10-18-2021 Selectboard Meeting
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045
Monday, October 18, 2021
Call to Order: 6:00 PM. Peter Berger, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was met.
PRESENT
- Selectboard Members: Peter Berger, Chair; Cathy McGrath, Vice Chair; and Lance Mills
- Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
- Town Clerk: Georgette Wolf-Ludwig
- Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Miranda Clemson, Alex Nuti-de Biasi (Journal Opinion), Elizabeth Emmons (Dufresne Group).
AGENDA APPROVAL AND MODIFICATIONS:
Nunez suggested tabling the Executive Session (personnel).
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to accept the Agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Donation
Wolf-Ludwig announced the potential donation from John Larrabee to Fairlee of a 1792 Samuel Morey copper boiler. Wolf-Ludwig suggested a recessed display case and a plaque for display in the Town Hall. The Selectboard was in agreement.
Zoning Administrator’s Report:
Moratorium Follow Up
Brimmer reported that he met with the Town Administrator and Selectboard Chair to discuss the moratorium and concluded that the Town needs to hire a staff member to collect data, which would include the following:
A chemical profile of the lake water, including nutrients and chemicals that may affect water quality.
A biological profile of the lake water, including the speciation of cyanobacteria and other possible pathogens to be described and quantified.
A source identification to pinpoint sources and quantify their contributions to the nutrient load in Lake Morey.
A quantification of the changes in settlement and use patterns around the lake and an identification of locations that are prime for future development and redevelopment.
Brimmer reported on the nonregulatory concerns, such as enhanced wastewater requirements. Brimmer recommended closing the Conditional Use provisions for both conversion from seasonal to year-round permits and the footprint quantification related to restoration.
From the meeting, the members offered action items:
- To hire a contractor able to meet our data quantification needs.
- To contact the state on the issues of septic regulation and possible existing data sets.
- To engage possible partners: LMPA, TRORC, and ANR.
Development Review Board
Brimmer announced the applications for a site-plan review and conditional use hearings are upcoming for the 501 US Rte. 5 project. Brimmer noted that the issue of the roof has been addressed, and the application materials are complete.
Brimmer reported that the lot line adjustment between the Town and Chapmans General is also on the DRB docket. Brimmer recommended that the Town be represented at the DRB hearing on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:00 PM.
Grants
Brimmer recommended to pass on the FY2022 MPG grant in favor of preserving eligibility for VCDP Planning Grant that is more tailored to funding scoping, feasibility, and engineering for scattered-site community septic.
[End of Zoning Administrator’s Report]
Town Administrator’s Report
Tad Nunez provided a report on the Town Administrator’s activities and meetings during the week beginning October 4 and 11, 2021:
Box Culvert Bridge / FEMA Project
Nunez reported that the FEMA project on Lake Morey west (box culvert bridge) was not completed by the September 2020 deadline, so funding will be returned to the state, but FEMA is currently writing an amendment. Nunez reported that the project is scheduled to start Wednesday, October 19, 2021, and notices have been distributed.
Recreation Council
Nunez announced that the Recreation Council will be conducting their second annual Pumpkin Glow event.
Chapman’s Projects
Nunez reported that the Chapmans General group did not get through to the next round of the VT Outdoor Recreation Communities (VOREC) grant process.
Nunez met with Berne Traendly to review property set-backs and rights-of-way prior to implementing the construction project at Chapmans General.
Town Forest
Nunez met with Todd Dunham (contractor), Dan Ludwig, and Marcus Bradley (forester) to review maintenance needs of several Town Forest logging roads and trails. Nunez announced that the work will begin November 2021.
Nunez has a conference call with Rick Dyer, VT State Forester, and Dyer assured him that the work in the Town Forest is on the right track.
Nunez announced that the public meeting for the Town Forest is scheduled for Wednesday, November 3 at 6:00 PM. Nunez announced that the stakeholders (Town, Forest Board, and Friends of the Fairlee Forest) will be meeting with the facilitator from Upper Valley Trails Alliance on Tuesday, October 19 to plan the public meeting agenda.
Lake Morey Stream Data
Nunez received from Greg Allen the final 2021 summer Lake Morey stream data, which was collected during two wet-weather events. Nunez announced that Allen and staff from the VT Department Environmental Conservation will be meeting to review these data, and the final report is forthcoming.
Emergency Services Building
Nunez reported that one of the large emergency building doors was damaged. Nunez continued that new parts were installed, and a window component is on order.
Central VT Solid Waste Management District
Nunez announced that the Central VT Solid Waste Management District will be holding a public hearing on Monday, October 25 at 4:00 PM to discuss and take public comments on the Per Capita Assessment and the Draft Preliminary FY23 Budget, which begins July 1, 2022.
Local Hazard Mitigation Project
Nunez submitted the revisions to the Local Hazard Mitigation financial report form, and he announced that the Town will be reimbursed in the amount of $7,037.56.
Lake Morey East Project
Nunez reported that the Lake Morey east (Class 2 grant) is 95% completed, and only the road shoulder work is to be completed.
ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)
Nunez reported that there has been an ARPA schedule change: For nonentitlement units of government (NEUs), the report will now be due on April 30, 2022 and will cover the period between the award date and March 31, 2022.
Green Mt. Power
Nunez met with a representative from Green Mt. Power to review their upcoming project along RT 5 north. Nunez reported that there will be tree work and removal along the entrance way to the Town cemetery.
Water System
Nunez reported that there was a mechanical failure at the pump station, which shut down the entire water system. Nunez reported that the appropriate contractor (EII) was notified, and repairs were made. Nunez noted that the Water Operators learned how to deal with the problem in the event of a future failure.
Lake Morey Reconstruction Moratorium
Nunez, Brimmer, and Berger met to strategize how to move forward with the moratorium data collection (See Brimmer’s report).
[End of Town Administrator’s Report]
NEW BUSINESS
Asset Management Plan / Dufresne Group, Consultant
Elizabeth Emmons, Project Engineer, discussed Fairlee’s Asset Management Plan report, which she stated showed some aging and undersized assets (see Table 4.1 in the Report). Emmons noted that the best strategy for replacement of assets is to create a reserve fund in the Town Budget. Emmons summarized the sections of the report for the members. Emmons concluded that the state wants to see the tracking of assets with continuous updates in a useable document.
Personnel Policy Revision / Sick Leave
Nunez provided the members with a VT League of Cities and Towns document on “Earned Sick Time Law, 21 VSA § 481.” Mills and Wolf-Ludwig discussed how sick time can be accumulated from year to year. Nunez noted that there is an inadequate situation at present, and the McGrath stated that the Board will review the policy.
OLD BUSINESS
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) / Short Project List
Berger recommended tabling this discussion until a later meeting.
FY22 Budget Schedule
Nunez met with Wolf-Ludwig to review the Town Clerk’s budget, and Wolf-Ludwig discussed reappraisals, the Board of Civil Authority, forthcoming tax appeals, and increases in pay for poll workers.
Lake Morey Moratorium
Berger stated that Lake Morey is an important asset to be protected, and the Town needs to hire an individual to collect data and prepare a report on the lake’s water quality. Berger suggested that the Town reach out to state agencies. Mills noted that mapping the septic systems around the lake is a must.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, October 25, 2021, at 6:00 PM.
CORRESPONDENCE: None.
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Peter Berger/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to approve the minutes from 9-20-21 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Lance Mills/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to approve the minutes from 10-4-21 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk