Selectboard Minutes - February 16, 2010



Vershire Selectboard minutes for February 16th, 2010
(approved)

In attendance: Vernal Stone (Chair), Marc McKee, Rita French, Gene Craft, Alan Lyford, Debra Kingsbury. Guests: Alden Smith, Steve Ward

Vernal Stone called the meeting to order at 7:00pm

Stone reviewed documents that needed to be discussed and signed later in the meeting.

Highway Foreman, Allen Lyford, discussed stream bank erosion concerns along the Ompompanoosuc River near the town center and also a bank on a tributary behind the Paronto home on Vershire Center Road. Steve Ward announced a planned meeting between the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and Ward, as Fire Chief & Emergency Management Coordinator, scheduled for Thursday, February 18th at 10am to review areas of stream bank erosion that are of concern. Ward asked for a representative from the Board to attend. French agreed that she could be present for the meeting with the ANR representative. It was agreed that Highway Foreman Lyford would also be in attendance.

Lyford informed the Board that he and Tim Farrar were painting the interior of the highway garage and would need to acquire additional white paint to complete the project.

Lyford informed the Board that the highway sand pile was holding up so far, and Craft commented that he had occasion last week to travel on a number of our local Class 3 roads, and that the ones he traversed appeared in good shape. Kingsbury thanked the highway crew for installing the "Frost Heave"
signs on Goose Green Road, and noted the heaves are rather severe at present.

Lyford asked the Board and Road Commissioner for information regarding the site of a particular culvert on Eastman Cross Rd. Lyford stated it looked as if the site might not have a culvert in place at all, but that if there was one, it needed to be replaced. He will research further.

Lyford will be present at the Feb. 28th information meeting but, as a Justice of the Peace in Chelsea, he is obligated to be present at Chelsea's Town Meeting on March 2nd. Stone, as Road Commissioner, will answer any highway questions that may arise at Town Meeting.

Alden Smith was present to offer an update to the board regarding the Taylor Valley Conservation Project. Joan Waltermire, who had shared some information previously with the Board, was unable to attend tonight and TVCP wanted to share their progress, including sample pamphlets and a map of the area. The map shows the four involved towns of Vershire, Chelsea, Strafford
and Tunbridge. The TVCP mission is to insure that the Taylor Valley area
remains relatively undeveloped into perpetuity. The group hopes to keep the area open and free from development by inviting owners in the designated region to relinquish the development rights in a consolidated effort to preserve it. There are approximately 130 parcels in the noted region and the hope of the project is to enlist ~20% of the owners to participate.
John Hemmenway, who owns over 1,500 acres in Vershire & Strafford, has
already placed easements on his lands. The cost to describe and record
documents to preserve land can be prohibitively expensive and one of the goals of the project is to raise money privately to assist with these
initial costs. Ward asked what impact placing easements on these lands may
have on the future tax role distribution. Smith referred to Kingsbury, and both agreed that it would not change the tax assessment on the bulk land.
Ward also inquired as to the impact on recreational usage, and Smith replied that it shouldn't change that aspect either.

French asked if the TVCP group is focusing on just this immediate area.
Smith answered "yes," as this area has multiple seasonal roads and invites a variety of wildlife habitant areas and the occasional rare plant species.
There are also watershed and beaver dams that need preservation, and both Stone and McKee agreed that it was often best to preserve wetland areas.
Smith was there to inform the Board, so that if they received questions about the project they could answer them. McKee asked Smith if the TVCP group could post the large map at Town Meeting, have more pamphlets on hand and a person to provide information. Smith will discuss with Joan Waltermire, but thought they could handle the request.

Stone stated that Craft, as Treasurer, attended the recent Delinquent Tax Sale held that morning and asked him to explain what had transpired. Craft explained that two properties went up for bid and both were sold for more than what was owed in taxes, resulting in a need to establish an escrow account for each. To open the accounts, the bank requires a resolution by the Board, so Stone moved that the Board adopt a resolution to establish 2 escrow accounts. McKee seconded. All were in favor. Kingsbury, as witness, signed the resolution documents to establish the bank escrow accounts.

The Board discussed the town highway mileage certificate. There are 39.481 miles of roads including state highways, Class 2, 3, 4 and legal trails in town. Stone moved to accept the noted mileage and endorse. McKee seconded.
All were in favor.

The Selectboard received a notice from Nortrak, in reference to the recently purchased John Deere Backhoe, offering to send a technician to review the condition of the backhoe before the factory warranty expires at a cost of $250. The other option is for the town to transport the backhoe to Nortrak, thereby getting the inspection for free at their place of business.
The board and Lyford felt that the cost was not necessary as they did not see any specific concern.

The Board reviewed the Flood Plain Ordinance. McKee expressed that he had concerns as to who enforced any questionable issues, what the penalties might be and who would be the enforcing agent for those as well. French asked if the board was prepared to approve it or not at this time. Craft stated that if the ordinance was not approved it would hamper people in the designated flood hazard area from being able to obtain flood insurance.
Craft also explained that the Board has the authority to revise the ordinance, and that the Board can interact with Chris Sargent at TRORC to discuss the items of concern, and what parts would remain mandatory. French asked if the ordinance was not approved if it would impact FEMA funds in the event of a disaster in town and if the voters of the town had previously approved a flood ordinance of any kind. Craft stated that he could research.

Stone moved that the Board go in to Executive Session to discuss an employee issue. French seconded. All were in favor and the Board entered into executive session at 8:15. The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:21. The resulting decision was to sign documents from the Vermont Dept.
of Labor and Unemployment Benefits. Stone endorsed for the Board as Chair.

A letter from Cyndi Veysey was acknowledged and will be placed in the
Selectboard's correspondence file.

McKee reported that he spoke with Richard Covey of Pike Industries and the Board received a quote from Pike to pave the parking area at the town center building in the amount of $17,050. This quote was for 1,390 sq yards of paving and materials. The quote also itemized an additional mobilization cost of $1,500 should the project not coincide with the paving of Rte. 113 in Vershire this summer. Stone suggested that the Board get a second
estimate from Blacktop Paving. French and McKee agreed and McKee will
contact Blacktop for the quote.

Stone asked about the Highway Dept. radios, and if any of the existing radios in the trucks could be reprogrammed. The Board also discussed the FCC license procedure. French asked if the license procedure and the installation of the radios could be handled at the same time. Stone asked Craft to contact Pikcomm and inquire if they could assist the town with the FCC application process and what the fees would be.

Craft informed the Board that he would be attending a "Town Meeting Tune-up" seminar on Wednesday the 17th.

Stone asked about the upcoming Rabies Clinic on March 13th. Craft confirmed that it would be held at the Chelsea Animal Clinic this year as they were unable to accommodate a separate clinic at the Vershire Town Office.

The US Dept of Census Bureau has sent the Board a form and CD for their review. Stone will take home to review and report back.

Potential highway grants were discussed for Class 2 and Class 3 road. Eagle Hollow Road needs to be reviewed. Trevor Starr from the Dept of Transportation has offered to meet with the Board after town meeting.

Stone moved to approve the Feb. 2nd minutes as amended. Rita seconded. All were in favor.

Orders were reviewed and signed.

Meeting adjourned at 8:59pm