Town of LeicesterSelectboard Meeting MinutesMonday, July 15, 2024*Unapproved*** See subsequent minutes for any changesMembers Present: Diane Benware, Diane Randall, Brad Lawes, Tom Barker, John RouseOthers Present: Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, Doug Perkins, Lynn Peck, Maddison Shropshire, ACRP, Sandra TrombleyCall to Order:Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair.Pledge of Allegiance:Review of Agenda:Approval of July 1, 2024, minutes:Motion by Tom and second by Diane R. to approve minutes of July 1, 2024, as written.4 in favor and 1 abstention (Brad). So, approved.Review/Authorization to Pay Bills:Motion by Tom and second by Diane R. authorizing Julie to pay the bills.So, approved.Reports from Town Officials, Committees:Road Foreman:Arlan reported that they got done paving about 3500 feet today plus the end of Bullock Road.Chair asked Arlan to remove the cut tires that are on the Bullock Road.Tom mentioned the trees at Dunmore Acres.Arlan had already taken care of the trees.John shared that he has been on the phone for three days with the solar sign people.They are sending him an email with the procedures to fix the sign.He had to set up an account with them.Everyone thought they had set up an account, but they couldn’t find one.The problem is the solar wires were cut. Need to run just on the battery.Town Clerk/Treasurer:Julie will ask the new principal and new interim superintendent if they would like to come and meet the Board.Julie explained the new change to the Statute for Animal Control Officers effective July 1, 2024.VLCT explained that Robbie can enforce the Town Dog Ordinance but cannot investigate animal cruelty for the Town.He can inspect a situation and probably stop and talk to owner.If he has concerns, he should call the Game Warden.There is also a new Domestic Animals Running at Large.She has shared all this with Robbie.Julie received an email from a new resident about litter around the Fern Lake beach.Julie responded to them.Julie will contact the Sheriff and ask them to swing around there.Just pulling in can be a deterrent.Lem would like to know when he should mow the roadsides.Board agreed the third week in August before school starts.Julie reported some odd incidents caught on camera on Saturday of a 4-wheeler over to school, parked car, and Sunday a man walked by and turned on water hose and went behind the school and back in front and turned off hose and left.Julie mentioned the Election on August 13th for the Primary.The Homeland Security has a Security Assessment for election day for free coming on July 30th.To see if they have any suggestions or no requirement. Sheriff will come from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Chair stated that they planned on doing a Ferson & Delorm Road assessment at the August 5th meeting.Tom thinks it has increased the speed.John stated that Cory did not come out to visit when they were working on the speed sign.The Fyles’ fixed contract was $1.67 last winter and $1.75 for this year.Motion by John and second by Tom to sign the pre-buy contract with Fyles.All in favor.So, approved.John asked about the Sheriff’s invoice.Julie will contact them and confirm that they are mailing a violation.Animal Control Officer:Weight Permits: NoneCORRESPONDENCE:
Fyles Fuel Contract
Forest Service Public Meeting
Velamont Trail
Letter from Interim Superintendent
New Principal
FEMA Public Assistance
Regional Planning Monthly Newsletter
OLD BUSINESS:Preliminary Review of MERP Audits of Buildings:Chair reported that in the Energy Audit, Leicester is considered a high energy burden community.It can put us in line for more money.Maddison Shropshire from ACRP is coming to answer questions and try to give us advice and guide us on how to proceed.She’s trying to develop a request for a proposal for an architect that could give us cost estimates.High Energy Burden is the score that Efficiency Vermont put together and gives a town.It’s based on the ratio of average income of your town and how much of that income people spend on heating, transportation and electricity.Hopefully will grant the town $500,000.There are six towns in Addison County with a high energy burden.Introductions were made.Madison will do an RFP coming for each building because the audits are made for an architect.Engineers are writing the reports and because markets change, we need to put a buffer in the costs.ACRP was given some funding to help with pre-application meetings.No cost to Leicester.The application for the Implementation Grant is due in September.Air sealing and weatherization first.Madison is going to put the RFP out to bid.Chair confirmed they could see the RFP before it goes out and see who responds.Chair confirmed that this Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. the Listening Session from Climate Action is meeting here at the Town Office.She will have refreshments.There was some discussion of EV chargers.NEW BUSINESS:OCW Mosquito District (6:45)Doug Perkins and Lynn Peck came and explained the variable rate requirement that was determined after all budgets were passed and they were hurting for awhile.The LDFLA bailed them out with a $30,000 grant.The equipment was bought and installed.They didn’t use $3,800 and this was returned to LDFLA.The next thing is Will Mathis who is the coordinator has taken a full-time job as Road Foreman for Lincoln.He’s been working for the Mosquito District about six hours a week since that time.There are some of us on the Board that don’t think he can perform his duties on six hours a week and others on the Board that think he can.There is some dissention.Contentious Board Meeting last week.Jeff Schumann has resigned as Chair; Doug has resigned as Vice Chair and Lynn has resigned as Treasurer.There were many missing at the meeting.Doug and Lynn were at the meeting to see if the Selectboard still wanted them as Leicester’s representatives on the District Board.You need at least two people on the Board.This year has been a good year with few mosquitos.Only Proctor has been sprayed and the sprayer motor died.They do have other sprayers and three people that are able to spray.Doug and Jeff think that they need a full time Operations Manager and that would not be Will Mathis.It does require a lot of knowledge that would be hard to replace.Phones and emails are not being returned.Brad stated he hadn’t been to the last four meetings.The Selectboard agreed that they wanted Doug and Lynn to remain as Leicester’s Representatives and attend the meetings and to keep the Selectboard informed.Executive Session:Motion by Brad and second by Diane R. to go into Executive Session for possible legal matter at 7:55 p.m.All in favor.So, approved.Motion by Tom and second by John to come out of Executive Session at 8:02 p.m. with no action taken.All in favor.So, approved.Motion by Tom to adjourn at 8:02 p.m.Respectfully submitted,Sandra Trombley
