11-08-2021 Selectboard Meeting
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045
Monday, November 8, 2021
Peter Berger, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM. 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
- Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Arlene Guest, Miranda Clemson, Bernice Mills, Bill Weale, Elizabeth Emmons (Dufresne Group), Andrea Day (Dufresne Group).
AGENDA APPROVAL AND MODIFICATIONS:
MOTION: Lance Mills/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to accept the Agenda as written. The motion passed unanimously.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Bill Weale: Weale asked the Selectboard to schedule a special meeting to discuss forest issues. Discussion ensued. Berger asked Weale to schedule with Nunez a one-half hour timeframe during an upcoming Selectboard meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Fairlee Village Wastewater Project kick-Off Meeting with Dufresne Group Consultants
Andrea Day presented to the Selectboard an Agenda for the Kick-Off Meeting. Day introduced herself and Elizabeth Emmons from Dufresne Group and provided their contact information. Day requested the contact person/group for the Town, and Nunez was selected. Day stated that Dufresne will provide GIS maps of the project area, will need wastewater flow estimates, and suggested a community septic survey.
Day discussed identifying six sites for soil testing, archaeological reviews, and hydrogeologic analyses. Day provided a timeline for project work and draft reports. Day stated that follow up will include check-in meetings, as needed. The members discussed enlarging the project area; however, decided that enlarging the project area does not align with the available funding contract.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS, cont.
Zoning Administrator’s Report:
Brimmer reported on the court notices for apartment evictions on Batchelder Road.
Brimmer reported that the Planning Commission is working on line edits for the Bylaw.
Brimmer announced that the Development Review Board will reconvene the hearing regarding 501 Main Street LLC on Tuesday, November 9, at 7:15 PM.
Brimmer issued a permit for a canopy over a front doorstep on Brennan Road.
[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 November 1, 2021:
Town Hall Auditorium
Nunez announced that the Scottish dancers will resume dancing every Wednesday in the auditorium beginning Wednesday, November 10.
Town Forest Special Selectboard Meeting
Nunez reported that there were 40 in-person and 33 Zoom attendees at the November 3, Special Selectboard Meeting. Nunez reported that three groups (Upper Valley Trails Alliance, Hubbard Brook, and Friends of Fairlee Forest) left hand-out materials pertaining to their organizations.
Covid and Employees / New Hires
Nunez contacted Jill Muhr, VT League of Cities and Towns, Sr. Human Resource Consultant, and she sent the latest human resource material pertaining to COVID and hiring.
Fairlee Forest Archaeology Report
Nunez announced that he received an interim Fairlee Forest Archaeology report from Bill Fitzhugh, and Fitzhugh’s activities continued into October 2021 with mapping and excavation of the Cross Mountain North site.
Lake Morey Water Quality Informational Meeting / March 10, 2022
Nunez announced that a Lake Morey water quality informational meeting conducted by the Lake Morey Commission, the Town, and VT State officials is scheduled on Thursday, March 10 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at the Fairlee Town Hall.
Town Forest / Lange Properties
Nunez met with Rebecca Washburn, Director of Lands Administration and Recreation Division, Agency of Natural Resources, and David Paganelli, Orange County Forester, to inspect the Lange properties within the Town Forest, as it pertains to the Land-Water Conservation funding requirements. Nunez noted that a report of their findings will be sent to the Town and that no violations were observed.
UVM Local Democracy Internship Program
Nunez announced that the Town has an opportunity to have an intern through the UVM Local Democracy Internship program. Nunez stated that projects the Local Democracy interns participated in included taking minutes at selectboard meetings, redesigning a town report, creating social media content, conducting historical research, participating in strategic planning for a library, profiling local leaders, mapping local sights, and surveying residents on their priorities for ARPA spending.
FY22 VTrans Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Grant
Nunez announced that the Town received the FY22 VTrans Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Grant award in the amount of $136,000.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to accept and sign the VTrans Stormwater Mitigation Grant Award / Project Commitments Form. The motion passed unanimously.
Paving Projects
Nunez stated that he anticipates that the paving projects will be completed by Wednesday, November 10; however, the Fairview residents’ driveways will not be completed this year.
[End of Town Administrator’s Report]
OLD BUSINESS
ARPA Funding
The discussion was tabled.
FY22 Budget Preparation
Cost of Living Salary Adjustments. McGrath researched the cost of living (COL) percentages and discovered that to stay above inflation, a 5.4% to 5.9% COL is needed. McGrath noted there are other ways to look at compensation, such as one-time bonuses.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to accept a 5.7% cost of living increase for Town Hall staff. The motion passed unanimously.
Capital Budget Planning Workshop Dates. Nunez reminded the Board of Wednesday, December 8, at 3:00 PM for the Capital Budget Workshop.
Personnel Policy Revision / Sick Leave
Mills presented the draft of the Sick/Personal/Emergency/Bereavement Leave document. Revisions were discussed by the Board and Town Hall staff. Berger stated that Hinsley, Town Treasurer, will review the policy and report to the Board.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, November 15, 2021.
CORRESPONDENCE:
The Town received a letter from James Harris stating that the Town Forest should be preserved for traditional uses: hunting and trapping.
Nunez announced that the Health Officer position expires on December 31, 2021.
Nunez announced that the Town received a letter from Newmont Farm requesting renaming of roads adjacent to their property for emergency purposes to Newmont Drive or Newmont Lane.
Nunez reported that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department sent a letter announcing an increase in the contract hourly rate to $52/hour.
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to approve the minutes from 11-1-21 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Lance Mills moved/seconded the motion to go into Executive Session at 8:47 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board came out of Executive Session at 8:52 PM.
ADJOURN
MOTION: Lance Mills/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk