SELECTMEN'S MEETING
October 15, 2001
Members Present: Blaine Delisle, Eric Osgood, Brad Reed Daryl West, Selectmen; Dave Crossman, Rhonda Fitzgerald, Robert Philbrick, Katie Orost, Barbara Backus, Judith Cotnoir, Mark Woodward, Susan Bartlett, Rosemary Audibert, Clerk.
Eric called meeting to order.
Board viewed and signed orders.
Board reviewed last month meeting minutes. Brad moved to accept meeting minutes, Daryl seconded so voted.
Blaine gave the Road Foreman Report. Road crew has finished work for Project Impact today, will send in for reimbursement soon.
Eric asked about the project for the Wilson Road, fall is a good time of year to plant the trees. Blaine stated that don't know if can get this project done this year. There is more than just planting trees, need to do ditches maybe some blasting. Will have Willie talk to Dave at LCPC.
Blaine stated that the pick-up truck should be in about the 1st of November. Dump truck is in at Clark's, should be ready in about 12 weeks.
Blaine stated that would be going over the Cole bus turn around tomorrow.
Rhonda Fitzgerald here regarding a grant for $10,000.00 for Phase 2 for the Main Street Project. No matching money is required, money to be available in January 2002. Phase 2 includes:
Safe and logical connections between Johnson State College and Main Street.
Linkages from Main Street to recreation fields.
Existing and recommended sidewalks in areas other than Main Street especially near the Elementary School and existing residential neighborhoods.
Connections out to a potential future growth center west of Village.
Daryl moved to accept grant application, Brad seconded, so voted. Board signed application. Copy on file.
Barbara Backus and Judith Cotnoir presented the Board with a petition to have a stop sign installed on Railroad Street traveling east from the Johnson Town Garage at the intersection of Upper French Hill Road. The main reason is for safety. Now there is a lot of traffic for the ball fields, people walk to the park. Daryl stated that makes sense to him. Blaine stated that he is against it, because where was more truck traffic when the mill was opened and the ball fields are seasonal. Judy stated that there have been many near accidents there. Railroad Street is a class 2 road and French Hill is a Class 3. Board asked could you legally put a stop sign there? Does this need a traffic study? Barbara stated that near misses are close enough to an accident. Judy stated that many school busses travel that road. French Hill has a lot of traffic and they go fast. Barbara stated that when you come off the hill you cannot see. Blaine stated that can put up a sign, may not be enforceable if taken to court. Eric stated that should be legally done. Brad moved to accept petition and to look into this to see what can be done, Blaine seconded, so voted. Eric stated that since this is in the Village shouldn't this be a village ordinance. Eric to talk to the Village Trustees. Town doesn't have a stop sign ordinance. Eric explained the ordinance process.
Judy asked about getting French Hill graded more often, road is very bumpy, would like to see the hill part of the road paved.
Daryl stated that in the request for proposals for the Power House Covered Bridge states that the contractor is responsible for community involvement. Insurance companies are telling contractors not to bid for liability reasons. Board stated that community involvement would be after the contractor is done. Daryl stated that community would be able to something on each end of the bridge. Do not want to jeopardize the deadline date of November 5, 2001 for the bids. Blaine stated that need to push to get this done before the State decides to move the money. Daryl stated that would send contractors an amendment to the request for proposal.
Eric stated that the paving budget of about $30,000.00 has not increased in the past several years, should it increase? Blaine stated that $10,000.00 is a match for a paving grant. Spend between $50,000.00 to $55,000.00 on paving each year. $10,000.00 does about ½ mile. Still have one more layer to do on Maple Hill for next year. Would like to see some more paving done on the Wilson Road. State paid about two-thirds of the Plot Road project.
Blaine stated that for the bridge, culvert and road policy, each road needs to be listed. To need list all culverts and their size and bridges and any improvements that needs to be done in the future. Eric asked about the amount of time this will take. Blaine stated that he would check on one road to see now long it took.
Eric stated that he has been doing some work on a speed ordinance. Eric stated could do one fairly easy for unpaved roads. Paved roads require a traffic study to be done by an engineer for each road. Many of the roads are both paved and unpaved. Blaine stated that new radar equipment that the sheriff department has can count cars, would not be able to use until next summer. Eric stated that one option to look at is to ask the legislature to change the law to read that all class three roads are not required to have a traffic study. Blaine stated that there is no need to post the limit lower than what the traffic goes. Have tried to go 50 mph on Gould Hill and you can't.
Need to have two ordinances one for paved and one for unpaved. Brad moved to do an ordinance for all unpaved potions of all town roads at 35 mph, Daryl seconded, so voted. Eric to continue to work on the ordinance.
Senator Susan Bartlett stated that pilot money will be a struggle this year. Susan explained the State finances. In 2002 the Transportation Dept. will be in the whole by 5 million dollars and the general fund cannot bail them out. There will be no additional money coming from the Federal Government. State will be short by 1l million dollars in the future, need to raise additional revenues. Programs will have to take a cut. More will be passed on to the local governments.
Board reviewed correspondence.
Board set next monthly meeting for November 26, 2001.
Blaine stated that would like to pay P. Stephen Smith something extra for the work he has done when Willie was out sick. Daryl moved to pay P. Stephen Smith $250.00, Blaine seconded so voted.
Daryl moved to adjourn, Brad seconded, so voted.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by