SELECTMEN’S MEETING

November 27, 2000

Members Present: Eric Osgood, Blaine Delisle, Franklin Hooper, Brad Reed, Daryl West, Selectman; Jeff Tucker, Dubois & King, Dean Walker, Jon Gregg, Mark Woodward, George Pearlman, Louise Von Wiese, Charles & Dorothy Malone Rising, David Ring, Edward Buttolph, Tad Powers, Jan Gearhart, Joe Salerno, Kim Dunkley, Casey Romero, Howard Romero, Doug Molde, Charles Zieger, Rebecca Fairhart, Peter Moyhian, Scott Meyer, Susan Bartlett, Brad Worthington, Emerson Garfield, Sandy Woodbeck, Adam Howard, Rosemary Audibert, Clerk.

Eric called meeting to order.

Board viewed and signed orders.

Blaine moved to accept last month meeting minutes dated October 16, 2000, Brad seconded so voted.

Eric stated that the Town has received an amendment from the Agency of Transportation regarding the Pearl Street Bridge. In the beginning the Towns share of the project was 5% and the total cost was about 1 million dollars. The town went to the voters at Town meeting and asked the voters to approve the $50,00.00 expenditure, which they did. Now the State estimate for the project is $1,440,600.00 and a Town share of $144,060.00, three times more than the first estimate. Will need to ask the voters for another $95,000.00. Jeff Tucker stated that now the bridge project includes replacing a abutment which added cost. Blaine stated that the program that the bridge was first in a rehabilitation program, replacing the deck, with Sonia Peters. Now the bridge is under a different program which is why it went to a 10% share. Jeff stated that he was not aware that the percentage went up. At the meeting back in November of 1999, he asked the State about the percentage and they stated that it would remain the same. Keeping one abutment and the center pier only replacing the abutment on the back side of the bridge to straighten out the curve. Jon Gregg stated that could keep the bridge where it is and save $90,00.00, to keep the traffic at a safer speed for the pedestrians. Dean Walker stated that adding a temporary bridge put the bridge in the 10% share. Eric stated that he will not sign the bridge amendment until there is clarification on the Town’s share of the project. Jeff stated that construction will probably not start until 2003. Preliminary plans should be done in the spring of 2001, and than will start working on the final design and the last step is construction plans. Would like to have a working meeting in December 2000, with the Selectmen, Trustees and the landowners to discuss the project. Working on a concept for the temporary bridge, down stream from the present bridge, hugs the back parking lot at VSC, looking at ways with the least effect on VSC parking. Will need to have all right of ways before can start final design. Now about 2/3 complete with the preliminary design. Temporary bridge will have two ten foot lanes and a sidewalk. Joe asked why only one sidewalk. Jeff stated that need to stay within the existing abutments of the bridge, making the bridge wider by about 6 feet. Adding a seconded sidewalk would cause some concerns when a vehicle looses control when coming down Clay Hill, the vehicles would slide to the left and hit the sidewalk. Joe stated that do need a sidewalk there. Eric that the Board has decided against a sidewalk because of the additional costs, safety concerns and environmental concerns with the river. There is no sidewalk on the there side of bridge for anyone to go. Daryl stated that he would like to see a estimate on a second sidewalk. Howard stated that the art students make about 300 trips a day to across the road to get to the sidewalk. Casey stated that the field trips with the school kids is a nightmare when they across the bridge, need to have a creative solution to the problem. Blaine stated that the new bridge will be straighter and should be safer. Casey stated that need to enhance the traffic for pedestrians during non school hours. George stated that the State will not allow a second sidewalk on the outside of the bridge. Jon stated that there will be no expenses for right of ways.

Eric stated that Rocky, Daryl and himself worked on the noise ordinance, the Town attorney made a few minor changes to the ordinance. Brad moved to adopt the noise ordinance, Daryl seconded, so voted. Charles Zeiger asked now will it be enforced. Eric stated that is addressed in section 3, noise needs to be plainly audible. There will be no decimal meters.

Edward Buttolph introduced his attorney Tad Powers. Tad stated that they feel Town Highway is still a public road. The present road has a problem with flooding. They would like to see action taken to improve the road that goes though Kullman gravel pit. Doug Molde stated that Route 15 is not a good though way in the Village, needs a alternative to bypass the Village. Tad stated that to go though the act 250 process the project needs to have access from both ends of the road. Would like to have an agreement with the Town to upgrade the road, cost sharing proposal with the Town or Ed to pay and when are is new construction owners could pay a impact fee. Would like to set up a working meeting to discuss this. Blaine stated that he would like to see the road brought up to class 3 requirements, the current policy is that a developer incurs the cost to upgrade a road. Would like to see the State give up the right of way for the railroad to the Town so that a bypass could be put in. Rocky stated that the State will never do that. Tad stated that the road was laid out in 1827. Blaine stated that he doesn’t have a problem with them taking the responsibility for the road not the town. Ed stated that Lendways use the road as a class three road. Board stated that they don’t have a problem with that, that portion of the road has been used to many years. Tad stated that you can see were the old road was, there may be some question as to were the center of the road is. Blaine stated that this would open the Town up to a law suit as they have no proof that part of the road was ever a Town highway. Eric stated that according to any maps that he has seen the road doesn’t go past Lendways, and there is no certificate of completion. Tad stated that the legislature passed a law, because a certificate of completion wasn’t filed that doesn’t mean the road has been abandoned. Eric stated how do we know that the road has not been thrown up. There needs to be a search of the records. Eric stated that he doesn’t recognize the road past Lendways because it is not on any maps. Blaine stated that should talk to the landowners that are effected. Tad stated that there are only two Kullman’s and Lendway’s and Lendway's will never give there blessing to the project. Kullman would like to see the road moved slightly. Rocky moved that the Town attorney discuss this matter with attorney Tad Powers. Ed stated that he would like to research this more, road was surveyed in 1827 and twenty years later the railroad was built. Would like to see what the railroad charter says.

