Selectboard Meeting Minutes 25 Sept 2017

BROOKFIELD SELECTBOARD

Town Clerk’s Office

40 Ralph Road

Brookfield, Vermont

Draft MINUTES

Meeting of MONDAY, 25 September 2017

 

  1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M.

 

Members present: John Benson, Chair; Jeff Kimmel, and Cory Haggett.

 

Staff present:  Carla Preston, Alternate Administrative Assistant.

 

Others present:  John Helfant and Ray Peck, Road Foreman.

 

  1. Adjustments to Agenda – The Board moved discussion items up in the agenda to address persons present.

 

  1. Public Presentation or Comment

 

John Helfant indicated that his house is actually located in two towns, Brookfield and Roxbury.  He wants his children to attend Brookfield Elementary School (and Randolph Union High School) and described his efforts to show where the Towns’ lines are located.  He advised he contacted State House Rep. Ben Jickling regarding mapping however with no reference points available it was difficult to determine the boundary.  To pinpoint the location of each Town’s boundary going through his house, he used the streets and trips program in the State Police cruiser and then took photographs of each side of his house.

 

Chair Benson referred to Brookfield’s Tax Map which showed a triangular shaped portion of Mr. Helfant’s property in Brookfield.  Because his home is located in two towns, he has the choice of which school his children attend.  He advised that the Towns’ Listers and Selectboards would need to review the situation and reach an agreement for property tax purposes.

 

Mr. Helfant advised that when he purchased the property it was his understanding that about half an acre of his property was in Brookfield and the remaining 44 plus/minus acres was in Roxbury.  The majority of his house site (at least two-thirds) is located in Brookfield.  He offered to share photographs of GPS location he took in an effort to determine the property line through his house with the Roxbury Selectboard.  He will share his Town of Roxbury property tax information and house value with the Brookfield Selectboard.

 

The Board discussed working with the Town of Roxbury so that Mr. Helfant’s entire house could be considered located in Brookfield.  A joint meeting with Roxbury Selectboard Members and Mr. Helfant was suggested so that the two boards agree on the direction to move forward.  The towns would then work with each set of Listers to adjust the apportionment of the property in each town.  After further discussion, Mr. Kimmel agreed to contact the Vermont League of Cities & Towns (VLCT) for an opinion.   A site visit may also be performed.  Once the Board receives a response from VLCT, a joint meeting could be scheduled.

 

  1. New Business

 

  1. Highway Report

 

  1. Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. Permit –

 

WEC is proposing to relocate its cross-country power lines along the Town’s roads for easier access, thus needs permission to work, install lines and poles, within the Town’s Right-of-Way.  Members noted that as with prior agreements, WEC would be responsible for relocating any poles that interfere with maintenance or drainage should that become an issue in the future.  In addition, all stumps near the edge of the roadways would have to be removed or cut at ground level to avoid damage to snow plows. Chair Benson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haggett, to approve WEC’s request to install power lines/poles within the Town of Brookfield’s Right-of-Way subject to conditions that no stumps are left to interfere with maintenance, and that WEC would be responsible for relocating any poles that interfere with the Town’s maintenance in the future. The question was called and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Part-Time Highway Department Position – Applications received –

 

The Board reviewed the applications received for the part-time position during the Winter months.  Mr. Kimmel made a motion, seconded by Chair Benson, to go into executive session at 6:49 PM and out at 7:08 PM.  Motions passed unanimously.

 

  1. Highway Updates –

 

Ray Peck, Road Foreman, updated the Selectboard on the following topics:

  • The repairs on the Town’s one-ton truck have been completed.
  • The grader is getting a wing installed.
  • With respect to the culvert on the Northfield Road, the concrete has been poured for the headwall and footings.
  • He has locked in a price for salt with Cargill.
  • The Highway Department needs to purchase fuel to fill the tank.
  • He will review the list for sign replacement which was recommended by the Public Safety Advisory Committee and will reach out to the Chair regarding the list of all signs that need to be installed.
  • The contractor has completed the crack-seal work and reported that they did a good job.
  • He is still working on obtaining estimates from contractors with excavators needed for ditch work. The Board agreed that at least two estimates were needed from contractors.

 

Mr. Peck advised the Selectboard as to how he proposed to reuse some ledge material that would be dug out of the bank on or near Crossover Road, which was part of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) project.   Members agreed it would be good to reuse the material where it would be the most beneficial.

 

Mr. Peck advised that representatives from FEMA are scheduled to meet with Ms. Peterson and he on September 26th.  He was not certain of the plan but believed they would be driving around to areas impacted to discuss costs.

