Meeting Minutes
Town of LeicesterSelectboard Meeting MinutesMonday October 19, 2015*Unapproved*** See subsequent minutes for any changes Members Present: Diane Benware, Tom Barker, Ron Fiske, Brad Lawes, Ken Young Others Present: Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, Sandra Trombley, Secretary Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair. Pledge of Allegiance: Review of Agenda: Added: Beaver discussion & Access permit Approval of October 5, 2015 minutes: Motion by Tom and second by Brad to approve minutes of October 5, 2015 as written. All in favor. So approved. Reports from Town Officials, Committees: Town Clerk/Treasurer: Julie reported that taxes were due last Thursday and ended up with $119,467 in delinquents for 2015 and $76,800 for 2014 and before; a total of $196,267 in delinquents. Julie copied the Findings of Fact that Jim Carroll sent to the PC and ZBA. She copied Jim Carroll and Michele on the initial notification of the appeal and interested parties letter. Julie reported she has been having all kinds of issues with the leased copier. She may be looking at doing something different in the future. She stated that something reliable is needed. Julie reported that the auditors came in last Tuesday and audited the listers and zoning receipts. The auditors made a recommendation that the Zoning Administrator have a 3-part receipt book for receipts for zoning applications. Julie thinks it is a great recommendation because that is the same thing that Beth does and Beth and the Zoning Administrator are the only ones; other than her, that are allowed to accept money. Unless there are objections, Julie purchased a 3-part receipt book for the Zoning Administrator. There were no objections from the Board. Road Foreman: Arlan reported that Scott graded Old Jerusalem Road and Ferson Road. Arlan cut some trees on Rt.53. Trees are gone on Maple Run Road. Diane reported that she has called the telephone company twice, but the tree over the river still hasn’t been taken care of. Arlan reported he put his tailgate sander on the truck and he didn’t realize what bad shape it was in. Arlan thinks he should have a new tailgate sander. Arlan will research prices and report back. There is an access permit request from Claire McDonald at 57 Johnson Drive. Arlan and Brad will go look at it tomorrow afternoon. Tom asked about painting lines. Arlan said he called Nichols and hasn’t heard back from him. He will call again. Health Officer: Diane reported that the dumpster was delivered and filled at the Leicester Junction residence. Water is still coming from the hose. Diane will call to see if there is any further assistance available. CORRESPONDENCE: NEW BUSINESS: OLD BUSINESS: Working with the Planning Commission: Diane reported on her meeting with the Planning Commission last week. They were very cordial and willing to work with the Board and extended an invitation to any Selectboard member to come to their planning meeting on October 27th. They listened very closely to what Jim Carroll had to say. Diane mentioned she had a phone conversation with Jim before the meeting and he reiterated to her that the statute declares that the work is to be done by the Planning Commission. He said from a legal standpoint that the Poultney Plan is more forward thinking; the content is up-to-date and includes the FEMA and telecommunication verbage. The Planning Commission would like to use the Poultney Plan and would like to work with the Selectboard as they have done in the past with the Town Plan. Diane will get back to Donna & Peter with suggestions on possible ways to proceed. Diane brought up that they need to try to get more members for the ZBA and PC Boards. Julie is willing to help with the revisions, but stated that members need to come prepared for each meeting. Diane mentioned that the Zoning Administrator was frustrated with no response from the PC about a list of questions she gave them. Donna informed her that Jim advised the PC not to respond to the Zoning Administrator’s list of questions because they pertained mainly about the junk ordinance. Peter apologized for not getting back to the ZA to let the ZA know this, and he stated he will try to do better in the future. Diane talked with Jim about the Board’s policy of having the ZA come to the Selectboard first to hear about the intended/planned violation, and then the Board would authorize the ZA to proceed or not. Unless it is a health or emergency issue, Jim agreed, their policy was ok. Future Railroad Work Considerations: Diane heard from Julie and others that there were no flaggers at times; as promised by Brian. Julie reported they started off by putting road closed/no thru traffic signs on both ends of the road. She asked Brian why the signs said no thru traffic because that is not what the Selectboard agreed to. Brian said he didn’t know that and he would see what he could do. Then they put orange masking tape on the signs that said road closed/local only traffic. Julie happened to be on Sawyer-Needam Road and the traffic down that road was ridiculous because there was a road closed sign and a thing on the end with a flashing sign that said railroad replacement/road closed/local traffic only. The drive around they made was horrible and practically impassable. Coming back from Whiting there were issues with the flagger who made them detour 14 miles out of the way to get 1 mile to their house. After the first 24 hours, there was no flagger at the intersection. There were signs that just said Detour and no explanation or directions. Julie emailed Brian the next morning to have him explain why they closed the road, and to get an update of their status. She has not heard back from him. In the future, the Board may want to do things differently. Nothing they can do now that they have moved on. Beavers: Ken wanted to make it clear that he was not trying to stir the pot about anything. He stated that at the last meeting, it was brought up about beavers, and reported that a couple of people had complained, and the Board jumped right on it and changed a 30-year policy. Ken wasn’t exactly sure what the change was and asked for an explanation. Tom stated there was no change, but explained that in the future they would look at each situation on a case by case basis. He felt that if it’s not bothering a town culvert or property, the town is not responsible. Ken wanted to bring up some examples; one being tree removal, why do the taxpayers pay to remove dead trees in town’s right of way. Property owners own the trees. He stated he’s all for removing these trees for the greater good of the taxpayer. The second example is town highway sand. Again, he’s all for the town supplying the sand to residents only for driveways and sidewalks, it’s for the public good. The third; by taking out the beaver dam you eliminated about 4 acres of stagnant water. A half mile south of that, a man died from a mosquito bite a year ago. Is that not a public health issue? Ken is thinking maybe the Board doesn’t want to have a strict policy that is just at the culvert. He doesn’t think beaver control is on an annual basis. Board didn’t feel they needed to do anything at this time, but needed to be flexible and look at each situation on a case by case basis. BUILDING NEEDS: HIGHWAY CONCERNS/NEEDS: Town Shed: Tom reported that Ken has the information and details on Butler Buildings in St. Albans. Ken stated Butler sells to dealers that put up the buildings. He is the manufacturer, he doesn’t put up buildings. Ken will bring the book and details at the next meeting. Bridge/Culvert Review: Diane contacted Jennifer Fitch. The culvert on Old Jerusalem Road is not really a culvert. It is listed as sub-standard or failing. It is in poor condition and has a deteriated arch. Jennifer said that if Leicester submitted the response to the questions, it did not commit the town. It was up to the town whether to go forward. Board thinks they should come down and look at it and do a study. Motion by Tom and second by Ron to approve the bills. All in favor. So approved. Limited Public Opinion: None Executive Session: Motion by Diane and second by Tom to go into Executive Session to discuss legal matters at 7:54 p.m. All in favor. So approved. Motion by Brad and second by Tom to come out of Executive Session at 8:27 p.m. with action taken: motion to authorize Chair to confer with town counsel, passed unanimously. Motion by Tom and second by Ken to adjourn at 8:27 p.m. Next Meeting: November 2, 2015 Respectfully submitted, Sandra L. TrombleySelectboard Secretary