Jul
15
2019

07-15-2019 Selectboard Meeting

Town of Fairlee Selectboard Meeting
Town of Fairlee Town Hall
Grange Room
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT  05045
Monday, July 15, 2019

Call to Order: 6:00 PM 

Peter Berger, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was met.

  • Selectboard Members: Peter Berger, Chair, and Josh Hickman
  • Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
  • Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
  • Visitor: Noël Walker
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS

Berger added under Old Business a review of the Fairlee land records restoration fund

MOTION: Peter Berger/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS

Town Administrator’s Report

Tad Nunez presented the Town Administrator’s report highlighting his activities and meetings during the week beginning July 8, 2019:

Lake Morey Benches

Nunez met with the Lake Morey Foundation regarding the 27 benches dispersed around Lake Morey of which the maintenance of 18 of the benches is the responsibility to the Town. The Selectboard suggested the Town identify which benches are the Town’s responsibility and examine the maintenance needed.

Water Testing on Lake Morey

Nunez reported that water testing for swimming was done on Lake Morey this week and results are forthcoming. The Water Commissioner Lance Colby detected E coli and dye testing is underway. The local camps and property owners have been notified.

Water Project Update: Water Tank Retaining Wall

Nunez reported that Tata & Howard engineers were on site this week to make sure the retaining wall is reshaped and constructed correctly.  

Water Project Update: Filtration System

Nunez met with Tata & Howard engineers to finalize the construction documents for the Town’s water filtration system, and Zoning Administrator Chris Brimmer was in attendance to provide guidance for the necessary permits. The Development Review Board will review the project at a hearing on August 13, 2019, and the final specifications and documents will be sent to the State of Vermont for review the week of July 22.  

Community Solar

Nunez reported that Dori Wolfe of Wolfe Energy sent to the Town a Solar Net Credit Agreement for 34% related to the Norwich Community UU Solar Array.

Roadside Mowing

Nunez reported that roadside mowing began this week.

 [End of Town Administrator’s Report]

Zoning Administrator’s Report

White Paper

Brimmer prepared a draft White Paper on forest-block land use for Selectboard review. 

Land-Use Map

Brimmer presented a preliminary land use map, which removes industrial zoning and rezones as mixed use zoning and includes the Lake Morey watershed area.    

Planning Commission Meeting

Brimmer reported that the Planning Commission has planned on a later date for a vote on the Town Plan and that three Planning Commission meetings to finalize the Town Plan are scheduled for September.

Brimmer will begin distributing on the Town’s website information about new vs old revisions to the Town Plan.  

Water Project/Filtration System Building

Brimmer reported that permitting for the filtration system building will require a conditional use permit under the flood hazard section, a site plan review, and a zoning permit.

 [End of Zoning Administrator’s Report]

Sawyer Mt Road

Nunez introduced the discussion of reclassifying Sawyer Mt Rd from a private to a public road.  The Selectboard noted that more information is needed.

NEW BUSINESS

Town Erosion Inventory Report

Nunez presented the Road Erosion Inventory Report funded by the 2018 Better Roads Program of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Nunez noted that two areas, Mill Pond Rd and Quinibeck Rd, were identified as having poor drainage and that the Town must have a plan to address these areas by the fall of 2020.  

OLD BUSINESS

Better Connections Grant

The Selectboard continued the review of candidates for the consulting position. The RFPs have been reviewed by USDA and VTrans representatives. The leading candidate is scheduled to attend the next Selectboard meeting. 

Town Planning Survey Update

The Selectboard tabled this discussion until next week.

Newsletter

The Selectboard completed a final review and included the revisions to the Newsletter.

 [Noël Walker left the meeting at 7:02 PM]

Land Records Restoration Fund

Berger tabled the Fairlee land records restoration fund discussion until next week.

BOARD ORDERS & CORRESPONDENCES

The board orders and correspondences were presented to the Selectboard for signatures. 

Nunez presented a letter from a Town resident requesting that Fairlee offer a shredding service. Nunez will respond to this request.

MINUTES REVIEW

MOTION: Peter Berger/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to accept the Minutes from the 7-8-19 Selectboard meeting as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: Peter Berger/Josh Hickman moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 PM. 

Attest: Joanna Bligh, Minutes Clerk.