12-20-2021 Selectboard Meeting
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045
Monday, December 20, 2021
CALL TO ORDER: Peter Berger, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
PRESENT
- Selectboard Members: Peter Berger, Chair; Cathy McGrath, Vice Chair; and Lance Mills. A quorum was met.
- Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
- Treasurer: Lisa Hinsley
- Town Clerk: Georgette Wolf-Ludwig
- Lister: Noël Walker
- Chief of Police: Jason Bachus
- Minutes Taker: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Peter Lange, Cyrie Lange, Bob Wertheimer, Joy Weale, Elizabeth Wilson, Jen Johnson, Charlotte Williams, Alex Nuti-de Biasi (Journal Opinion).
AGENDA APPROVAL AND MODIFICATIONS:
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as written. The motion passed unanimously.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Police Report
Chief Bachus reported on law enforcement activities in Fairlee during November, as follows:
Vermont State Police – 23 calls, including 7 on I-91, 5 alarm responses, one 911 hang up, 1 death investigation, 1 missing person, 1 runaway juvenile, and a welfare check.
Fairlee Police Department – 1 agency assist with the Vt State Police and 3 citizen assists. Motor vehicle stops included 3 with 1 summons. Total hours worked included 30 with vacation hours, 17 patrol hours, water main break detail, 4 administrative hours, and 3 hours on budget preparation with Orange County Sheriff Bohnyak.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department used 36.5 contracted hours and conducted 13 calls for service, 12 traffic stops (4 citations and 8 warnings), and 1 agency assist.
Vermont Fish & Game – 2 calls for service.
Statistics as of November 30 – nontraffic calls for service from all agencies equaled 283, and motor vehicle violations issued by the Fairlee Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department included 141 interactions.
Chief Bachus attended a state mandated, 2-hour Fair and Impartial Policing training at Hartford, VT, Police Department.
[End of Police Report]
Town Administrator’s Report
Tad Nunez provided a report on the Town Administrator’s activities and meetings during the week beginning December 13, 2021:
Holiday Schedules
Nunez announced the following reminders:
The Town Hall will be closed the week of December 27 through December 31.
The Transfer Station will be open Sunday, December 26 and Sunday, January 2, and closed Saturday, December 25 and Saturday, January 1.
No Selectboard Meeting Monday, December 27, 2021
Upcoming Meeting:
Monday, January 3, 2022, Interim Bylaw Public Hearing at 5:30 PM
Selectboard Meeting at 6:00 PM
Budget Public Hearing at 6:30 PM
Water System Pump
Nunez reported that the communication device in the water system pump facility failed. Nunez noted that an entire new communication system will be installed, which informs the water operators of any potential errors occurring with the water operations.
Town Forest
Nunez inspected the Town Forest trail and road work with Marcus Bradley, Town Forester. The work was completed by Todd Dunham, contractor, and all work was completed as contracted.
Nunez reported that Bradley completed his report and evaluation of the Town Forest trails and roads, which is in the form of a draft map outlining his findings and will be reviewed by the Forest Board.
USDA Grant Funding
Nunez met with Dexter Lefavour, Senior Project Manager at Tata & Howard, and Lisa Hinsley, Town Treasurer, to review and update the USDA funding grant expenses and funds available. We have $82,425.04 grant funds remaining.
Aquatic Nuisance Control
Nunez completed the Aquatic Nuisance Control (milfoil) grant close out, and it is anticipated that the grant amount to be received is $19,965 (the Greeter program of $5,420 and the Management program of $14,545).
[End of Town Administrator’s report]
NEW BUSINESS
Town-Wide Mask Mandate
After discussion from the Board members and the public, the Board recommended using signs stating that the Town of Fairlee recommends masking in indoor areas.
OLD BUSINESS
Selectboard FY22 Budget Review
Cyrie Lange representing the Town Library Trustees objected to the Board’s decision not to include the Librarian in the staff-wide cost-of-living increase. Discussion ensued. The Board took the comments under advisement.
Sick Leave: Calculations and Implementation
Hinsley provided the Board with a spreadsheet of a draft schedule for sick and personal time for 2022. After a brief discussion, the Board agreed to the first scenario presented by Hinsley (calculation of an average workday in hours and that number used to calculate sick and personal time for each employee).
Appointment for Development Review Board
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the appointment of Bob Wertheimer on the Development Review Board to complete the 3-year term of Peter Lange. The motion passed unanimously.
Covid Vaccination / Employee Policy
Nunez stated that the policy of vaccination with booster or weekly testing could include new hires, as well as current staff. There was consensus from the Board to have all staff vaccinated or tested weekly. Hinsley noted that a policy needs to be established. Nunez recommended a continued discussion at the next meeting.
McGrath provided the following wording: All Town staff who work in the Town Hall shall be fully vaccinated, including the number of currently available boosters, except for those with documented medical exceptions.
Interim Bylaw Public Hearing, January 3, 2022
Nunez discussed the warning notices he posted for the Bylaw Public Hearing.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Nunez provided a letter from the Vermont Solid Waste Management District stating their FY2023 per capita assessment for the Town of Fairlee at $988.
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the minutes from 12-13-21 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, January 3, 2021.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to go into Executive Session (personnel) at 8:12 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The Selectboard came out of Executive Session at 8:58 PM.
ADJOURN
MOTION: Lance Mills/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk