side dump. Difference in price is $3,500.00. Body doesn t leave the ground, truck is more stable, less chance to tip over. Don t have to worry about hitting the wires. Material goes behind the front wheels. Road crew is now a full crew with the hiring of Chris Perkins. Will be starting the sand pile, finishing grading so that can up down chloride in the next few weeks.
Eric stated that he is concerned about people ignoring the road closed signs. Should there be a blockage there? Brad stated that could put up some guardrails. Who is responsibility if someone drives on a road that is in bad condition?
Rocky asked who put up the blockage on the Bear Brook turn off. Willie stated that Manchester owns that property.
Steve stated that the Waterman Bridge has some 8 X12 beams that are rotten, should be replace within the next year. Steve to get prices.
Eric stated that the Board has signed proclamations for former town employees, William Jewett for 20 years of service and Gordon Davis for 30+ years of service for the highway dept., 33 years in the Fire Department and 15 years as Fire Warden. Howard moved that Saturday, May 25, 2002 as William Jewett Day. Brad seconded, so voted. Rocky moved that Sunday, May 26, 2002 as Gordon Davis Day. Eric congratulated William and Gordon and they received a round of applause.
Sandy Lockerby here regarding the VLCT insurance. Duncan stated that a formal request for bids went out to several insurance agencies. Bids are due May 31, 2002. Town has been with Stowe Insurance for 5 or 6 years. Legion Insurance is in rehabilitation and if they are declared insolvent the State will only guarantee up to $300,000.00. Claims will not be paid until after July 2002. The League offers a self-insurance pool for municipalities which provides a financially sound and beneficial alternative to the standard insurance market. The League approach is risk management and insurance saves members money while providing broad coverage. Over $7.2 million has been returned to members to date and anticipate future returns. The League has a surplus of over $8 million for bad years. At the present time have 265 members. Will not have to pay extra for the drug and alcohol fees for CDL licenses is included in the insurance. Have included insurance coverage for coverage bridges of $200,000.00 for a premium of $714.00 each. Sandy went though coverage limits and with Board and compared them to what the Town has now. Last year returned $452,000.00 to municipalities. If the town has few claims they may receive money back, which takes a few years. Will work with the municipalities to fight furious lawsuits if the municipality agrees. Insurance term is from January 1 to December 31 of each year. This year the premium will be prorated. Sandy gave the board the bid package.
Blaine explained that would like to pave the last Village Street that is not paved, which is Crab Tree Lane. To place the topcoats on Plot Road and Maple Hill. Will be a long time into the future that any dirt roads will be paved. Rocky asked about cost. Blaine stated that don t know yet if have enough money to pave Crab Tree Lane, need to do Plot Road and Maple Hill first. Need to meet with Pike to get a price. Duncan stated that the price might be around $40.00 a ton. Duncan to get estimates and to work with Blaine and Steve on this.
Village Trustees authorized Chris to sign Inter Municipal Agreement between the Town and Village. Town and Village attorneys have made some minor changes.
Review of the Life and Disability Insurance is not ready. League is putting together a package.
Sewer line extension for Harvey Mobile Home Park boring contractor was blowing water into a stream for a muddy discharge and the State put a stop to that. Had to get a discharge permit from the State. Contractor has had all kinds of problems; thought may need to have had a bigger rig. They wanted more money. There will not be an increase in price, driller went the other direction.
Liquor licenses Board can vote not to issue licenses. The standard for not approving a license appears to be pretty broad and it can include concerns about moral character and fear of sales to minors. Board can request loss of sales instead of fines. Board does receive notice of violations. C.H. Stearns has received 3 violations in the last ten years. Blaine stated that some of the violations may be been done by the State and local police departments that goes though the State s Attorney Office and not though Liquor Control Board. Blaine stated that he would check the court system.
Written decision of dog attack hearing. Rocky stated that he did not see any dead chickens only saw chickens with tail feathers pull out. Duncan to strike out that sentence. Howard moved to approve amended written dog decision regarding the Purich/Burton dog. Brad seconded, so voted.
Justin King - $1600.00 for the Whiting Hill and Evergreen Cemeteries and $800.00 for the Town Office Building for a Total of $2400.00. Includes spring and fall clean up.
Bowes Moving Total of $1800.00 for mowing additional work for $15.00 per hour.
Land Trust Property Maintenance Total of $2750.00
All bidders enclosed proof of insurance. Brad moved to accept bid from Justin King in the amount of $2400.00, Blaine seconded.
Brad stated that the work done on the cemetery stones is guaranteed for 10 years
Blaine stated that need to upgrade the first aid kits and to place signs at the pit. Pit is now classified as a mine. Would like to hold CPR and basic first aid classes for all employees. Duncan stated that Lydonville received a visit from VOSHA. League insurance will send out a loss control people to do a review for safety requirements.
Brad stated that ambulance meeting is on May 21, 2002 at the Town offices.
