Minutes - 02-03-2025 - 2021 - Present - Welcome to Leicester, VT

Minutes - 02-03-2025

Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM

Town of Leicester

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Monday, February 3, 2025

*Unapproved*

** See subsequent minutes for any changes

Members Present: Diane Benware, Brad Lawes, Tom Barker, John Rouse

Members Absent: Diane Randall

Others Present: Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, Doug Perkins, Lynne Peck

Sandra Trombley

Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair.

Pledge of Allegiance:

Review of Agenda: Add DRB Alternate & VT Gran Fondo Cycle Race

Approval of January 20, 2025, minutes:

Motion by Tom and second by Brad to approve minutes of January 20, 2025, as written. All in favor. So, approved.

Review/Authorization to Pay Bills:

Motion by Tom and second by John authorizing Julie to pay the bills. All in favor. So, approved.

Reports from Town Officials, Committees:

Road Foreman:

Arlan didn’t have anything to report.

Town Clerk/Treasurer:

Julie provided the Annual Update Tax Map Maintenance Contract Form. Board signed.

Julie reported the two campers, and one pickup are back in the pull off again. The Sheriff’s Department stopped in and confirmed they are the same people as before. The Sheriff Department is going to try to assist them in moving.

Julie reported the new Highway Grant paperwork came in. Town can apply for $175,000. They need to figure out where they need paving.

Julie invited the Board into the vault. There was a crack in the stucco and ceiling in the corner.

The Board felt it was cosmetic and nothing to worry about.

Julie brought up the article in the Brandon Reporter about a group of people that want to have a multi-town Community Recreation Center for member towns and the OVUHS School Board has voted to hold a floor vote on the transfer of land, south of Otter Valley, for the proposed Valley Community Center at its annual meeting on Wednesday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. at OVUHS. They will vote on an article for the sale of ten acres south of the parking lot and sell to this group for $1.

Julie’s concern is this group was supposed to go around and meet with selectboards, and they have not done that. Just a handful of people will decide. Hardly anyone attends those meetings.

It would be like an appropriation in our budget.

Diane felt some of them should attend this meeting at OVUHS.

John reported that Mr. Fisher is coming this Wednesday, February 5^th at 3:30 p.m. concerning the generators.

Weight Permits: Two weight permits were signed.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Vermont Department of Labor Newsletter
Vermont Trail Literature
Maple Broadband Update

OLD BUSINESS:

OCW Discussion:

Doug Perkins and Lynne Peck came.

Doug stated that Salisbury has still not made a final decision until next Tuesday. Jeff Schumann has been in communication with them.

Doug stated he needs to hear from the Board how the Board wants him and Lynne to vote.

Diane shared that the Board chose Option 2, until the bill is paid, no service, and should lose their right to vote.

There was discussion about whether they had the option to vote. Board is saying no pay, no vote.

Lynne shared her concerns about the people of Salisbury voting to be sprayed and their board was in default for not paying.

Doug explained that the Lake Dunmore Association paid $26,000 for the spraying systems on the trucks. The Association has been very generous to OCW.

Lynne explained that the $9,000 for services was private donations for spraying the private roads around the lake. They didn’t use all the money, and she didn’t think they got services.

Doug thought they got sprayed a couple times.

Brad doesn’t feel the Lake Association should be treated any differently than town’s assessments.

Tom feels nothing is going to change until you draw the line somewhere.

MERP Update & Discussion:

Julie and Diane had a Zoom with people at Buildings & Grounds and they wanted to know why they wanted to shift funding from this building and white building to the meeting house.

Diane shared a convincing argument that she and Julie gave them.

Diane shared written information.

They said we should submit a new scope, and they said we could use another architect if we wanted.

Diane can apply for a review with the historic preservation.

Diane will do some more research.

Diane will email Shelly tomorrow to move forward.

NEW BUSINESS:

Alternate to DRB:

Julie shared that David Atherton is interested in the alternate position to the DRB.

Motion by Diane and second by Tom appointing David Atherton as Alternate on DRB. All in favor. So, approved.

VT Gran Fondo Cycle Race:

Diane received the form for the VT Gran Fondo Cycle Race June 28^th. There are no conflicts with VT Sun.

Board was ok with it and Diane signed the form on behalf of the Board.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: None

Motion by Tom and second by John to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.

Next Meeting Monday, February 17, 2025

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra Trombley

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