Meeting Minutes
Town of Leicester
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 1, 2011
*Unapproved*
** See subsequent minutes for any changes
Members Present: Diane Benware, Tom Barker, Bob Oliver, Ken Young, Ron Fiske
Others Present: Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, James Russo, Sandra Trombley, Secretary
Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Review of Agenda: Agenda reviewed.
Approval of Minutes: July 18, 2011
Motion by Tom and second by Bob to approve July 18, 2011 minutes as written. All in favor. So approved.
Review/Authorize Payment of Bills: Bills making their rounds for signatures. See motion to approve under “Other”.
Reports from Town Officials, Committees:
Road Foreman Report:
Discussion on culvert work and paving on Old Jerusalem Road project. D&F Paving will do 350’ of paving for $6,000 if he does it at the same time as the rest of the Town. Arlan will talk with Gary about timeframe. Discussion of paving on Rte.53 and Swinington Hill.
Arlan called Kevin Bagley about roadside mowing for $78 hr.
Motion by Tom to hire Kevin Bagley with side arm mower for a full days work to trim back some of the brush on the south east side of Dewey Road and Jerusalem Road to Salisbury Town line and back again if time. Second by Bob. All in favor. So approved.
Tom mentioned that there is more brush that needs to be cut away from speed limit signs.
Ron & Ken acknowledged that they need to complete the sign inventory.
Julie reported that Oscar recommended that the 25 mph speed limit sign on Hooker Road needs to be raised up with a taller post.
Town Clerk/Treasurer Report:
Julie reported that delinquent taxes were at $57,400. The tax sale is scheduled for August 17, 2011 for six properties. The delinquency list is posted on the counter.
Julie provided the VLCT building codes.
Julie mentioned there is paperwork from ACRP requiring a signature; looking for appointment of an alternate for the Transportation Advisory Committee and alternate delegate for Regional Planning which Mr. Maroney is currently serving.
VLCT Health Trust form requires a signature; and the Chair is signing on behalf of the Board.
Discussion of delivery of a modular home around the 3rd week in August to Delorm Road by Ray Boucher, Preferred Building Systems. The Board had no problems with it.
Julie reported there’s a letter from the Department of Taxes in regard to the wording for the Homestead filing section of the statute has changed and it allows the Selectboard to decide whether or not they would like to impose a penalty for people who are late filers of Homestead or have filed incorrectly.
Motion to have policy where we would decline penalty for 2011 tax year for late/or incorrectly filed of their Homestead Declaration. Second by Ron. All in favor. So approved.
ACRPC Review from James Maroney:
Mr. Maroney has been on the Regional Planning Commission for about a year and has attended all but one meeting.
He requested to be assigned to the Natural Resources Committee and gave the details around his being denied.
Mr. Maroney is very passionate about high water quality and farm and storm run-off and the pollution of Lake Champlain and the rivers.
Mr. Maroney shared his views of the Planning Commission’s role and how they handle their meetings.
He’s not sure how effective he is, but is happy to continue or be replaced. He will be attending Vermont Law School full time for an Environmental Law Degree.
He plans on requesting again to be appointed to the Natural Resources Committee.
He’s very interested in it and requests that the Board either dismiss him or write a letter to ACRP endorsing him.
Chair signed the paperwork appointing James Maroney as their delegate.
Zoning Administrator/Planning Report: None
Auditor Report: None
Lister Report:
Jim Russo reported that Jeff is back home and recuperating.
Reappraisal is going well.
Sales Study for equalization is coming due.
Weight Permits: None
Other:
Motion by Ron to approve payment of bills to be paid on 8/1/11. Second by Ken. All in favor. So approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
Errors & Omissions:
Motion by Tom to approve the Errors and Omissions Certificate. Second by Ken. All in favor. So approved.
Setting the Tax Rate:
Tax rate is based on the Grand List which includes the errors and omissions just signed. The tax rate is set by dividing the amount to be raised by the Grand List. That determines the rate. The education rate is set by the State. The auditors came and verified the amount. The formulas in the equations that determine the rate are round up formulas.
Motion by Ron to approve the tax rate of 1.3904 residential and 1.4176 non-residential. Second by Tom. All in favor. So approved.
The Chair thanked Julie for her efforts on behalf of the town for all her work on the appeal of the CLA.
Cemetery Committee Report:
Ken bushhogged around the cemetery. Ken would like to recommend that the Cemetery Committee talk with Arlan about clean up around the cemetery at the next meeting, August 11, 2011.
OLD BUSINESS:
Health Officer Needed:
Diane contacted Ray Lalumiere and he is not interested in the position.
Motion by Tom to appoint James Russo as Health Officer. Second by Ken. All in favor. So approved.
Paperwork and oath to be completed.
250 Committee:
Tom personally thanked all involved in the 250 event for their hard work and suggested a boxed ad be put in the newspaper with thanks. Kudos to Foxcroft Farm, Anne Young, the Harvest Program and James Russo.
Julie thanked and acknowledged Diane for taking leadership in this, all her time and donations and kudos to the Harvest Program and Anne Young. There are lots of people to thank.
The corn maze is the next event.
In the insert put in the tax bills, they would like to promote the hats and visors and ask if taxpayers would like to acknowledge acts of kindness. There was discussion about items for the time capsule; including a picture of all the elected town officials in front of the float. Recommendation to keep the time capsule in the vault.
Traffic Ordinance Update:
Lynn Miner, Joe Watson and Harold Smith wrote letters of concern about the proposed increase of the speed limit to 45mph on Fern Lake Road. Chair read recent letter from Harold Smith.
Chair shared the conversation she had with Jim Carroll about the process if the Board wanted to reconsider amendment, reconsider approval and make a motion to amend the amendment.
Motion by Tom to reconsider the approval of the Municipal Traffic Ordinance as amended on June 20, 2011 in regard to the speed limits on Fern Lake Road and Leicester/Whiting Road. Second by Ken. All in favor. So approved.
Action: Chair will contact the three persons expressing concern.
Other:
Ken informed the Board of an incident that happened approximately a week ago. The Board didn’t see the Town being involved at this point.
Motion by Ron and second by Tom to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. All in favor. So approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Next meeting, Monday, August 15, 2011.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra L. Trombley
Selectboard Secretary