Minutes - 12-19-22
Town of LeicesterSelectboard Meeting MinutesMonday, December 19, 2022*Unapproved*** See subsequent minutes for any changes Members Present: Diane Benware, Brad Lawes, John Rouse, Tom Barker Members Absent: Diane Randall Others Present: Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, Doug Perkins, Jeff Schuman, Robbie Devoid, Sandra Trombley Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair. Pledge of Allegiance: Review of Agenda: Approval of December 5, 2022 Minutes: Motion by Tom and second by Brad. to approve minutes of December 5, 2022 as written. All in favor. So, approved. Review/Authorization to Pay Bills: Motion by John and second by Tom authorizing Julie to pay the bills. All in favor. So, approved. Reports from Town Officials, Committees: Road Foreman: Arlan reported that he got a load of salt today and will be getting another one tomorrow. He stated that the tailgate sander was on his truck. The other sander is not on Scott’s yet. Arlan stated that they really need to do something with the salt shed. Tom stated the Board has been thinking about it already. Arlan stated that he was hoping to help get his young helper a CDL. Brad explained the information he heard about new information for getting a CDL. Brad will follow up on the opportunity. Arlan reported that with the weather changing, it may cause some water runoff on Bullock and Cram Rd. Arlan reported there was trouble with recycling during the last snow storm. Residents were blocking the trucks. Tom stated he would speak to them about the recycling. Town Clerk/Treasurer: Julie reported there is an access permit for Brad and Arlan’s signature for a driveway for a house that the DRB approved at Redgate on Lake Dunmore Road. Julie provided a very preliminary budget spreadsheet. She did not adjust any budget numbers in the 2023 column. She will have a less preliminary one for the next meeting in January. Julie reported that there is going to be a petition going around town to not have Leicester pay for adulticide. Julie hasn’t received the petition yet, but she heard it was coming. Julie reported that the State repealed the law that requires them to keep highway funds separate from the general fund. They now have the option to consolidate the budgets into one. Julie has no problem keeping them separate, but it is no longer required by law. Motion by Brad and second by John authorizing Julie to pay out remaining 2022 bills to include VLCT January 1, 2023 insurance bill. All in favor. So, approved. Julie provided FY22 VTrans Grants & Aid for Diane’s signature for the work Arlan completed on Hooker Road. Diane signed the FY22 Grants & Aid document. Weight Permits: None CORRESPONDENCE: Diane read an email from Kristian Connolly, talking about the use of Front Porch Forum and her concerns about being a Burlington base, for profit forum. She wanted to alert the Board on their business practices. Diane read an email from the Forest Service, letting us know that there is a Green Mountain Adventure Racing Event anticipated to be held September 15-16. They are seeking comments by January 8th for the permitting process. OLD BUSINESS: BFPL Request for ARPA Funds: Julie clarified with Katie Buckley at VLCT that ARPA Funds can be used to pay their annual payroll. The only reporting requirement is for payroll. The payroll funds are freed up for the town to use as it sees fit. Motion by John and second by Brad to authorize expenditure of ARPA Funds to cover 2022 payroll expenses. A General Fund allocation of an equal amount shall be transferred to a Municipal Expense Fund. 3 yes 1 abstention. So, approved. NEW BUSINESS: D. Perkins/J. Schuman: OCW Report Assessment: Doug Perkins reported on the elected officers for next year. He briefed the Board on what transpired this past year. This last mosquito season was well above average for us based on the number of mosquitos they trapped. Because of the drought, most of the northeast experienced a much lower number of mosquitos. They carried out pretty much the same program as they did the previous year. People seemed to be pleased with the process and how well under control the adult process was. They did see a lot of woodland breeders. The predominate species were the stagnant water breeders. Every five years the pesticide general permit for the State of Vermont gets renewed. 2022 was a renewal year. They had to submit a lot of paperwork to the State. They were issued a pesticide permit in October and it is good for five years. Nobody commented on their submission. They received the 2020 Census Data. They decided they needed a new algorithm for FY25. Due to inflation, each of the member towns are going up 3% this year. $25,315 for FY23. Doug reported that there was discussion about the tick problem at the Northeast Mosquito Control Association Conference earlier this month. A large part of the discussion at the conference was the tick problem which is becoming a human health issue throughout the Northeast. CDC thinks that the mosquito control districts are the logical organization to get involved if the states are going to get involved with tick control. There is a lot of surveillance and research going on. Just giving the Board a heads up. Brad doesn’t see the OCW getting involved with this. This is more a private treatment. Ticks and mosquitos are two different things. Diane reminded Doug of a report needed for the Town Report. The Board will have to wait to see the petition and how the petition will be worded to see how to put it in the budget to be warned. Board thanked Doug and Jeff for coming. Animal Control Officer: Robbie Devoid came and mentioned a call he got about two dogs in Leicester. He researched and the dogs were determined to be unregistered and he called upon the Leicester dog owner. He told her they would meet after the holiday. There was clarification about how correspondence and emails will be handled. Executive Session: Motion by John and second by Brad to go into Executive Session to discuss possible legal matter, personnel and confidential CDL Records exempt per 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(6) at 8:22 p.m. All in favor. So, approved. Motion by John and second by Tom to come out of Executive Session at 8:36 p.m. with no action taken. All in favor. So, approved. Motion by Tom to adjourn at 8:36 p.m. Next meeting: Monday, January 2, 2023 Respectfully submitted, Sandra L. Trombley, Secretary