Welcome to Leicester, VT

August 7, 2006

Leicester Select Board Meeting

Unapproved minutes:  See subsequent minutes for corrections

Board Members Present:  Bob Oliver, Diane Benware, John McDonough, Mark Stacey and Cecile Todd

Townspeople Present:  Donna Pidgeon, John Hughes, Mary Hughes, Lawrence A. Felion Jr., Donna Wykes, Mike Denis, Charles Johnson, Bonnie Johnson, Jerry Flint, Deb Miner, Ernie Miner, Jack Beasley, Bob Volks, Kim Schroeder, Virginia Wolf, Lynn Perk, Steve Hare, William McHugh, Mary McHugh, Sandra Chicoine and Arlan Pidgeon.

Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm.

Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Agenda was reviewed.

Approve Minutes of July 17, 2006

Discussion:  Change rit to writ on page 3.

Action:  Bob Oliver made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections.  Mark Stacey seconded.  Motion passed. 5 ayes and 0 nays

Review and sign orders for bill payment

Discussion:  Cecile Todd asked if bills could be viewed earlier or if the board could meet earlier.  She noted that it was difficult to review bills and be attentive to the meeting.

Action:  Review and signing of bills was moved to new business for this meeting only.

Reports from town officials or committees

Discussion: 

Listers: Appraisals are continuing.  The lake area is now being assessed.

Cemetery:  Mowing issues regarding the cemetery have been addressed.  A plot map and headstone repairs are on going projects.

School Paving:  The school paving is almost complete.  Painting of lines and a handicap space needs to be done.  Consolidating projects and taking bids saved approximately $9000.

Culvert Work:  A culvert on Jerusalem Road was installed.  Culverts on Ferson Road and Rt. 53 need culverts.  Road foreman and road commissioners will discuss the installation of these culverts.

Other:  Charles Johnson asked why monies were not used to pave dirt roads.  John McDonough replied that some was done on Jerusalem Road.  It was chosen because it is a high maintenance area.  Bob Oliver explained that there are not 2 for 1 money for dirt roads.  Diane Benware stated that if the community wanted this, then a plan needs to be developed in the fall.  There are approximately 20 miles of dirt road.  Charles Johnson noted that the board would save a lot of money on grading.  John Hughes asked if tracking records are on work orders to know which roads have and have not been graded.  Written tracking records are not consistently maintained.

Road foreman report:  Arlan Pidgeon reported that tar between the tracks was to be done, but the railroad person did not show up.  Culverts by tracks and Dewey Road are finished. Work on the Shackett Road culvert and Ferson Road culvert will begin on August 26, 2006. There is six feet of new drainpipe under the pavement and to the edge of the grass in front of the town office.

Mosquito Report:  Kim Schroeder reported that he had met with Willem Jewett and others regarding the mosquito issue. Mosquito control is a public health issue.  There is ongoing consideration of putting mosquito control monies as part of the state budget.  There is a stockpile of control agents for next year.

Town Office: Windows have been measured.

Senior Citizen Building:  Improvements will be made to the ramp and doorways.  This is being paid for with grant monies. The board agreed to have Paul Francoeur build the ramp.

Tax Bills:  Donna Pidgeon asked for a motion to permit the town treasurer to print tax bills and to mail them.  Bob Oliver made the motion, John McDonough seconded. Motion passed. 5 ayes and 0 nays

New Business

Review Animal control applicants

Discussion: Kim Schroeder stated he was willing to act as an interim or permanent animal control officer.  He noted that if there was someone in the community who wanted the position to let them.  He has his rabies shot, equipment and goes to annual meetings for the humane society. He already has a key to the humane society.  Other applicants will be interviewed. Interviews will be set up for August 21, 2006.

Action:  Diane Benware will contact Jeffery Bradish, Brian Webb, Irene Treadeau and Carl Smith for interviews. John McDonough made a motion that Kim Schroeder will act as interim animal control officer until the position is filled.  Bob Olive seconded.  Motion passed. 5 ayes and 0 nays

Cat Bite

Discussion: a stray cat bit a child.  The town must pay for the boarding and observation of the cat for a ten-day period. The cat is being held at the Middlebury Animal Hospital.

Action: none

Stove Pipe/ Four Wheelers

Discussion: A complaint was received regarding four wheelers tearing up the Stove Pipe Ave.  It was suggested that police adjust their hours to times that would lead to catching

the offenders.  It was noted that it is very difficult to catch violators on four wheelers because they drive off into areas, which a police cruiser is unable to travel.

Postal Car Muffler

Discussion:  On July 25, 2006, Kevin Jennings hit a big stone when driving on Shackett Road while grading was being done.  It was noted that workers should put signs out and a blinking light should be visible on the grader.  However, the board did not want to set a precedence  by paying for the repair.

Action:  Cecile Todd made a motion to not pay for repairs on the postal vehicle.  John McDonough seconded.  Motion passed 5 ayes and 0 nays.  Diane Benware will write a letter to the postal worker.  Arlan Pidgeon was instructed to post “ road work ahead” signs when grading work is being done.