Dorothy Malone Rising stated that they are moving the Health Clinic to the former Walt Shattuck house which they purchased. Would like to open on December 5, 2000. Renovating the first floor now and removal of the barn. Have a couple of different visions that they would like to do with the property. First adding a addition to the existing building or building a new building. Now this is private funding. Have about 10 patients per day. Dorothy is a nurse practitioner, there is no physician there. Would like to hire a second nurse practitioner. Looking into the possibility of a massage therapist. Eric stated that he would like to see the Town look into a municipal medical facility like the one in Cambridge. Dr. Rogers can not expand where he is now. Working with LPCP who is going to see if there is any grant money available, in the very beginning stages.

Sandy Woodbeck from VAST here regarding the Lamoille Valley Recreation Trail. Trail starts in St. Johnsbury and goes though 17 towns for a total of 96 miles. This would be a four season trail. Trail would be a safe location, would be handicap accessible, citizens would not have to fight with trucks and cars to go for a walk. Trail would have economical advantages to the towns like for lodging, quick stops, etc. Do have photos that show there are some washouts that needs to be fix. RFP are due in December and a decision should be made in March or April of next year. State will select a new leasee. Line would connect many recreation tails and vast trails together. Blaine asked about moving the trail that is on Town property. Sandy stated that a leasee can not make those decision only the State can. There has been an assessment done to look at three possibilities Rail, Trail and doing both. First assessment for doing a trail was 61 million placing 18 inches of gravel over the existing tracks 16 feet wide for 96 miles. Assessment came down to 11 million with removal of the tracks and gravel. Sandy thinks the trail can be done for less than that. Doing both was discourage as there is only 5.5 miles where both could be done, costs would be 4 to 6 times as much. Kim Dunkley stated that would like to see a connection with the Village and the College would like to see a committee to look into this. Sandy stated that all users could use the trail except for AVT’s because of the federal money they are concerned about speed. The Lamoille Valley Recreation Trail is a multi use committee, VAST is the chairman, looking for four more people to serve on the committee. Time line is about 5 years to complete. Will start in the more populated areas, and than will fill in the gaps. Looking for a letter of support. Costs between $200,000.00 and $300,000.00 to get rid of the ties. $5 to $6 a piece to get rid of, many are not in good condition. Brad Worthington from the Vt. Rail Link stated that the railroad has not been properly utilized in the last 10 years. The State did not force the lease to keep up the tracks. There has been no maintenance for the last 20 years. There has been no alternative to increase the road infrastructure for the next 20 years. Traffic has doubled or tripled in last 25 years. State is only putting on a bandaid on the problem. Have commitments of 15,000 loads per year, 5 million dollars in revenue. Changing the rail to a trail would have to go though act 250 and that could take a lot on money. Sandy stated that was under review. Doug stated that a rail would only benefit businesses but a trail would benefit the whole community. Putting money into the rail system would be using good money after bad. Vt. Rail Link would like to make a presentation at a future Selectboard meeting.

Casey stated that would like ideas from the selectboard for the park. Have narrowed down the idea to a park and a bridge crossing over to the ball fields. Committee needs to be sponsored by a group. Eric stated that he is concerned about after the park is complete who is going to police the park. Casey stated that there are many steps left to do. First step is to survey the community to see what they want. Would like to see the College students getting involved in programs. Kids need to be informed and involved in the project. Task force is to report to the selectboad, Casey is the Chair for the river park. Daryl West volunteered to be on the committee.

Board read letter from Jim McDowell regarding a planning commission appointment. Brad moved to accept Jim McDowell to the Johnson Planning Commission, Blaine seconded, so voted.

Blaine stated the Town should look into replacing the two small trucks next year instead of a big truck. They are making the bigger trucks better now, so should be able to keep the trucks a couple of more years. This still should keep us in schedule for the future equipment purchases, would only push back one year. Getting more years out of the equipment now, have good equipment maintenance. Have had some maintenance problems with the smaller truck. The truck that was given to the Town has had quite a few problems with it. Blaine stated that he would get prices for the next meeting. Rocky stated that the Board needs to go though the maintenance records of all the equipment.

Peter Moynihan thanked the Board for passing the noise ordinance.

Brad moved Christmas bonus the same as last year, Blaine seconded, so voted.

Eric stated that there is a patrol budget meeting on December 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Hyde Park Town Offices. The County meeting is on December 6, 2000 at 7:00 at the Court House with a final meeting on January 3, 2001.

Eric stated that have received a ATV complaint on Ober Hill. Eric stated that he went up and saw no visible tracks.

Brad moved that the Town pay for 1/2 of the cost for a chair rack for the folding chairs, Rocky seconded, so voted.

Daryl stated that he spoke to Sawyer Construction regarding the handicap ramp at the former talc mill building, lowered price down to $2975.00. Town to supply a couple truck fills of gravel to raise the grade. Brad moved to pay 1/2 half of handicap ramp, Brad seconded so voted.

Brad moved to appoint Gail Longley to the Green Up Committee. Rocky seconded, so voted.

Broad reviewed correspondence.

Brad moved to adjourn, Rocky seconded, so voted.

Meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by