 

Mr. Peck advised he has had phone communications with paving contractors but has not yet received a quote for blacktop.  The Board suggested he raise this topic with FEMA representatives as well.  Chair Benson confirmed that the Town needed to follow its procurement policy with respect to obtaining at least two quotes or estimates for work needed. Mr. Peck agreed to pursue getting quotes from Pike Industries and other paving companies.

 

  1. Proposed Ordinance re Parking –

 

Chair Benson noted that the Town has a parking ordinance. The proposed new ordinance from the PSAC does not address winter parking to facilitate snow removal and only mentions one small area.  The proposed new ordinance does replace the prior traffic ordinance which has been in effect since 19 November 1994. Chair Benson will ask Lew Stowell with the PSAC to send him an electronic version of the proposed Ordinance.  Other changes were discussed to ensure that the one ordinance covered all areas, or referred to other ordinances still in effect.  Chair Benson agreed to review the document in further detail, and send out a revised version to members for review and comment at the next meeting. Once the document is finalized it will be published and warned for public comment.

 

The Board noted that other ordinances may be reviewed as well such as those pertaining to dog and pet, free range chickens, etc.

 

  1. Access Permit, Kirby –

 

Mr. Peck confirmed that he has visited this location on East Street for a curb cut. He advised that sight distance to the north is fine but tree cutting and trimming to the south was necessary for adequate sight distance. Based on Mr. Peck’s evaluation of the location, Mr. Haggett made a motion, seconded by Mr. Kimmel, to approve this curb cut off East Street. The question was called and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Cemetery Deed –

 

Based on the information submitted, Mr. Haggett made a motion, seconded by Chair Benson, to accept the Cemetery Deed and payment of $500. The question was called and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Old Business

 

The Chair called for approval of the Minutes of the 11 September 2017 meeting.  Mr. Kimmel made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haggett, to approve the minutes of the meeting as presented.  The question was called and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Payroll/Accounts Payable Warrant

 

Based on the documents presented, Mr. Haggett made a motion, seconded by Chair Benson, to accept the payroll and accounts payable warrants totaling $15,029.21. The larger dollar amounts pertained to the following: Blue Cross & Blue Shield in the amount of $3,433.80, and R.E. Tucker, Inc. in the amounts of $4,815.68 and $1,931.16. The question was called and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Other Proper Business

 

  1. Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation – The Board reviewed the public notice from this state agency regarding general permits for municipal roads, stormwater discharges, and so forth. Chair Benson advised he may attend one of these meetings and report back to the Board.

 

  1. Town’s purchase of land abutting Town Garage – Chair Benson advised he met with Attorney Pam Stafford to discuss whether a subdivision approval from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources was required. They are hoping to accomplish the changes via boundary line adjustments versus subdivision. He further advised that Attorney Stafford is working with Ms. Baier concerning her banking concerns. Ms. Stafford will draft closing documents for Ms. Bair and Mr. Young.

 

  1. Chair Benson advised that he has had discussions with Attorney Pam Stafford and Mardee Sanchez concerning the legal issues involving a property on Route 14. He advised that ownership of the vehicles is in question, which impacts one of the owner’s request to bring in a crusher to crush the cars, and might require a permit under conditional use review.  He noted that while the matter is in litigation, no further action can be taken.

 

  1. White River Valley Ambulance/Barre Town Ambulance Services – Chair Benson advised that the two emergency services have agreed upon the roads and split of the Town for services and that a map is being developed. The proposal has been sent to the WRVA.

 

  1. Fire Department Dispatch – Chair Benson advised that dispatch services for Orange County may be switched to Chelsea versus Barre City because Chelsea has better reception.

 

  1. Kimmel mentioned efforts to update truck radios to high-band coverage to enable communication with school district buses. The Town needs to change its frequency to coordinate agree with the district. The Board will ask Mr. Peck for an update.

 

  1. BlackKim Tavern LLC submitted a request, along with a copy of its state liquor license, for approval to serve alcohol at the Brookfield Town Hall on 30 September 2017. Based on the information provided, Mr. Kimmel made a motion, seconded by Chair Benson, to approve BlackKim Tavern LLC’s request as submitted. The question was called and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. The next regular meeting of the Brookfield Selectboard is scheduled for 9 October 2017.

 

  1. Adjournment

 

Mr. Kimmel made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haggett, to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 PM.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Carla Preston

Alternate Administrative Assistant

Town of Brookfield

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