Letter from Robert Schulz regarding the ability of Selectboard to enforce against junkyards. Letter refers to two places one on Route 15 and the corner of Foote Brooke Road and the Plot Road. Eric stated that he has received several calls regarding the place on Route 15 and have referred them to Rocky. Rocky stated that junkyards refer to auto, iron etc. Bikes are not a health hazard only looks bad. Have spoken to the tenants to clean up the yard. Have taken pictures on two separate occasions, the last time was on Saturday. The superior courts issues the fines the board can make recommendations to the courts.
Rocky stated that the health officer needs to follow rules and regulations like the sewer ordinance and needs the backing of the Board to enforce the ordinances. Garbage that animals could carry off would be a health hazard. Would have to go to superior court to get an injunction to enforce the order. Brad stated that should write letter advising them that if the junk is not clean up the Town will issue a health order. Duncan to write letter and Eric to sign letter.
Howard stated that he drove on Foote Brook Road and the only place he could see had a couple of unregistered cars. Rocky stated that to be a junkyard needs to have three unregistered cars.
Brad moved to approve the Training Manual for Mine Safety. Howard seconded. So voted. Steve has reviewed ordinance.
Buttolph has made a revised application to Act 250. They are proposing moving the town highway out of the floodplain at there cost they have an easement from Tatro. They will have to go though the formal process for the town to accept the road need to follow the statutes, to have a public hearing a survey and deed easements recorded. They would like support for the concept of moving the road. Board oks the concept of moving the road.
Buttolph would like no parking signs put up on Lendway Lane by the recreation fields. People are parking in the road. Blaine stated that people could park where the sand pile was. Rocky stated Daryl West stated that the fire department had no problem getting a fire truck down the road when cars are parked there. Duncan to write letter. Duncan stated that he would do a cost benefit analysis on the 12 lot subdivision looking at what will be the impact on the road. Where will the bus turn around be? Presently at Lendways.
Board reviewed Local Speed Limit for State Highways. Cannot change speed limits. Ordinance would be for Route 15 and 100C. Only tickets issued by the Sheriff Dept. will be reimburse to the town. State charges a $23.50 processing fee and the balance will be turned over to the town. Brad moved to accept the Local Speed Limit for State Highway. Howard seconded, so voted. Blaine abstained.
Agreement for Fire Services from the Village for the main source of fire protection. Added a hold harmless clause. Town and Village will be additional insurers on insurance policies. Contract has an annual renewal. Brad moved to accept agreement for fire services and to allow Eric to sign, Blaine seconded, so voted.
Howard moved to approve liquor licenses for Plum & Main, GU Markets, Long Trail Tavern, Brad seconded, so voted.
Two State requisitions forms from the Agency of Transportation for the Power House Bridge. Each one is in the amount of $41,956.50, which is that state share (90%). Brad moved to approve. Blaine seconded, so voted. Blow and Cote is doing a great job.
Noise ordinance waiver for June 29, celebration. Entertainment will be on School Street and on Main Street near Ryan Books from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Howard approve noise ordinance waiver for the time that they requested for. Brad seconded, so voted. Blaine abstained.
Barbara Farr contract with LCPC for administration of Harvey s project expired April 30, 2002 asking for formal extension, no additional money. Howard moved to approve the extension of Barbara Farr contract, so voted. Eric sign contract.
Board would like to send a thank you to Concept II and to the Town of Hyde Park for the mine training course.
LCPC board appointment. One appoint from the Town and one from the Village. Bruce Butler for the Town, Douglas Molde for the Village. Brad moved to appoint Bruce Butler as the town LCPC Board appointment. Blaine seconded, so voted.
On the draft sewer allocation ordinance attorneys have made some minor changes. Added 25,000 gallons or such amount amended by agreement. Town sewer service area moved to include Levie Gray to the center of Bell Brook and the Bouchard property line. Article 3 section B to be removed, recommended by both attorneys. Howard moved to adopt the Town Sewer Allocation Ordinance as amended tonight. Brad seconded so voted. Notice will be placed in newspaper. Board to sign clean copy after Duncan has made changes.
Gordie Smith worked on the Emergency response plan, which needs to be updated every year. Brad moved to approve plan and for the chairman to sign. Blaine seconded so voted.
Brad moved to close School Street on June 29, 2002 from Pearl Street to College Road and from Co-op to the bridge from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Howard seconded, so voted. Parking will be at the Co-op, will be able to leave by going up College Road. To send notices to residents and a notice in the paper.
Blaine moved to going into executive session for personal issues at 10:10 p.m. Howard seconded, so voted. Board came out of executive session at 10:15.
Howard stated that Mike Patch is working with forester on the Gomo Lot, should have a report soon.
Insurance coverage for the Bridge opening Celebration, the Town is on the hook for liability for portion of the day (such as at the bridge and for the skate board display. Duncan is getting information from Lamoille Valley Insurance for a one day policy that may have to be purchased. Other option is to have the new policy go into effect on June and we would be covered. If had coverage through VLCT, this would not be necessary.
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by