Richford VT

SELECTBOARD MEETING
RICHFORD, VERMONT

AUGUST 4, 2008
AS CORRECTED AT THE AUGUST 18 MEETING

Chairman
Eric Collins called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 PM at the
Richford Emergency Services Building with members Linda Collins, Mary
Mankin, Robert St. Pierre, and Norris Tillotson. Also present were
Laura Ovitt, Josh Aldrich, Arthur Pond, Marion Paul, Hank Albarelli,
Tammy Ryea, Sandy Murphy, Wally Steinhour, and John Libbey.
Eric
announced that the meeting was being taped, and that the tape may be
aired on a website. Eric reviewed the chair’s rules: single comment per
resident per subject, and 10-minute rule per subject introduced by the
general public.

The Chair requested a motion to accept prior
minutes. Motion made by Mary Mankin, seconded by Robert St. Pierre, to
approve the minutes of the July 21 meeting. Eric noted that
clarifications had been added today. Tammy Ryea questioned whether the
audit article could be better estimated and how the audit, if voted,
would be handled. Eric explained that it would be put out to bid, and
the lowest responsible bidder would conduct the audit. The motion
carried unanimously.

Robert St. Pierre reported that work is
being done to repair the washouts of June 17. A meeting has been held
with FEMA, and the ‘kickoff’ meeting will be held Aug. 5 at 9 AM at the
Town Hall. Work is being done on Stevens Mills Slide Road, Corliss
Road, and Johnson Road.
Roadside mowing is in progress.
Peoples
Trust has agreed to leave pavement in place at the site of the
temporary bridge, with the understanding that the cement block barriers
be returned to their original positions after the project. Robert will
contact Larry Stephens to determine how long the town had agreed to
maintain the lot.
Robert said he tries to check on the roads at
least twice a month. He asked permission to use the town truck or to be
reimbursed for his mileage. The board agreed.
Robert said Melissa Clawson has requested a “Slow Children” sign for the Troy Street, Willow Street area. The board agreed.
Melissa
Wells had asked to have the sidewalk in front of her house removed. It
is not a town sidewalk, but is on private property. Robert will ask
John Nutting to talk to her.
Eric Collins brought a personal issue
to the board, requesting the angled piece of curbing within his
easement from the town be removed, saying he will replace it with
crushed stone. It will be the same grade as the pavement. Robert will
ask John Nutting to see Eric.
Wally Steinhour said a lot of work has
been done on his road (Stevens Mills Slide Road) and that it is 100
times better. He asked if the board is developing a plan or schedule
for maintenance. Robert said a grading-log is being kept. Wally said he
would like to see a plan of action in the town report rather than a
reporting of work done in the past year.
Robert said the main project being done this summer will be on the South Richford Road.
Eric
noted that a software program is available to manage roads and
culverts, and suggested that John Nutting speak with Gary Snider.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2008
Page 2
Tammy Ryea said she had heard the minutes of the last meeting and agreed with Wally that a plan should be made.

Robert noted that the end of the McAllister Road needs to be brought up to standards.
Laura was directed to make a note to the file to prepare a written plan for what is budgeted.

Laura
reported that the deadline for mass discontinuation of ancient roads
has been extended from 2009 to Feb. 10, 2010. Public hearings are
required prior to that action. Sandy Murphy noted that residents may
petition a board decision. Laura said had only one response to an ad
requesting volunteers to serve on a committee. The board directed her
to advertise again after the general election.

Norris Tillotson reported that parks and cemeteries are running well.

John
Libbey noted the 3 post lamps in Memorial Park have not worked for some
time. Eric Collins noted the digital timers may need new batteries.

Linda
Collins reported she met with Claude Desautels and requested one bid
for painting the Town Hall pillars and one bid for painting all of the
Town Hall trim.
Linda asked when the shades would be installed at
the post office. Eric Collins said he needs someone who can climb a
ladder. The work will be done before passport day.
Linda revisited
the May 5 decision to charge $50 per performance for use of the light
and sound system at the Town Hall. She said that if fees are charged
they should go through the Town Hall and not to the individual
operator. She said the board needs to be consistent with charges.
Linda reported the chimney at the library is finished.

Laura
reported an accessibility survey will be conducted on all publicly
owned buildings in Richford in conjunction with the consortium grant
project entered into in January 2007.

The board reviewed the
loitering ordinance adopted by Highgate, which lists municipal sites
subject to curfew as well as associated fines. Laura asked whether a
local ordinance more stringent than a state statute would supersede the
statute. Eric Collins said yes and no depending on the statutes cited.
He said the board would need to put a new ordinance in place before
repealing the current ordinance. The sheriff and the constable
alsowould be able to issue tickets as the ordinance would be civil.
John Libbey discussed the bicycle situation. Eric said VLCT did not have a good bicycle ordinance.
Linda
Collins reported the sheriff is hopeful for some convictions in the
Valerie Martel issue. She said maybe there could be new ordinances in
place by next summer.

Eric Collins revisited the tabled speed
ordinance from the June meeting, asking for board approval after much
discussion. Motion made by Robert St. Pierre, seconded by Linda
Collins, to adopt the ordinance. The motion carried with 4 yes and
Norris Tillotson abstaining.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2008
Page 3

Linda
Collins reported rubbish is going well. John Libbey asked why some
people are not billed. Laura reported that commercial entities are not
billed by the town.

Mary Mankin reported she has inquired
whether it is legal to bill more than one base water/sewer rate on one
meter; the state responded it is legal as long as it is done in
accordance with the local ordinance.
Mary reported two bids have
been received for replacement of the manhole behind the bank: G.W.
Tatro - $19,050, and WEI - $11,895. Motion made by Mary Mankin,
seconded by Linda
Collins, to accept the WEI bid. Mary will learn when they will schedule the work. The motion carried unanimously.
Mary
reported hydrant flushing has been completed; the hydrants are color
coded and the fire department has been trained to use them properly.
This is a stop-gap measure. The 4” lines will eventually need to be
replaced.
Mary reported that $52,000 had been allocated to the town
by the state for the directional-drilling water line replacement across
the river, but that the money has not been claimed. Mary will follow-up.
Linda
Collins questioned why two people are required to flush hydrants and to
deliver shut-off notices when one person had done the work in the past.
Mary said that if they are going from A to B it may be more efficient
to have two people, especially if the second person is available.
Hank
Albarelli questioned why the hydrant near his house has not been
repaired. Mary said she will check and report in two weeks. The chair
recognized Arthur Pond who stated the fire department has interim plans
in place for alternative hydrant use.
Laura asked about the status of the water line that crosses the Main Street bridge. Mary will look into the issue.

Sandy
Murphy said she was present on behalf of Jamie Rivers and herself to
discuss their negative experience with the town’s zoning process. She
said Mr. Rivers purchased property from her in May and applied for a
zoning permit, but has yet to have the case resolved. Sandy said she
was told that she did not do her homework, that the town clerk was
wrong, and that the attorney was wrong. She said due process is not
happening. Sandy said she has another client who has had no resolution
to his case and has not had phone calls returned. He lives in
California. Obtaining a permit was a condition of closing. She said, in
her opinion, the zoning administrator is doing everything possible to
put up road blocks. She said when an application is submitted there
should be correspondence confirming whether the application is complete
or incomplete. There has been no correspondence to either Sandy or Mr.
Rivers. She said the zoning board of adjustment met for a hearing on
June 10; a second meeting is needed because the zoning administrator
was not prepared. Mr. Rivers was not on the agenda. There has been no
notice of the results of the hearing; the board’s decision should be
delivered within a week.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2008
Page 4

Tammy
Ryea discussed the town’s annual report. She said the questions raised
by BEDC are still out there unanswered. She referred to page 22,
specifically the $22,000 deficit. She said the cash money from the 5
reserve funds is gone, and a total of $126,000 deficit has been added
to the

2008 taxes. She asked were the money had gone. She
focused on the $82,000 water and sewer deficit that has been added to
this year’s tax bill. She said the loan for $82,000 does not reference
water and sewer at all. Tammy said the consolidated balance sheet on
page 8 does not indicate that water and sewer has been subtracted from
the balance. She said doing things wrong in the past does not make it
okay to continue to do it wrong. Eric Collins said the town report does
not do a good job of reporting the sharing of funds. Tammy said she
believes the auditor statement is false. Tammy said the term ‘escrow’
should be changed and the question on the ballot should be reworded.
The board discussed whether or not it had any authority to influence
the outcome of the town report, and that perhaps it should meet with
the treasurer and auditors prior to finalizing the town report in the
next budget.

Arkie Pond discussed the Main Street bridge arch
with the clock. He said the clock was not running when it was taken
down. The Lion’s Club voted to repair the clock, but determined they
should check with the Selectboard first. The contractor will put the
arch back up if so determined by the board. The Lion’s will sandblast
and repaint the arch and replace the workings of the clock. Asked
whether the Loin’s will rewire the historical society to operate the
clock, Mr. Pond said that would not be a problem.

Eric Collins
read a letter from Joey Randall announcing his resignation from the
ambulance service. He also read a letter from Marcia Perry, responding
to the letter on behalf of the Health Center which is hired by the town
to manage the ambulance service. Both letters are in Mr. Randall’s
personnel file. Linda Collins said she had talked with Marcia, and that
maybe some things had been said that should not have. Linda said the
fire truck accident was not an ambulance issue.

The board
received an invitation from the town of Sutton to participate in a
“Townshipper’s Celebration”. The Richford fire department plans to
participate.

Eric read a letter from Walter Peters asking what
he would need to do to redeem his mother’s trailer that was bought by
the town at tax sale. The town paid $361.86 at the 2003 tax sale.
Motion made by Mary Mankin, seconded by Norris Tillotson, to sell the
trailer to Mr. Peters for $361.86. The motion carried unanimously.

The board agreed by consensus to approve an electric line easement in favor of Angela and Jeremy Paquette.

Motion
made by Robert St. Pierre, seconded by Linda Collins, to approve a
driveway permit for James McKinnon. The motion carried unanimously.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2008
Page 5

The
water/sewer contact person was discussed. Mary Mankin wants to continue
to get correspondence, and assured the board the one bill that comes to
her is turned over to the treasurer immediately.

Generator
maintenance quotes from Atlantic Power Systems was discussed. The board
will try to get quotes for comparable service from Caterpillar.

Norris
Tillotson reported the pad has been poured for the high school
generator and Dig Safe has been on site. He should be able to request
delivery of the generator next week. Robert St. Pierre questioned
whether the wood chip project had any money budgeted for a generator.
Eric Collins will follow-up.

The board tabled discussion of
whether to appoint a zoning board of adjustment or a development review
board. The board determined to ask the zoning administrator to attend
the next meeting.

The board discussed the load test for the fire
station generator. Robert St. Pierre reported two circuits need to be
added. Laura was directed to make a note for the 2009 budget, and to
request estimates.

Linda Collins reported she has donated an air
conditioner for the border patrol space. The board will discuss the
requested fence when budgeting for 2009.

The board determined to
send Raymond Bergeron a letter advising they will not give him the
$70,000 he demanded for damages when he vandalized the post office
railing.

Linda Collins reported John Nutting will install the Preserve America sign.

Motion made by Robert St. Pierre, seconded by Linda Collins, to adjourn at 10:10 PM. The motion carried unanimously.

Laura Ovitt
Administrative Assistant