Richford VT

SELECTBOARD METING
RICHFORD, VERMONT

CORRECTED July 21, 2008

JULY 7, 2008

Chairman
Eric Collins called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 PM with
members Linda Collins, Mary Mankin and Norris Tillotson present. Also
present were Clerk Gary Snider, Laura Ovitt, Marion Paul, Wallace
Steinhour, Yvonne Combs, Dmitri Hudak, Neal Lovelette, Gloria Spencer,
John Libbey, Melissa Wells, Carolyn Gendron (7:34), Hayden Janes (8:12)
and Doug Billado (9:04).

Melissa Wells reported that at the last
Regional Planning Commission meeting the board worked on the RPC bylaws
and some housekeeping issues. She reported that earlier in the year the
State had proposed that vacation homes be categorized as seasonal and
not subject to septic upgrades. The RPC had opposed that ruling. The
State responded that a seasonal home occupied 181 days per year or more
be categorized as permanent and subject to upgrades. The RPC is also
opposed to that ruling.

Wallace Steinhour discussed the quality
of maintenance performed on the Stevens Mills Slide road. He said the
road is not graded often enough and has had no upgrades in the past 6-7
years, and that now the banks are higher than the road. He suggested
that more attention and perhaps more resources be directed toward the
town’s back roads. Laura was directed to prepare a list of all dirt
roads in town, and to obtain the summer schedule for these roads.

Motion
made by Linda Collins, seconded by Norris Tillotson, to approve the
minutes of the June 16 regular meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

Norris Tillotson reported that work on set up for the high school generator is progressing.

The
board discussed the blacktop laid at each end of the temporary Main
Street bridge, and whether it would be beneficial to keep it. Laura was
directed to contact People’s Trust Co. to learn if they had objections
to leaving the blacktop on their lot.

Norris Tillotson reported
that parks and cemeteries are in pretty good shape. He said there were
185 children at the summer day camp today. Norris said the vandalism in
Davis Park had been addressed, and that John Libbey had repaired damage
to the plantings.

Linda Collins reported the Library chimney
will be replaced soon. She said she is working to find a source for
repair work for the town hall pillars. Linda question whether some of
the wood at the library needed to be replaced. Eric Collins said some
of the railing and door casing, as well as several clapboards, had
rotted. He has the material to make the repairs.
Linda reviewed fuel oil usage by building.

Eric
Collins reported that he has spoken to some of the deputy sheriffs, who
would like to institute some programs. Eric asked the board for
consensus about the deputies using dogs to protect themselves until
backup arrived. The board was generally not in favor of the suggestion.

Eric
discussed the bicycle ordinance currently on the books. He said it is
outdated, and that he has not updated it because the children have no
place to ride other than the streets. A question

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2008
Page 2

was
raised about ATVs on the street. Eric responded that, by State statute,
ATVs are not permitted anywhere unless a town adopts an ordinance
allowing use of the roads.

Linda Collins reported that a letter has been sent with the last trash bill regarding the approved rate increase.
Motion
made by Mary Mankin, seconded by Norris Tillotson, to accept Bruce
Wetherby’s rubbish contract for the ensuing three years. The motion
carried unanimously.

Mary Mankin reported she has worked with
Gary Snider to fine tune numbers involved with the water/sewer rate
restructuring. The billable water usage has been increased, as well as
the number of billable units. She is now working on updating the
database.

Mary asked Dmitri Hudak to address the recent sewer
line repair on North Avenue. Dmitri demonstrated how the repair had
been completed. The board discussed who would be responsible for the
cost of the repairs. Dmitri said he would appreciate being told while
the hole is open if an error is noticed. Dmitri further suggested using
a snake to try to clear blocked lines in the future before deciding to
dig up the line.
The Board determined the cost of the repair would be about $600.
Motion
made by Linda Collins to split the cost of repairs until such time as
the ordinance is clear. The motion died for lack of a second.
Motion made by Mary Mankin to charge the full cost of the repair to the property owner. The motion died for lack of a second.
Motion made by Linda Collins to split the cost of the repair with Paul Fletcher. The motion died for lack of a second.
Motion
made by Norris Tillotson to do research on the ordinances and the
town’s liability before taking action. The motion died for lack of a
second.
Motion made by Eric Collins to follow past precedence in
this case and in future cases, and that the town accept responsibility
for repairs within the town right-of-way, and that the town pay the
full cost in this instance. Norris Tillotson seconded the motion. The
motion carried with Linda Collins, Norris Tillotson, and Eric Collins
voting yes, and Mary Mankin voting no.

Gary Snider presented the
deed for the land the high school sits on. Motion made by Linda
Collins, seconded by Mary Mankin, to transfer the land the high school
sits on from the town to the school district. The motion carried
unanimously.

Gary discussed setting tax rates for the town and
school. Gary said the town rate calculates to $0.7970 per $100 of
assessment. He said the school can bill only the state set tax rate
divided by the CLA at this time, and can send an adjusted bill when a
budget has been passed. Gary said the local agreement rate for
veteran’s exemptions calculates to $0.0014 at this time. Using the
school budget voted in June the rate calculates to $0.0018.

Motion made by Linda Collins, seconded by Mary Mankin, to set tax rates as follows:
Municipal tax                    $0.7970
Non Homestead Education tax        $1.2522
Interim Homestead tax            $0.8010
Local Agreement tax                $0.0018 pending approval by the State.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2008
Page 3
Local Agreement tax (w/o state approval)      $0.0014
The motion carried unanimously.

Doug
Billado questioned whether the town had rented an excavator for work
done after the June 17 storm. He said a cylinder had broken that the
town had to pay for, and questioned whether the town had to pay rent on
the equipment during the down time prior to the repair. Gary Snider
said the bills had not yet come in. Norris Tillotson said the issue
will be discussed at the next meeting. The agenda item for the July 21
meeting will be outside contractors/inside contractors/ equipment use.

Hayden
Janes requested permission to be relieved from paying the trash bill
because he has rented a dumpster while he is cleaning out his house.
Motion made by Norris Tillotson, seconded by Linda Collins, to allow
Mr. Janes to opt out of the trash service for the current quarter. The
motion carried.

Carolyn Gendron questioned the legality of
charging two water/sewer rates on one meter (residential and
commercial). Mary Mankin said she would research the question.
Carolyn
said that the trailer she owns on Green Avenue has no water pressure,
and that she was told she needed to install a booster pump. She
believed the town should be responsible for installing the pump. Mary
will research the question.

John Libbey reported that vandalism
this year is worse than it has been in the 27 years he has been on the
Beautification Committee.

Eric Collins read a letter from
Matthew Wills complaining about a barking dog. Laura was directed to
refer the letter to the animal control officer.

Laura reported
that the highway crew continues to find yard debris set out. They
picked it up because strong storms had been predicted, and they were
concerned about the storm drains becoming plugged. Laura was directed
to send letters to the property owners who are continuing to pile the
debris.

The board agreed by consensus to approve an electric line easement for Cliff and Sonia Holmes.

Laura reported a call from a Golf Course Road resident requesting increased sheriff patrols to deal with speeding vehicles.

Norris Tillotson questioned a recent invoice from Forcier & Aldrich. Mary Mankin will research the bill.

Motion made by Mary Mankin, seconded by Linda Collins, to adjourn at 10:10 PM. The motion carried unanimously.

Laura Ovitt
Administrative Assistant