Selectboard and Board of Sewer Commissioners Meeting

Attendees: Ivan Beattie (chair), Wayne Bell (vice-chair), Carol Lattuga, Steve Nichols, Lisa Souls.

Other Attendees: John O'Keefe (Town Manager), Lee Krohn (Town Planner), Richard Malley, and others (see attached).

Beattie called the meeting to order at 7:09PM.

Minutes from April 10, 2012

Souls moved, seconded by Lattuga, to approve the minutes from April 10. Motion carried 4-0. Nichols abstained.

Executive Session - Contract Negotiations

Bell moved, seconded by Lattuga, to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations, the premature disclosure of which may place the Town at a significant disadvantage. Motion carried 5-0. O'Keefe and Krohn were invited to attend the Session.

PACE Program - administrative agreement with Efficiency Vermont

Krohn spoke about the PACE Program, which was approved by 2012 Town Meeting.

Bell moved, seconded by Lattuga, to approve the (1) resolution, (2) guidelines and (3) agreement and authorize the Town Manager to sign the documents. Motion carried 5-0.

US Forest Service - request for support of possible land acquisition

Krohn stated that the US Forest Service was seeking support (not financial) for purchasing land off of Rootville Road in Manchester.

Bell moved, seconded by Lattuga, to support the purchase of the property. Motion carried 5-0.

Habitat Project on Jennifer Lane - agreement

The Board, O'Keefe, Krohn and Malley discussed a letter sent to the Town from Habitat that outlined a potential agreement between the Town and Habitat.

O'Keefe listed the components that he recommended the Board support, including: (1) the Town grant Habitat an easement for septic lines and (2) Habitat would be required to pave the existing roadway, but not change the profile of the roadway, after the Town DPW grades the roadway and installs a few culverts.

O'Keefe noted that Habitat is also requesting that the Town (Water Board) pay the difference between a cross-country route and replacing the Town-owned line from Rt. 11 and 30. O'Keefe noted that the line is scheduled, long-term, for replacement. O'Keefe stated that the Water Board was planning to discuss the issue the next day, but that further work was required before any conclusions could be made about the proposal.

O'Keefe also noted that Habitat was requesting that the Town take ownership of the new roadway into the development and pay for onsite engineering services. O'Keefe stated that he recommended that the Boards not approve these requests. Beattie stated that he concurred with these recommendations.

Beattie stated that more work needed to be done before the Boards could consider the requests. The Board took no action.

Roundabout - update

O'Keefe and Krohn updated the Board on the Roundabout project. O'Keefe noted that the contractor, Schultz, planned to start work soon, after the Pre-Construction Conference. The Board took no action.

Board Appointments Process - update and discussion

Krohn and the Board discussed the upcoming Board appointment process. The Board agreed to allow Krohn and a BBA represenatation to pre-screen student applicants before being interviewed by the Selectboard's sub-committee and appoints were ultimately made by the Selectboard.

Other Business - Efficiency VT Agreement for Streetlights

Krohn presented the Board a final agreement, at no cost to the Town, for the replacement of streetlights. Souls moved, seconded by Bell, to authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement. Motion carried 5-0.

Krohn reminded the Board about the hearing on the Town Plan on May 1 and May 15.

Park House Design Contract - award

O'Keefe stated that the Town was still negotiating with Bread Loaf for final design. The Board took no action.

Sewer Rates for Fiscal Year 2013 (effective July 1, 2012)

The Board and O'Keefe discussed the proposed rates that were included in the FY 2013 budget.

Nichols moved, seconded by Lattuga, to approve the new rates and amend Chapter 10 of the Town Ordinances. Motion carried 5-0.

Suspension of Rules

Bell moved, seconded by Souls, to suspend the Rules so that the Board could meet beyond 9PM. Motion carried 5-0.

Park and Recreation Fees and Field Use Policy for Fiscal Year 2013

O'Keefe and the Board discussed the updated fees and field use policy for the Parks and Recreation Department, which was incorporated into the FY 2013 budget and 2012 Town Report. O'Keefe noted that under the new policy, fields would be first-come, first serve unless users wanted to pay a $10 reservation fee. O'Keefe also noted that the Town would not be lining fields and that users would be required to do lining, except for Applejack Field. O'Keefe noted that the new policy would apply to all users, including Burr and Burton Academy.

Nichols asked why the family pool pass was eliminated for the summer of 2012. O'Keefe noted that the Town has not increased season pool passes for residents for a few years, despite increased costs. He noted that the Town, on average, subsidies users about 50%. Resident families with more than 3 members receive an even larger subsidy, paid for partly by other pool users. O'Keefe also noted that other entertainment and recreation providers, like ski resorts and movie theaters do not have family rates. O'Keefe also noted that it is very difficult to "police" who is a family member and who is not.

Nichols moved, seconded by Lattuga, to approve the new policy.

Other Business - FEMA Reimbursement

O'Keefe updated the Board on FEMA reimbursement related to Irene.

Other Business - Redistricting

Adjournment

Bell moved, seconded by Nichols, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0.