Jan
11
2021

01-11-2021 Selectboard Meeting

Town of Fairlee Selectboard Meeting
Town of Fairlee Town Hall
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045

(All members, staff, and the public were remote using ZOOM.)

Monday, January 11, 2021

Call to Order: 6:01 PM 

Peter Berger, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was met.

PRESENT
  • Selectboard Members: Peter Berger, Chair; Josh Hickman, Vice Chair; Cathy McGrath
  • Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
  • Town Clerk: Georgette Wolf-Ludwig
  • Treasurer: Lisa Hinsley
  • Lister: Noël Walker
  • Zoning Administrator: Chris Brimmer
  • Chief of Police: Jason Bachus
  • Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
  • Visitors: None.
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS:

Berger tabled the discussion of Chapman’s Store under New Business.

MOTION: Josh Hickman/ Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS

Police Chief’s Report—December 2020

Jason Bachus reported on the police activities during the month of December 2020:

42 hours on patrol, traffic stops, and performing administrative activities.

The Vermont State Police had 8 calls for service, including 2 citizen complaints, 2 assists, and 1 vandalism.

Zoning Administrator’s Report

Chris Brimmer reported on the Planning Commission’s meeting in which the members completed the first group of Bylaw amendments, and agreed that a Public Hearing will be warned for the February 3, 2021, meeting. Brimmer issued a permit for a single-family dwelling construction on Maurice Roberts Highway. Sarah Pushee (Red Clover Bikes, Ltd.) is planning to rent the vacant commercial space (formerly a hair styling establishment) and was issued an administrative permit (change in commercial use). She plans to sell e-bikes.

[End of Zoning Administrator’s Report]

ANNUAL BUDGET HEARING

MOTION: Josh Hickman/ Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to recess the Selectboard meeting at 6:27 PM and convene the Budget Committee Hearing at 6:36 PM. The motion passed unanimously.

The Selectboard meeting reconvened at 8:27 PM.

Nunez requested tabling the Town Employee Benefits discussion under Old Business.

STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS, cont.

Lister’s Office

Noël Walker presented to the Board the State of Vermont, 2020 Equalization Study Results:

Common levels of appraisal = 91.51%

Coefficient of dispersion = 11.85%

Walker noted that this will affect the tax rate.

Town Administrator’s Report

Tad Nunez sent a report on the Town Administrator’s activities and meetings during the week beginning January 4, 2021:

Water System Project

Water meter installation: final completion met.

Meter reading system: on hold.

Water mains: construction to begin May 2021.

Water treatment facility: Final start-up and training for February/March.

Telemetry Cost Proposal (Penta/EII electrical company)

Nunez reported on the system upgrades for the telemetry between the Water Storage Tank and the Water Filtration System.    

Future Project Budgeting

Smith Reed continues to participate with the TRORC Transportation Advisory Committee.

The Route 244 Safety Audit is scheduled for Thursday, April 28, 2021, at 10:00 AM.

The Annual Report contract was signed. The Report will be out on February 16, 2021.

The Central Vt Solid Waste District per capita fee for Fairlee is $980.

Nunez received the Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator’s annual report.

 Sections of the Transfer Station area were cleared to prepare a potential site for the Pole Barn.

The Town Hall staff resumed their COVID-19 schedule.

Fairlee Community Arts members met with Nunez to discuss the auditorium lighting project.

Skating Rink

Berger asked Nunez to convey to the Recreation Council that it may be preferable to have a rink on Lake Morey so Town residents can park at the Town Beach.

OLD BUSINESS

Town Meeting Preparations

Georgette Wolf-Ludwig attended a Vt Clerks’ Roundtable in which running elections and early and absentee balloting were discussed. Her takeaways included one topic: towns are limiting the number of articles on the ballot to officers and budget numbers. Wolf-Ludwig stated that the legislature is discussing mailing ballots to active voters—printing of ballots and postage may be reimbursed.

The Town Meeting is March 2, 2021, and the consent for office forms were mailed, and she considered sending postcards and notifying residents with a newspaper posting. There was Board consensus.  

M2M Final Report Review

Cathy McGrath stated that the final iteration is needed of the Dubois & King report of the Better Connections Grant work and then a public presentation can be scheduled.

NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, January 18, 2021 at 6:00 PM.

CORRESPONDENCE: None.

MINUTES REVIEW

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to accept the Selectboard Meeting Minutes from 1-4-2020 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

MOTION: Josh Hickman/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to go into Executive Session (personnel) at 9:23 PM. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board came out of Executive Session at 10:05 PM.

Action items:

Reviewed the employee evaluation with Brimmer.

No action taken.

ADJOURN

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 PM. The motion passed unanimously.

Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk