01-25-2021 Selectboard Meeting
Town of Fairlee Selectboard Meeting
Town of Fairlee Town Hall
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045
(All members, staff, and the public were remote using ZOOM.)
Monday, January 25, 2021
Call to Order: 6:04 PM
Peter Berger, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was met.
PRESENT
- Selectboard Members: Peter Berger, Chair; Josh Hickman, Vice Chair; Cathy McGrath
- Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
- Town Clerk: Georgette Wolf-Ludwig
- Treasurer: Lisa Hinsley
- Lister: Noël Walker
- Budget Committee: Elizabeth Wilson, Chair
- Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitor: Denis Lambert, Alex Nuti-de Biasi (Journal Opinion).
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS:
Cathy McGrath added under Public Comment a discussion about the coordination of Fairlee volunteer groups.
Berger accepted the agenda as amended.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Volunteer Coordination in Fairlee
McGrath stated that the many volunteer organizations may be working at cross-purposes. McGrath recommended a monthly or regular meeting with the organizations’ directors to coordinate and facilitate help for those in need. The Board and Elizabeth Wilson were in agreement. Tad Nunez suggested having the first meeting during the February 8th Selectboard meeting.
Zoning Administrator’s Report
Brimmer stated that the Better Places Grant for $20,000 was submitted. The project is called Wire the Common and is proposed as a future lighting and power project for the Common to enhance its utility as an event venue. Richard Amore acknowledged receipt of the application packet, and a notice about funding should be received in February.
Brimmer continued assessing the M2M report, especially the marketing and zoning sections.
Brimmer noted that the Planning Commission will need to work out a unified approach with the Selectboard concerning cannabis retailing.
[End of Zoning Administrator’s Report]
Town Administrator’s Report
Tad Nunez sent a report on the Town Administrator’s activities and meetings during the week beginning January 18, 2021:
Asset Management Project / Elizabeth Emmons (consultant, Dufresne Group)
Nunez reported that the first draft of the asset locations was submitted from the Dufresne Group.
Level of Service Agreement: Nunez met with the water system operators, Lance and Barry, to review the Level of Service Agreement from Dufresne for maintaining the water system.
Energy Coordinator
The Intermunicipal Energy Coordinator, Geoff Martin, helped rectify Fairlee’s credit allocation invoice from the Norwich Solar Array.
Bike / Ped Grant
Rita Seto, Regional Planner, VTrans, and Berger decided not to apply for the bike / ped grant this year because Fairlee does not have shovel-ready projects.
Milfoil
Nunez met with the Vt ANR official, Misha Cetner; a representative from SOLitude; and Don Weaver to review the 2020 Fairlee Aquatic Nuisance Control Report.
Meter Reading / Water System
Nunez and Lisa Hinsley met with the Zenner company for a progress report on the meter reading and invoicing project.
Orange County Budget
Nunez announced that the tax amount was received from Orange County at $54,518.71 ($53,907.83 in 2020).
Town Meeting
Nunez met with the Town Clerk and Treasurer this week to review and draft the warning for the Town Meeting.
[End of Town Administrator’s Report]
NEW BUSINESS
Asset Management
Nunez presented the Level of Service document for review by the Selectboard. Berger noted that a category for maintenance and recording of data online needed to be added. Nunez will follow up with questions for Dufresne.
Fund Balance
Nunez reported on a VLCT lawyer’s recommendation on the use of a fund balance for municipalities, such as showing the fund balance as a line item in revenues, bringing the issue forward to voters to vote on the use of the funds, using the fund balance for a specific purpose, or using the fund balance as a municipal reserve fund.
The Board, Wilson, and Hinsley discussed the options, and Berger recommended the topic be added to future meetings.
Transportation Advisory Committee (TRORC)
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to appoint Tad Nunez, Town Administrator, as the Town of Fairlee representative to the Transportation Advisory Committee sponsored by Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Town Meeting Preparations
Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Town Clerk, presented the final draft of the Town Warrant and ballot for the Selectboard’s approval. Josh Hickman noted that this change in the Town Meeting process would occur for one year only. Nunez will add that to the voter notification letter.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion approved the WARNING for the Town Meeting as written. The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to approve the mailing of ballots to every active, registered voter in Fairlee. The motion passed unanimously.
Discussion of Proposed Additional Police Coverage from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office
The Selectboard members discussed the background related to the Police Coverage article on the 2021 Warrant. Nunez stated that information about the additional police coverage will be available for the Information Meeting before Town Meeting day.
Main Street to Morey Report
The Board and Nunez discussed when to present to the public information about the M2M Report from Chris Sargent (Dubois & King). McGrath suggested the end of April, and the Board was in agreement.
NEXT SELECTBOARD MEETING: Monday, February 1, 2021 at 6:00 PM.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Berger announced that letters and emails have passed between the Town and Bill Weale. Berger suggested that Weale see Nunez in the Town Office, attend a Selectboard meeting, and/or attend a Forest Board meeting.
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to accept the Selectboard Meeting Minutes from 1-18-2021 as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Board Clerk