Selectboard Minutes - December 22, 2009



Vershire Selectboard Minutes
December 22, 2009 (approved)

In Attendance: Vernal Stone, Marc McKee, Rita French, Gene Craft, Alan Lyford, Debra Kingsbury

Guests: Douglas Stone, Thetford Highway Foreman

Vernal called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm

The Selectboard discussed the Flood Plain Ordinance. They tabled it until the next meeting as there were some variations from the original draft from the Planning Board and they wanted to interact with TRORC for the final version before making a decision.

Doug Stone came to learn about the installation of updating our highway dept vehicles with new radios and additional highway communication items as Thetford has recently gone though the process. Alan and Gene received two estimates for 4 channel and 128 channel type radios. The 4 band radio with installation was $323. Wattage strength was discussed. Doug suggested Vershire would need a minimum of 50 watts strength for their location.
Repeater towers were discussed as how they boost the signal to the radios.

Alan pointed out that municipalities can get the State Bid Price but the request needs to be on town letter head stationary for same. Rita suggested that we get additional quotes on radios with more capacity than the 4 band set-up. Perhaps something in the 12 channel range would work for now with future expansion designed in. R & R Communications in W. Lebanon was suggested as an additional supply contact. The packer truck radio may be able to be upgraded or reprogrammed as it is relatively new. Alan will research. Doug Stone offered to provide the R & R phone number when he was back in his Thetford office.

Marc stated that the well at the town highway barn had been drilled. It was 280 feet deep with 10 gallons per minute for water flow. They hooked in to the previous water line to the building. Sargent Well Co. needs to come back to set the submersible pump in the well and connect a pressure tank in the highway garage to complete.

Marc asked if the planning board chair had contacted TRORC about the energy audit that was discussed at the last meeting. Debra stated that the TRORC December 16th meeting had been cancelled due to the weather and that Bill Baylis would contact TRORC via e-mail about the energy audit time frame.

Alan stated that he has tightened the overhead doors at the highway garage. However, the main entrance door is rotted at the base and needs replacement.

The door is 32 inches wide by 6 ft 8 inches high and needs to swing out to meet code requirements. Marc will check to see if the maintenance dept at the Mountain School has a door of that size that could be swapped out to make the garage more energy efficient. Alan stated that it may make sense to jack hammer the edge of the concrete where the overhead doors meet it and redo the concrete in that area so as to make it level and line up with the bottom of the doors so that they are more weather tight.

Gene asked Alan if they had made the appointment for the emission recall notice on the new truck. Alan stated that the truck was scheduled to go to the dealer for the recall on Monday December 28th.

Installing a yield sign at Vershire Center and South Vershire Rd intersection was discussed. Vern moved that the board review after further study. Rita seconded. All were in favor.

Alan asked about bridge number 1 on Highway 38 on South Vershire Road, above the Thresher property that the State had sent the town notice of concern. Alan will go and inspect the site. The State is requiring towns to have a plan of action in place for bridges of structural concern.

Gene pointed out that the Central VT Humane Society contract has been sent to the town and it is time to review for 2010. (This is the location that stray animals are taken to.) Karin Strassburger has expressed interest in taking on the animal officer position and does have outbuilding space to house animals if needed.

The Selectboard will ask Karin to come in or contact them to verify her interest.

Marc moved that the board accept and sign the CVHS contract for 2010. Rita seconded. All were in favor. Vernal, as selectboard chair, signed the contract.

Gene asked about the VLCT Health Insurance rates for 2010. Marc made a motion to continue health insurance policy premiums to remain comparable to the ones in 2009. OAP Plan B replaces the discontinued OAP plan A. This will be reviewed in depth during the January 2010 budget meetings. Vern seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Ancient road information from the state was received via e-mail and Gene passed same along to the Selectboard for their review. The board felt that the mileage amount would remain without changes.

Gene informed the board that the town had received an invite to attend the Chief of Police annual luncheon meeting in Montpelier and that numerous bills/policies would be discussed at the meeting on Jan. 12th. Marc will attend as the board would like information as to what part of the county tax goes to the Orange County Sheriff’s Dept.

Notice from State of Vermont Property Value and Review was received. It indicated that as of this time the town Common Level of Appraisal would change from 81.3% to 86.3% for the 2010 Grand List.

Orders were reviewed and signed.

Marc will supply a combo lock for the shed at the town center building.

Minutes from December 8th were reviewed and accepted as amended.

Recycling coordinator responsibilities were discussed. Marc informed the board that the recycling ramps were going to be brought in to the fire station after the January 2nd recycling day, to be reconstructed and have anti-skid material placed on the inclines. The casters on the bottom will be removed.

The January schedule is as follows: regular Selectboard meetings on January 5th and 19th, if time allows the board will discuss budget items. The board will meet on January 12th and 26th for budget item review.

Vern moved to adjourn, Marc seconded. All were in favor.

Meeting adjourned at 8:44pm