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Meeting Minutes - 4.02.18

Town of Leicester
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 2, 2018
*Unapproved*
** See subsequent minutes for any changes
 
Members Present:  Diane Benware, Tom Barker, Ron Fiske, John Rouse, Brad Lawes
 
Others Present:  Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, Sandra Trombley, Secretary                                                          
 
Call to Order:  Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair. 
 
Pledge of Allegiance:
 
Review of Agenda:  
 
Correspondence: added letter of interest for Town Health Officer position and Representative for BLSG.  
New Business: Addison County Solid Waste appointment.
 
Approval of March 19, 2018 minutes:
 
Motion by John and second by Tom to approve minutes of March 19, 2018 as written.  3 in favor.  1 abstention by Brad.  So, approved.
 
Review/Authorization to Pay Bills:
 
Motion by Tom and second by Brad authorizing Julie to pay bills.  All in favor.  So, approved.
 
Reports from Town Officials, Committees:
 
Road Foreman:
 
Arlan provided information on Viking snow plow. Price is $6,825.
 
Arlan said Scott’s plow is 28-years old and his is around 23-24 years old.  Arlan would like to try the wider plow first before purchasing another.
 
There was some grading done.
 
Motion by Tom and second by Brad to purchase Viking plow for $6,825.  All in favor.  So, approved.
 
 Town Clerk/Treasurer:
 
Julie sent an email to Ed at Nemric about the woman that had come to the Town Office.  Ed responded that he does not foresee her coming here in the future.  
 
Julie and Ed talked about the reappraisal.  Ed will do a formal quote and Leicester is on the books for 2020.  Julie said they need to get something formalized and signed before they get their COD.
 
Julie reported that on Saturday they lost power at the Town Office and when the power came back on, it surged and blew up her battery backup for the server.  They are not cheap to replace.  The quote is $716.50 to replace.
 
Julie will check with insurance to see if it might be covered.
 
There was discussion what line item in the budget to take the server from.  It can come out of Clerk treasurer training expense for now.
 
Motion by Tom and second by Ron to authorize the purchase of a battery backup for the server for $716.50. All in favor.  So, approved.
 
Julie reported the last day for dog registration was yesterday, but held it open and still taking dog registrations today.  There are still about 80 unregistered dogs.  That is a lot of dogs.
 
There was discussion of other options of collecting dog registrations.  
 
Julie will send out delinquent notices.
 
Julie brought up the FEMA project and how it is getting out of control.  Arlan now has to go measure the length, width and depth of every place he fixed; including the culvert repair, so we can figure out if he used the right amount of yardage of stone.  She explained the complexity of the information.  It was all set to get paid and then they needed this and that and they have not been paid.
 
The State has new legislation they are trying to push through for recording fees; which is part of a clerk’s pay.
It is a clean per page fee right now.  They want to change this and charge $25 for the first page, $8 for each additional page per each different recording.  $10 of the first page has to go to a restoration fund and if it’s a Mylar, it’s $15 and $5 going to the fund.  If it’s a town permit, it’s $25 and nothing goes to the fund. And on and on.
 
Julie wrote our three Representatives giving them examples of how much extra work and time this change will cause.  Leicester budgets for a restoration fund and small towns shouldn’t be penalized for town’s that don’t  budget for a restoration fund.  Julie will lose money out of her fees and add time to her day and the liability this will put onto town clerks.
 
Julie also mentioned that the State wants to change tax bills and split municipal from education.  Twice the work.  Be prepared that it is going to change the budget.  It is so much more work.
 
Weight Permits:
 
The following weight permits were approved and signed by Brad.
 
  •       Canopy Timber Alternatives
  •       Fabian Earth Moving Inc.
  •       Delphia Excavating
  •       Tim Thompson Trucking LLC
  •       Champlain Construction Co/Bear Dog Enterprises
  •       K. A. Bagley, Inc.
  •       Orwell Sand & Gravel Inc.
  •       Camp Precast Concrete Products Inc.
  •       Livingston Farm Landscape Products
  •       Brown’s Certified Welding Inc.
 
Cemetery Committee:
 
Health Officer:
 
CORRESPONDENCE:
 
Letter of Interest:
 
Chree Perkins shared an interest in the Town Health Officer position to the Chair at Town Meeting and approached Brad about wanting to serve on BLSG.  
 
Motion by Tom and second by Ron that Chree Perkins; as well as, any other interested party, send a letter of interest to the Selectboard for the position of Town Health Officer and/or Representative to BLSG.  All in favor. So, approved.
 
Diane reviewed other correspondence about Emergency Management, Cemetery Association, and trainings. 
 
NEW BUSINESS:
 
Liquor License:
 
VT Liquor Control License for Champlain Beverage LLC was signed by the Chair.
 
Leicester Emergency Operation Plan (LEOP):
 
Paperwork was received from Tim Boutin for updates. 
 
Information for Emergency Management Coordinator, John Rouse, has been added.
 
All Selectboard members are encouraged to take the ICS 402 training, April 26that 5:30 p.m. at Regional Planning.
 
Diane will stop in and review the Plan with Julie and make sure everything is there for Board’s next meeting.
 
Board will adopt the LEOP at the next meeting, April 16, 2018.
 
Appointment of Representative to Addison County Solid Waste District:
 
Motion by Tom and second by Brad to appoint Richard Reed as Leicester’s Representative to Addison County Solid Waste District.  All in favor. So, approved.
 
Municipal Road General Permit fees will be due July 1st.  It is based on population now.
 
OLD BUSINESS:
 
Railroad Crossing Agreement:
 
Julie provided copies of the new agreement and sign inventory to the Board.  
 
Julie had previously sent an email stating that the Board would not sign unless there was $0 financial responsibility for the Town. They sent it back saying they had made the following changes.  Julie reviewed the new agreement with the Board.  
 
Motion by Tom and second by Brad to table the signing of this contract as written.  All in favor.  So, approved.
 
Julie will send another email to the State stating the agreement is still not acceptable and Leicester wants no cost or liability for the Town.
 
BUILDING NEEDS:
 
HIGHWAY CONCERNS/NEEDS:
 
Town Shed:
 
LIMITED PUBLIC OPINION:  
 
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
 
Motion by John and second by Tom to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.  
 
Next Meeting: Monday, April 16, 2018
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
 
Sandra L. Trombley
Selectboard Secretary