02-01-2021 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, February 1, 2021
Call to Order: 6:02 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
- Chief of Police: Jason Bachus
- Budget Committee: Elizabeth Wilson, Chair
- Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Arlene Guest, Lynne Fitzhugh, Bill Weale, Reg Cramer, Miranda Clemson.
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS:
Tad Nunez added under Correspondence an engagement letter from the auditors for Selectboard signatures.
MOTION: Josh Hickman/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Police Report
Chief of Police, Jason Bachus, reported on his activities during the month of January 2021.
40 hours: 3 hrs. of de-escalation training, 2 hrs. cruiser maintenance, 20 hrs. patrol, 10 hrs. administration, and 5 arrests, including vandalism of the Trump signs—one in Fairlee and one in Orford.
Bachus noted that after the election is over, the signs are not political signs. They are private property.
20 calls for service with the VT State Police, including 14 MV stops (2 MV stops on Rt 244)
The State of Vermont has planned to update its dispatch system, and the State will now take on 100% of the costs. There will be no cost to the Town. This will roll out over the summer 2021.
Zoning Administrator’s Report
Brimmer reported that he and Tim Danen, Chair of the Planning Commission (PC), are working on the structure of the subdivision proposal. The PC going forward will vote on scheduling two meetings a month to work on items identified in the M2M report.
The PC will meet on February 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM and Kevin Geiger of TRORC will be available to discuss executing the Municipal Planning Grant.
Brimmer reported that a property owner in the mixed-use zoning area south of the village is seeking to build another storage building. His sense is that the proposed project will easily move through the State and local permitting processes.
[End of Zoning Administrator’s Report]
Town Administrator’s Report
Tad Nunez sent a report on the Town Administrator’s activities and meetings during the week beginning January 25, 2021:
Asset Management Project / Elizabeth Emmons (consultant, Dufresne Group)
Nunez reported that the Dufresne engineer submitted Structures and Risk Assessment documents.
Intermunicipal Energy Coordinator / Report
Geoff Martin submitted the January 2021 Regional Energy Coordinator’s Report.
EV Charger
Nunez worked with an electrician this week to begin the process of activating the EV charger.
Transfer Station
Nunez completed and submitted the fourth quarter of the Transfer Station ReTRAC report [required online reporting to the State’s Solid Waste Management Program].
Certificate of Highway Mileage for 2020
Nunez submitted the Certificate of Highway Mileage Report to the State Department of Transportation. (Documentation is for the purpose of allocating State’s appropriation of annual town highway aid.)
Food Vendor Permitting
Moon and Stars food cart (Thetford, VT) was issued an itinerant vendor permit to allow the owner to offer free food during the Friday Help@Fairlee food relief program.
Quinttown Transfer Station Hauler
Nunez reported that Quinttown’s hauling contract expires in December 2021, and he is developing a proposal for hauling and operations at the Transfer Station.
The COVER Store
Nunez reported that he is working with the Cover Store in White River Jct. to assist with shelving renovations for the Fairlee Food Shelf. Staff from the Cover Store will be meeting with the Town Clerk on Wednesday.
Better Connections Grant / Dubois & King
Nunez reported that Dubois & King will give a final report to the Selectboard in February and will close out the grant by March 1, 2021; however, they will conduct a public informational meeting in Fairlee at a later date.
Lake Morey Skating Path
Nunez announced that the Town Beach access to the skating path has been opened. Benches and a portable toilet will be delivered soon.
[End of Town Administrator’s Report]
NEW BUSINESS
Fairlee Community Arts
Miranda Clemson requested permission from the Selectboard to decorate the Bandstand for Valentine’s Day. Elizabeth Wilson requested a board for Valentine messages to be posted. The Board agreed, and Berger asked the group to work with the Town Administrator.
Town Meeting / Informational Session Preparations / February 25, 2021
Georgette Wolf-Ludwig reported that they sent out over 650 letters of notification of the Informational Session, the Town Meeting, and the voting process.
The Selectboard discussed the logistics of the virtual meeting, which Josh Hickman suggested should be in a PowerPoint format. Nunez noted that the meeting should follow ZOOM etiquette—use CHAT for questions, mute when not talking, and asked to be recognized.
OLD BUSINESS
Fund Balance Policy
Nunez suggested creating a Fund Balance policy. Wilson noted that a fiscal policy has to be voted on by the residents. Cathy McGrath suggested tabling this topic for future meetings. McGrath suggested that the Treasurer, the Town Administrator, and the Budget Committee Chair work to come up with a draft policy.
2021 Appointments
Nunez reported on the vacancies in the Town appointments and suggested advertising or contacting potential candidates by letter or in person. Wolf-Ludwig noted that the terms and appointment years of the appointed positions need to be rechecked.
Town Forest Management
Nunez provided the Selectboard with a summary of the Town Forest management to date, including the administration of the Lange Forest logging operation. Nunez listed the future projects, such as establishing a Town Forest budget for FY21 and working with the Forest Board for project review and consensus.
There was much discussion from members of the community.
Fairlee Volunteer Forum
McGrath announced that the first meeting of the volunteer groups in Fairlee with the Selectboard will be Monday, February 8, during the Selectboard meeting.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:00 PM.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Nunez presented the engagement letter from the auditors, Fothergill, Segale & Valley, which needed the signature of the Selectboard Chair.
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to accept the Selectboard Meeting Minutes from 1-25-2021 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk