04-02-2018 Selectboard Meeting
Town of Fairlee Town Hall
Grange Room
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045
Monday, April 2, 2018
Call to Order: 6:07 PM
Frank J. Barrett, Jr., Chair, called the meeting to order.
PRESENT
- Selectboard Members: Frank J. Barrett, Jr., Chair, and Cathy McGrath
- Town Administrator: Tad Nunez
- Minutes Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitors: Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Lisa Hinsley, Jason Bachus, Peter Lange, Noël Walker
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
Cathy McGrath would like to add that she will be attending the 73nd Annual Town Officers Education Conference at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee on April 3. Under Old Business, Cathy McGrath will update the Board regarding the Town Hall appeal sponsored by the Fairlee Historical Society. Georgette Wolf-Ludwig will add liquor license approvals to the Staff and Public Comments, and Tad Nunez will add the appointment of the Fire Warden to Staff and Public Comments.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/ Frank J. Barrett, Jr. moved/seconded the motion to accept the Agenda as modified. The motion passed unanimously.
STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Tad Nunez announced that the Town received a thank you letter from the Vermont Center for Independent Living for a donation of $155.
Town Administrator’s Report
Tad Nunez, Town Administrator, reported on activities he participated in during the week of March 26, 2018:
FEMA Updates
Tad Nunez reported that the FEMA–Knox Rd culvert project may be declined because there was no hydraulic study; however, FEMA will allow VTRANS to review the project. Tad Nunez has a meeting with VTRANS this week to approve work completed.
Meetings With Lance Colby
Tad Nunez stated that he met with Lance Colby to complete the 2018 Local Emergency Operation Plan, which requires Selectboard approval, and completed the Consumer Confidence Report.
USDA Funding
Tad Nunez stated that he met with Gary Leach and finished the paperwork to secure USDA funding.
USDA–RD Documents
Tad Nunez met with Eric Law, Peter Berger, and Lisa Hinsley to sign the USDA-RD documents.
Correction
Tad Nunez corrected last week’s Town Administrator’s report noting that there is a change in the scope of project for the Town Hall, which increases the estimate by $4.9K (totaling $23K).
Water Tank Update
Tad Nunez questioned which Selectboard representative will receive updates and input from the lawyers and engineers related to the Water Tank project. Cathy McGrath noted that she was the key contact as Selectboard Chair in 2017. Frank J. Barrett, Jr., Chair, stated that he will reach out to Attorney Bill Meub (Meub, Gallivan, and Larson, Ltd.; Rutland VT) to share contact information and to request a monthly report.
[Noël Walker entered the meeting at 6:17 PM]
Town Web Page Board Communications
Tad Nunez met with a Town resident who expressed concern that the Development Review Board (DRB) minutes were not on the Town’s website. Board Clerk, Joanna Bligh, noted that the last DRB meeting was held in October 2017, and the minutes are posted on the Town’s website.
Food Pantry Donation
Tad Nunez announced that the Food Pantry has received a donation of a freezer from David Matthews. Georgette Wolf-Ludwig stated that the freezer will cost the Town $64/year to run, and it will accommodate the frozen commodities for the Food Pantry. The freezer will be housed in the Town Hall basement.
Solar Power/Transfer Station Project
Tad Nunez met with Jeff Young from Green Mountain Power to review the Solar/Transfer Station Project, who confirmed that the project will provide electrical access for the Town’s Transfer Station.
Fairlee Community Arts (FCA)
Tad Nunez met with FCA member Lynne Fitzhugh to discuss assisting the FCA in obtaining arts grants to fund purchase of a sound system, which will include assisted-listening devices, for the Town Hall auditorium. Noël Walker noted that Chris Brimmer, Zoning Administrator, has submitted the sound system grant. Tad Nunez will follow-up.
Tree Stewardship Award
Tad Nunez has submitted the application for the Tree Stewardship Award nominating the Forest Board for the chestnut tree project. Cathy McGrath noted that the Rivendell outdoor classroom was part of that project.
Liquor Licenses
Georgette Wolf-Ludwig submitted the liquor license renewal application for Leda’s Pizza. The Selectboard approved and signed the liquor license renewal for Leda’s Pizza.
Forest Fire Warden
Tad Nunez received approval from the State of Vermont to appoint Eric Sleeper as the Forest Fire Warden for the Town of Fairlee.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Frank J. Barrett, Jr., moved/seconded the motion to approve Eric Sleeper as the Town Forest Fire Warden. The motion passed unanimously.
[Lisa Hinsley entered the meeting at 6:28 PM]
NEW BUSINESS
Multi-use Housing for Fairlee
Frank J. Barrett, Jr., stated that he met recently with Kevin Lacasse from New England Family Housing Management (https://www.neren.com/profile/392816; New Hampton, NH), and Mr. Lacasse is interested in targeting towns in Vermont to facilitate the construction of multi-use housing. Noël Walker stated that her office has available a tax map and aerial photos of available properties for development.
Town Officers’ Education Conference
Cathy McGrath will be attending the 73nd Annual Town Officers’ Education Conference at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee on April 3.
OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS
USDA–RD Grant Administration and Budget
Tad Nunez stated that the requirements for the USDA–RD grant has many action items, and he would like to consider this as a standard Agenda item for updates to the Selectboard. Tad Nunez noted that the Town will be working with Eric Johnson from RECAP and that accountability during the project is important. Tad Nunez stated that for constant oversight, a finance director could be helpful in this role. An extended discussion continued regarding the staff needed for oversight and administration of numerous Town projects. Further discussion was tabled until the next Selectboard meeting.
Solar Project/Transfer Station Right-of-Way
Tad Nunez presented a digital photograph of the Fairlee Transfer Station burn dump and the proposed location of the new power poles accessing the solar field. After extensive discussion of the pole placement options, Frank J. Barrett, Jr., stated that the Selectboard would like to review a survey of the Town’s land and the separation of the Town’s property from the railroad property. Tad Nunez stated that another step in finalizing this project is to write up an easement for the right-of-way.
Fairlee Historical Society Fundraiser
Cathy McGrath stated that she would like to plan another mailing to the Town residents announcing the Town Hall Grand Opening in July and solicit donations for the “Thank You, Donors” wall.
BOARD ORDERS & CORRESPONDENCES
The board orders and correspondences were presented to the Selectboard for signatures.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
The review of the Minutes from March 26, 2018, was tabled until next week’s meeting.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Frank J. Barrett, Jr., moved/seconded the motion to go into Executive Session at 7:48 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board came out of Executive Session at 9:30 PM.
No action taken.
MOTION: Cathy McGrath/Frank J. Barrett, Jr., moved/seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 9:31 PM.
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Minutes Clerk