Selectboard Minutes - August 19, 2008



SELECTBOARD MINUTES
AUGUST 19, 2008

Present: Vern Stone, Syd Veysey, Marc McKee, Dana Baltz

Guests: Bob & Sue Eastman, Bill Baylis, Debra Kingsbury, Steve Garrow, Chris Calhoun, Fred Crowley, Michele Massa

The Meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.

Chris Calhoun asked for Selectboard approval to become the Director of Emergency Management in Vershire. The Director has a workbook which details what to do if the state Emergency Management plan is activated. In case of an emergency in any town, this plan helps with getting resources to that town as quickly and efficiently as possible. As Director, Chris would be in charge of this process for Vershire. Chris thinks heavy rain and ice storms are potentially the biggest threat. In Chris' absence, Bob Hodge and/or the Selectboard would take charge. A call list will go to everyone on the call list.

On another matter, Chris asked permission to replace a culvert on Trail 5 on behalf of the Snowmobile Club. T he culvert will be donated as well as the backhoe to do the work. Apparently many class 4 roads are in bad shape and other culverts need attention: McIver Rd where it intersects with Chelsea Rd and one culvert further down McIver. Bob Hodge told Chris he would take the backhoe up to do the work.

Debra Kingsbury thanked Chris for checking on everyone on Tullar Road after a washout during a storm.

John Roy gave an update on ECFibernet. The governing board met last week for presentations on the progress of bringing it to our area of VT. The original Interlocal agreement has been reviewed by all parties with minor changes being made. Each town has a final copy now. This final agreement must be signed by the Selectboard by Sept 9, 2008. John will need a copy of the signed agreement and a copy of the Selectboard minutes noting the approval of the agreement. This will provide a final count of the towns involved. After this, the Selectboard will need to sign official documents relating to the agreement. It's important that all information is correct and that the whole process is done correctly. There is a person/group responsible to make sure this is the case. Because the loan is municipal, it will have a lower interest rate. The only money collected will be from individual subscribers; no money will be collected from the town per se. SEC regulations cover the offerings because of past failings in offerings such as these. So the SEC will make sure Oppenheimer does its work correctly. If someone sues, that person has to prove that the Selectboard intentionally did something wrong. There is a requirement for the town to disclose information for 23 years, but this doesn't require the town's annual report. The annual report will be required only if a town defaults in some way. Every year each town will be required to do an 'appropriation' which will take place at town meeting. This will be a vote to allow the ECFibernet trustees to release the funds. This will be a public vote with no financial impact. Any town that doesn't 'appropriate' will no longer be an owner and won't receive any money from the Trustees. John gave a copy of the ECFibernet contract and the instructions to the Selectboard secretary. Marc asked if the town lawyer, Paul Gillie, had a copy. Dana will email a copy to him for his review: however, no changes can be made at this point. John pointed out that there is a memo included directing he and
Fred, as well as the town officials to refrain from making any 'forward-looking' statements about ECFibernet e.g. Money involved, number of subscribers.

John also informed the Selectboard that he and his wife and other interested people want to have a local homemade pizza and movie night at the Town Center with pizza at 6:00 p.m. and a movie at 7:00 p.m. John hopes this will become a regular event, probably on a Friday night. The first one will be this Friday, 8/22/08. There won't be a charge, but donations will be accepted.

Bob Eastman asked if the Selectboard had made any decision about the town appropriating money for holiday food baskets. Marc replied that there wasn't any money in the budget, but this was a very worthy cause. There was a discussion about returning bottles to raise some money. Karen Strassburger has large cans at the recycling center to collect bottles to return for her farm and they hadn't been picked up. Bob Baylis left the meeting to see if they were still there and came back reporting that they had been removed. Dana will call Karen to inquire if she is still collecting the bottles. If she isn't, Bob Baylis will pick them up. John pointed out that Vershare is a member of the VT Food Bank. Steve Garrow recommended a line item in next year's budget for the food baskets. Bob Baylis said he could get the barrels to collect the bottles and he would return them. Michele suggested asking pizza and movie goers on Friday night to donate non-perishable items for the food baskets.

The Rapid Response Plan, which is Vershire's part of the Emergency Management Plan discussed earlier, has been updated by Vern. Naomi LaBarr, the Town Clerk-Treasurer, has a copy of on her computer.

Steve Garrow submitted his bid to supply propane to the Selectboard. He was on the agenda for the 8/5/08 meeting, but couldn't make it.

The group salt purchasing plan offered by the VT League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) has been cancelled by VLCT at this time.

Debra Kingsbury read a letter to the Selectboard asking permission to pursue the bride project and received it. The bridge would cross the brook between the Town Office and the Town Center. Debra has found 3 large color drawings/plans through the Vershire Historical Society which were done in 1977 depicting the plans for the bridge. This would be a locally funded project.

Bob Baylis brought in information from the Highway Road Commissioner regarding the upgrades for the Town Garage. It will be important to do this work before winter to protect the new tractor. Dana gathered information on the new tractor to put in the town newsletter.

Brush cutting along the roads has been put on hold because of other needs in town.

The Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA) sent the town notification that it has increased its hauling fee by $15 for the recycling dumpsters.

The town is still looking for a Recycling Coordinator. Several people could share the responsibility of running recycling on recycling Saturday, but the board felt one person should be in charge to organize/troubleshoot. Vern stated that it would be wise to direct traffic at the recycling site to improve safety. Cones might be used.

Dana will speak with a few towns' people to get help filling out a form from VT Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Association (VORA) asking for information about trails, old roads used for off-road vehicles.

The Selectboard went into Executive Session. It awarded the propane contract to Steve Garrow of Pyrofax energy. The price will be $2.21/gal and Mr. Garrow will supply the gas for a year. The bill must be paid within 30 days. All the gas equipment (appliances and piping) must meet code requirements and a gas check must be performed. Out of code appliances are subject to charge.

Vern moved to accept the minutes of the 8/5/08 Selectboard meeting. Seconded by Marc. All agreed.

Syd moved to formally adopt the Rapid Response Plan. Marc seconded it. All agreed

Vern moved to adjourn at 9:07 p.m. Syd seconded. All agreed.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m.