Selectboard Minutes - October 28, 2008



SELECTBOARD MEETING OCTOBER 28, 2008


Present: Vern Stone, Marc McKee, John LaPierre, Dana Baltz

Guests: Jean McDonald, Tim McKenney, Leslie Marmorale, Gene Sobek, Debra
Kingsbury, Bob Hodge

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m... Tim McKenney stated that his class 4 road gets torn up by trucks in the spring and asked what could be done about this. He asked if the Sheriff's department would respond if he called them. Some past experiences indicate the Sheriff's department might respond or might not respond at all. Bob said Taylor Valley Road needed to be built up. Gene Sobek and Tim McKenney could coordinate when to do the work on their roads so they could share resources. Tim asked if he could widen the road. Bob said yes as long as he stays within the town easement: 25' on either side of the center of the road. Tim said he would talk to his neighbors, Michael and Lou Santoro before doing work in front of their property.

Marc said he would go to speak with the Sheriff in person about how the department responds to Vershire's police needs.

John Vose, the administrator for Upper Valley Ambulance, has not returned 2 phone calls asking him to choose a date to attend a Selectboard meeting. Marc will call John Vose and ask him to come to a Selectboard meeting.

Marc believes Phillip Yacavello is the new recycling coordinator.

Marc talked with Karin Strassburger about having returnable bottles collected for holiday baskets. Marc said Karin would be happy to split/share bottles collected at the recycling center. Bill Baylis will put another barrel out at the dumpsters. So some of the money redeemed will go to riding scholarships and some will go to Bob Eastman's holiday baskets.

The memo Paul Gillies sent to the Selectboard regarding the Mangala Shri Bhuti (MSB) property was discussed. The Vermont Superior Court ruled that part of the retreat is taxable and part is not. The taxes are $1,500. MSB has offered to give Vershire $2,000 in lieu of taxes each year. Paul Gillies recommends keeping MSB on the tax rolls and not accepting a payment in lieu of taxes. MSB could give an extra gift to Vershire also. Anyone could ask MSB informally if they would be willing to do this.

Naomi LaBarr notified the Selectboard by written notice that more trash bags will need to be ordered. If Dave Muscavita is finished with his work at the Town Center on schedule, there would be room to store them there. The Selectboard decided to wait until the next meeting to decide when to buy the bags. By then Dave's progress will be easier to determine. The trash bag ordering will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

Unifirst has sent Vershire a new contract to sign. The current contract runs out August 2009. A letter was sent to Unifirst a month ago informing them that Vershire would not be renewing its contract in September 2009. Marc will call Unifirst to discuss the issues with them. Vershire won't agree to an 8% increase in cost with Unifirst without discussion the situation further.

Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) has sent a memo to Vershire informing the town that funding will be cut in local highway aid programs. The Selectboard was made aware of this memo.

Vern reviewed and signed the FEMA document which allows the state of Vermont to pay 12.5% of the cost of repairing Tullar Road after a storm this summer.

All three Selectboard members are interested in attending a seminar offered by VLCT on 'municipal budgeting and financial management'. If Vershire town funds are not available to pay the course fee, the Selectboard members will pay the tuition themselves.

The NRRA memo was reviewed.

Marc asked Bob about possible sites to stockpile fill taken out of ditches. There was a discussion about the piles being on state-owned land. Marc will call Trevor Starr about what land would be permissible.

Bob visited the Ricker property to assess it for use by the town garage. Marc asked him what he thought about the feasibility of the site. Bob responded that the road crew could make it work. The Ricker family is anxious to sell the property. Marc had talked with the family's real estate lawyer and the family has agreed on an asking price, but the lawyer wouldn't share it with Marc at this time. Marc said the Selectboard can go into an executive session sometime and agree on an offer and then make an offer on the property with the contingency of town approval at the March 2009 town meeting.

The Selectboard reviewed a memo from Doug Shane, the former recycling coordinator, verifying that it was permissible to compact the dumpsters' contents with a backhoe.

Marc reported that he had talked with Michael Crowley and Michael has the castors for the other recycling ramp and will put them on.

Bob reported there were problems on Eagle Hollow Road after the heavy rain a couple of days ago. He put rip rap on the road.

Vern asked Bob if Steve Garrow had talked with him about the propane tank at the town garage. Bob said he had. Bob said he thought the gas line had been re-laid in the past. Vern said that, by code, the propane tank needs to be inspected. Steve wants to dig up the current propane tank and replace it. The Selectboard and Bob agreed that it's too wet to do this now: that it can be done in the spring. Vern will find out how long a propane tank can be left in the ground legally.

Marc called Dave Wurtz and he has agreed to service the Town Center boiler.

Perry's oil had notified Vershire that it had a credit balance. Perry's has since made another delivery so there may no longer be a credit balance.

Debra attended the informational meeting on the covered bridge project. She gave the Selectboard a handout from the meeting which included computer renditions of the bridge and its location on the property.

The minutes from the 10/14/08 Selectboard meeting were approved as amended.

Vern moved to sign the orders. Marc seconded and all were in favor.

There was a discussion about the latest bill from the Sheriff's office.

Vern moved to adjourn at 9:10 p.m. John seconded and all were in favor.