Minutes 05-19-2025
Town of Leicester
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 19, 2025
*Unapproved*
** See subsequent minutes for any changes
Members Present: Diane Benware, Diane Randall, Brad Lawes, Tom Barker, John Rouse
Others Present: Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, Robbie Devoid
Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Review of Agenda: add roadside mowing, cleaning exterior of Town Office.
Approval of May 5, 2025, minutes:
Motion by Tom and second by John to approve minutes of May 5, 2025. All in favor. So, approved.
Diane and Julie to work out plan as to who will forward minutes,
Review/Authorization to Pay Bills:
Motion by Tom and second by Diane B. authorizing Julie to pay the bills. John abstained. Motion approved. Question was raised why the Sheriff’s hours were limited to about 15 hours this month. After the meeting Julie was told that several officers were tied up in court, one officer has departed and two new candidates will be coming on board. The regular 25 hours should resume in June.
Reports from Town Officials, Committees:
Road Foreman:
Arlan reported ditching on Ferson and Delorm Road. Julie and Arlan to check location of the next segment to be done with Grants in Aid funds. Tom graded Old Jerusalem Road and Dewey Road.
Discussion about where to pave this year with our funds. We did not receive a grant from the state paving fund.
Animal Control Officer:
Rob reported very quiet at the moment. Julie forwards court dockets so he can be aware of any pending court dates. He will check on animals at a Jenna Lane location.
Town Clerk/Treasurer:
Julie reported the Sheriff Dept has repeatedly been trying to give notice to Ms Simpson in Vergennes regarding property on Partridge Trail. She does not accept phone calls and has been unavailable. Julie will send a Notice of Violation by certified mail and in 30 days tickets will be begin to be issued.
Julie reported two abatements appeals are ready and another appeal with a request to be heard ASAP have been presented. At the moment, there will be an Abatement hearing for the latter appeal on June 9, with another scheduled for June 30th.
Lesley Bienvenue has requested use of the town-owned sandwich board used for town business and Bingo, to be used to promote an event for the Addison County GOP on May 24th. She has rented the white building for this purpose. After discussion, it was the consensus of the board that this could be interpreted as a political sign, (our position has been to not allow political signs on the green near the historic buildings) and that allowing use of the sign in this situation would pave the way for others to request its use, which is not the intent of the board.
Julie will email Lesley and decline the request and remind her that if a sign is to be put up, it needs to be located other than on the town green.
Grant Updates:
We did not receive a paving grant.
We did receive funds for the Milfoil Grant: $15,00 for the Greeter Program and approximately $20,000 to be forwarded to Lake Dunmore Fern Lake Association.
We have received the first bill for the work for the MERP Grant. Julie has received information regarding the payment process.
The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) has been tentatively approved. The final two issues requiring clarification regarded any necessary road work for 2023 flooding and whether dry bridges were still considered necessary to mitigate Otter Creek flooding. Since this meeting, we have received word that the plan has been approved and may be formally adopted at the next Selectboard meeting, which will allow us to apply for any needed funding in the future. The question about what to do about two spots along Old Jerusalem Road that may require bank stabilization was discussed. Chair will contact Mike at ACRPC for guidance.
Municipal Planning Grant: We did not receive a grant; ACRPC will work with us to the maximum extent possible with their man-power and time to help us update the plan on our own. Funds have been secured by ACRPC to cover the Energy portion of the current plan. In addition, they will take the lead on the portions dealing with economic development, forest block preservation and flood resiliency. Rebecca Elder, ACRPC, has been delivering updated Future Land Use maps for review by the Planning Commission. Draft Two is quite different than Draft One; the commission will need to decide their preference. The next Planning Commission meeting is June 24th at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office. Meanwhile, residents and commission members are encouraged to view the map on display and leave feedback.
Grants in Aid: We need to check to see what road segments remain to be done to bring our roads into compliance. We are very close to 100 percent compliance.
Weight Permits: No weight permits.
CORRESPONDENCE:
New USDA Rural Development Director for NH/VT Patrick Suprunowicz
ACEDC newsletter
Agency of Commerce and Development newsletter
Bike and Ped Grants 2025
OLD BUSINESS:
Chair spoke with Laurie at Dundon’s to confirm the monthly price of a unit at $135.00, plus $10.00 delivery fee.
Dundon’s will deliver to Fern Lake Access will deliver May 23, actually delivered May 20. Arlan and Scott approved the site and plan to bring several rocks in to prevent it being tipped over. John will install a camera and Julie will create a sign indicating that if the area is mis-used the porta potty will be removed. She will contact VLCT to add the unit to our insurance policy for coverage. She will also ask the Sheriff to stop by occasionally.
Julie will also remind the Sheriff of the request to accompany the school children to the cemetery on May 27.
Roadside mowing: Chair will contact Lem and tell him to begin about Memorial Day.
Cleaning exterior of office: Chair brought up the need to powerwash the exterior of the office and wash the windows. This will be discussed further at the next meeting. Potential View Property Management was mentioned as one source to check to see if they can do such work.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Motion by John and second by Diane R to go into Executive Session at 7:30 p.m. for:
1 VT Stats § 313 (E) pending or probable civil litigation or a prosecution, to which the public body is or may be a party. All in favor. So, approved.
Motion by John and second by Tom to come out of Executive Session at 7:51 p.m. No action taken.
Motion by Tom and second by John to adjourn at 7:51 p.m.
Next Meeting Monday, June 2, 2025
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Benware
