12-10-2018 Selectboard Meeting
Town of Fairlee Town Hall
Grange Room
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045
Monday, December 10, 2018
Call to Order: 6:03 PM
Frank J. Barrett, Jr., Chair, called the meeting to order.
A quorum was met.
- Selectboard Members: Frank J. Barrett, Jr., Chair; Peter Berger, Vice Chair; and Cathy McGrath
- Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
- Board Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Lisa Hinsley; the Budget Committee, Elizabeth Wilson, Dan Ludwig, and Steven Bentley; and Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Budget Committee Clerk
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
Tad Nunez added an Executive Session (personnel) to the Agenda and tabled the Retirement Policy discussion
MOTION: Peter Berger/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Town Hall HVAC Efficiency
Nunez reported that on December 19 he will attend a meeting with Alliance Mechanical to review the process for resetting building thermostats after a power outage and to assess costs of heating the Town Hall with the new system.
Town Administrator’s Report
Tad Nunez presented the Town Administrator’s (TA) report highlighting his activities and meetings during the week beginning December 3, 2018:
Fairlee Town Library
Nunez met with the Library Trustees and Director to discuss budget cuts.
Transfer Station
Nunez is working with the Transfer Station subcontractors to assess the Transfer Station processes.
Waste Water Committee
Nunez announced that Ray Clark and Bill Weale will serve on the Waste Water Committee.
FEMA Project
Nunez reported that the FEMA project funds of $9,932.99 were received and were applied to the FY 2018 revenues.
Rivendell School Prom
Nunez announced that the Rivendell Academy will hold its Senior Prom at the Town Hall auditorium on May 4, 2019.
Prouty Ultimate
Nunez announced that the Town received the notification of the Prouty Ultimate that will be passing through Fairlee on July 12/July 13.
Recreation Council Holiday Event
Nunez reported that he attended the Recreation Council event, which was held on December 7 in the town Hall auditorium. The event was well organized, and 75 children attended.
Town Hall Back Porch/HVAC Roof
Nunez reported that the roof structure will be completed by the week of December 25.
Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District
Nunez reported that he attended a CVSWMD Board meeting on December 5.
Water Projects—Filtration System
Nunez reported that there is sufficient room to house the new filtration system, but the location data will be confirmed by Tata & Howard, Engineers.
[End of Town Administrator’s Report]
Zoning Administrator’s Report (written)
EV Charger at Park & Ride
Chris Brimmer reported that the grant has been submitted for the EV charger.
Planning Commission
Brimmer reported that the Planning Commission work sessions are ongoing, including a public workshop scheduled for January 17 to gather input from Town residents.
The Planning Commission will have a meeting on December 13 to firm up plans for the January 17 planning meeting.
The Planning Commission members stated to Chris Brimmer that the Natural Resources section of the Town Plan will be ready in January to pass along to the consultant from Two Rivers− Ottaquechee Regional Commission.
[End of Zoning Administrator’s Report]
BUDGET WORKSHOP SESSION with BUDGET COMMITTEE
Frank J. Barrett, Jr., introduced the workshop session noting that the proposed budget was reviewed by the Town Administrator, the Treasurer, and the Selectboard. Hinsley reported on the changes in the Town budget in 2018. The parties examined the budget department by department and discussed some items in detail, including the staff hours at the Town Offices, the outstanding grant revenue, and the need for a generator to address power outages at the Town Hall.
[Elizabeth Wilson, Steve Bentley, Lisa Hinsley, and Dan Ludwig left the meeting at 8:11 PM]
NEW BUSINESS
Better Connections Grant
McGrath reported that the Town was invited to apply for the grant. McGrath noted that Project Managers need to be appointed and suggested that she and Peter Berger work as co-project managers.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to sign the Better Connections Grant Resolution document and appoint McGrath and Berger as Co-Project Managers for grant management. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Water Project Updates
Nunez reported that the water project includes two action items: a contract amendment for the water meters and the water main project.
Nunez reported that the water tank project is ahead of schedule and that the third water tank project meeting will be held on Thursday, December 13 at 12:30.
Retirement Policy
Tabled.
BOARD ORDERS & CORRESPONDENCES
The board orders and correspondences were presented to the Selectboard for signatures.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (Personnel)
MOTION: Peter Berger/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to go in to Executive Session at 8:28 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The Selectboard came out of Executive Session at 8:40 PM.
Action taken:
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Peter Berger moved/seconded the motion to continue to give the equivalent of a two-person health plan benefit to Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Town Clerk, and to enter into a reimbursement agreement with her to pay the portions of the health insurance for her spouse that must be paid directly by her. The Town will pay BC/BS directly for the Medicare Supplement Part F. The remainder of the benefit will be put into a Health Reimbursement Account by the Town. The motion passed unanimously.
[Georgette Wolf-Ludwig left the meeting at 8:42 PM]
MINUTES REVIEW
MOTION: Peter Berger/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to accept the Minutes from the 12-3-18 meeting as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Peter Berger/Cathy McGrath moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 PM.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Minutes Clerk.