ACORN

Discussion:  ACORN asked for permission to show a 78-minute film at the senior center for the public regarding how oil drives everything in our community.

Action:  Diane Benware will contact ACORN regarding permission to show the film.  The dates of Wednesday, Sept. 6 or 13 will be offered.

Old Business

Fuel Oil Bids

Discussion: Fuel Oil bids were shared and compared. Champlain Plumbing and Heating appears to have the lowest bid.  Some bids were an amount over rack price.  Some board members expressed hesitation using bids based on rack pricing because of world events affecting the oil market.

Action:  Cecile Todd made a motion to accept an offer to use Champlain Plumbing and Heating.  The bid is $2.65 for #2 fuel oil and $2.75 for kerosene.  Ten cents per gallon discounts are applied if the bill is paid within ten days.  Mark Stacey seconded. Motion passed. 4 ayes and 1 abstained (John McDonough)

Fires

Discussion:  Small Claims court paperwork is being filled out and sent to Jim Carroll in regard to the Blaise fire issues.

Action: ongoing

Discussion: Victim Compensation denied the town request for compensation for money spent on the five fires set this spring by Mr. Foley.  One suggestion was to place a lien on the Foley residence.  Each board member voted no when a survey of sentiment was taken in regard to the lien option. Mr. Foley has been in jail for four days.  Gary Urich stated that if Mr. Foley sets another fire he would be reinstitutionalized.  The department of mental health counseling service has been contacted.

Vermont Sun

Discussion:  Commissioner Sleeper renewed a permit for the August 27, 2006 races.  He did require Vermont Sun to provide seven uniformed police officers instead of four.  The state commissioner can override the decision of the select board.  Salisbury Select Board voted in favor of the races last week.  The town will not be held responsible for accidents that occur.  At the last meeting the Vermont Sun topic was tabled.  However, with further research, Diane Benware felt the tabling had been misguided.  Therefore, it was on the agenda again.  Steve Hare shared that the race route had been changed to limit the use of Leicester’s roads and to try to be as little of an imposition as possible. He noted that he felt he was greatly misunderstood.  His emphasis was on healthy lifestyles and encouraging recreation.  Sandra Chicoine shared how the races had impacted the life of her nephew. She encouraged the board to be open-minded.  She also asked the board to please not take the one thing that the community has.  Debbie Miner asked why the DAR Park was not utilized.  Steve Hare responded by saying the water quality is an issue.  Mary McHugh noted how racing was an example to children.  In other communities, citizens cheer as they see racers go by.  Steve Hare asked to share what was planned for next year.  Mark Stacey said he would like to discuss future plans now rather than all winter long.

Action:  John McDonough made a motion to end debate.  Motion passed.  3 ayes and 2 nays (Mark Stacey and Diane Benware).  John McDonough made a motion not to accept money or any funds from Vermont Sun.  Bob Oliver seconded.  Motion passed.  5 ayes and 0 nays

Approve zoning board reduction

Discussion:  It has been difficult to find seven volunteers.  Therefore, the board considered reducing the size of the zoning board from seven to five.  The following persons serve on the board:  Ronald Fiske (11/2006, chairperson), Shelley Glassner (11/2008), Tom Drew (11/2008), Andrew Vanbenthuysen (11/2008) Donna Swinington (11/2006), Gerald Flint (11/2007, alternate), Audrey Scarborough (11/2008, alternate).

Action:  John McDonough made a motion to reduce the zoning board from seven members and two alternates to five members and two alternates and to sign the resolution.  Bob Oliver seconded.  5 ayes and 0 nays. Motion passed.

Junk Ordinance

Discussion:  A letter was sent to the Sutton residence, Veronica Carroll residence and the estate of Steven Bensch.  The zoning board is handling the Leicester Store.  Tom Stone and Betty Cram’s residence will be looked at because of junk, vehicles and trash.  Robert and Crystal Cole’s property will also be viewed.  It was noted that there are a lot of vehicles on the property, but it is unknown if they are registered.

Department of Taxes

Discussion:  The board needs to sign and authorize the use of Marshall & Swift tax tables as deemed by the department of taxation/division of property evaluation.

Action:  A motion was made to sign and authorize the use of the tax table as deemed by the department of taxation/ division of property evaluation.  Motion passed.  5 ayes and 0 nays.

Bills

Discussion: Brian Roberts worked two hours on the school drainage/catch basin.  Steve Morrison worked four hours.

Action:  Bob Oliver made a motion to authorize Donna Pidgeon to pay Brian Roberts and Steve Morrison $14.00 per hour.  John McDonough seconded. They will be given a 1099 form.  Motion passed.  5 ayes and 0 nays.

Bills were reviewed and signed.

Limited Public Opinion

Discussion: none

Action: none

Adjournment

Discussion: none

Action:  Bob Oliver made a motion to adjourn.  Mark Stacey seconded.  5 ayes and 0 nays.  Meeting adjourned at 10:05pm

Respectfully Submitted,

Betty Wiedenbein

The next regular scheduled meeting is August 21, 2006 at 7pm.