04-05-2021 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 5, 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
- Forest Board Chair: Dan Ludwig
- Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Lance Mills, Peter Guest, Jonah Richards, Lynne Fitzhugh.
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
Prospective Selectboard Member
Lance Mills addressed the Selectboard stating that he is interested in joining the Selectboard and taking the vacant seat. The Selectboard invited Mills to attend the next meeting.
Zoning Administrator’s Report
Brimmer has been in communication with Kevin TRORC about flood plain wording in the Unified Development Bylaw.
Brimmer stated that the mapping and subdivision consultancy document is ready for the Selectboard’s signatures. Changes to Appendix A in the Bylaw have been made.
Brimmer walked Main Street to share information about state grants.
Planning Commission meeting will be on Wednesday, April 7, at 6:00 PM.
Brimmer attended a webinar on a Sole Proprietor Stabilization Program offered by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
[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 March 29, 2021:
Town Forest
Nunez announced that the April 16 meeting at the Town Forest has been postponed until mid-May.
Forest Board members and Nunez met at Bald Top trail parking and cleaned up the area and posted road closure signs.
“Leahy, Sanders, and Welch Announce $291,965 In Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants to Six Vermont Communities” (https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/)
Nunez announced that the Fairlee application for the conservation fund grant was submitted to address stormwater mitigation on US Rt 5.
Email Correspondences from Resident
Nunez stated that he continues to receive emails about the Town Forest from Bill Weale. The Town’s attorney was consulted and requests more information.
Lake Morey Greeter Program
Nunez reported that he met with Lake Morey Protection Association members to discuss the Greeter Program. The Town will administer the program and hire the staff.
Drone Photographs of Fairlee
Nunez received a request from a licensed drone operator who wishes to photograph Fairlee from the air. Nunez received consensus from the Board to approve with the appropriate permits in place.
Vault Roofing
Nunez reported that he spoke with a roofing contractor who responded to two bids, one for new roofing and one for repairs. The Board agreed to repair the roof now and replace the roof later.
Generator Contract
Nunez reported that he committed to a new preventative maintenance contract with Yankee Generator to include the maintenance 0f the generators at the pump house, filtration system, and the fire station.
[End of Town Administrator’s Report]
NEW BUSINESS
Energy Audit Report Card
Nunez presented the Town of Fairlee Energy Progress Report Card from Geoff Martin, TRORC Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator. The Report Card gathered data from five sources, including Efficiency Vermont and the Vermont Public Service Department, and Fairlee received a C+ overall with transportation energy as the lowest mark noting that only 2 electric vehicles are currently registered in Fairlee.
Town Forest / Road Closures and Regulations
Nunez suggested policies that could be proposed for the Town Forest, such as road closures for specific months, fire prevention, and no camping.
Dan Ludwig stated that he cleaned up an area at the Bald Top parking lot and felt that the Road Closed signs have been effective. Ludwig reported that the Forest Board were in consensus to not promote nonresident use of the Town Forest at this time. Peter Guest disagreed and stated that landowners adjacent to the trails need to be heard because closing roads and parking lots creates off-street parking burdens on their land.
Ludwig, as Animal Control Officer, informed the Board of an incident of 4 unleashed dogs attacking a hiker’s dog in the Town Forest, and the Chief of Police and the VT Fish & Game were contacted.
AARP Grant Collaboration
Jonah Richards requested a letter of endorsement from the Selectboard for the AARP grant that Richards is seeking in his redevelopment of the Colby block. The Selectboard was in agreement.
Municipal Planning Grant
The Selectboard and lister Noël Walker discussed that the Town’s current file parcel data must be used for the Municipal Planning grant before the Board signs the document.
OLD BUSINESS
Fairlee Newsletter
McGrath discussed the topics to insert into the spring Newsletter related to Fairlee’s natural resources, including the Town Forest plan, Lake Morey’s upcoming milfoil treatment, and water quality issues.
GMP Charger Station PILOT PROGRAM
Nunez provided the Board with information from GMP about an EV Charger package, which includes a loan program.
EV Charger / Cost to Operate
Nunez notified the Board of a meeting to discuss the fee structure for the EV Charger at the Park & Ride. Nunez stated that EV Charger signs for Main Street and the parking lot are on order.
Liquor Licenses
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to approve the Liquor Licenses for Wing’s Market and Samurai Soul. The motion passed unanimously.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, April 12, 2021, at 6:00 PM
CORRESPONDENCE:
Nunez reported that the Town received thank you notes from nonprofits who received appropriations from the Town, including Safeline, Vt Association for the Blind, VT Network, and Capstone.
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to accept the Selectboard Meeting Minutes from 3-29-2021 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk