Richford VT

SELECTBOARD MEETING
RICHFORD, VERMONT

JULY 21, 2008

Chairman
Eric Collins called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 PM with
members Linda Collins, Mary Mankin, Robert St. Pierre and Norris
Tillotson present. Also present were Laura Ovitt, Valerie Martel, John
Libbey, Neal Lovelette, Gloria Spencer, Marion Paul, Yvonne Combs,
Steve Sheperd, Carolyn Gendron, Alfred Gendron, Douglas Kidder, Ernest
Lariviere, Shirley Jewett, Debra Hebert, Duane Hebert, Helen Thompson,
Harold Thompson, Reba Ryea, Tim Green, John Nutting, Charles Hotchkiss,
Claire Fay, Tammy Ryea, Christine Cooper, and Sheriff’s Deputy Wiley
Ruprecht.

The chair requested an altered agenda for the evening
to allow Valerie Martel to discuss vandalism and an arson attempt on
her Church Street property. Then to proceed with departmental review;
old business first followed immediately by new.

Valerie Martel
reported that on July 20 she arrived home from work about 8 PM and
heard people scurrying out of her barn (garage). She asked them to stay
out. Her neighbor had seen young people about her home earlier told
them to leave. Valerie called the Sheriff. When he arrived they opened
the barn door and found that a fire had been started inside, which had
extinguished itself. They found a door kicked in. The deputy returned
in the daylight and made an evaluation. She has had problems for the
past three years, but now it is getting worse. Young people had been
sneaking into her yard (which is fenced) to use her pool. Now her lawn
furniture is being thrown into the pool, a garden bench is used as a
diving board, and chemicals are being dumped into the pool. The liner
has been torn and now leaks. She said the children are incorrigible and
need to be stopped.
The chair asked Deputy Wiley Ruprecht if he
could provide a status. The Deputy said the problem is not three kids
on bikes, it is 25 kids on bikes. He said an investigator will be
coming to ask questions, but will need more information to follow up.
The
question of a curfew ordinance was raised; Eric Collins said without
enforcement the ordinance would have no impact and, by state statute,
the fine for violating the ordinance is $5.00 and applies to children
15 years old and younger. Security cameras were suggested. The deputy
said the cameras are sophisticated and expensive. He said that juvenile
law would require that the young people be released into the custody of
an adult. He said not all cases are being reported, so information
helpful to the investigations is not available.
Carolyn Gendron stated that not all kids on bikes are a problem, but the few give the others a bad reputation.
Guests
at the meeting said they didn’t report incidents for fear of
retaliation. Ensuing discussion included related general incidents, a
parent or adult needs to be accountable for the children, the
possibility of a town one-person police force, and certified constable
with law enforcement authority, a volunteer group to patrol, and
reviving the neighborhood watch program.

Robert St. Pierre
reported that the town may receive some highway aid for the estimated
$187,000 damage done on Corliss Road, Johnson Road and Combs Road
during the June 17 storm    He said the town has been approved for a
grant to do resurfacing on the South Richford d from Rt. 105 to the
4-corners at McAllister/Guilmette Roads.
Robert reported that the VT
League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) is starting a cooperative of towns to
purchase salt; the towns need to estimate usage and agree to buy 80% of
that estimate. Motion made by Linda Collins, seconded by Norris
Tillotson, to authorize John Nutting to enter into a contract with VLCT
to purchase salt. The motion carried unanimously.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2008
Page 2

Robert
St. Pierre presented two driveway permits on behalf of John Nutting,
saying he had inspected the sites. Motion made by Robert St. Pierre,
seconded by Linda Collins, to approve both permits. The motion carried.
Robert reported that road-grading is being done, and a log of work is being kept.

John
Nutting reported that FEMA representatives will meet with Richford,
Berkshire and Montgomery officials on July 29 at 9 AM at the Emergency
Services Building to discuss recent storm damage. A hydraulic study
needs to be done on McAllister and Corliss roads to determine whether
5’ or 3’ culverts are needed. He has met with the stream alteration
specialist. A possibility is a “pour in place” concrete header,
although the Agency of Natural Resources recommends rip rap.

Norris Tillotson reported all is in order in parks and cemeteries.

Linda
Collins reported the chimney is nearly done at the library. The collars
for the pillars at the town hall will cost $1500 each, plus
installation. She is trying to get insurance coverage for part of the
expense. She and Laura are working on a Historic Preservation grant
application (1-1 match) for painting after the repairs are made. The
board was asked to consider whether anything else should be included in
the application, like the town hall south wall drainage issue.
Eric
Collins reported the Border Patrol has requested residents not be
allowed to ‘cross-lot’ on foot behind the post office building citing
public safety issues. Eric said the ’08 budgeted fence originally
slated for atop the wall will circumvent the issue if installed from
the Post Office to the retaining wall to prevent people from cutting
through the parking lot. He went on to say that it was meant to go
across the top as well but cannot until the wall is rebuilt. Robert St.
Pierre added the highway crew has been too busy to get to the wall
anytime soon.

Eric Collins asked Valerie Martel is she had
contacted VSP (in reference to the arson. She said that, when she
discovered the fire in her barn, she called the State Police who said
they wouldn’t come because they had not been called first, and added
the sheriff’s office would have to request their involvement.
Eric Collins was asked if surveillance cameras had been installed; he said cameras had not been purchased.

Carolyn
Gendron questioned whether unpaid trash bills became a lien against a
property. Laura said that when a property was sold or refinanced the
town collected delinquent bills.

Mary Mankin reported that she
and Dmitri Hudak had reviewed the water and sewer department budgets
and found them to be on track.  She said the highway department
assisted with repair of the road to the dam. The dam will need dredging
at some point.
Mary said hydrant flushing will be done during the week of July 28. Businesses will be individually notified.
The water department truck has had 2 break downs in the past 2 weeks. The board will need to look at replacing it in 2009.
Three
of the four filters at the water plant have been cleaned using the
sand-washer. When the fourth has been cleaned, the sand that has been
stockpiled will be cleaned. The town will need to look at replacement
sand if 4-5 years.
The stage 2 testing plan for the operating permit has been submitted to the state.
All water quality testing is now within limits.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2008
Page 3

Two bids have been received for the replacement of manhole #11.
The discharge permit renewal contract was signed today.
Mary
discussed the July 7 4-1 vote deciding that the town will repair sewer
lines within the right-of-way. She said the town is innocent until
proven guilty. The property owner should call a plumber first, and the
town should pay the bill if the blockage is in the town’s line. The
sewer line that was the subject of the July 7 discussion has again
become blocked. Norris Tillotson said the board had agreed to follow
past precedent, including snaking the line to determine where the
blockage was located. Mary said she and the water/sewer foreman did not
want to make a policy of going into people’s houses. Eric Collins said
we have the equipment and paid personnel, why should the town pay the
plumber’s bill when we can quickly establish whether the problem is
ours or the property owners’.
Following discussion, motion made by
Eric Collins, seconded by Linda Collins, to require the property owner
to sign a disclaimer holding the town harmless; to charge $70 per hour
with a minimum 1 hour
charge if the problem is in the owner’s
line; the town will absorb the charge if the problem is in the town’s
line; the homeowner may clear their own line; the town shall snake from
the clean out at the foundation to determine where the blockage is
located; and if there is no clean out, the property owner is
responsible to install a clean out and to clear the blockage.
The motion carried with 4 yes votes and with Mary Mankin abstaining.
Mary
reported she has taken pictures of the water line at the Main Street
bridge and sent them to the state. Someone from the state is coming
next week.
Robert St. Pierre asked whether the proposed rate restructure would be ready for October; Mary said it would be.
Robert asked whether meters were being repaired; Mary said they are trying to complete 3-5 each week.

Eric
Collins indicated his trust in our auditors, our treasurer, and our
system; and that, in his personal opinion, since a few citizens cannot
understand our budget (how it is derived, spend, and then stated in the
town report) that with the fall elections it would be the opportunity
to inquire of the trust of the voters in the form of an article
regarding budgeting for an independent outside full audit in the coming
year.
Motion made by Mary Mankin, seconded by Robert St. Pierre, to
ask voters in November whether the Selectboard should budget for an
audit in 2009 at a cost of $18,000 to $20,000, and to warn as a
separate article. The motion carried unanimously.

The board reviewed budget balances.

Charles
Hotchkin revisited his request to place a hydroturbine in Alder Brook.
He has met with Chris Brunelle, VT Stream Alteration Engineer, who gave
him permission to proceed to acquire proper permits.
Motion made
by Mary Mankin, seconded by Linda Collins, to allow Mr. Hotchkin to
proceed with the hydroturbine project and to have the town attorney
prepare an easement deed, with Mr. Hotchkin assuming the cost. Mr.
Hotchkin will seek zoning guidance. The motion carried unanimously.

Motion
made by Robert St. Pierre, seconded by Norris Tillotson, to approve the
minutes of the May 31 emergency meeting. The motion carried with three
yes votes (the other 2 members were not present at the meeting).

Motion
made by Robert St. Pierre, seconded by Linda Collins, to change the
July 7 minutes to state that the town would allow Hayden Janes to “opt
out” of the trash bill for the current quarter rather than the town
will “forgive” the current quarter. The motion carried.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2008
Page 4

Motion made by Mary Mankin, seconded by Linda Collins, to accept the July 7 minutes with the above change. The motion carried.

Motion made by Robert St. Pierre, seconded by Mary Mankin, to adjourn at 9:37 PM. The motion carried.

Laura Ovitt
Administrative Assistant