09-20-2021 Selectboard Meeting

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

Monday, September 20, 2021   

Call to Order: 6:03 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
• Treasurer: Lisa Hinsley
• Lister: Noël Walker
• Chief of Police: Jason Bachus
• Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
• Visitors: Simon Holdaway; Bernice Mills; and School Board members Kathy Hooke, Chair (Vershire); Clement Powers (Fairlee), Jason Knowles (Fairlee); and David Gagner (Fairlee).

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

Police Report / August 2021

Chief Bachus reported on his August activities:

Bachus worked 34 hours, including: 

2 hours on VALCOUR training.

24 hours on patrol, which included 8 motor vehicle stops (8 warnings) with no stops on Lake Morey Road.

Casework included burglary follow up, burglary alarm response, abandoned vehicle check, and vacant house check.

Administrative time (6 hours) included annual Criminal Justice Information Services and Terminal Agency Coordinator training, an update of PD policies, and relay of paperwork to Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Bachus reported that calls for service with the Vermont State Police included:

• • • 1 on Route I-91.
    • 2 calls for theft.
    • A welfare check.
    • An alarm response.
    • A phone problem.
    • One message delivery.
    • Directed patrol.

Bachus reported on 1 call for service with the VT Fish and Game.

Bachus reported on the 34 hours of patrols provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, including

2 directed patrol activities.

8 motor vehicle stops with 5 warnings and 3 violations issued.

September plans include annual mandatory training for the statewide Use of Force policy, firearms qualifications, and others. The VALCOUR rollout on September 12 had technical issues, which are being corrected.

Comments: Chief Bachus expressed that the road patrols are making an impact.

NEW BUSINESS

Joint Meeting of the Rivendell School Board

Berger introduced the discussion topics for the joint meeting: augmenting community service, community interaction, auditors’ issues, the increase in school administration costs, and broadband coverage in Fairlee.

Hooke discussed the phasing in of the start of school stating that the administration prioritized those students with the greatest needs. Hooke also discussed the broadband issue in her community of Vershire noting that EC Fiber is committed to connecting every home. Mills noted that ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds) may be available to pay for broadband connections.

The group discussed community service. Gagner noted that he will bring up the topic to the School Board.

Berger asked about the locally elected auditors. Hooke responded that the issue is with lawyers and relates to the inconsistencies between the interstate contract, the school charter, and apportioning the debt service among the towns.  

Berger discussed the recreation and sports opportunities in Fairlee and how the students could help with recreational programs.

Zoning Administrator’s Report:

Brimmer reported on a current issue of roof profiles in the Village Area with one property owner planning a redevelopment project at 501 Main Street for which he needs a third floor within the 35′ maximum height requirement. The consensus of the Planning Commission was to allow greater heights to have a third floor, but coincide with the existing roofline models. The property owner has appealed directly to the DRB Chair and will be on the DRB agenda for an informal sketch plan on Tuesday, September 28, at 7:00 PM.

Brimmer reported on the Planning Commission meeting:

The members approved the moratorium language, but they would like to see a similar halt to forestry in the Town Forest. Smith Reed will be at the hearing to articulate the Planning Commission’s view on this.

Brimmer presented information from EC Fiber on their standards and discovered that installations are so site specific that there are no standards.

The members pushed back on the 15- vs. 27-acre minimum lot size in the Rural Resource Area.

Brimmer issued a permit for a roof over an access ramp.

[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 September 13, 2021:

Town Library

Nunez reported that members of the Library Trustees will be attending the Monday, September 20, Selectboard meeting to review their proposed buildout plans, which include:

A modest expansion of the building’s area.

General renovation of the existing structure.

Improvement in accessibility and efficiency.

Highway Work

Nunez reported on the work on the Lake Morey east project this week that included grinding the existing asphalt surface and clearing the tree line on the east side of the road.

Community Village Wastewater Project

Nunez announced that the Community Village Wastewater project was awarded to the Dufresne Group with the next steps being the submittal of the Clean Water State Revolving loan application and the draft of the Engineering Service Agreement.

Town Hall Generator

Nunez announced that the Town Hall generator project was awarded to Gray’s Electric at a cost of $43,500. Nunez reported that site work will begin in late fall with the generator delivery anticipated for midJanuary 2022.

FY 2022 Transportation Alternative Grant Program

Nunez will attend the VTrans FY 2022 Transportation Alternative Grant Program workshop.

VT Watershed Management Program

Nunez met with the Municipal Roads Program Coordinator of the VT Watershed Management Program, community members, and Town officials to review the concerns about the stormwater runoff on Bald Top Road.   

Town Hall Window Repairs

Nunez received the cost estimates to repair and replace Town Hall windows:

Grange Room window repairs ($935.38).

Kitchen window replacement ($4,586.00).

Town Hall Sewer Lines

Nunez received the cost estimate of $1,800 to realign the basement sewer lines, and work will begin October 8.

Water System / Meters

Nunez met with the Town Treasurer and the Water Department staff to discuss the meter installation project. Nunez reported that the Treasurer is still working out the MESH system and making sure all meters are accounted for.

Animated Infrastructure Project

Nunez participated in the interviews for the underpass project artist-candidates, which were a line-up of professional graphic artists.

[End of Town Administrator’s Report]

NEW BUSINESS, cont.  

Fairlee Access to Public Records Policy

Nunez provided for the Selectboard’s review 1 VSA §316 (Access to public records and documents) and a policy document for the Town of Fairlee. The members discussed and revised the policy for Fairlee.

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the access to Town records and procedural policy. The motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS  

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) / Create a Project List

Nunez and the Selectboard members discussed a list of projects that may be suitable for ARPA funding, which included stormwater mitigation, soft infrastructure (childcare, elder care), addressing negative economic impacts, staff premium pay, a Town back-up water source, cybersecurity, document retrieval software, and broadband access.

NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, September 27, 2021, at 6:00 PM.

CORRESPONDENCE: None.

MINUTES REVIEW

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting on 9-13-21 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURN

MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 PM. The motion passed unanimously.

Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk