May
10
2021

05-10-2021 Selectboard Meeting

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

(The Selectboard and the Town Administrator were in person, and
most staff and all public attendees were remote using ZOOM.)

Monday, May 10, 2021 

Call to Order: 6:04 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
  • Lister: Noël Walker
  • Zoning Administrator: Chris Brimmer
  • Chief of Police: Jason Bachus
  • Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
  • Visitors: Lillian Gahagan (Journal Opinion), Miranda Clemson    

 

AGENDA APPROVAL AND MODIFICATIONS:

MOTION: Lance Mills/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to accept the Agenda as written. The motion passed unanimously.

STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS

Zoning Administrator’s Report

Brimmer contacted Chris Sargent to get budget and match numbers for the 2021 Bike-Ped Grant.

Brimmer will be working with Nunez and Lisa Hinsley next week update and project future applications on the grant matrix.

Brimmer stated that the Planning Commission completed the proposed interim bylaw amendments, which are available for the Selectboard review.

Brimmer stated that the application has been submitted for the Chapman’s Place gaszebo, and the DRB Public Hearing is warned for Tuesday, May 25, at 7:00 PM.

Brimmer reported that the Planning Commission is continuing with two meetings a month. The next meeting will be Wednesday, May 19, at 6:00 PM.

Brimmer is investigating the costs associated with a hand-held testing suite that would allow fast testing on algae mats on the surface of Lake Morey.

Police Report

Jason Bachus reported on the Police activity for the month of April 2021. Bachus stated that he had:

49 work hours, including 3 hours of administration, 2 hours of working on criminal cases, 18 hours of patrol, and Valcour training.

During patrol he made 4 motor vehicle stops.

The Vermont State Police had 4 calls for service, including I-91 stops, welfare check fraud, and a motor vehicle crash on Route 5.

VT Fish and Game had 4 calls for service.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office had no report.

Bachus stated that Valcour training is ongoing, and it is expected to go live early in June. The members discussed sign vandalization that occurred in Town.

Town Administrator’s Report

Tad Nunez provided a report on the Town Administrator’s activities and meetings during the week beginning May 3, 2021:

Fairlee Water Projects

Nunez reported that Wednesday and Thursday were spent visiting homes to repair the meter radio devices. 

Nunez reported that he attended a meeting with VTrans about the water ponding onto RT 5, and it was determined that the Town will bring the project grade back down to the original grade near the problematic area.

Transfer Station

Completed the first quarter of the disposal, recycling, and composting facility report.

Library Outbuilding Demolition

We received three bids for the library outbuilding demolition: 

      • Blue Mt. Trucking                     $15,983.00
      • BP’s Excavating                                  9,000.00
      • J&J Excavating                                     7,850.00

An award has not been determined, and Nunez will discuss these bids with the Library Building Committee.

Highway Projects

The anticipated highway projects are as follows:

Maurice Roberts Memorial Hwy 4 culverts         May through early August

Lake Morey Road / west box culvert                  Week of August 16

Lake Morey Road / east restoration                   The day after Labor Day

Vendor Permit

Nunez approved a conditional vendor permit for the donut truck, with conditions that the vendor submit the VT State Tax permit to me by May 12, and a VT Health permit must be provided if the vendor comes on site a third time.

Town Beach

Nunez offered Caleb Haehnel the Beach Manager’s position this season, and Nunez will advertise for more staff.

Central VT Solid Waste management District

Nunez attended (via zoom) the monthly Central VT Solid Waste Management District meeting.

Energy Committee

Nunez met with Doug Frazier to complete a Vital Community survey.

Wastewater Loan Forgiveness Program

Nunez met with Dubois and King representatives and Berger to learn about the new loan forgiveness wastewater program. 

COVER

Nunez met with COVER representatives on Saturday to review the logistical set up for their May 15 Stuff-a-Truck event.

Notes

On Friday, May 7, Nunez addressed the concern of residents about a young person with a foul-language sign at the northwest corner of Lake Morey/Route 5. Nunez forwarded the concern to Police Chief Jason Bachus for review. Bachus spoke with Dickson Corbitt, Orange County State’s Attorney, who indicated that there is no statutory violation under current Vermont statute that prohibits this type of sign because the individual is on private property.

NEW BUSINESS

Restricting Road Use

Nunez reported on a Vt League of Cities and Towns’ document about restricting road use during mud season. Nunez stated that a resolution for temporary closures of roads could be for any reason. Nunez noted that the Forest Board recommends gating Knox, Bald Top, and Brushwood Roads. The Board discussed warning a public meeting for public input.

OLD BUSINESS

Animating Infrastructure GRANT

Miranda Clemson updated the Board about the grant award of $15,000. Clemson noted that the timeline for the grant extends to October of 2022, and a committee is forming to begin the process of seeking artists to bid on the project. Clemson noted that the community will vote on the finalists. The Board, Nunez, and Clemson discussed the who will take on the management of and the responsibility for the artwork once in place.

Water Meter Rate and Policy   

Nunez presented to the Board notes on a water meter policy; however, he recommended that the Board engage Tata & Howard engineers to provide the Town with a rate structure analysis for metered water usage.  

NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, May 17, 2021, at 6:00 PM.

CORRESPONDENCE: None.

MINUTES REVIEW

MOTION: Lance Mills/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to approve the Minutes from 5-3-21 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURN

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 PM. The motion passed unanimously.

Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk