Richford VT

SELECTBOARD MEETING
RICHFORD, VERMONT

October 20, 2008

Chairman
Eric Collins called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 PM with
members Linda Collins, Mary Mankin, Robert St. Pierre and Norris
Tillotson present. Also present were Laura Ovitt, Joanne Daigneault,
Joshua Aldrich, Carolyn Gendron, Marcia Perry and Matthew Irons.

Carolyn
Gendron requested Selectboard backing for a bike/skate park so that
something can be ready for next summer. She will work with the young
people and others interested to raise money and to work on design. The
board members recognized some potential issues, but agreed that space
can be available at the playground. A meeting is being held Thursday,
Oct. 23 at 7:00 PM at the Emergency Services Building for planning and
discussion. Laura will prepare a letter of support from the board for
the project.

Joshua Aldrich requested that the Selectboard
sponsor him for the police academy exam next week. Josh will pay all
expenses. Laura will prepare a letter of support.

The board
discussed the zoning board decision to deny the permit application for
the generator at the high school. A written decision has not yet been
received. The board will need to reapply. Laura will contact Rural
Development about the grant funds.

Marcia Perry reported that
Carroll McAllister is making kick plates for some of the doors at the
ambulance station. One of the doors will need to be replaced. She is
getting prices for the door.

Marcia requested permission to use
the kitchen at the emergency services building to conduct cooking
classes and prepare meals for residents using food shelf commodities.
The board approved by consensus.

Joanne Daigneault discussed the
Smith Road culvert, asking that something be done to prevent her land
and basement from being flooded. Robert St. Pierre agreed that he will
research the issue.

Matthew Irons requested permission to hunt
on town land below the dam. The board determined that permission is not
necessary for public lands.

Motion made by Linda Collins,
seconded by Robert St. Pierre, to approve the minutes of the Oct. 6
regular meeting as distributed. The motion carried, with Mary Mankin
abstaining.

Eric Collins noted that Mary Mankin would not be
presenting the water/sewer budget or rate restructure at this meeting
because she is unable to make the planned excel presentation at this
time.

Robert St. Pierre presented the inspection report for
bridge #6, which detailed repairs that are necessary. John Nutting is
meeting with Jim Smith and St. Onge Construction tomorrow, and has
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2008
Page 2

said
the state will pay for the repair.  Motion made by Mary Mankin,
seconded by Robert St. Pierre, to accept the report. The motion carried.
Robert
reported that a proposal has been introduced to the Joint Fiscal
Committee that would reduce local highway aid, paving grants and the
structures program. VLCT has proposed a resolution opposing the
proposal, as follows:
A resolution opposing the proposed cuts in funding for local highway aid programs

Whereas,
transportation infrastructure serves as the backbone not only of
Vermont’s economy, but also Vermonters’ very lives, and
Whereas,
local governments are mandated by state law to keep “in good and
sufficient repair during all seasons of the year” 80 percent of all
road miles in Vermont, and
Whereas, local governments are similarly
mandated to serve the public by maintaining the vast majority of the
bridges spanning 20’ or greater to the same level, and
Whereas,
local governments also own and are obligated to maintain thousands of
bridges spanning less than 20’ as well as an equivalent or greater
number of large and small culverts, and
Whereas, despite being
responsible for the overwhelming majority of Vermont’s highway miles,
bridges and culverts, funding for the state aid programs for local
governments have shrunk to just 15.5% of the state’s transportation
expenditures over the course of the past decade, and
Whereas, the
legislative Joint Fiscal Office estimates that Vermont currently has an
estimated gap of $200 million annually between what it spends on
transportation infrastructure and what it should spend, and
Whereas,
the 2009 VLCT Municipal Policy, adopted by local officials, calls for a
mixture of increased state revenue sources, bonding, and the cessation
of the transfer of transportation monies to the state General Fund for
non-transportation purposes to start closing that infrastructure
spending gap, and
Whereas, any cuts in state funding for the local highway aid programs means that property taxes will have to be raised, and
Whereas,
the administration has proposed and the Joint Fiscal Committee of the
Vermont Legislature will decide in November whether or not to cut
nearly $3 million from the local highway aid programs, including $1.85
million from Town Highway State Aid, $700,000 from Class 2 Paving and
Rehabilitation and $350,000 from the Town Highway Structures Program;
now therefore be it
Resolved by the Town of Richford:
That the
town specifically opposes the nearly $3 million in cuts to town highway
aid under consideration by the Joint Fiscal Committee, and be it further
Resolved:
That the town respectfully requests that the legislature not make up
for the state’s ailing transportation revenues and budget shortfalls by
cutting funding for local highway aid programs and shifting the burden
to local government and property taxpayers, and be it further
Resolved:
That the town calls upon the state administration and legislature to
return in January to make its top priority the resolution of Vermont’s
transportation funding crisis in a comprehensive and strategic manner
after consideration of all potential remedies.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2008
Page 3

Motion made by Mary Mankin, seconded by Robert St. Pierre to adopt the above resolution. The motion carried.
Robert reported that the Main Street bridge may be open by the 2nd week in November.
Robert reported that FEMA money for the summer’s storm damage will be forthcoming.
Robert reported that one of the highway trucks is in need of repair.

Norris Tillotson reported the flag light fixture in Davis Park has been repaired and a replacement bulb has been purchased.
The playground was vandalized again last night.
Norris will try to find or build a cover for the fountain for the winter.
Water for the playground and the fountain needs to be turned off.

Linda
Collins reported she has received a letter from the insurance company
that funds will not be released until the pillars have been repaired.
Linda
read a letter from Lynn Raymond questioning whether the community
chorus will need to pay to use the auditorium. The board agreed by
consensus that there will be no charge for community non-profit events.
Several school employees have expressed interest in being trained to
operate the light/sound system for the auditorium.
Linda said the library needs to have air conditioners removed.
Arrangements will be made to have Larry Bessette install the shades at the post office.
All future paint and repair projects will be stopped until the new budget is approved.

Mary Mankin reported that the $52,000 state funds will be received, but she doesn’t know when.
Scheduling for part-time help between the water/sewer and highway departments was discussed.
The board clarified that hourly employees must be paid overtime vs. being given compensatory time.
Mary asked that Robert Shover be directed not to remove sand from the water plant. It will be washed and reused.
The
board agreed to hold a special meeting Monday, Oct. 27 at 5:00 PM at
the Town Hall to work on the water/sewer budget and rate restructure,
and to discuss the high school generator project.

Eric Collins was asked to direct the sheriff to remove kids from the wall by the bank. It is a posted “no loitering” area.
Eric read a “Notice of Discharge Permit” for the proposed Border Patrol project.
The
zoning administrator has sent a notice of violation to Attorney Michael
Gawne regarding the Michael Gross property in East Richford.
Laura
was directed to send a letter to the zoning administrator directing him
to send the appropriate notices to the owners of the 111 and 109 Main
Street properties regarding their violations.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2008
Page 4

Laura
presented language proposed for an easement to the town across the Our
Lady of the Meadows property for the existing sewer line. The proposed
Border Patrol project will need to connect to the line in the area of
that easement. Motion made by Linda Collins, seconded by Mary Mankin,
to accept the easement. The motion carried.

Mary Mankin reported
that Dmitri Hudak is getting cost information for the exposed sewer
line on Route 105. The cost will be paid by business park property
owners.

Norris reported on a neighbors complaint, which was determined to be a civil situation.

Laura Ovitt
Administrative Assistant