04-12-2021 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, April 12, 2021
Call to Order: 6:03 PM
Peter Berger, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was met.
PRESENT
- Selectboard Members: Peter Berger and Cathy McGrath
- Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
- Lister: Noël Walker
- Town Clerk: Georgette Wolf-Ludwig
- Treasurer: Lisa Hinsley
- Forest Board Chair: Dan Ludwig
- Chief of Police: Jason Bachus
- Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Peter and Arlene Guest, Miranda Clemson, Denis Lambert, Kyle Zick.
AGENDA APPROVAL AND MODIFICATIONS: None.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to accept the Agenda as written. The motion passed unanimously.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Police Report
Jason Bachus reported on the Police activity in March 2021:
42.5 hours with 12 administrative hours (ValcourTM training) and 30.5 hours on patrol, including 6 calls for service and 19 motor vehicle stops.
Vermont State Police had 15 calls, including citizen assists.
VT Fish & Game had 3 calls.
Orange County Sheriff’s office had 51 contract hours.
For Valcour, Bachus will train for 10 to 15 more hours.
During the patrol hours, Bachus drove to the lower trail near the boat ramp and to Bald Top.
Cathy McGrath asked if Bachus could submit his report to the Journal Opinion. Bachus noted that only the Fairlee policing would be included.
Zoning Administrator’s Report
Brimmer met with Ira Clark and John Vansant related to two buildable properties on Lake Morey for construction to start in the fall.
Vermont Historic Preservation Grants for 2021 will be announced in August with an October deadline.
Brimmer is addressing a junk/trash complaint with a landlord/tenant on Batchelder Road. The Town has full cooperation from the property owner and management. Brimmer noted that the violation complaint is the concern of the property owner. Until the eviction moratorium is lifted post Covid, any eviction is on hold.
Brimmer recommended the adoption of a junk/trash ordinance that would be outside of the zoning bylaw with Judicial Bureau ticketing as the enforcement mechanism.
Brimmer reported that the Planning Commission is revising the subdivision article of the Bylaw, and Kevin Geiger from TRORC reviewed the contractor’s role in the process. Rob Chapin as Chair of the Planning Commission will focus the PC on a timeline and a task list for the coming year. The PC adopted a twice-monthly meeting schedule with the next meeting on the April 22 at 5:30 PM.
DRB has a full docket on the April 13 meeting with two subdivision hearings and a site plan review for the April 27 meeting.
[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 April 5, 2021:
EV Charger
Nunez met with Revision Energy to examine the EV Charger at the Park & Ride.
American Rescue Plan
Nunez reported that he participated in a program with Bernie Sanders related to the American Rescue Plan Act, and it was announced that funds will be allocated to towns in late May.
VTrans Structures Grant
Nunez met with Mike Wright to review and budget for the box culvert (Bridge #4) project that will be funded by a VTrans Structures grant.
AARP Grant Development
Nunez continued working with Jonah Richards on the AARP grant, for which the Town will be the applicant and fiscal agent.
Fairlee Water Project
Letters were sent to the Fairview neighborhood to notify residents of an upcoming water main project.
An on-site meeting will be held with neighbors, the general contractor, the engineer, and the Town on April 28 at 5:00 PM.
Auditorium Lighting Project
Nunez conducted a preconstruction meeting with the electrical (Gray’s Electric) and lighting (Dark Star) contractors and Smith Reed (FCA).
Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District
Nunez participated in the District’s monthly meeting, and the annual household waste drop-off schedule was posted for Bradford, VT:
Household waste collections will be held at the Bradford Town Garage, 359 Fairground Rd, on Saturday, August 14, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Lake Morey Greeter Program
Nunez met with the Volunteer Manager, Peggie Bissell of the Greeter Program. The greeters are Town employees and will attend a VT Greeter Training Program.
Town Hall Front Window Replacement
Nunez reported that the estimates to replace the double thermopane front window ranged from $1,966 to $2,278.
Water Main Break
Nunez reported on a water main break on Fairview. Excavation was needed and a pipe replaced. The replacement was completed on Monday at 2:00 PM, and Nunez used the Code Red alert to notify residents.
Materials Management Infrastructure Grant
Nunez announced the Infrastructure grant, which could be used to hire an engineer to plan a build-out at the Transfer Station.
[End of Town Administrator’s Report]
NEW BUSINESS
Open Board/Commission Solicitation Results
Nunez announced two individuals volunteering for open positions on Town committees:
Bonnie Payne for the Recreation Council.
Lance Mills to the Selectboard.
Town Hall Opening
Nunez announced the process for opening the Town Hall offices after June 1, 2021:
The side door will be unlocked.
Appointments only.
Signing in for contact tracing.
OLD BUSINESS
AARP Grant Collaboration
Nunez worked with Jonah Richards on his submission of the AARP grant for the redevelopment of the Colby block. Nunez noted that the Town is the fiscal agent. Nunez also noted that there were complaints that other businesses did not have the same support.
Fairlee Newsletter
McGrath discussed the topics to insert into the spring Newsletter focusing on Fairlee’s natural resources and conservation.
EV Charger (Fees and Activation)
Nunez provided the Board with information from ChargePoint relating to the pricing for activation of the EV Charger. The Selectboard decided not to pursue activating the charger. Nunez will look more closely into costs of the GMP Pilot Lease Program.
Town Constable
The Selectboard signed the Certificate of Appointment for Dan Ludwig as Town Constable.
Liquor Licenses
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to approve the Liquor License for Chapman’s Store. The motion passed unanimously.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, April 19, 2021, at 6:00 PM.
CORRESPONDENCE: None.
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to accept the Selectboard Meeting Minutes from 4-5-2021 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to go into Executive Session (personnel) at 7:40 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board came out of Executive Session at 7:42 PM.
No action taken.
ADJOURN
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk