May
24
2021

05-24-2021 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 24, 2021 

Call to Order: 6:05 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
  • Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
  • Visitors: Miranda Clemson, David Fracht.     
AGENDA APPROVAL AND MODIFICATIONS:

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

STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS

Zoning Administrator’s Report:

Brimmer announced that the Chapman’s Place Public Hearing is Tuesday, May 25, during the Development Review Board meeting. Brimmer suggested that a Selectboard member attend and express the Selectboard’s opinion related to the application.

Brimmer met with Geoff Martin on Stretch Code issues; for example, one issue was the number of units before the EV requirements would be initiated. Brimmer recommended that our definitions are adequate and apply to buildings of 5 units or larger. Brimmer noted that the Town will have to start requiring Certificates of Completion on all new residential construction to ensure compliance, which is related to REBS self-certification.

Brimmer stated that there is a parcel off Brushwood Road with unpermitted structures.

Brimmer reported that he met with Nunez and Hinsley, and they worked out process and procedural issues with the grant matrix. Page 1 is the list of potential sources, deadline dates, and goals, which can be shared in Microsoft Teams. Page 1 should be considered the research and development page and will be checked weekly for updates.

Brimmer reported on the Wednesday, May 19, Planning Commission meeting during which there was debate about what would and would not be allowed in the Rural Resource Area.

Brimmer reported on his meeting with PC Chair, Rob Chapin, and Kevin Geiger, which had to be rescheduled to May 27.

Brimmer announced that a Permit was issued for a single-family dwelling located on Birch Meadow Road, and the lot has access to Town water.

[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 May 17, 2021:

Roadside Mowing

Nunez reported on the 2-year bids he received for roadside mowing:

    • BA Stevens                   $15,000
    • Bruce Limlaw                $10,200
    • Murdo Limlaw  $12,400
    • Mike Loschiavo $  4,250

Lake Morey Road Paving

Nunez reported that the shim and overlay paving was completed on two stretches of the west and east sides of Lake Morey.

Chapman’s Place

VTrans has indicated to Jonah Richard, landowner, that the Town has to request the crosswalk to be reinstalled, which was not repainted in 1997 after repaving.

Nunez stated that there has been discussion about the Itinerant Vendor ordinance fee structure and how it is applied to this project. To date, all vendors must follow the ordinance.

ARPA Funding

Nunez attended a VLCT webinar on ARPA funding. Nunez listed four take-aways from the webinar. The ARPA funds can be used to:

  1. Respond to the public health emergency or its negative impacts.
  2. Provide premium pay (hazard pay) to essential workers during the pandemic.
  3. Replace revenue from a pandemic-related revenue loss.
  4. Make investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

 

Use of Town Property

Jon Lester would like to conduct free outdoor workout sessions on Saturday mornings from 6:30 to 7:30 AM at the Town Beach.

The Fairlee Community Church would like to conduct a Town-wide yard sale on the Common.

Tree Warden Certification

Nunez announced that the annual Tree Warden certification was completed, which is a State requirement.

EV Charger Grant

Nunez reported that he completed the close-out of the EV Charger grant and anticipates receiving $6,250.00 with the project total cost of $6,419.43.

Grant Matrix

Nunez met with Hinsley and Brimmer to develop a matrix plan for tracking grants.

Water Meter Rates

Nunez contacted the VT Rural Water Association and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RECAP) representatives to discuss how their respective organizations can assist Fairlee in establishing water meter rates.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund / Loan Forgiveness Program

Nunez met with Tom Brown of CWSRF by conference call to discuss the loan forgiveness program, and he suggested completing a request for qualifications.

NEW BUSINESS

American Rescue Plan Act and Town Projects

Nunez noted that the money from the ARPA must be spent on pandemic-related issues. Nunez stated that the Vermont League of Cities and Towns will be creating a position to manage ARPA funds. Discussion continued about community septic; business losses; infrastructure, such as replacing water lines; and broadband.

Fairlee Domain Name Change / .org to .gov

MOTION: Lance Mills/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to accept the Town’s domain name change from FairleeVT.org to FairleeVT.gov. The motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

Animating Infrastructure Grant

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the Town of Fairlee’s ownership of the Animating Infrastructure mural upon completion. The motion passed unanimously.

Selectboard 2021 / 2022 Goals and Objectives

Nunez and McGrath provided the Board with a list of strategic priorities. Revisions were discussed by the Board. The Board recommended prioritizing the objectives and continuing the discussion at the next meeting.

Water Meter Rates and Policy

Nunez presented to the Board the RECAP discussion about their policies for establishing water meter rates. Nunez will obtain more information.

Grant Matrix

Nunez met with Hinsley and Brimmer to devise a working grant file that would standardize the input and indicate the due date, assignment, initiation person, objectives, internal mechanisms, and more.

NEW BUSIINESS, cont.

Development Review Board

David Fracht, DRB Chair, joined the meeting. Berger discussed the specific referral from the Zoning Administrator related to the application by Jonah Richard for Chapman’s Place. The Zoning Administrator focused the application for review by the DRB on an accessory structure (a gazebo). Brimmer stated that the Chapman’s Place site falls into the following zoning categories:

      • Game sites – Not a commercial activity and triggers no permit requirements.
      • Food trucks – Itinerant Vendor Ordinance permit.
      • Chapman’s Place events – Reviewed by Selectboard.
      • Gazebo – Accessory structure requiring DRB review.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, June 7, 2021, at 6:00 PM.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Nunez announced that David Joyce from COVER Home Repair held a Stuff-a-Truck event at the Transfer Station, which was a success.

MINUTES REVIEW

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the Minutes from 5-17-21 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURN

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 PM. The motion passed unanimously.

Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk